Though rockstar lore is filled with mudshark-sized stories about hotel hedonism, my experience working as a bellman for Warren Haynes and his Asheville Christmas Jam thankfully shattered the stereotype of the room-destroying rock n’ roll maniac (RIP Ozzy).
The term “bellman” is a word rarely heard nowadays, outdated in many ways. But almost two decades ago, it entailed doing whatever guest services were needed at a high-end hotel in downtown Asheville. The yearly highlight for the staff was when we’d block out the hotel to host Warren Haynes and his guests for the annual Christmas Jam, the long-running, star-studded benefit concert for Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity (and now BeLoved Asheville as well).
Before working my first Christmas Jam weekend, I’d heard stories from employees of Jams past—one bellman found out that you do not joke around with Trey Anastasio about the entire town of Asheville not recycling—but I never had to deal with any ego friction. The entire operation had the down-to-earth feel of a family reunion taking over a hotel, with the patriarch of the event holding court in a top-floor suite…