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I worked in a restaurant. I spat in the trashcan in the kitchen right by the food line. I bummed cigarettes from customers. I also worked my ass off, working doubles or picking up shifts, because combination of 0 money and just my general nature. I practically knocked down a waitress one time just because I was sort of rushing around not looking where I was going. I stole food sometimes. I was a menace. I frequently called out. I was the only white guy who would work busing or dish room without whining about it, and also I would genuinely try to do a good job. The managers were sort of evenly divided with most slightly in favor of me and some with intense bad feelings about me, but in general I was perpetually semi-close to getting fired. Eventually, I quit because too dysfunctional and was moving to another city, and was too generally disorganized to even pick up my last check for some reason.
I also hated waiting tables because of dealing with customers, and would try to avoid it in favor of even other less valued positions when I could afford to.
Does that count?
Dish dog is one of the easiest jobs. Worked several kitchen jobs in restaurants ranging from denny's-like, **** to fine catering. Cratering kitchen work was by far my favorite. Next favorite was dish dogging in a ****. They all loved me and I kicked ass. Bartender kept my whisky glass full all night.
Barbacked a massive wedding in malibu. There were 5 different bars I had to keep stalked. They were all pretty far apart. Was originally hired as server. They asked the servers to move a bunch of alcohol. All the other servers decided it wasn't their job and went and hid. I moved fuck loads of case's of liquor and beer, alone. Then they needed help in the kitchen prepping. I volunteered. Went to the kitchen and sliced lemons and veg with a dull knife. The only extra knife they had that was Kosher. Loved that part. Chatted away with the latinos with my shitty broken-spanish. Guero, rapido! They loved that they had their own white boy dressed in expensive clothes, tie tucked in between his buttons putting on an apron to jokingly boss around. I think they really liked the fact that I didn't think I was better than them or above the work.
The head of that catering wanted to hire me full time when the night was over. He was really impressed. I said yes till I got my check.
Was hired with them telling me I was making 18/hour. They paid me 10/hour. When the called me for the next gig I told them to eat a bag of dicks!
I have to agree, the worst is serving. That shit sucks ass.
Yeah, dealing with people is the absolute worst. Just put me in the back with people who are working for a living. Just way better.
I forgot this one: One of the customers said she loved our house-made whatever dip. I said no, it comes from a tub. She said no, it's definitely house made, it's so good. I went to the back and got one of the tubs to show her where it came from.
There's a reason some of the managers hated me 😃
Classic. Honesty is a great policy! Defiantly can cause problem's at times.
I served people for about 12 years, honesty is the best policy, your tips will reflect it (provided you live in the dystopian shit hole that is the US and rely on tips)
How is such and such? "don't order that, you'll send it back" always met with "okay, I appreciate it"
Instead of the classic "the kitchen messed up such and such" just say "I'm really sorry about this, I fucked up and forgot to put your order in about 15 minutes ago, I've asked that it be rushed and I'll keep you posted, can I get you anything in the meantime" typically met with, "no worries, shit happens"
As long as you can effectively communicate with people, and do your best to anticipate their needs/wants, it will work out 95% of the time. Fuck those other 5% of people, I hope they keep their word and never come back. Their business sucks, it slows everything down, and their money is shit. Group of 20 right after church let's out? Fuck that.
Serving is defiantly an art. I can make friends on an aeroplane or a train. Fairly easy going and entertaining and despite not really having that filter that says "dont say that shit man" people tend to like me. Yet I find interacting with people exhausting. So i prefer not to have too many interactions if I can help it. Sometimes go weeks without actually talking to another human! I was a capable server but I hated every second of it.
The best server I ever worked with, was incredibly good. Personable. Absolutely just a delightful person in general. Great with people and really loved the human interactions. Would sit down at the table if there was space. Get to know the guests. Make them feel at home. Give them all the good pointers on the menu and bits to do in the area. Smiling and joking around. Calm cool and collected, never in a rush and always just happy. I must say, i envied her way of being. I think she mastered that Darren Brown mind fuckery where she'd touch you on your arm and you'd just open your wallet.
Yeah I'm the same way, I didn't hate the job, but I'm not all that social especially with groups or people I don't know. Serving forced me to overcome that fear though, and I'll always be grateful for that.