((PKG)) HARDSHIP BARTENDER
((TRT: 03:02))
((Banner: An Economic Adjustment))
((Reporter: Carolyn Presutti))
((Camera: Mike Burke))
((Adapted by: Zdenko Novacki))
((Map: Washington, DC))
((Main characters: 1 male))
((NATS))
((Daniel Arden, Unemployed Bartender))
It started actually before all the COVID stuff happened. I was
working at a restaurant, 21-Great American Bistro in Fairfax City.
And we were doing really good. And then after Valentine's Day,
we noticed a steady fall. And then the COVID hit in March and
we waited it out a little bit and we decided to close and so we
closed from there. So, I went from, you know, making enough
money to live on my own and provide for my daughter and not live
lavish, but you know, well, you know, not poor. And I went from
that to no job within about a week.
((NATS))
((Daniel Arden, Unemployed Bartender))
My name is Daniel. I am from Burke, Virginia.
((Photos Courtesy: Daniel Arden))
((Daniel Arden, Unemployed Bartender))
And I'm trying to support myself as well as my daughter.
I didn't get my stimulus or my tax return yet till this day. And
basically from there, it kind of spiraled. Luckily, I have a good
friend at the vape shop that I work at, Vapor Theory, and I was
able to find a job right away. But he's doing the best he can. But
the income compared to, you know, a fine dine-in restaurant is,
you know, about one-third of what I was making and maybe even
one-fourth dependent upon. So, it's been, you know, a huge,
humbling event. And since then, it's kind of been digging out of
the ditch, just trying to survive day by day, you know, week by
week.
((NATS))
((Daniel Arden, Unemployed Bartender))
I was expecting a certain amount of money to cover my rent, at
least. When I got the check, I forgot about taxes. And so that
made me a couple, you know, about four or five hundred dollars
short of rent.
((NATS))
((Daniel Arden, Unemployed Bartender))
As much as that sounds, I don't know what, arrogant? But it's the
sad truth, unfortunately. Before at the restaurant job, I didn't
really have to worry about it, you know. I wasn't rich, but I didn't
have to worry about paying bills on time or, you know, scheduling
from a month from now and stuff like that. And I never had to
worry about, you know, buying cheap food. I would just get what I
want and then go.
((NATS))
((Daniel Arden, Unemployed Bartender))
Everyone is helping one another. So, I think, everyone's going to
be okay in that aspect, but I don't see it going back to complete
normalcy for a couple years, just for the simple, until there's a,
you know, cure.
((NATS))
((Daniel Arden, Unemployed Bartender))
I think, us as a world and as Americans, I think it's not going to
take us down. I think it’s just made us stronger and kind of closer
together.
You know, if someone can't find toilet paper, you go on a
Facebook group. Hundreds of people would tell you where to get
toilet paper.
((Photos Courtesy: Daniel Arden))
((Daniel Arden, Unemployed Bartender))
If you need help, like you found me just off that post and I wasn't
asking for anything. You know, I was like, “Anyone need work
done? I’ll work.” So, there is a lot of good people in it. It is
humbling as an event, but also makes you realize how good the
world is.
((Photos Courtesy: Daniel Arden))
((NATS/MUSIC))
((TRT: 03:02))
((Banner: An Economic Adjustment))
((Reporter: Carolyn Presutti))
((Camera: Mike Burke))
((Adapted by: Zdenko Novacki))
((Map: Washington, DC))
((Main characters: 1 male))
((NATS))
((Daniel Arden, Unemployed Bartender))
It started actually before all the COVID stuff happened. I was
working at a restaurant, 21-Great American Bistro in Fairfax City.
And we were doing really good. And then after Valentine's Day,
we noticed a steady fall. And then the COVID hit in March and
we waited it out a little bit and we decided to close and so we
closed from there. So, I went from, you know, making enough
money to live on my own and provide for my daughter and not live
lavish, but you know, well, you know, not poor. And I went from
that to no job within about a week.
((NATS))
((Daniel Arden, Unemployed Bartender))
My name is Daniel. I am from Burke, Virginia.
((Photos Courtesy: Daniel Arden))
((Daniel Arden, Unemployed Bartender))
And I'm trying to support myself as well as my daughter.
I didn't get my stimulus or my tax return yet till this day. And
basically from there, it kind of spiraled. Luckily, I have a good
friend at the vape shop that I work at, Vapor Theory, and I was
able to find a job right away. But he's doing the best he can. But
the income compared to, you know, a fine dine-in restaurant is,
you know, about one-third of what I was making and maybe even
one-fourth dependent upon. So, it's been, you know, a huge,
humbling event. And since then, it's kind of been digging out of
the ditch, just trying to survive day by day, you know, week by
week.
((NATS))
((Daniel Arden, Unemployed Bartender))
I was expecting a certain amount of money to cover my rent, at
least. When I got the check, I forgot about taxes. And so that
made me a couple, you know, about four or five hundred dollars
short of rent.
((NATS))
((Daniel Arden, Unemployed Bartender))
As much as that sounds, I don't know what, arrogant? But it's the
sad truth, unfortunately. Before at the restaurant job, I didn't
really have to worry about it, you know. I wasn't rich, but I didn't
have to worry about paying bills on time or, you know, scheduling
from a month from now and stuff like that. And I never had to
worry about, you know, buying cheap food. I would just get what I
want and then go.
((NATS))
((Daniel Arden, Unemployed Bartender))
Everyone is helping one another. So, I think, everyone's going to
be okay in that aspect, but I don't see it going back to complete
normalcy for a couple years, just for the simple, until there's a,
you know, cure.
((NATS))
((Daniel Arden, Unemployed Bartender))
I think, us as a world and as Americans, I think it's not going to
take us down. I think it’s just made us stronger and kind of closer
together.
You know, if someone can't find toilet paper, you go on a
Facebook group. Hundreds of people would tell you where to get
toilet paper.
((Photos Courtesy: Daniel Arden))
((Daniel Arden, Unemployed Bartender))
If you need help, like you found me just off that post and I wasn't
asking for anything. You know, I was like, “Anyone need work
done? I’ll work.” So, there is a lot of good people in it. It is
humbling as an event, but also makes you realize how good the
world is.
((Photos Courtesy: Daniel Arden))
((NATS/MUSIC))