To my sheer delight, I got to go in to work at 6:30 a.m. yesterday. We had a breakfast for 75, at 7:30. They stated arriving at about 7:00. By 7:30, I’d hit my idiot limit for the day. These people stood around and blocked EVERY aisle way, and the door to the wait station, which leads to the kitchen. (I’m not sure they figured out, that that is where the food comes from.)
My polite “Excuse me” changed to “Hot coffee coming through! Watch out!” Every time I had to come out of the wait station, I had had to get them out of the doorway, and as soon I passed, they would go back to their original formation. It never occurred to them that we would have to pass back through there. (Idiots)
One guy stopped me and asked “When are we going to eat?” “Soon.” (I wasn’t real big on conversation at this time) So then he starts rambling on about how he usually eats much earlier than this and he’s hungry blah blah blah….when I was reasonably sure he was done prattling on, I said “Oh” and walked away.
A few minutes later, I fought my way through this crowd of totally lacking any sense of situational awareness morons, to refill the coffee cups of the two drinking decaf. (Who drinks decaf at 7:30 in the morning?!?) As I was pouring, one woman asked, “Is that decaf?” “Yes it is.” “Why are you pouring it is that cup?” “Because that’s what she was drinking.” “How do you know that?” “Because she’s (Why am I even having this conversation?) standing right here.” I pointed out the woman, as I felt adding visuals was the only way to get my point across. Shame on me for not knowing that the woman asking the questions was appointed to the Coffee Police Committee.
They were just as clueless when it came to bringing out hot pans of food. As they were going through the buffet line I guess they felt it was their duty to tell us what we already knew. “We’re out of eggs!” I replied, “We are aware of that.” As I am standing behind them with a new pan of eggs….but they would stand and stare at the not quite empty egg pan for a minute before allowing me access to the table to put down the fresh pan.
I was thinking perhaps we should get some of the 80 teachers (holding an all day seminar in the room downstairs) to come up and explain fire safety, and why it’s necessary to keep the aisle ways open, and maybe run a fire drill.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
40 separate checks?!?
Here we go on the separate check merry-go-round again. I have to work a luncheon party today. There will be about 40 people, and they all want separate checks. That’s really stretching it. A couple of separate checks at a table is no big deal….but 40?!? Really?!?
What people must understand when they make a ridiculous request like this, is, it takes time!!! I can’t cash all of you out at the same time…someone’s gonna be first and someone is gonna be last. If you hand me the check with some money and don’t need any change, then we’re good to go…but if you’re putting it on a charge card, it’s going to take a minute….and if you need change (don’t even think about handing me a $100 bill) it’s going to take a minute. Even if only took me 30 seconds a person to cash you out, the last person will still be waiting 20 minutes.
So don’t all be waving your checks at me expecting me to do them magically all at once! First of all, I don’t know any of you, so this has to be done in small batches. If I picked up all 40 at once, I’d never get them back in the right order. Don’t start yelling at me that you’re in a hurry and need to cash out NOW! (Remember, this separate check thing was YOUR idea, not mine)
I’m going to do one table at a time, or if it’s a large table, then I will take about 5 at a time. If everyone at your table is ready to cash out except you, I will not stand around and wait, I will move on to the next table and come back to you later. Again, don’t start yelling at me that you’re in a hurry. This goes both ways….if you want to get cashed out in a hurry, then YOU need to be ready! Have your cash or credit card ready!
If you look at me and say, “Oh, I haven’t even looked at it yet,” and then proceed to pick up the check, examine it and think I’m gonna stand there and wait while you dig through your purse or wallet…well, that’s not going to happen. You just put yourself at the end of the line.
While I am cashing out one table, don’t walk over and wave your check in my face…”I’m in a hurry! I was at that table, over there!” Again, there are 40 of you, and I can’t remember where all 40 of you were sitting.
Another thing…..if you suddenly decide you need your checks right now….that’s now gonna happen in the drop of a hat either…..I have to stand at the computer and separate 40 checks…..that takes some time also. So don’t go getting all impatient on me….I promise, that will only slow down the process. I reiterate, 40 separate checks was YOUR idea, not mine.
What people must understand when they make a ridiculous request like this, is, it takes time!!! I can’t cash all of you out at the same time…someone’s gonna be first and someone is gonna be last. If you hand me the check with some money and don’t need any change, then we’re good to go…but if you’re putting it on a charge card, it’s going to take a minute….and if you need change (don’t even think about handing me a $100 bill) it’s going to take a minute. Even if only took me 30 seconds a person to cash you out, the last person will still be waiting 20 minutes.
So don’t all be waving your checks at me expecting me to do them magically all at once! First of all, I don’t know any of you, so this has to be done in small batches. If I picked up all 40 at once, I’d never get them back in the right order. Don’t start yelling at me that you’re in a hurry and need to cash out NOW! (Remember, this separate check thing was YOUR idea, not mine)
I’m going to do one table at a time, or if it’s a large table, then I will take about 5 at a time. If everyone at your table is ready to cash out except you, I will not stand around and wait, I will move on to the next table and come back to you later. Again, don’t start yelling at me that you’re in a hurry. This goes both ways….if you want to get cashed out in a hurry, then YOU need to be ready! Have your cash or credit card ready!
If you look at me and say, “Oh, I haven’t even looked at it yet,” and then proceed to pick up the check, examine it and think I’m gonna stand there and wait while you dig through your purse or wallet…well, that’s not going to happen. You just put yourself at the end of the line.
While I am cashing out one table, don’t walk over and wave your check in my face…”I’m in a hurry! I was at that table, over there!” Again, there are 40 of you, and I can’t remember where all 40 of you were sitting.
Another thing…..if you suddenly decide you need your checks right now….that’s now gonna happen in the drop of a hat either…..I have to stand at the computer and separate 40 checks…..that takes some time also. So don’t go getting all impatient on me….I promise, that will only slow down the process. I reiterate, 40 separate checks was YOUR idea, not mine.
Monday, September 26, 2011
When please disappears from the vocabulary....
There are things that seem to happen more often when people are at a banquet, as opposed to just dining out with the family. Most significantly, the lack of use of the word “please” and the lack of patience. Why is it people develop the attitude that the servers working their banquet are less human than the one serving your table of four?
