I have worked with a number of owners and managers who feel it is necessary to try and micromanage things. This is so not cool!. Not only do they undermine the staff and show the customer that they have no confidence in anyone’s ability to do their job, oftentimes they end up putting the customer on the defense.
I have witnessed many occasions when upon delivering entrees to a table, I asked them if they would like more bread, and they declined. “Oh, no thank you, we’ve had plenty of bread, we don’t need any more.” Then suddenly the owner or manager swoops in, picks up the bread basket, says “Here, you need more bread!” Then rushes off to refill something they don’t want refilled. This gives us the message that they feel we are not doing our job. So they triumphantly return to the table with an over-flowing bread basket, that will all go to waste! On the flip side, how do you expect us to sell any desserts if you keep force feeding people bread?!?
You bitch at us for wasting half a pot of coffee (which is abut $2.50 a tanker on a freight train) yet you seem to be on some sort of stupid mission with the bread.
Thennnnn…….you walk by a table or someone eating at the bar and decide that there are plates that need to be removed. As you reach for the plate, the customer has to inform you that they are not done eating yet. (I’ve seen that happen a lot)
Last night the owner asked one of my customers at least ten questions. “Do you need more bread?” “No.” Do you want those leftover appetizers wrapped up?” “No.” Do you need a new plate?” “No.” :Should I get you more silverware?” Okay, now you’re getting really ridiculous. After a several more questions she finally told him….”I’m saving the appetizers for my friend, who will be here in a few minutes, we have another appetizer coming, but we’re not gonna order that one until he gets here, I’m fine , I don’t need anything. We have everything under control.”
See, you just forced the customer to take a defensive position. Way to make them feel comfortable! If this were a court of law, you would’ve been called out for badgering the witness.
Go do what you do best….greet people at the front door, seat them, and forget to give them menus.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
A Predictable Conversation...........
We all communicate with people we love to talk, people we don’t care if we talk to or not, and those we dread talking to.
The ones we love to talk with is a no-brainer….usually we have something in common with them….they can converse on a wide range of topics…..they have a little bit of knowledge about a lot of things…..share ideas….and they listen to what you have to say. It’s a great exchange of information.
The ones we don’t care if we talk to or not….well…..they are usually good to pass some time with if there is no other alternative available. But, sooner or later your conversations will have run the gamut of common interests….you’ll search your mind for other topics…try and keep it going…..it becomes work. These are the people you only want to have short conversations with. You find yourself hoping others will sit at the bar so you have an excuse to slip away.
Thennnnnn……there is the third group…….they say the same thing every time you see them. There is very little variance in this informational exchange, which is pretty much one-sided. You can easily predict what they talk will about….they will have the same complaints about everything they had the last time you had to endure their tiresome monologue. They are not interested in anything you may have to contribute, they just want to whine. And, as one of Murphy’s Laws would have it, they are usually the only one sitting at the bar. There is no one to sucker into taking over the conversation from your end. It seems that no one else sits at the bar and comes to your rescue, until they are about to leave. Since you’ve heard it all before, your mind starts to wander…..what if I had a gun with one bullet? Would I shoot them? Would I just shoot myself? If I shot them, I’m not sure they would even notice. Maybe I could just shoot myself in the foot, thus making it necessary to immediately seek first aid.
Oh c’mon! You know what I’m talking about…we’ve all run into these people….especially if you’ve spent any time standing behind a bar. So my question is, “Is a predictable conversation really worth having at all?”
The ones we love to talk with is a no-brainer….usually we have something in common with them….they can converse on a wide range of topics…..they have a little bit of knowledge about a lot of things…..share ideas….and they listen to what you have to say. It’s a great exchange of information.
The ones we don’t care if we talk to or not….well…..they are usually good to pass some time with if there is no other alternative available. But, sooner or later your conversations will have run the gamut of common interests….you’ll search your mind for other topics…try and keep it going…..it becomes work. These are the people you only want to have short conversations with. You find yourself hoping others will sit at the bar so you have an excuse to slip away.
Thennnnnn……there is the third group…….they say the same thing every time you see them. There is very little variance in this informational exchange, which is pretty much one-sided. You can easily predict what they talk will about….they will have the same complaints about everything they had the last time you had to endure their tiresome monologue. They are not interested in anything you may have to contribute, they just want to whine. And, as one of Murphy’s Laws would have it, they are usually the only one sitting at the bar. There is no one to sucker into taking over the conversation from your end. It seems that no one else sits at the bar and comes to your rescue, until they are about to leave. Since you’ve heard it all before, your mind starts to wander…..what if I had a gun with one bullet? Would I shoot them? Would I just shoot myself? If I shot them, I’m not sure they would even notice. Maybe I could just shoot myself in the foot, thus making it necessary to immediately seek first aid.
Oh c’mon! You know what I’m talking about…we’ve all run into these people….especially if you’ve spent any time standing behind a bar. So my question is, “Is a predictable conversation really worth having at all?”
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Common sense and etiquette......
It would seem that most of the time common sense and etiquette go hand in hand….so why is it some normally courteous people act as if they were royalty and we should be humbled to be their presence?
