Moonlighting : Writer & G.M. of Scarr’s Pizza in NYC Talks About Balancing Both Worlds

Ariel Barnes

Freelance Writer & Manager at Scarr’s Pizza

Recent Works: Peddler Journal : “We Are Not Doing This” :

Ariel’s Website

Astrological Sign: Pisces
Hometowns: San Diego, CA & Miami, FL
Fav Foods: Dirty gin martini & steak tartare - with a good book [Preferably Cervo’s]
Currently Reading: Just finished “There, There” by Tommy Orange.
Fav Quote: “Don’t be afraid to start over. You’re not starting from scratch, you’re starting from experience.” - unknown
The preferred way to eat pizza: A non-committed fold. Too often do I eat pizza standing while bartending, so sitting down and eating pizza in peace is actually quite stressful. 

Ariel is from Miami by way of San Diego (the place she considers most "home") and came to New York City like many to pursue her passions and find herself along the way. She went to college for International Studies - and as she says, "didn't do much with the degree." She landed in the service industry and hasn't looked back. Her approach to moonlighting is a little different than many pursuing a passion while also balancing a full-time gig.  I met up with her during a busy shift at Scarr's Pizza, we share slices, convo and some natural wine. In between draft pours, table wipes, and multiple, "Hey do you have garlic powder?" interruptions, we get to some questions and learn more about her writing and moonlighting in the restaurant world. 

Background: 

I met Ariel on New Years Day almost two years ago, after going for Dim Sum in Chinatown. It was a shitty New Years Day where I lost my phone under a car in the snow and then the meal was a total letdown. I was still hungry so I went to grab a slice of pizza at my local shop and complain about my first meal of the new year to anyone that would listen. I didn't know it at the time but I celebrated the first day of the year with Ariel, on her first day of work. Fast forward to that summer and the wine & stitches incident. She was opening a bottle of sparkling wine, it broke in her hands and ended up gashing her leg right open. After a trip to the ER, we met at her place, fixed it up some more, and became friends. 

Why do you want to be a writer?
I kind of already am, I could just be better at it. I could do more of it.. and probably more often. I just wrote an essay for Peddler’s upcoming Zine and discussed it on their podcast -The House Specials. (The episode is called "Longing, with Ariel Barnes" it's about childhood lunches.) And I self-published "We’re Not Doing This" which is a compilation of rejected works and abandoned word documents of mine.
But it's hard to stay motivated to keep doing it. The ideas are secondary... I have this file on my computer with tons of ideas on it and pitches. The hardest part is pitching to people you don't know.

What's one of the biggest challenges when it comes to your writing?
My biggest challenge I tackle in my writing is my mother. She comes up a lot in my writing. We don't have a good relationship... or any really. Vulnerability is the best thing for creativity, and its the thing I'm most vulnerable about in my life.

How does working at a pizza shop fit in?
I started working here on New Years Day. I came here on December 31st and I was drunk and hated where I was working at the time. I had invested 3 years of my life to somewhere I didn’t want to be. I was here and the owner was saying that he needed a new bartender. I yelled out across the bar "What are the hours??" and I started the next day.

I've been in the restaurant industry since college. You can make real money in this world. The people I work for and with have been the best part of working in any restaurant, anywhere. They can make or break it for you. At the end of the day, almost every job is a service job, if you're dealing with people. It's like every other job, no one is gonna be happier all the time at a 9-to-5. Just like you're not going to be happy all the time anywhere.

How has being here helped your side hustle?
It's given me the time to write real pitches and concentrate on what I need to be doing for me. I'm much better with my money working here. I made more money at my last spot, but would spend it all. Being here gave me the opportunity to network... a lot of our customers are in the food scene so I‘ve met a lot of good people.
I've gotten good ideas here which surprises me. I get good back and forth and brainstorming because I can talk to customers and have some conversations that’ll spark ideas.
Don't get me wrong working in a place like this can sometimes get a little annoying... like when someone gives you a Supreme sticker as a tip.

What do you wish had right now that you don't? 
More time. I'm really forcing myself because I gave myself a year to work like this (with a less crazy schedule) and cut my income in half for the writing hustle. So now the time is up and I need to make it happen - and I am because I'm getting more offers for event work, more of my pitches are getting picked up.  And recently a pretty well-known New York publication took a pitch I sent to them and gave it to one of their staff writers. Even though that sucks, I guess I should be flattered by that. But it's also pretty discouraging at the same time. With creative stuff it kind of breaks your heart in half because you don't see the results of it right away or things take forever. But then like here (at the pizza shop) I did so much today with invoices and ordering and billing and it's like you see the results of all your work this morning, right now, and right away...and sometimes I wish the creative world was immediately as satisfying. 

Do you always want to be attached to the industry in some way?
I was thinking about that today and yeah. I'm good at this shit. I've done it for so long that I've gotten over the resentment of it.... this is a very profitable business. People think they get stuck in this job. Cause it's a cliche to be a struggling artist and have a service industry job. It's the longest-running cliché. One person doesn't have to be one thing. You can be so much. And do multiple things well... it's about allotting your time. Your passions might not make you the money so why not like the thing that actually does? Why not just fucking enjoy it and make money? Why can't you like both??

Any parting words?
You know I thought of you today because, when I came in, I read my horoscope and it said: 'You will take an original approach to a familiar problem, you'll be amazed how quickly you find a solution.' I really thought my horoscope today was about cleaning the slushie machine [she starts laughing]..but maybe its about this pitch I want to send off to a magazine.