One woman hit a double whammy the other night. She left her banquet room, stormed into the main dining room and announced to the first server she saw (who was at a table) “I need a spoon!” First of all, if your lack of a spoon is going to cause the universe to crumble, we thank you for not letting that happen. Second, we set a spoon at every place setting, so either you set it down someplace, or someone else decided to use it…..and third, thank you for proving to us what we already suspected, you have no manners, no patience and no class. Tell ya what….since you’ve viewed this misplacement of spoon as such a personal affront, let me go find you a solid gold spoon, then you can slip it into your purse when you leave.
Your arrogant behavior is not a display of class, it is simply a display of arrogance and your self perceived importance. I’d be willing to bet that others at your banquet (not to mention those dining at the table you stormed over to) have the same reaction we do….we all roll our eyes back. Not to mention that those dining out with their children have just used you as an example of how not to behave in public.
However, just to reassure you, you did draw attention to yourself…everyone knows who you are….and the impression you left, is not a good one.
One woman hit a double whammy the other night. She left her banquet room, stormed into the main dining room and announced to the first server she saw (who was at a table) “I need a spoon!” First of all, if your lack of a spoon is going to cause the universe to crumble, we thank you for not letting that happen. Second, we set a spoon at every place setting, so either you set it down someplace, or someone else decided to use it…..and third, thank you for proving to us what we already suspected, you have no manners, no patience and no class. Tell ya what….since you’ve viewed this misplacement of spoon as such a personal affront, let me go find you a solid gold spoon, then you can slip it into your purse when you leave.
Your arrogant behavior is not a display of class, it is simply a display of arrogance and your self perceived importance. I’d be willing to bet that others at your banquet (not to mention those dining at the table you stormed over to) have the same reaction we do….we all roll our eyes back. Not to mention that those dining out with their children have just used you as an example of how not to behave in public.
However, just to reassure you, you did draw attention to yourself…everyone knows who you are….and the impression you left, is not a good one.
Friday, September 23, 2011
When rain is a good thing......
Ahhhh…..it’s Friday. It’s raining. One of those soft steady rains that seems like it will last forever. Just blah and gray. Not like those cool storms where you can watch it blow in all fast and furious, when the trees are going crazy and the rain is coming at you from all angles, and just as quickly it passes through and gets sunny again. Nope, this is the all day stuff. But since I have to work a double, I don’t care. (Sorry, to those who have outdoor plans)
It’s the kind of day where the highlight for some, may be going out to lunch. I hope so, since I’ve gotta work, it’d be nice to be busy…..and have the time go by quickly. If not, we can always resort to Plan B, and go on another treasure hunt in the building. Last time I did that I found a big box of cocktail swords. (Hey, to each his own treasure) OH! Last night we decided to clean out everything behind the bar…..there were small plastic barrels of soap and rinse agent, that used to be hooked up to automatic dispensers, but I have no idea how long it’s been since those have worked, so we threw them out. Upon moving some other things out of the way, stuffed way under the sinks, I found an electric glass washer. The kind you set in the sink and the brushes spin. And I wasn’t even on a treasure hunt! It’s an awkward and heavy little machine….one of these days when I’m feeling particularly energetic I’ll drag it out and see if it still works. In the meantime I’ll just use the little brushes that suction to the bottom of the sink.
Or, I could go back to sleep for a couple of hours…but that’s not gonna happen. Well….maybe another 20 minutes….yeah, that sounds like a good plan.
It’s the kind of day where the highlight for some, may be going out to lunch. I hope so, since I’ve gotta work, it’d be nice to be busy…..and have the time go by quickly. If not, we can always resort to Plan B, and go on another treasure hunt in the building. Last time I did that I found a big box of cocktail swords. (Hey, to each his own treasure) OH! Last night we decided to clean out everything behind the bar…..there were small plastic barrels of soap and rinse agent, that used to be hooked up to automatic dispensers, but I have no idea how long it’s been since those have worked, so we threw them out. Upon moving some other things out of the way, stuffed way under the sinks, I found an electric glass washer. The kind you set in the sink and the brushes spin. And I wasn’t even on a treasure hunt! It’s an awkward and heavy little machine….one of these days when I’m feeling particularly energetic I’ll drag it out and see if it still works. In the meantime I’ll just use the little brushes that suction to the bottom of the sink.
Or, I could go back to sleep for a couple of hours…but that’s not gonna happen. Well….maybe another 20 minutes….yeah, that sounds like a good plan.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
The best kind of high.....
We had our Double Take Impersonators Show last night…..what a night! We spent the day taking care of all the little odds and ends. Had that anticipatory (or nervous) energy going all day.
We had a few last minute cancellations of tickets, and a few even more last minute calls to see if tickets were still available. Gotta love it when it works out that way. We have seats reserved already for our next show, October 19th!
Folks started flooding in at 5:30, for dinner. The service staff was buzzing along….. everything was going smooth as silk. There was electricity in the air. That anticipatory energy was building. We had a few last minute arrivals, that’s okay, the service staff was on it.
We had 7 acts last night, and EVERYONE brought their “A” game! It was incredible! The veterans that I work with keep telling me every show is different, and last night’s was the best! Every singer gave it their all, and had the audience in the palm of their hand. I realized I was standing back watching pure magic. We had an absolute blast, and even more important, so did the audience! People were singing along, swaying back and forth and dancing in their seats. Some even got up and danced in the middle of the show! The applause was thunderous! The electric feeling in the air was palpable!
There’s no better feeling than to know that everyone present had a great time! And, there’s no better high than that.
After breaking down the equipment and loading up our cars, we all went home. About ten minutes after I got home, I crashed, into a blissfully deep sleep.
We had a few last minute cancellations of tickets, and a few even more last minute calls to see if tickets were still available. Gotta love it when it works out that way. We have seats reserved already for our next show, October 19th!
Folks started flooding in at 5:30, for dinner. The service staff was buzzing along….. everything was going smooth as silk. There was electricity in the air. That anticipatory energy was building. We had a few last minute arrivals, that’s okay, the service staff was on it.