When one is seated at a table, perusing the menu and greeted by a server, “Hello, how are you this evening?” the proper response would be a one of a verbal nature…..not just staring at the menu as if the server did not exist.
“Bring me another diet coke!” Now, that’s not really a very polite way to request something. First of all, a third or fourth refill on a large beverage is not a need, it’s a want. And second, you’d probably get that unnecessary refill quicker, had you shown some modicum of manners and politely asked, “May I have another diet coke, please.”
Let’s talk about aisle ways again, for a moment…..they are for people and servers (yes, servers are people, too) to navigate through the restaurant. It is not okay for you to maneuver your chair so far back from the table, that you block the aisle. It is not okay for you to move a bar stool out of the way so you can stand, and leave the bar stool in the middle of the aisle, behind you. This aisle blocking tends to happen a lot at banquets. If you wish to speak to those at another table, it is not okay for you stand, bent over, with your butt blocking the entire aisle way….common sense would dictate that you find another place to stand, like at the other side of the table, where you will be blocking nothing.
And why is it (and this happens 99% of the time) that upon entering a banquet room, people take three steps in, stop and congregate, thus blocking the entrance to the room, and then get irritated when others try to pass?
Most people possess common sense in varying degrees, and were taught at least a little bit of etiquette……why does it go to ell when you enter a restaurant?
When one is seated at a table, perusing the menu and greeted by a server, “Hello, how are you this evening?” the proper response would be a one of a verbal nature…..not just staring at the menu as if the server did not exist.
“Bring me another diet coke!” Now, that’s not really a very polite way to request something. First of all, a third or fourth refill on a large beverage is not a need, it’s a want. And second, you’d probably get that unnecessary refill quicker, had you shown some modicum of manners and politely asked, “May I have another diet coke, please.”
Let’s talk about aisle ways again, for a moment…..they are for people and servers (yes, servers are people, too) to navigate through the restaurant. It is not okay for you to maneuver your chair so far back from the table, that you block the aisle. It is not okay for you to move a bar stool out of the way so you can stand, and leave the bar stool in the middle of the aisle, behind you. This aisle blocking tends to happen a lot at banquets. If you wish to speak to those at another table, it is not okay for you stand, bent over, with your butt blocking the entire aisle way….common sense would dictate that you find another place to stand, like at the other side of the table, where you will be blocking nothing.
And why is it (and this happens 99% of the time) that upon entering a banquet room, people take three steps in, stop and congregate, thus blocking the entrance to the room, and then get irritated when others try to pass?
Most people possess common sense in varying degrees, and were taught at least a little bit of etiquette……why does it go to ell when you enter a restaurant?
Monday, March 28, 2011
Don't pick on my co-workers!
Kelli and I worked a bridal shower last Saturday. The mother of the bride and a couple of others showed up early, (10:30 a.m., the same time I got there) to decorate the tables and set up their cup cakes. Apparently cup cakes are the new rage, as opposed to getting one big cake.
I chatted with these women for a few minutes, told them I put on a pot of coffee, if anyone cared for a cup….blah blah blah….and went about my business of setting up whatever was necessary.
We realize that these are important events in people’s lives. Oftentimes we encounter women who deem themselves to be the chiefs in these situations, and think because they are the chief, they can bark orders at anyone they want. Well, they thought wrong. We work these events all the time, we know what we are doing, and contrary to what they believe, they are not the ones who are really in charge of the show, we are.
Kelli was putting out water glasses, and the one of the women started barking orders at her. She came back to the wait station and was telling me what they said. “Change that linen over there! (On the table they just got cup cake crumbs all over) Fix that ceiling tile!” And bunch of other shit I can’t remember right now. I told Kelli to let the boss know about the ceiling tile (it had just gotten nudged out of place, a quick fix) and I would take care of the rest.
I grabbed a cloth napkin, went to the cup cake table and started brushing the crumbs off. One of the women came over and apologized for making a mess. “I’ve got it taken care of.”
I went back to the wait station, told Kelli what the woman had said and she was wondering why they were being so mean to her. I know why, it’s because she’s twenty, and they feel they can order her around. (Get over yourself) I’m older than Kelli’s mom….probably in the same age bracket as the woman barking orders. Don’t think because she’s young, she doesn’t know what she’s doing, she does. And…..she’s my partner for the next few hours, and I’m not going to let anyone walk all over her.
Time to take charge of this shindig……I told the head honcho that since they had a noon start time, that appetizers would be on the table at noon. Since they were playing no silly shower games, everyone needed to be seated at 12:15 so we could get the orders taken.
Why is it, upon arrival, these women can’t enter a room and take a seat? No…..they’ve gotta stand around, blocking the aisles, talking. I know for a fact that the ability to speak does not go away because one is sitting. So park it!
At 12:13 I tell the one “in charge” to have everyone take a seat. (If you can’t handle this, I will.) I am always amazed at the inability of the masses to make a decision as to where to sit. This is not someplace you are going to spend the rest of your life, you’ll only be here for a couple of hours!
