ONEFORTHEROAD

Getting in BACKSTAGE

Backstage Operators Keep It Down to Earth Amongst the Stars

IN THE WORLD of well-liked watering holes, trends are a dime a dozen. From the hippest little lizard lounge with all the proper décor, to the hottest corner club with all the right people dancing to all the right music, such scenes usually last only as long as the trend.   
    Where’s the place where after a hard day’s work one can just belly up to the bar without being hassled and without dealing with any attitude?
    In Los Angeles, Ben Myron has the answer. Walls lined with dark paneling, dim lighting; low-brow, offbeat artwork, old school Rock ‘n’ Roll and friends-for-life staff –– these are the ingredients Myron mixed together to form the perfect neighborhood bar, Backstage.

My Perfect Bar  
    The product is no accident. Myron bought Backstage (backstageculvercity.com) slightly more than a year ago with the intention of creating a neighborhood bar likened to what that phrase meant in the olden days. He wanted to create a venue that meant escape.
    “If you stop and think about it, that’s what a bar ought to be — a vacation from the real world. When you walk through the door, it should be a little bit of a make-believe place,” says the former film producer. “I’m trying to revive that feeling, but I think the Backstage brings it to another level.”
    Myron replaced the ubiquitous Golden Tee golf game with a ‘70s Playboy pinball machine and brought in Ms. PacMan, and he and only plays music he would want to listen to, such as Classic Rock, ‘70s Soul and Country-Punk.
    He also emphasizes to his bartenders personality and friendliness. He tells them that “everybody is everybody's friend,” and encourages them to introduce the new folks to the regulars.
    When he hired his staff originally, he conducted his interviews like he would a casting call for a movie, putting in an order for a drink and just talking to the interviewee, choosing personality over experience.
    “I get compliments all the time,” Myron says. “When it comes down to my bartenders, it’s all about the human connection.” He keeps his drinks cheap, and he never charges a minimum. This design has paid off, winning “Best Dive Bar in L.A.,” “Best Karaoke in L.A.” and “Best Bar Food in L.A.,” with a menu that combines bar food with an Asian twist and karaoke buffs traveling from all over to perform in his bar.

Star Gazing
    Myron’s Hollywood approach fits right in too, given the location of the place. He’s right across from Sony, formerly MGM, Studios on Culver Boulevard in Culver City. And, the celebs have taken notice to the Backstage’s low-key charm, with the likes of Billy Bob Thornton, Adam Sandler and Leonardo DiCaprio, to name a few, disappearing into its dark corners by the fire pit.
    It’s all in the vein of tradition though, because the stars have been a staple of the place for years. NCB