The other day, I played "Hotaru no Hikari" as background music in Bokumo for the first time in a while.
I think many people have that song imprinted on them as a signal that the store is closing.
I think it's a standard closing song, especially in supermarkets and other commercial facilities, but playing it in a wine bar like Bokumo feels quite strange. It expresses "I want you to go home quickly" too directly. There's no mood or anything, so of course it's not usually played.
However, there were times when I had to wear it regardless of the discomfort it caused.
It was at a "bachelor wine party" we held the other day.
An announcement was made over the microphone that the event would end at 8 p.m., but no one stopped talking at all. There was no sign of anyone getting up from their seats.
Well, if you think about it, when strangers get together, about two hours from the start is the time when they start to get to know each other. Everyone's faces said, "I'm sad to leave."
However, this makes it impossible to close the door.
So I decided to play Hotaru no Hikari (a slightly twisted version of the "Kuri Corder Quartet").
Then, one of the participants took the lead by saying, "Okay, everyone, let's go to the second bar!" and gradually everyone started to get up and join in.
yes.
This "bachelor wine party" was so exciting that we had to light up the place with fireflies.
I knew it was going to be a blast when reservations filled up so quickly, and it exceeded my expectations.
I would like to teach this to myself in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
"If you can just be patient, we'll be able to hold the events properly. And there's a definite demand for events where men and women can meet, so they'll be a big hit."
If it turns out this good, there's no choice but to make it into a series.
The next one will be in the fall. It will be held on November 3rd (National Holiday) . We will let you know when the details are decided. If you are interested, please put it on your calendar.
Now, in preparation for the next event, I need to take a moment to look back on this one.
First, the good points .
・The male to female ratio is fairly even.
At the time of booking, there were significantly more female guests than male guests, but due to cancellations, the number of female guests ended up being slightly higher.
- It will be a semi-standing event, with participants moving around and mingling during the event.
If you just sit down and talk to the people you like, it will be hard for other people to join in. So I think this format, with just enough seats, was the right choice.
- People told us that the wine and food were delicious.
I prepared both thoroughly. It was nice to be able to use the buffet warmer (the stainless steel ones you see in hotels) for the first time in a while.
・A quiz competition was held in the middle.
We did a wine variety guessing quiz. Everyone thought seriously about it, even though they said, "I don't know that." We gave them hints and asked them to choose from four options, and six people got the right answer. I think it was just the right amount of excitement.
・It was completed in two hours.
I think it was good to play Hotaru no Hikari after all. After having fun at the first bar, we split into small groups and went to the second bar. Those who want to go home can go home. It would be a waste to get too drunk at a place where you meet people for the first time. That's why I think a time limit is necessary.
And some points for improvement .
・Maybe we could have done more to assist those who had difficulty joining the group.
There was a person who spent the first hour drinking alone. They were finally able to communicate towards the end, but I think they needed a little more support.
・I wonder if that name tag was okay.
I was given a name tag with my name (nickname was OK) hanging around my neck, but I wonder if that was really a good thing.
It would be better if they also wrote information like age, occupation, hobbies, etc....well, I guess some people don't want to write that.
However, it seems like a waste of time that it's only towards the end that we're finally able to have a more in-depth conversation, like, "Wow! So you do that kind of work?"
・The prizes for the quiz were too big.
I didn't know anything about the women who came to these events. The bags of the women who came to these events were tiny. They weren't tote bags that could fit anything.
I was excited and decided to make the original wine glass of Bokumo for the quiz prize, but it was too big. Nobody could fit it in their bag. I quickly pulled out a paper bag I used to use and somehow managed to save it, but next time I will remember that beautiful women's bags are very small.
Well, to summarise, that's about it.
Oh yes, another thing that made a strong impression on me was the behavior of the several participants who were regulars and had been to Bokumo several times before.
At that meeting, it seemed like they were noticeably quicker to open up to the others than those who were attending Bokumo for the first time.
As expected, the first topic of conversation when holding such a gathering at a restaurant is almost always, "Do you come here often?"
"Well, when I come here, I drink white wine first," or "I like lamb chop steak," so when I talk about the restaurant, I feel a little more at ease. I could tell that from the way he talked and the way the conversation flowed.
Therefore, we will notify those who wish to participate next time on November 3rd (national holiday).
Please be sure to do some idling at the counter before then.
This way, you'll be able to enjoy your meal at your leisure and feel at home. We especially recommend the counter seats available from Monday to Thursday, as they are relatively spacious.
I guess it's about time for a get-together (date) between the people who became friends at that event to be held at Bokumo.
Huh? Are you busy at another store right now?
Well, that's fine too.
We would be happy if you could include Bokumo in your rotation as a store where new relationships are born.
This time I'll wait without turning on the fireflies.
