Dru's Place

I think this has been one of the toughest weeks I have had since the bar opened.  I feel like this community and the people who come here are part of my family.  They mean so much to me.  The loss that we suffered this week has made me feel a saddness that words really can't explain.   Mickey was my friend and my heart is breaking.  Being in this place everyday affords me the opportunity to know so many wonderful people.  I am so blessed by the relationships that have been built over the past 2 years, but at the same time having so many more relationships in my life makes the odds greater that loss will occur.  It is almost daily that I get to speak with different people about their problems or things going on in their life.  Sometimes good and sometimes bad.  I get to share in their joy and their pain.  Sometimes I'm not sure if it is good or bad, so I think I will just say that it is what it is.  I wouldn't trade what I do here for anything in the world.  It is just hard when you are faced with the reality that life is so fragile. 

Do any of ever really know what the people we care about are really going through?  Could anything stop something like Mickey's death from happening?  Could the right words or actions have changed the course of events that robbed us of him?  Could anyone or anthing made a difference?  Did he say anything the last time I saw him that should have made me question what was going on?  I see so many people everyday (we all do), how do you know when someone is in trouble?  God I just don't understand.  I hate trying to find answers to questions that just don't have answers.  I guess if we just didn't love others we would feel pain, but I can't see where that would be worth it.  I guess the only two choices you have in life is to pull away from everyone and everything so you don't get hurt, or face the reality that when you open yourself up to another person you are going to feel the joy and the pain.  I think that quote goes that it is better to have loved and lost then to never have loved at all.  That is true, but when the hurt is so strong I think most people question it validity. 

Thanks to all of you who cared enough to read this rambling little note.  I care so much about all of the people who have been here supporting this business and trusting me with your friendship.  The last 2 years have never been about business.  For me it is about being here in this moment.  Helping others when I can help and hopefully making some sort of difference before it's all said and done.  The people in my life mean everything to me and there is not much I wouldn't do.  May you all find peace in bad times, joy in sad times and be greatful for each other all the time.

Tami

This week is jam packed full of wonderful events. We have 2 different benefits that we are helping with and we appreciate all of your support.

From day one our goal was to be able to what we can, when we can to make a difference. This week we have been blessed and have the opportunity to host events: Tuesday & Saturday.

It is such an honor to work with all the people involved in making these benefits a reality. When we all come together there is no limit to what we can do or the impact we can have on someone's life or on our community. Thank you all so much giving your time, money and/or skills. You guys are all so amazing. I don't think there is any business in Memphis that has a more giving customer base. I am so proud to be part of your lives and get to witnes to caring and compassion you show when called upon. Thank you!

So Tue & Sat come out and support 2 great causes and Sunday save some time to recharge yourself with a very special guest Amy Steinberg! Amy will make you laugh and cry (sometimes at the same time!) It will be a show you won't forget! Tickets are available at the bar $8 in advance/$10 at the door. We would love to share this very special evening with you!

Well here is this weeks line up...

Monday- Songwriter Showcase 7p

Tuesday- House Fire Victim Benefit (Need blankets, sheets, gift cards, women's clothing (sz M, L & 2X), etc. This family lost everything so the ways to give are endless. Grupo Jobu & Sons of Winter will perform and Karaoke will follow! No cover, donations only. (Items don't have to be new-just clean out your closets..)

Wednesday- Beer Bust 7p-11p

Live Team Trivia 7:30p

Thursday- Super Happy Hour 2p-5p ($1.50 domestic longnecks)

Karaoke 9p

Friday- Super Happy Hour 2p-5p ($1.50 domestic longnecks)

Karaoke 9p (March Special- 1 Free Domestic w/ paid cover)

Saturday- Super Happy Hour 2p-5p ($1.50 domestic longnecks)

Social Remedy, Melinda Milligan, Tori Norton (Breast Cancer Awareness/Benefiting Jodi Antell)

There will be Live Music, Door Prizes, and a Silent Auction all for a $5 donation.

Sunday- Beer Bust 7p-11p

SPECIAL SHOW! Amy Steinberg-7p ($8 in advance/$10 at the door)

Amy Steinberg

Biography

Both inspirational and hilarious with an exceptional set of pipes, Amy Steinberg is a goddess troubadour wandering the countryside with a purpose. She is on a mission to incite a groove riot in her audience, inviting them to sing, clap and laugh along. Her spiritual essence mixed with a socio-conscious attitude makes for an enlightening experience to be had by all. Fans call her “wildly attractive” and “life changing” while critics say she is in a “league of her own” (LA Music Connection). She is currently touring in support of her 8th cd, “Fall Down to Fly” which displays her theatrical training as well as her musical prowess. Classically trained on piano and self-taught on guitar, with a bombastic belt and a dynamic presence, Amy’s shows are jubilee meets revival.