We had 7 acts last night, and EVERYONE brought their “A” game! It was incredible! The veterans that I work with keep telling me every show is different, and last night’s was the best! Every singer gave it their all, and had the audience in the palm of their hand. I realized I was standing back watching pure magic. We had an absolute blast, and even more important, so did the audience! People were singing along, swaying back and forth and dancing in their seats. Some even got up and danced in the middle of the show! The applause was thunderous! The electric feeling in the air was palpable!
There’s no better feeling than to know that everyone present had a great time! And, there’s no better high than that.
After breaking down the equipment and loading up our cars, we all went home. About ten minutes after I got home, I crashed, into a blissfully deep sleep.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Was yesterday really Tuesday?
The reason I ask if yesterday was really a Tuesday, is because we were unusually busy for it being so early in the week. I mean, it started out as any other weekday does….we find ourselves meandering around for a while….stopping here and there to have a quick conversation….sampling the soup…grabbing a piece of bread…one of the servers called off sick…(that should have been our first clue)…and then wham!
We had two small parties and a wine tasting marketplace…(in the lounge)…..meaning, for $5.00 you can try 5 different wines and have some cheese and crackers. Not a bad deal.
Between the two parties and the dining room filling up, the servers were spread pretty thin. Then the bar filled up for happy hour, that’s a good thing….and then folks started coming on for the wine tasting. I didn’t think I was going to have anything to do with that, then I found out I had to collect their money for the tasting and give them their “ticket .” For those wishing to purchase wine, I had to add up their bills (and once again I was amazed at people’s inability to do simple math) and cash them out. I know it doesn’t sound like any big deal, and it’s not, but add to that the fact that I had to take care of any of those at lounge tables who also wanted to order food. Plus the service bar was busy with the parties and regular diners.
So we all had our roller skates on, (figuratively, not literally, or I’d probably be in the hospital right now) and we smoothly sailed through the evening. There was only one minor glitch. A table of four came in to take advantage of happy hour, then when they were ready to cash out, informed the server that they had a coupon. Sorry, you can use the coupon OR take advantage of the happy hour prices, but you can’t have it both ways. So they decided to use the coupon, which meant the server had to re-do the bill. Of course this happened when we were at our busiest, without a second to spare. But then this could’ve been avoided had they simply thought to ask if they could use the coupon AND get happy hour prices at the start. Ya gotta love the way people pull these coupons outta their ass at the last minute, like they forgot about it.
We had two small parties and a wine tasting marketplace…(in the lounge)…..meaning, for $5.00 you can try 5 different wines and have some cheese and crackers. Not a bad deal.
Between the two parties and the dining room filling up, the servers were spread pretty thin. Then the bar filled up for happy hour, that’s a good thing….and then folks started coming on for the wine tasting. I didn’t think I was going to have anything to do with that, then I found out I had to collect their money for the tasting and give them their “ticket .” For those wishing to purchase wine, I had to add up their bills (and once again I was amazed at people’s inability to do simple math) and cash them out. I know it doesn’t sound like any big deal, and it’s not, but add to that the fact that I had to take care of any of those at lounge tables who also wanted to order food. Plus the service bar was busy with the parties and regular diners.
So we all had our roller skates on, (figuratively, not literally, or I’d probably be in the hospital right now) and we smoothly sailed through the evening. There was only one minor glitch. A table of four came in to take advantage of happy hour, then when they were ready to cash out, informed the server that they had a coupon. Sorry, you can use the coupon OR take advantage of the happy hour prices, but you can’t have it both ways. So they decided to use the coupon, which meant the server had to re-do the bill. Of course this happened when we were at our busiest, without a second to spare. But then this could’ve been avoided had they simply thought to ask if they could use the coupon AND get happy hour prices at the start. Ya gotta love the way people pull these coupons outta their ass at the last minute, like they forgot about it.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Servers are a diverse group....
Servers, for the most part, tend to be a younger group of people. However, due to the economy, job loss and anything else you want to throw in…..those who are not so young are going back to serving. Some are moms, going back into the workforce. Some are college graduates who can’t find any other job right now, some are students and there are others that I call “displaced business owners.”
I had my own title research business for 7 years, but when real estate went down the toilet, so did my business. But if hadn’t been that, we eventually would’ve been done in by the internet…..so I went back to restaurants.
Another guy, (in his 40’s) who had a landscaping business, found his business no longer kept him busy enough to survive, so he too went back to restaurants. Then there are the 20 something’s who are trying to figure out what to do with their life.
At our restaurant we range in age for 18 to 55. Makes for interesting conversation. In one way it helps to keep you young and in touch with what’s going on with those of the younger generations. Serving is a physically demanding job, and that too helps to keep you feeling younger, (except for those days when you work a double shift and all you can think about is going home and soaking in a hot bath with Epsom Salt, while the younger ones are discussing which bar to go to after work)
From the 18 year old student to the 55 year old me, we all have one thing in common, we are adrenaline junkies. We love the rush! We love running our butts when it’s busy and the time flies by! And when all is said and done, and the shift is over, we laugh about the glitches (because we powered through them) and leave with the satisfaction of knowing it was all a job well done, and a pocket full of money.
I had my own title research business for 7 years, but when real estate went down the toilet, so did my business. But if hadn’t been that, we eventually would’ve been done in by the internet…..so I went back to restaurants.
Another guy, (in his 40’s) who had a landscaping business, found his business no longer kept him busy enough to survive, so he too went back to restaurants. Then there are the 20 something’s who are trying to figure out what to do with their life.
At our restaurant we range in age for 18 to 55. Makes for interesting conversation. In one way it helps to keep you young and in touch with what’s going on with those of the younger generations. Serving is a physically demanding job, and that too helps to keep you feeling younger, (except for those days when you work a double shift and all you can think about is going home and soaking in a hot bath with Epsom Salt, while the younger ones are discussing which bar to go to after work)
From the 18 year old student to the 55 year old me, we all have one thing in common, we are adrenaline junkies. We love the rush! We love running our butts when it’s busy and the time flies by! And when all is said and done, and the shift is over, we laugh about the glitches (because we powered through them) and leave with the satisfaction of knowing it was all a job well done, and a pocket full of money.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Gotta love livin' in Glitch City......
Saturday night…we had three parties scheduled and a lot of reservations on the books. So of course, at the last minute we gotta change the game plan. One server, who went home sick Friday night, called off Saturday. The boss called me in the morning, said he needed to put me on a party and call in the other bartender. Okay. But we were still short, so he called in the new girl (who’s never worked a shift yet) to work the party of 90 (a wedding reception) that would be in the big room downstairs.
