www.burmasuperstar.com/
A quick game of Count the Queue circling Burma Superstar, and you know something’s brewing … something good! Neighborhood regulars and inquisitive adventurers have it figured out: If you wait quite patiently, you too shall be rewarded by the personal service of an authentic and unique Southeast Asian feast. Burma Superstar actually imports ingredients directly from its homeland, Myanmar [Burma till 1989], and today pays homage to the surrounding culinary influences of Thailand, Vietnam, China India and the sea. Borrowing Bits & Pieces from each culture, Burmese food boasts its own subtly discernible, often surprising and always tantalizing flavors and textures.
Also geographically inspired, the polished wait staff at Burma Superstar is traditionally well-mannered towards its guests and well-informed regarding its bill of fare. So when Owner Jocelynn Lee found herself overcome with gratitude for the loyal followers her restaurant had attracted, she decided to treat both employees and visitors with an environmental upgrade. By elevating the ceiling several feet, Jocelynn hoped to extend a more inviting, open feeling. Though planned with the best of intentions, this remodel was equal parts visual success and undeniable acoustical flop. In laymen’s terms, the extra ceiling space and dangling décor gave our Decibel Duo, aka residents Din and Hubbub, more room in which to wreak their havoc. N-O-I-S-E!
Treasures from Burma/Myanmar
You’ll see many neatly-set tables depicted above, normally seated with diners enjoying their placement somewhere upon the Anticipatory-to-Satiated Spectrum. Always poised and ready, the highly-trained/ -experienced waiters attempt to fill that first end with notably delectable meals and the last with sweet relaxation. And then, in that next millisecond, right as the final exhale escapes and chair legs begin to grind, white sleeves flail, dishes vanish, tables shine, settings emerge … and excited, starving strangers appear, assuming their Anticipatory status on the invisible spectrum. It is this very rotation, The Cycle of Service, about which I’m writing today.
“Welcome!”
Now couple the above brain drain with this profession’s physical demands, and you’ve got yourself full-on Acuity & Agility Workouts. As recognized by Cal- OSHA, this list reveals the primary job hazards:
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Repetitive stress [back strains]
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Slippery floors [falls]
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Noise [85+ dB]
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Sexual harassment
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Burns, cuts, varicose veins and secondhand smoke
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Serious stuff, huh? I mean, how does this guy keep smiling? Surely he’s aware of the back strains and noise levels. Now, check this out. Business Insider [in cooperation with the US Department of Labor, among others] recently published the following: Wow! Our waiters in The Cycle of Service ranked the highest overall STRESS LEVEL! No, the job is not neurosurgery. Neither does it enjoy the same income and associated prestige, socially advantageous to be sure. But the extensive skillset required to master waiting tables may very well be the reason it is often misperceived and thereby undervalued. Yes, this chart makes perfect sense. If “Server” is inclusive on your resume, then you know. http://www.businessinsider.com/the-most-stressful-jobs-on-the-planet-picture-2011-2/
To ensure the Hearing, Health & Happiness of her wait staff, thoughtful and wise Owner Jocelynn contacted WCD. A familiar tale to us, she recited how the raised roof level had raised the decibel level which took the stress level to an all new level! Waiters, unable to hear, were forced to bend further from their waists to articulate specials, understand their guests, accurately answer questions and record their orders. Errors mounted, tempers flared, tips decreased and backs ached. Misunderstandings from kitchen through all wait staff to customers were becoming commonplace. So Jocelynn, unlike frankly too many managers, owned the problem and took steps toward providing the best, quickest and most affordable solution.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx So why the installation of wall panels in lieu of ceilings, as displayed in all previous posts? Of course, common sense tells us NOISE is most easily eradicated directly at its source. Many sites, however, are already accentuated at eye- or seat-height with extensive glass, objets d’ art or other design details. When the ceilings were lifted here at Burma Superstar, many penetrations were made to incorporate fans, track lighting, conduit and the like. So we were fortunate here to “railroad” our fabulous 66-inch Whisper Walls stretch fabric down the walls into five-foot bands, creating panels with optimum directional absorption. This popular beige fabric, then tucked into the perimeter of our assembly’s track, spans the exterior of the six-pound density fiberglass without even contacting it. All told, our method achieved an NRC [Noise Reduction Coefficient, remember?] of .95. Applause!!!
Burma Superstar waiters, those wondrously smiling people with The Most Stressful Job on the Planet, are ecstatically reporting improved Hearing, Health & Happiness. Their vibe has permeated throughout the restaurant and is being appreciated by all! Hear, Hear! |
At Burma Superstar, Buddha smiles down ….
… upon Hearing, Health & Happiness!
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