It may not sound like the most annoying thing there is: locking yourself in a bar for seven days. That’s how Thijs Schipperen, Sebastiaan Wagenaar and Yoeri Schippers initially thought about it. Yet it turned out to be a lot harder than expected. The three locked themselves in café De Ridder in Den Bosch for a week to raise money for 3FM Serious Request.
Thijs, Sebastiaan and Yoeri did not leave the café for seven days. The café, renamed the Glass Pub, remained open all week and during opening hours they worked behind the bar. They also slept in the café, on beds that were placed in the middle of the shop.
“It has been very tough. Long days, short sleep,” says Sebastiaan with a small eye. Thijs also greatly underestimated it. “You think, this is quite easy. But if you compare it with the DJs in the Glass House: they take turns. We worked twenty-hour shifts with little sleep. And working in the catering industry is tough. Yes, it was a real struggle.”
“At the time it seemed like a great idea.”
With so little sleep, it was difficult for the men. “That makes a difference,” says Thijs. Still, sleeping itself wasn’t too bad, says Yoeri. “The beds were quite okay. We actually slept quite well. Even though it was very short”
The idea arose, as is often the case, over a beer at the bar. “We were here a few days before Serious Request and that’s how the idea arose to lock ourselves up for a week,” says Sebastiaan, the owner of the café. “At the time it seemed like a great idea. But oh man, it was tough. We had a lot of fun together.”
“When I get home, I first take a shower in my own shower and then go to bed.”
To raise extra money, the men came up with promotions. For every 500 euros raised, they carried out an assignment. “For example, working with one arm for three hours,” says Yoeri. “Or having one eye taped up for ten hours. And for 5,000 euros I had my head shaved.”
After a week the moment had arrived: at 4 o’clock in the afternoon they were finally allowed to go outside. “Finally fresh air again,” Yoeri laughs. “When I get home, I first take a shower in my own shower and then go to bed. Then I sleep for twelve hours. And then Christmas begins.”
Then just go back to work in the pub.”
The three men ran out of the cafe, cheering to be outside again. “The three of us did such a good job,” says Sebastiaan proudly.
Then they ran straight to the Market in Den Bosch, where the Glass House is located. There they presented a check for 5,080 euros to Spieren voor Spieren. And after that? “Then work in the pub will continue as normal,” they laugh. Sleeping will come later.