HELP! Need advice from servers/former servers!

[BlondieK143]

Okay, so I've never served before, but I'm taking on the challenge for a second job. (My current one allows for me to get paid well, deal with stressful people and multi-tasking is a must! Buuut, I get to sit on my butt). :) So come on, I need stories (good and bad), advice, and anything else that might be useful!

Thanks in advance! :)

[Brewman_Jax]

1. G'day, Blondie!

:hi: Taking on a 2nd job? I forgot that you moved. Where is the new job?

[BlondieK143]

2. Hey dear!

Yes, I'm taking on a second job. :) My first one is 25 minutes from the new place. This job is 20 minutes from my first one, so about 5-10 minutes from home. They're all kinda on the way so it's convenient. I'm just super nervous because I've never served before, but I'm a people person!

So how are YOU?

[Brewman_Jax]

3. So far, so good

If you're a people person, then you can do well if the restaurant has a steady clientele and in a good spot. What style of restaurant is it?

[BlondieK143]

4. That's good!

How's your mom doing?

It's a more expensive place than say, Ruby Tuesday's. Known for it's famous steaks. But it's not black tie. Does that make sense?

[Brewman_Jax]

5. It does

getting in the mid-level ranges, like Steak & Ale. You have a good chance. I've known a few career servers. Also, you'll be in a good position to get experience to advance to management, if you want.

[BlondieK143]

6. Thanks!

:) You're making me feel better. I just have to get over the four days of training and the three tests. GREAT! :)

[Brewman_Jax]

7. Are you leaving work right now?

n/t

[BlondieK143]

8. Nope, here until 3.

Just getting some stuff done. Are you there all day?

[Brewman_Jax]

9. Yep, still at work

I'll be here all day.

My youngest brother was working at Steak & Ale. He said that he wasn't making much money, but he's been a real butthead lately. That has probably rubbed off on his performance. He's an unrealized artist, and a legend in his own mind. :silly:

How's your favorite Marine doing? Hope you've gotten to see him lately.

[BlondieK143]

11. lol

Legend in his own mind. hehe. And I'm 5'12, 120 in mine. :D

No Marine. He's property of USMC. He's doing very hard training right now. Haven't seen him in almost three months. *sigh* What can ya do?

How's the woman situation going?

[Brewman_Jax]

13. The same

If nothing else, I have more time for training. When I go running, I do at least 4 miles. I can almost defeat the hills, but they're kinda steep, so I do 30-sec sprints. It has improved my time. I can also wear my jeans again. :thumbsup:

I left a message with the last one and she hasn't called me back. I like her, as a friend, 'cause we're graduates of the same college and know a few of the same people. I'll have to call her again this week.

Being the good son has cut into my fun time also. That probably didn't help with the above. Still no family support. I know that I'll be angry with my brothers over this for years to come.

[BlondieK143]

14. Do they not care?

I just can't imagine them not wanting to do anything to help you out!

[Brewman_Jax]

17. No, they don't

Don't feel bad, most people have no concept of that level of insensitivity and cruelty.

They don't have to help me, just help mom. That would give me a break. They just won't.

There will be a reckoning.

[BlondieK143]

18. That's so ridiculous!

I can understand sibling tiffs or whatever you want to call it, but when it comes to her, she should be put first in their minds.

*sigh* I'll never understand some people. But don't give up on the woman situation, obviously no one has been worthy of you thus far.

[Brewman_Jax]

19. That's very kind of you

:hug:

It's a parent-child thing. You'd think that they'd be more adult about it.

As for the women, maybe it's the other way around. It may be that I'm not worthy.


Gotta go workout. It's cardio kickboxing day! 45 mins of sheer unadulterated sweat. It'll be fun! :thumbsup:

[BlondieK143]

20. Trust me, that's not it.

:) you're more than worthy!
Have fun working out! Work out some for me! :hug: Later!

[Brewman_Jax]

24. I'm back at my desk!

you must tell me how the training's been going. Are you ready to solo, yet?