There are two of us on my party, a 60th anniversary. We arrive at 2:30 to set up for a 4:00 start time. 4:15, no sign of anyone….then we find out it doesn’t start until 5:30. Great. Meanwhile, folks are showing up for the wedding reception. At the rate this is going, we’ll all be clamoring for food at the same time.
Fast forward a couple of hours……our guests have arrived….they are all standing around talking…..my partner tells them they need to start eating the appetizers as we are going to pull them in 20 minutes.
The lounge starts filling up….there’s only one server, she gets quadruple sat. Then a fifth table, she gave it to the bartender. The dining room is filling up…..the wedding reception is getting out of control. They won’t stop drinking long enough for the servers to get the food out. (Someone’s gotta take control)
Shit is happening all around us, our party is going smooth as silk. One of the servers on the wedding reception starts puking her brains out, ends up at the hospital. The most experienced server on reception is now pulling his hair out.
The computers go out. Twice. The manager is trying to get them back up, the boss interferes and screws them up even more.
We’re still smiling, our party is still smooth sailing. Until the fire incident, but even that didn’t mess us up. It was at the end of the evening, there were only about a dozen guests left. The anniversary couple were opening up their gifts, got some tissue paper to close to a candle, and caught the paper on fire. They quickly doused it out. This all happened when we were in the kitchen. (I thought something smelled funny when I went back in the room.) Upon my entry into the room, (they were all gathered around one table) they all looked like a bunch of kids who got caught doing something wrong, they all froze in place. They were in the process of rolling up a wet table cloth. They fessed up to what had happened…I told them leave the table cloth, we’d take care of it.
Never a dull moment when your livin’ life in Glitch City!
There are two of us on my party, a 60th anniversary. We arrive at 2:30 to set up for a 4:00 start time. 4:15, no sign of anyone….then we find out it doesn’t start until 5:30. Great. Meanwhile, folks are showing up for the wedding reception. At the rate this is going, we’ll all be clamoring for food at the same time.
Fast forward a couple of hours……our guests have arrived….they are all standing around talking…..my partner tells them they need to start eating the appetizers as we are going to pull them in 20 minutes.
The lounge starts filling up….there’s only one server, she gets quadruple sat. Then a fifth table, she gave it to the bartender. The dining room is filling up…..the wedding reception is getting out of control. They won’t stop drinking long enough for the servers to get the food out. (Someone’s gotta take control)
Shit is happening all around us, our party is going smooth as silk. One of the servers on the wedding reception starts puking her brains out, ends up at the hospital. The most experienced server on reception is now pulling his hair out.
The computers go out. Twice. The manager is trying to get them back up, the boss interferes and screws them up even more.
We’re still smiling, our party is still smooth sailing. Until the fire incident, but even that didn’t mess us up. It was at the end of the evening, there were only about a dozen guests left. The anniversary couple were opening up their gifts, got some tissue paper to close to a candle, and caught the paper on fire. They quickly doused it out. This all happened when we were in the kitchen. (I thought something smelled funny when I went back in the room.) Upon my entry into the room, (they were all gathered around one table) they all looked like a bunch of kids who got caught doing something wrong, they all froze in place. They were in the process of rolling up a wet table cloth. They fessed up to what had happened…I told them leave the table cloth, we’d take care of it.
Never a dull moment when your livin’ life in Glitch City!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
We do love the television......
I generally don’t pay much attention to the television when I’m at work….but as with everything, there are exceptions to that, and last night was one of those exceptions.
It was a slow night in the lounge, so we started the evening with the last few innings of the Tiger baseball game. If you’re a Detroit Tiger fan, it was another teeth clencher…but they pulled it off at the last minute and there was much merriment. Yay!
At 8:00 p.m. we tuned into “America’s Got Talent.” We were all pulling for the same guy to win….Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr. So we watched the show, at first thinking it was only an hour long. We all gave our opinions on the final four acts…had a nice discussion….waiting for the results…..it’s 9:00 p.m…..we’re closed…..watched for another 15 minutes and realized it was a 2 hour show. We debated about sticking around to see the end …..but everyone (including the customers) decided we could all make it home in time to see the end, so we left.
I was driving home as last season’s winner was singing…of course I hit every light….pulled up in the driveway…ran in the house….quickly closed the door behind me…ran to the living room, where I knew my son had the show on…..as I was bounding through the kitchen I was yelling “Have they announced the winner yet?!?” “NO, but they’re just about to!” Sat down, with about 20 seconds to spare…..and then they said “Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr.!!!!!”
I threw my arm in the air and yelled “YES!!!” (Got caught up in the moment) And since it was the audience that chose him, I knew I was not alone in the moment. Gotta love it!
It was a slow night in the lounge, so we started the evening with the last few innings of the Tiger baseball game. If you’re a Detroit Tiger fan, it was another teeth clencher…but they pulled it off at the last minute and there was much merriment. Yay!
At 8:00 p.m. we tuned into “America’s Got Talent.” We were all pulling for the same guy to win….Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr. So we watched the show, at first thinking it was only an hour long. We all gave our opinions on the final four acts…had a nice discussion….waiting for the results…..it’s 9:00 p.m…..we’re closed…..watched for another 15 minutes and realized it was a 2 hour show. We debated about sticking around to see the end …..but everyone (including the customers) decided we could all make it home in time to see the end, so we left.
I was driving home as last season’s winner was singing…of course I hit every light….pulled up in the driveway…ran in the house….quickly closed the door behind me…ran to the living room, where I knew my son had the show on…..as I was bounding through the kitchen I was yelling “Have they announced the winner yet?!?” “NO, but they’re just about to!” Sat down, with about 20 seconds to spare…..and then they said “Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr.!!!!!”
I threw my arm in the air and yelled “YES!!!” (Got caught up in the moment) And since it was the audience that chose him, I knew I was not alone in the moment. Gotta love it!
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Where do people get this sense of entitlement?!?