Karaoke 10p- until

Thanks for everything....

Tami

Ok I need to know what you guys think . I know how tough times are right now and I want to know what Dru's can do as a part of the community to make it easier for you get to go out and have some fun.  If you have an opinion it would really be appreciated.

Friday Night Karaoke Cover?

I am really thinking about Friday nights...right now we charge a $5 cover to help offset the cost. It normally doesn't pay all of the Karaoke DJ expense, but it helps. Do you think we would get enough extra customers if we did not charge a cover to make up the difference in beer and food sales? Or would it be better to do it as " pay what you can"  type of thing? The goal is to be able to be able to offer great entertainment without going broke.

At this point, I have never made money on any cover charge, so please believe me when I say it has only been out of absolute necessity that I even have one for any event. It costs between $3,500 and $4,900 dollars a month (depending on the schedule) to offer Karaoke, Bands, Trivia, etc. That is just to pay the people entertaining and does not include equipment and all that stuff. We don't charge a cover for Thurs & Sun Karaoke. It has just been on Fri & Sat nights or if we have a special performer. I know for the bands and stuff there is nothing I can do (there is no way to make it up on the bar sales), but if we can get enough new customers coming to Friday Karaoke we might be able to change up the way we are doing things. I don't know, but I would love to know what you think.

I really appreciate you all and the support you have given over the past year and a half.  You guys are what makes this place special and everything you suggest is taken seriously and appreciated.  Thanks for your feedback.

Tami

Well in true Memphis fashion we went from Sunshine to a sheet of Ice in 2.5 seconds!  Thanks so much to all of you who braved to cold and came out to Dru's the past few days!  A special thanks to all of you who came out to wish Dru a Happy Birthday today!  She has had a great day and can't stop talking about how much fun she has had!  JW & The Outlaws played all day long and if you have not been here to catch their show please join us Friday from 7p-9p!  They are very talented and just so much fun to hang out with!

Dru and I are so blessed to have so many great people in our lives!  It has just been a great couple of days!  Social Remedy was here Saturday night and just put on a great show!  They have some new songs that will be on their upcoming cd and Heather & Kelly are just amazing people!  When you can surround yourself with share your same values it makes you so much stronger than you could ever be on your own.  There are so many of you that make me strong and I am so grateful. 

Sometimes I feel like I am living a dream or at least in a dream.  Everyday there is something new that gets me excited all over again just like it was the first day.  There hasn't been one time I ever wished I didn't have to come to work.  Even the days when I am stressed out or worried, I am still exactly where I want to be.  Those are the days that usually one of you come up and say some little something (or I read something on the bathroom wall) that gives me just what I need to get through the day and feel better.  Thank you for that and everything else you do!

Bless you all and may you find happiness in this minute no matter where you are or what you are going through!

Sincerely,

Tami

The new year can be a time of great reflection, it can can be a time to resolve make changes in the future, or it can just be a time to party and be thankful that the last year is over!  I guess when I think about the new year, I don't really make resolutions because I don't really think you need a specific day to chose to do better than the day before.  I don't really reflect alot on the past because I enjoy the process of moving forward.  And anyone who knows me knows I'm not much of a party girl.  I guess New Year's Day for me just makes me grateful that I made it another day!

I would like to wish you all a very happy 2010!  My wish for you all is that you find the courage within yourselves to "Dream out Loud".  The biggest difference between a dream and reality is that reality requires action.  Be it a big step or a small step put yourself in a position to work on your dreams.  To get where you want to be in life you must take action to get you there.  Standing still will only leave you in same place, dreaming the same dreams.  It is action that sperates dreaming and actually living.  Life is amazing, because even at its worse it is better than the alternative.  But truly living is about not being the best, but about being your best.  So has you go into this New Year, it is ok to reflect on the past and look toward the future, but don't forget how to live in today.

Bless you all!  Here's to peace and happiness!

Tami

Wow it is so hard to believe that 2009 is drawing to a close.  I have spent a great deal of time reflecting on the past year.  We have had some things that worked and other things that didn't, but each time we learned from the experience. 

One thing I know is that I am so grateful to everyone for supporting us this past year.  Being a part of your lives is such an honor.

I want to let you know about some exciting changes that will be coming up in the next couple of months.  You know we have been offering some great music on Saturday nights. But it is time to take it a step further.  We will be setting up a "listening room" on the other side.  This room will have limited seating and offer a quieter environment for those of you who want to not only hear great music, but get to know the singer/songwriters behind it.  The goal for next year is to offer at least 6 to 8 shows in this format.  Ticket prices will range from $8-12 per person.  Of course, we will still have live shows in the main bar area, karaoke, darts and all the fun stuff we have always had. 

