Membership

Growing up in country clubs and around the wealthy, I developed an early and somewhat warped perception of membership. My father worked as the General Manager for various Westchester, New York and Fairfield, Connecticut country clubs and I quickly moved up the ranks from bus boy at 14 to bartender by 17. However no matter the club or the view I had over the dinning room, there always was a visible line between the likes of a 'service boy' and a 'member.'
This facilitated a fascination for luxury from a early age, be it lavish homes, exotic vacations, labels & price tags and even social circles. A simple desire for things I thought to be just out of reach.
After my four years in college and three years now out in the 'real' world I'm proud to say, I've been knocked down a few pegs. Recently, as a means to stay active while the hiring freezes begin to thaw, I've taken a part-time job at a 'local' New York Sports Club. My General Manager is a lively character even on the busy days. Hailing from England she moved here in 2003 after working in film production with the likes of Jo Brand and some other English names I have yet to truly discover. She sees it how it is and sure enough tells it how it is, right then and there. She hired me on the spot for the reason that she knew I was someone on the move looking to keep busy. She said something that I have been sitting on since last Thursday:
"[Ad Lad], I hate my job. I keep telling myself this is my last season, I want to go into consulting and travel the world, but I LOVE these members."
At first I thought, mmmmm K, but after seeing her engage and enjoy the people at the gym and seeing them enjoy her just as much, I began to feel that once very present line between a service boy like me and the membership, quickly begin to fade into the landscape.
It's interesting to peel back the silver veil and see genuine reactions and feelings from people whether it be a VIP or a bus boy. I strongly feel that, while the concept of membership and exclusivity has always existed, it's beginning to take new shapes here and there, whether from the financial crisis or the social and personal restarts taking place, it's hard to pin point. In order to really understand the pulse of the people we need to look less at the labels of 'bus boy' and 'member,' and dive head first into the characters out there. That's where the real story is.