I mentioned sometime last year that I think corporate restaurants have ruined the dining experience, for both the customers and the servers. There are people who will go into a restaurant with the attitude of “I’m gonna get something for free.” There was a family who came to the corporate restaurant I worked at, and walked out not paying a dime, not even a tip, every time they were there. They would change around every dish they ordered, send most of it back, want something else, complain incessantly until they got everything for free. Then drive off in their $60,000 car. Nice way to teach your kids how to be scam artists. If you have so many problems with the food, why do you keep coming back?!? Because you’re playing the system.
People have developed this sense of entitlement……and they bring it with them to every restaurant they go to. Folks, nothing in life is perfect. Sometimes shit happens.
The other night, everyone seemed to come in at once, and we had two banquets at the same time. The kitchen got swamped with orders…and they were scrambling about doing their best to get all the food out as quickly as humanly possible. Sometimes you just have to wait a few minutes. That’s life. So why do people start to ask, “What are you going to give us?” Screw you! Show a little maturity and patience. You complain until you get something for free. One table got free desert the other night, and they took it to go. Yeah, you’re a real class act.
Let’s turn this around…..say you have a 7:00 p.m. reservation, and you are 20 minutes late….we just held a table, that could’ve been sat…..and you cut down on our turn around time. We could’ve been making money off of that table, but we held it for you. Not to mention the fact that those waiting in line are asking “Why is that table empty?”
According to those with a sense of entitlement attitude, shouldn’t we tack on a “late surcharge”? Shouldn’t this go both ways? You’d scream if we did this…..so why do you do it to us?
Let’s say you have some folks over for dinner…..one of them doesn’t like what you’ve prepared…..what are you going to give them? The cut glass vase in which you have the flowers arranged? If they complain enough do they get to walk out with and end table?
So get real people! Life isn’t perfect and neither are you!
People have developed this sense of entitlement……and they bring it with them to every restaurant they go to. Folks, nothing in life is perfect. Sometimes shit happens.
The other night, everyone seemed to come in at once, and we had two banquets at the same time. The kitchen got swamped with orders…and they were scrambling about doing their best to get all the food out as quickly as humanly possible. Sometimes you just have to wait a few minutes. That’s life. So why do people start to ask, “What are you going to give us?” Screw you! Show a little maturity and patience. You complain until you get something for free. One table got free desert the other night, and they took it to go. Yeah, you’re a real class act.
Let’s turn this around…..say you have a 7:00 p.m. reservation, and you are 20 minutes late….we just held a table, that could’ve been sat…..and you cut down on our turn around time. We could’ve been making money off of that table, but we held it for you. Not to mention the fact that those waiting in line are asking “Why is that table empty?”
According to those with a sense of entitlement attitude, shouldn’t we tack on a “late surcharge”? Shouldn’t this go both ways? You’d scream if we did this…..so why do you do it to us?
Let’s say you have some folks over for dinner…..one of them doesn’t like what you’ve prepared…..what are you going to give them? The cut glass vase in which you have the flowers arranged? If they complain enough do they get to walk out with and end table?
So get real people! Life isn’t perfect and neither are you!
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Really ?!? Plan B again!
I usually have Monday’s off, however, yesterday I was scheduled to work a memorial luncheon. (yes, another one) My co-worked and I arrived at 10:00 a.m. to set everything up. We scrambled about, got it done, EVERYHING was ready! We were even a few minutes ahead of schedule……until the people started arriving. We worked our Plan A, all set for 40 to 50 people…..at the same time everyone was walking back to their banquet room, we found out it would be more like 70 people.
Okay, switch to Plan B…..my co-worker ran around getting beverages to everyone, I started moving tables around in the lounge, (which they had to pass thru to get to their room) and filling water glasses. Then the boss informs me they want another table in the other room. I was a lot busy at the moment, so I looked at him and said, “Go get one!” So he rolled a round table in there, my co-worker grabbed a table cloth, I grabbed the napkins and silverware, ran back and got more water glasses.
I found the host/hostess of this luncheon and asked if they had any particular order in mind, for which tables should go through the buffet line first. No, any order is fine.
Turns out these people were a lot of fun…..so I went up to the table in the lounge, and told them they got to go first, because they were the loudest. Yay! They won something!
Then I went into the main room, and told each table who they were to follow. When I got to the last table, one guy asked if he could pay for his table to go sooner. (everyone laughed) I told him, “Yes, I can arrange things, but it’s best to hit me up on the way in with a fistful of cash.”
I kept thinking one woman at the table looked familiar….she kept looking back at me…..yep…..I knew them through an old friend, hadn’t seen them in several years.
So Plan B was just a small glitch, everything else was smooth sailing. Especially since we tried a new beverage service idea…..instead of going table to tale and taking orders, my co-worker filled a tray with glasses of iced tea and lemonade. Entire tables were saying, “That looks good, I’ll have one of those.” Saved us a lot of time not having to go to the service bar and get cokes, or diet cokes, etc. then all we had to do was fill a pitcher with iced tea and pour refills. (Actually, I’ve done this before, I just didn’t tell anyone.)
Today, I’m thinking should be a lot more normal. Yeah, right.
Okay, switch to Plan B…..my co-worker ran around getting beverages to everyone, I started moving tables around in the lounge, (which they had to pass thru to get to their room) and filling water glasses. Then the boss informs me they want another table in the other room. I was a lot busy at the moment, so I looked at him and said, “Go get one!” So he rolled a round table in there, my co-worker grabbed a table cloth, I grabbed the napkins and silverware, ran back and got more water glasses.
I found the host/hostess of this luncheon and asked if they had any particular order in mind, for which tables should go through the buffet line first. No, any order is fine.
Turns out these people were a lot of fun…..so I went up to the table in the lounge, and told them they got to go first, because they were the loudest. Yay! They won something!
Then I went into the main room, and told each table who they were to follow. When I got to the last table, one guy asked if he could pay for his table to go sooner. (everyone laughed) I told him, “Yes, I can arrange things, but it’s best to hit me up on the way in with a fistful of cash.”
I kept thinking one woman at the table looked familiar….she kept looking back at me…..yep…..I knew them through an old friend, hadn’t seen them in several years.
So Plan B was just a small glitch, everything else was smooth sailing. Especially since we tried a new beverage service idea…..instead of going table to tale and taking orders, my co-worker filled a tray with glasses of iced tea and lemonade. Entire tables were saying, “That looks good, I’ll have one of those.” Saved us a lot of time not having to go to the service bar and get cokes, or diet cokes, etc. then all we had to do was fill a pitcher with iced tea and pour refills. (Actually, I’ve done this before, I just didn’t tell anyone.)