Muisc is so important.  I say this because it is what brings people together.  I have been able to spend alot of time talking to singers and songwriters because of our Songwriter Showcase and when you can sit and listen to the words you understand the passion and feeling that goes into a creation.  In a city that is so divided in so many ways music is a hope that surpasses words.  It does not matter if you are black, white, rich, poor, gay, straight, male, female or anything in between.  This is the reason I want to expand what we have to offer.  There is so much magic in the music and we are so fortunate to live in a city that is alive with original artists.  My mission is to build a place where all people can come together and hear some of the best music in the city. 

We wish you all the best holiday season ever!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday! We had a spread at the bar Thursday! A special thanks to Dru, Jennay, Darryl, Michael, Raye, Bob, Steve and Brenda who brought some awesome food for all to enjoy!

Now on to our next project! You know it never stops! Lol! Christmas is upon us and last year we were asked to help out with a very special project. Christmas Boxes for under privileged kids at Corning Elementary in Frazier. For those of you who don't know, a good friend of ours, Jeter, puts together boxes for all the kids Pre-K thru 2nd Grade at Corning Elementary where Shyla teaches. This year there are 223 kids!

These kids don't have the same kind of needs you and I would expect from a child. The first time you hear of a kid getting excited over getting their own toothbrush for Christmas, you take on a whole new perspective! So here is a list of the items we need to help Jeter pull this off. Please give if you can. If you don't have time to shop, cash donations will be accepted at the bar and we will make sure the items needed are purchased. Everything has to be at the bar by Dec 13th so we have time to put the boxes together.

Hats, Gloves, Underwear, Toothbrushes, Socks, small toys (must fit in a shoebox)

Through your generosity we are able to build a stronger community. We are so honored to be a small part of that community! I know we can pull this off if we work together! Please call if you need any additional information. Thank you in advance for you kindness and generosity!

Sincerely,

Tami

We have a friend who had a real health scare that we just found out turned out to just be a scare.  We are so thankful that everything came back ok! 

Life is so full of twists and turns, one day you can be on a path where you feel like your on track to becoming who you think you are supposed to be and the next life can give you a totally new direction.  I guess the real secret is to embrace the moment, good or bad and know that you have the choice to find happiness in both.  Part of the miracle of life is that we don't know what is going to happen.  The best plan in the world can change in a heartbeat.  Everything is about balance and perspective.  We must have pain to know love and fear to appreciate the feeling of being safe.

Everyone always tends to reflect on their lives around the holiday season, but I really encourage you all to reflect each and everyday on the things and people that fill our days.  Even in the worst of times there is always hope!  Being thankful is not about a time of year, it is a way of life!  Life isn't always perfect, but it is perfectly imperfect.  That's the beauty of it!  This moment wherever you are and what ever you are doing just stop for one moment and smile because Life is Good and at this moment you can chose to be happy!

So good news from doc today just got me to thinking and I want to share some of those thoughts with you all.  May your day be beautiful!  Don't forget to dream while your awake!

Tami

What a week!  Well we decided to do a little project and we took down the massive canopy that hung over the bar!  I can't believe what an amazing difference it makes in the feel of the bar!  I hope you all come out and see the changes and I sure hope you like them! (It's not like I can put it back up if you don't!)  I have to thank Darryl, Jennay, Kristy and Shelley  because without them I would still be trying to tear that thing down one piece at a time!  It is a beautiful thing to have such wonderful friends!

I am really looking forward to Sat Night!  Carol Plunk is back in town finally and will be playing from 7p-8p followed by Ashley McBryde!  What a night!  Please come out and join us for a night of great music and even greater friends! 

It seems like everytime I think I understand the depth of friendships I am surrounded by everyday I am blown away one more time.  When I think about how much time and energy my friends have put into helping me make this dream a reality I am so grateful.  To make something like this a success it goes so far beyond what one person can do.  Over the past 1 1/2 yrs I have experienced what the power of a community can do.  From the people who have helped out in so many ways to the people who have supported us with their time and money as customers.  You are all the true reason Dru's exists!  Thank you all from the bottom of my heart!

XOXO,

Tami 

I heard about the Jill Stringham Band through some friends and I have to say I am impressed.  Even the covers don't sound like covers.  This is a very talented group of musicians.   I love it when we blessed with such amazing nights. 

It is music that brings people together.  It seems to erase all the differences between people.  It does not matter if you are black, white, christian, buddhist, gay, straight, male or female.  Music is universal.  I think is puts all on th same path, even if only for a short time. 

Tami