Alessandro Belluschi, aka Pellet (or Pugnetto). We asked him where "Pellet" comes from, basically because we are nosy bastards, but we also know when it’s time to accept a silence and move beyond mere curiosity to understand that, sometimes, respecting the person in front of you matters more than the hype, even when dealing with a digital fanzine.
And so, we found ourselves facing this very young guy and—let’s be clear—we had asked ourselves a fair share of questions about him, and perhaps even had some answers ready, because prejudice is a brick we use to build our house every day to protect ourselves from what we do not know.
"Stigma is the process by which the reaction of others spoils the individual's identity, transforming them from a whole and normal person to a tainted, discounted one." Erving Goffman
ON THE VERGE OF BURNOUT
Let’s be honest: we all seem to be on the verge of burnout. We are all at the limit, running as if we were saving lives (in most cases, we don’t have a degree in surgery, but perhaps that hardly matters to us). Often, we run more to prove something than because we actually have to, and we blame society because it’s perhaps the only mask that still allows us to survive. And so, it is more than welcome when someone decides to create a project about sports; it is welcome when two guys decide to partner up for a project that speaks of wasted time; a project that has no desire to be demanding, but simply wants to freeze a moment on a pitch and go back to being 10-year-old kids chasing a ball (allow us that much).
"We realized more and more that people were tired of those who focused too much on the perfection of a drink and that the contact with the clientele was gradually being lost. From there, we decided to create an event that would allow many colleagues in the industry to unplug and create a moment of encounter that didn't necessarily have to be a competition or a masterclass. To get back to focusing on the desire to party and be together: sport is the element most similar to conviviality and group dynamics. Meanwhile, the brands that choose to embrace the project can connect with various realities of the industry as they’ve never been gathered in a single event."
BECAUSE BARTENDERS SEEM TO HAVE A LIFE TOO
For those who don’t know, bartenders have a life too. Yes, after a 12-hour shift (we’re feeling provocative today, aren’t we?), they go home, they go to bars to drink (often frequenting the usual spots, and here we could recommend some unconventional bars), but above all, they want to have fun just like all of us consumers. We find the idea of putting them all on a field to play brilliant. For those who want to be even more polemical than us, we are well aware that nobody has reinvented the wheel and that these types of events already exist; but as in fashion, it’s not fundamental to invent something, but rather to breathe life into what is already there. And here we can say that good old Pellet and his partner Francesco Losappio are doing just that, offering a breath of fresh air through their road show: BARTENDER SOCCER GAME
"What truly remains with those who participate in the event is, first and foremost, forging relationships with colleagues they wouldn't be able to meet in such a playful way otherwise. We are convinced that at the core of those who choose this job, beyond a strange form of masochism, there must be the desire to be well among people, providing moments of lightheartedness, culture, and fun. Among the participants, we have had, and will have, the fortune of having professionals from the bar industry more intent than ever on keeping this desire alive. From Ancient Greece, we took the sacred concept of hospitality that went beyond the will of the gods themselves, and from this same fascinating culture, the Olympics began: it is no coincidence, we are all agents of hospitality. It makes no difference from place to place; we can all be united under this 'creed'."
THE MANDATORY POSITION
What Ale teaches us is that we waste too much time holding ourselves back; we are often the ones limiting our own possibilities. And he does it with a bluntness that is almost frightening, in a direct and bold manner, talking about his disability before others do. He throws it in your face, stripping away that possibility of pretense we all flaunt when faced with something we don’t know; he forces you not to look away, he forces you to take a position. Perhaps at first, we thought he talked about it too much, that he pushed the accelerator too hard, but then we realized he doesn't talk about it too much: it’s just that we are too used to pretending certain things don't exist. We appreciate that someone has found strength and courage where many, unfortunately, fall. We love this "cazzima" we see in him because, DAMN, he has figured out how to make his life work. Obviously, if you are looking for numbers, data, and engagement rates for the project in this text, you are in the wrong place—but perhaps you’ve already learned that.
"I feel like a guy who has always liked to climb over imposed limits, despite the enormous effort. I’ve always found it amazing to have ideas that, when first spoken, seem crazy and then, those few times I manage to make them concrete, to be labeled a 'genius.' And above all, I thank everyone who gives their time every day to lend me a hand because, in the end, I only have one that works."