Today, I’m thinking should be a lot more normal. Yeah, right.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Plan A to Plan B to Plan C...........
I had planned on writing a blog last Friday…but you know what they say about the best laid plans….blah blah blah…..in the morning, I was gonna run to Gordon’s (s store that sells food items and banquet supplies in mass quantities) and pick up a few things I needed for a funeral luncheon I was putting on at church the next day, for 200 people. Then I was gonna meet Deb, the singer, at the printer’s, get some advertising material for the Impersonator show and go to the restaurant and put it out….then I was gonna come home and write the blog.
Before I left the house, I got a call from my co-chairperson of the funeral luncheon committee…..(she has some heart issues) she said her blood pressure went sky high. Last time this happened she ended up in the hospital, so I stopped and picked up some money to pay for tomorrow’s chicken, and for some bread, (which I now had to pick up from the bakery tomorrow morning) as she needed to stay home and lay low.
Okay, got the stuff from Gordon’s, dropped it off at church, was 15 minutes late meeting Deb. We got our stuff printed, went to the restaurant, go that all set….then I decided to pick up some bags of ice for the luncheon, drop them at the church. Since I would be short a crucial person, I decided to do some preliminary set up.
Got out all the table clothes, pulled out the silverware trolley, the coffee cups, napkins, plates, salt and pepper shakers, sugar and cream dishes, water cups, dessert plates and napkins…..pre-set a few place settings…..went in the kitchen, put 25 water pitchers on a rolling cart, .over by the sink, ready to be filled…..platters for dessert…..got everything set out to make lemonade and iced tea……got out the pans for the meatballs and potatoes, necessary utensils, measuring cups…and so on and so forth.
When that was done, ran and paid for the chicken (got a sub sandwich while I was there) went home, wolfed down half the sandwich….and now it was time to go to work.
In Plan A, I would’ve come home after setting out the advertising material, and written the blog. Plan B didn’t allow enough time for that.
By the next morning, I would be switching to Plan C due to a couple more snafu’s. All I had to do now, was figure out what Plan C was.
So, I wasn’t slacking off, I just ran out of hours in the day. On Saturday, between the funeral luncheon and work, I was gone from 7:45 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. (with 20 minutes in between to change into my work uniform). By the time Sunday rolled around, I was brain dead.
Before I left the house, I got a call from my co-chairperson of the funeral luncheon committee…..(she has some heart issues) she said her blood pressure went sky high. Last time this happened she ended up in the hospital, so I stopped and picked up some money to pay for tomorrow’s chicken, and for some bread, (which I now had to pick up from the bakery tomorrow morning) as she needed to stay home and lay low.
Okay, got the stuff from Gordon’s, dropped it off at church, was 15 minutes late meeting Deb. We got our stuff printed, went to the restaurant, go that all set….then I decided to pick up some bags of ice for the luncheon, drop them at the church. Since I would be short a crucial person, I decided to do some preliminary set up.
Got out all the table clothes, pulled out the silverware trolley, the coffee cups, napkins, plates, salt and pepper shakers, sugar and cream dishes, water cups, dessert plates and napkins…..pre-set a few place settings…..went in the kitchen, put 25 water pitchers on a rolling cart, .over by the sink, ready to be filled…..platters for dessert…..got everything set out to make lemonade and iced tea……got out the pans for the meatballs and potatoes, necessary utensils, measuring cups…and so on and so forth.
When that was done, ran and paid for the chicken (got a sub sandwich while I was there) went home, wolfed down half the sandwich….and now it was time to go to work.
In Plan A, I would’ve come home after setting out the advertising material, and written the blog. Plan B didn’t allow enough time for that.
By the next morning, I would be switching to Plan C due to a couple more snafu’s. All I had to do now, was figure out what Plan C was.
So, I wasn’t slacking off, I just ran out of hours in the day. On Saturday, between the funeral luncheon and work, I was gone from 7:45 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. (with 20 minutes in between to change into my work uniform). By the time Sunday rolled around, I was brain dead.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Hmmmmm..... how did that happen?
I was standing outside the restaurant the other night with one of the customers, we were watching a storm blow in. Since it had been so hot during the day, the cool breeze felt good. This was the like the third wave of the storm, or there about…..the clouds were looking dramatic….blowing all around…..some much darker than others….there was a lot of lightning…..all the makings of a cool storm.
Along the side of the building on which we were standing, were three sets of double glass doors, not solid glass, but the kind with 10 panes of glass in each door, kind of like French doors, that lead to a small patio.
I have never seen any of these doors open. Until now. As we were standing out there watching Mother Nature at her finest…..I caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of my eye…..I looked to the left, the woman I was standing with also looked over….and we watched one of the doors, silently, slowly, and very steadily open up, and stop when it got to a 90 degree angle to the door frame, and stay there.
I must have been staring pretty hard…my fellow storm watcher looked at me, looked back at the door, then at me again…(I was still staring) ….she walked over towards it, but the little patio is surrounded by a wrought iron fence…you can only get to it from the inside. She walked back, and then I told her, “I’ve never seen any of those doors open .” Suddenly the wind kicked in something fierce, and blew the door shut.
Well now, this is interesting, and your imagination starts churning, mostly because of the many rumors that the building is haunted. As suddenly as the wind kicked in, it started raining, so we went back inside.
I went and found one of the servers who had been working there for years…..told her about the door, and she informed me the doors were always locked. So we went back downstairs….(the building is on a hill, and this was on the bottom side of the hill)….we tried to push the door open, jiggled it around….couldn’t get it open. Back we go upstairs….we were telling some of the others what happened…the manager told us it wasn’t locked. So now four of us go back downstairs (it was slow and we had time to kill)…..one of the busboys tried pushing on the door to get it open…he finally did, but it took some effort. Then the two of us who went down first tried it, and yes, we got it open, but again, it took a lot of effort….and a lot of noise ensued in the process.