[Richardo]

10. Oh. My mistake.

I thought you were looking for altar boys. O8)

[BlondieK143]

12. Bad bad bad!

:spank:

[WinterStorm]

15. Go the fine dining route

You get 5 tables with no turn over and you sit and sip coffee most of the time. You still get paid the same amount as a cheap restaurant with loads of tables but you don't work your ass off and the clientele treats you much better.

[BlondieK143]

16. Um, call me crazy... but what does

turn over mean in that case? Sorry. :(

I'm actually at a pretty decent place. It's more upscale than Ruby Tuesday's or O'Charley's. And they have a solid clientele that are allowed to bring in wine (there's no bar, just beer on tap). The manager told me that most of their servers pocket about $60 on a slow night, each. So, is that good?

[baldguy]

21. "Turn-over" is a measure of how busy the place is.

If the place seats 100 people and in a given shift you've served 600, you can say that it's "turned over" six times. Obviously, the more people you serve the more money you make - and the more running you do and the more beat you get.

[WinterStorm]

23. Wrong

Lower priced places have to have a high turn over but fine dining can have one seating and they make their bucks on the booze alone. It also depends on where you are located at. If you are in NY your going to make better money then a fine dining restaurant in Alabama makes.

Fine dining is the route to go if you have the experience, knowledge of fine wines and the attitude.

[WinterStorm]

22. You don't need turnover

If your check averages are high. You need a place where people order wine by the bottle that costs several hundred dollars a bottle. My average tip use to be around $50.00 for each table.

[BlondieK143]

25. Wow!

That's pretty impressive. The place I'm working isn't THAT fine of dining and in fact, beer is the only thing they serve. However, they allow liquor and wine to be brought in and we charge a fee for wine glasses, scotch glasses.

[WinterStorm]

31. Get the experience

Use it wisely and you can move up in the field. It's the only area that your personality and people skills can buy you a career without a masters degree. I use to work 3 part time waitressing jobs and two were at fine dining restaurants. The other job was a lunch waitress job at a restaurant called Houlihans which is comparable to the Olive Garden.

I worked during the Clinton years and we had tons of business. If the economy is good you will have people eating at higher priced places. Work you way up into a fine dining restaurant and you will make big bucks. You need to learn how to serve from the right and clear from the left, never to stack a plate on top of another plate in front of the customers, how to open and pour wine properly, never speak unless your customers are ready for you to speak (You kiss ass) and if you can do that you will be able to work at a fine dining restaurant and you will make as much as your heart desires.

I worked at a country club and they paid by the hour but it taught me how to kiss ass and serve properly. Country clubs are willing to teach people but the pay by the hour and it's not as much as waitressing at the Olive Garden or someplace like that. You can work one or two shifts a week for experience only. If you are in a large city you can make more money serving then people that have degrees but stay in school and work at the same time.

I am thinking about becoming a Wine Sommelier. I know one guy that makes close to $80,000.00 a year and all he does is pick out wines for people in an up scale restaurant.

[Champ]

26. I haven't seen you in awhile

Things may seem new or difficult at first but after awhile you get the hang of things, that's how it was with me doing a job I never done before. :hi:

[BlondieK143]

27. Thanks!

Yep, it has been awhile. I've been super busy. Hope all is well!

[Brewman_Jax]

28. Welcome back!

your thread is still alive! :thumbsup:

[BlondieK143]

29. lol only because I kicked it!

And thanks! :) I need some advice and i'm not getting any! lol. Well, in more ways than one! :evilgrin:

[Brewman_Jax]

30. How's the training going?

Advice, like a lot of things, should be taken in moderation and with a large grain of salt. You may not be wearing a tux or serving $100 bottles of wine, but you should stay busy.

Is the job good so far? Are you ready to work solo?

[WinterStorm]

33. What type of advice?

Read the message that I posted for you.

[tsakshaug]

32. Hey there!

I have missed your morning threads

I never served- I did the dishes