soft hours
standard operating procedure
1. r.o.s. & roles
2. base format of a gong fu session
3. our menu
4. conversation topics
5. sponsorship
expectation setting
hello and ty for joining the crew for soft hours. soft hours is 1) brewing tea, and 2) sharing space with each other in a healthy and non-judgemental way. thank you for wanting to be a part of this journey. we expect things may be a little rocky at first, but if we all agree that the above reasons are true in our hearts and as we pour we may find ourselves able to build a structure for this kind of thing to survive (+ us along with it)
I. service run of show , general (times subject to change).
I. Roles
chashi: miriam, henry, polina, aliena, andy
in charge of tea, specifically gong-fu. manages tea-ware and sets the vibe of the gong fu cha session. directly interacts with clientel, but communicates needs to water bearer. chashi should never have to leave their set for more than a minute. If you need something from the water bearer, such as water or a service item, fold your towel and lay it on your shoulder. lean on water bearer for water, and other service needs. the conversations may be about tea, they maybe about anything. the role helps the conversation flow as much as it does ensure everyone has their fill. If the conversation ever takes a suspiciously bad turn and you need assistance, flag the water bearer down by placing your tea towel on your shoulder.
water bearer: jc, kota,
floater, floor-runner, in-between. a water bearer’s main duty is to ensure all boilers are filled. second duty is attending to the service needs of chashi and their clientelle. Water bearer should have eyes on the floor at all times, watching for signals, flags, and anything out of place. If water bearer is free, they should tidy things up.
Host: havilah
host should first: meet people at the door and guide their intentions in the space. next, host is responsible for checking in with roaming clientel or watching the floor. Should a host spot a service flag, they should communicate it to the water bearer, even if that would be redundant. overcommunication promotes healthy logistics chains.
II. base format of a gongfu session for a chashi
gongfu is supposed to be casual, but we invite you to infuse your sessions with your own spirit and preferences. At the very least, we should pour tea correctly, with gong fu—intention.
a. present the dry tea
b. bloom and wash the tea
c. smell the tea
d. brew the tea
e. serve the tea
f. if a tea should be ended, pile the tea on the edge of the board and wash all vessels in boiling water for the next tea.
once you take your seat, you are locked in. tea courses will be deliverd to you by water bearer on the half hour.
you will be given a stack of session cards and note pads to hand to those who want to track their experience.
you will also be given a flag towel. if you wish to get the water-bearer’s attention, fold your flag and toss it on your shoulder. this will signal that you would like a water refill.
Challenge yourself to pay attention to what your clients like. you may find that some people prefer stronger tastes, and others prefer delicate tastes.
-transition to lounge- when we transition into the ‘lounge’ mode, you can chose to continue performing as a chashi. we will offer personalized gong fu sessions to those who wish. these will be first come first serve depending on who’se available.
III. menu
IV. conversation topics