A little while later I was talking to the manager…he said since the doors were on the west side of the building, and the storm was blowing in from the west, it was the wind that blew the door shut. I told him I totally understood and agreed with that part, I’m not a complete idiot (thought some may argue that)…..I was out there, I felt the wind. My question is…..What caused the door to smoothly, silently, and steadily open? To the west, and into the wind……with nary a sound……
Along the side of the building on which we were standing, were three sets of double glass doors, not solid glass, but the kind with 10 panes of glass in each door, kind of like French doors, that lead to a small patio.
I have never seen any of these doors open. Until now. As we were standing out there watching Mother Nature at her finest…..I caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of my eye…..I looked to the left, the woman I was standing with also looked over….and we watched one of the doors, silently, slowly, and very steadily open up, and stop when it got to a 90 degree angle to the door frame, and stay there.
I must have been staring pretty hard…my fellow storm watcher looked at me, looked back at the door, then at me again…(I was still staring) ….she walked over towards it, but the little patio is surrounded by a wrought iron fence…you can only get to it from the inside. She walked back, and then I told her, “I’ve never seen any of those doors open .” Suddenly the wind kicked in something fierce, and blew the door shut.
Well now, this is interesting, and your imagination starts churning, mostly because of the many rumors that the building is haunted. As suddenly as the wind kicked in, it started raining, so we went back inside.
I went and found one of the servers who had been working there for years…..told her about the door, and she informed me the doors were always locked. So we went back downstairs….(the building is on a hill, and this was on the bottom side of the hill)….we tried to push the door open, jiggled it around….couldn’t get it open. Back we go upstairs….we were telling some of the others what happened…the manager told us it wasn’t locked. So now four of us go back downstairs (it was slow and we had time to kill)…..one of the busboys tried pushing on the door to get it open…he finally did, but it took some effort. Then the two of us who went down first tried it, and yes, we got it open, but again, it took a lot of effort….and a lot of noise ensued in the process.
A little while later I was talking to the manager…he said since the doors were on the west side of the building, and the storm was blowing in from the west, it was the wind that blew the door shut. I told him I totally understood and agreed with that part, I’m not a complete idiot (thought some may argue that)…..I was out there, I felt the wind. My question is…..What caused the door to smoothly, silently, and steadily open? To the west, and into the wind……with nary a sound……
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
The most flexible schedule.......
In some restaurants, you mat have a set schedule from week to week….in others it may vary from week to week….at ours, it varies every week. Depending on how many parties of various sizes we have booked, some weeks you may work a few days, some weeks you may be needed every day.
If you’re a nine to five, Monday through Friday person, this may sound horrible to you! However, we like the variation. (Personally, working nine to five every week chokes the life out of me.) Some may shudder at the thought of working Friday and Saturday nights, I love it! I figure I’m making twice as much, because if I wasn’t working, I’d be out spending. (Somewhere there’s logic involved)
We have a “Request Off” box. If you have something important (or not) to do, you write out the dates you need off, as far in advance as you can, and put the paper in the Request Off box. If possible, your request will be granted.
Sometimes things pop up suddenly and unexpectedly, like it did for me this week. I am scheduled to work a party at 11:30 a.m. Saturday morning. I found out I have to put on a funeral luncheon at church for 200 people. So I figured I’d look at the schedule, see who wasn’t working and get someone to cover it. As it turns out, this is one of the weeks where almost everyone is already scheduled. Time to scramble. One who requested the day off, is working a catering gig all weekend, so he can’t. Another said she couldn’t. But the options don’t end there……I sent a text asking someone else to pick up the Saturday, and then I’d take her Sunday, even though I had requested Sunday off to attend a baby shower for a good friend, I’ll just have to leave the shower early. I popped off another text, asking one who also requested it off, (but owes me a favor) if she could work it, but actually, since she’s still sort of new, she would go on the floor, and one of the ones on the floor would take the party, since they are gonna be there anyways.
But it doesn’t end there…..I still have one option left. There is one server left, (between school and work, this would stretch her schedule to the limit) but she said she would if I couldn’t find anyone else.
Whew! Somehow it’ll all work out…….
If you’re a nine to five, Monday through Friday person, this may sound horrible to you! However, we like the variation. (Personally, working nine to five every week chokes the life out of me.) Some may shudder at the thought of working Friday and Saturday nights, I love it! I figure I’m making twice as much, because if I wasn’t working, I’d be out spending. (Somewhere there’s logic involved)
We have a “Request Off” box. If you have something important (or not) to do, you write out the dates you need off, as far in advance as you can, and put the paper in the Request Off box. If possible, your request will be granted.
Sometimes things pop up suddenly and unexpectedly, like it did for me this week. I am scheduled to work a party at 11:30 a.m. Saturday morning. I found out I have to put on a funeral luncheon at church for 200 people. So I figured I’d look at the schedule, see who wasn’t working and get someone to cover it. As it turns out, this is one of the weeks where almost everyone is already scheduled. Time to scramble. One who requested the day off, is working a catering gig all weekend, so he can’t. Another said she couldn’t. But the options don’t end there……I sent a text asking someone else to pick up the Saturday, and then I’d take her Sunday, even though I had requested Sunday off to attend a baby shower for a good friend, I’ll just have to leave the shower early. I popped off another text, asking one who also requested it off, (but owes me a favor) if she could work it, but actually, since she’s still sort of new, she would go on the floor, and one of the ones on the floor would take the party, since they are gonna be there anyways.
But it doesn’t end there…..I still have one option left. There is one server left, (between school and work, this would stretch her schedule to the limit) but she said she would if I couldn’t find anyone else.
Whew! Somehow it’ll all work out…….
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Look over your shoulder.....
Wow! When I said it was the end of summer, I was hoping it was just figurative…..what happened to the weather?!? Last Saturday it was in the upper 90’s, last two days it hasn’t gotten over 60! I’m not gonna complain….it feels good to walk outside and not be enveloped in a never ending cloud of hot, humid air, that knocks the ambition right out of you.
Last Saturday we watched the storms blow in. We are only about 20 minutes east of Ann Arbor, and had the U of M football game on the television. We were talking about how hot it was if you were at the game, sitting shoulder to shoulder with 110,00 other people in 90 plus degree weather. Then we saw the storm move in there….they had to delay play and everyone got drenched. We figured it was no more than 20 to 30 minutes before it hit us.
The rain came in waves…it would rain for bit, then stop, then rain some more, then stop, repeat. At one point, the wind kicked in so hard, the busboys had to go out and stack all the chairs on the patio, as they were getting blown around. They got thoroughly drenched. You know, when it rains so hard, and the wind is so strong that it rains sideways. Even being under a canopy doesn’t help. There was no way they were gonna dry out, not without going through the spin cycle first. (Yes, they were that soaked)
The power flickered a couple of times, we were fortunate in that it did not go out. (Although I don’t think anyone would’ve minded, it would have put an early end to a slow night.)
Time to close up shop, we all had Sunday and Monday off for the holiday weekend.
As I look at the schedule for the week, we’re back to full steam ahead. The coming weekend is booked with a ton of banquets, all servers are scheduled, many for double shifts.
For everything there is a season, and here we go…….
Last Saturday we watched the storms blow in. We are only about 20 minutes east of Ann Arbor, and had the U of M football game on the television. We were talking about how hot it was if you were at the game, sitting shoulder to shoulder with 110,00 other people in 90 plus degree weather. Then we saw the storm move in there….they had to delay play and everyone got drenched. We figured it was no more than 20 to 30 minutes before it hit us.
The rain came in waves…it would rain for bit, then stop, then rain some more, then stop, repeat. At one point, the wind kicked in so hard, the busboys had to go out and stack all the chairs on the patio, as they were getting blown around. They got thoroughly drenched. You know, when it rains so hard, and the wind is so strong that it rains sideways. Even being under a canopy doesn’t help. There was no way they were gonna dry out, not without going through the spin cycle first. (Yes, they were that soaked)
The power flickered a couple of times, we were fortunate in that it did not go out. (Although I don’t think anyone would’ve minded, it would have put an early end to a slow night.)
Time to close up shop, we all had Sunday and Monday off for the holiday weekend.
As I look at the schedule for the week, we’re back to full steam ahead. The coming weekend is booked with a ton of banquets, all servers are scheduled, many for double shifts.
For everything there is a season, and here we go…….
Friday, September 2, 2011
Where did the summer go?
I can’t believe that (according to the calendar) it’s the last official weekend of summer. The temperature is supposed to be in the high 90’s today……that’s more like the middle of summer…or is this a trick of Mother Nature to remind us of what we’re about to leave behind …..by Monday the weather forecasters are predicting that it will be in the high 60’s…with rain in between. Yay Michigan!
Outside dining on the patio was a bust this summer. For the most part it was too hot for anyone to want to sit outside and sweat while dining. In one way it was a relief for the servers, if you’re hot just sitting out there, think how they felt having to run around.. It’s a good thing our uniforms are all black and you can’t tell by the shirts how much anyone was sweating….although the glistening faces were a dead give away. For those who sat outside and complained about the heat, (as though we could do something about it) well, it was your choice.
On the other hand, we welcome the end of summer……the end of the summer doldrums. This is the time of year we look forward to things to come, like being busier. No more summer vacations, no more bar-b-ques, no more graduation parties….back to eating out as part of your business as usual routine.
It won’t be long before we can no longer walk outside without a jacket on… we won’t be rolling up the sleeves on our uniform shirts….we won’t be dashing into the walk in cooler to cool off for a minute….but what we will be, is busier….and leaving work with more money in our pockets. …and that’s a good thing.
So as reluctant as we all are to have to give up summer…we welcome the next season. Before you know it, we’ll be complaining about having to shovel snow. It still amazes me how we’ve had busier days in the middle of a blizzard, than we had when it was in the high 90’s.
Outside dining on the patio was a bust this summer. For the most part it was too hot for anyone to want to sit outside and sweat while dining. In one way it was a relief for the servers, if you’re hot just sitting out there, think how they felt having to run around.. It’s a good thing our uniforms are all black and you can’t tell by the shirts how much anyone was sweating….although the glistening faces were a dead give away. For those who sat outside and complained about the heat, (as though we could do something about it) well, it was your choice.
On the other hand, we welcome the end of summer……the end of the summer doldrums. This is the time of year we look forward to things to come, like being busier. No more summer vacations, no more bar-b-ques, no more graduation parties….back to eating out as part of your business as usual routine.
It won’t be long before we can no longer walk outside without a jacket on… we won’t be rolling up the sleeves on our uniform shirts….we won’t be dashing into the walk in cooler to cool off for a minute….but what we will be, is busier….and leaving work with more money in our pockets. …and that’s a good thing.
So as reluctant as we all are to have to give up summer…we welcome the next season. Before you know it, we’ll be complaining about having to shovel snow. It still amazes me how we’ve had busier days in the middle of a blizzard, than we had when it was in the high 90’s.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
The New Season
Okay, the fall season is about to start, and we’re working on a new Double Take Impersonators show. We’ll kick off the season on Wednesday, September 21st. We’re still working on finalizing the program. We’ll have some old favorites….everyone loves to sing along with “Karen Carpenter“……our “Lady Gaga“ always packs a punch.…Michael James and his Neil Diamond Tribute absolutely rocks the house …“Cher“ is timeless and incredible… Marilyn Monroe is mesmerizing… . and we’ll have some new acts. And as always, we like to throw in a surprise!
We had Elvis in the last show, and we’re looking to bring him back. We’re also looking to add the Motown sound! We want to give the audience the most bang for their buck! There is a ton of very talented people around here!
Which leads us to my next show topic…..we are going to start an amateur night. Not just for impersonators, but for all singers…or comedians or anyone else with a talent they‘d like to show the world.….we’re still working out the details. We’ll be holding auditions, when these will be is yet to be determined, but we’ll be sure to let you know.
Gotta work a double today, so I’ve gotta get going….just wanted to give you a little preview of the fall season. Have a great day!
We had Elvis in the last show, and we’re looking to bring him back. We’re also looking to add the Motown sound! We want to give the audience the most bang for their buck! There is a ton of very talented people around here!
Which leads us to my next show topic…..we are going to start an amateur night. Not just for impersonators, but for all singers…or comedians or anyone else with a talent they‘d like to show the world.….we’re still working out the details. We’ll be holding auditions, when these will be is yet to be determined, but we’ll be sure to let you know.
Gotta work a double today, so I’ve gotta get going….just wanted to give you a little preview of the fall season. Have a great day!
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