I chatted with these women for a few minutes, told them I put on a pot of coffee, if anyone cared for a cup….blah blah blah….and went about my business of setting up whatever was necessary.
We realize that these are important events in people’s lives. Oftentimes we encounter women who deem themselves to be the chiefs in these situations, and think because they are the chief, they can bark orders at anyone they want. Well, they thought wrong. We work these events all the time, we know what we are doing, and contrary to what they believe, they are not the ones who are really in charge of the show, we are.
Kelli was putting out water glasses, and the one of the women started barking orders at her. She came back to the wait station and was telling me what they said. “Change that linen over there! (On the table they just got cup cake crumbs all over) Fix that ceiling tile!” And bunch of other shit I can’t remember right now. I told Kelli to let the boss know about the ceiling tile (it had just gotten nudged out of place, a quick fix) and I would take care of the rest.
I grabbed a cloth napkin, went to the cup cake table and started brushing the crumbs off. One of the women came over and apologized for making a mess. “I’ve got it taken care of.”
I went back to the wait station, told Kelli what the woman had said and she was wondering why they were being so mean to her. I know why, it’s because she’s twenty, and they feel they can order her around. (Get over yourself) I’m older than Kelli’s mom….probably in the same age bracket as the woman barking orders. Don’t think because she’s young, she doesn’t know what she’s doing, she does. And…..she’s my partner for the next few hours, and I’m not going to let anyone walk all over her.
Time to take charge of this shindig……I told the head honcho that since they had a noon start time, that appetizers would be on the table at noon. Since they were playing no silly shower games, everyone needed to be seated at 12:15 so we could get the orders taken.
Why is it, upon arrival, these women can’t enter a room and take a seat? No…..they’ve gotta stand around, blocking the aisles, talking. I know for a fact that the ability to speak does not go away because one is sitting. So park it!
At 12:13 I tell the one “in charge” to have everyone take a seat. (If you can’t handle this, I will.) I am always amazed at the inability of the masses to make a decision as to where to sit. This is not someplace you are going to spend the rest of your life, you’ll only be here for a couple of hours!
Friday, March 25, 2011
So you think you're a big shot......
Okay….so you walk in the restaurant like you own it. You don’t. You have an air about you like you’re some kind of big shot…..(all four of you)….you’re not. You expect any server who walks by to jump at the sound of your voice. Not gonna happen. See, we’ve seen you before, and we are not impressed. If you wanna be a big shooter….you’ve got to do it all the way.
As you all sit there full of self-importance, barking orders, we are doing everything we can to avoid you. This is the lunch hour, when you swagger through the door, life around you does not stop. Yesterday we were very busy…..you’re not gonna get special treatment…you’re no more special than anyone else….actually in our eyes, you’re a waste of time. When I came to take your order, you again barked that you wanted soup. Okay, what’s the rest of your order? “I don’t know, I haven’t looked at the menu yet.”
Like I said, we were very busy, I’m not gonna make 300 hundred trips back to your table. I see no reason why you can’t order like everyone else. You tell me what you want, I ask if you want soup or salad, I get said soup or salad and send your order to the kitchen. Simple. I’m too busy for you to turn this into a convoluted mess. So I tell you I’m gonna do a couple of things, give you time to look at the menu, and then I’ll get your entire order. So what do these guys do? Stop another server and tell them I said I didn’t have time to wait on you. If you’re gonna quote me, you’d better get it right, if you start putting words in my mouth, I’ll find a way to make you eat those words along with your lunch.
So like I said in the first paragraph, if you wanna be a big shooter, you’ve got to do it all the way. A 10% tip every time you are there, is NOT adequate. Even little old ladies in red hats with fixed incomes tip better than you!
I guess in one way you’ve attained your goal…..every server knows exactly who you are…..and not in a good way, not as the self-perceived big shots you see in the mirror. No, we see you as the cheap ass holes you really are.
As you all sit there full of self-importance, barking orders, we are doing everything we can to avoid you. This is the lunch hour, when you swagger through the door, life around you does not stop. Yesterday we were very busy…..you’re not gonna get special treatment…you’re no more special than anyone else….actually in our eyes, you’re a waste of time. When I came to take your order, you again barked that you wanted soup. Okay, what’s the rest of your order? “I don’t know, I haven’t looked at the menu yet.”
Like I said, we were very busy, I’m not gonna make 300 hundred trips back to your table. I see no reason why you can’t order like everyone else. You tell me what you want, I ask if you want soup or salad, I get said soup or salad and send your order to the kitchen. Simple. I’m too busy for you to turn this into a convoluted mess. So I tell you I’m gonna do a couple of things, give you time to look at the menu, and then I’ll get your entire order. So what do these guys do? Stop another server and tell them I said I didn’t have time to wait on you. If you’re gonna quote me, you’d better get it right, if you start putting words in my mouth, I’ll find a way to make you eat those words along with your lunch.
So like I said in the first paragraph, if you wanna be a big shooter, you’ve got to do it all the way. A 10% tip every time you are there, is NOT adequate. Even little old ladies in red hats with fixed incomes tip better than you!
I guess in one way you’ve attained your goal…..every server knows exactly who you are…..and not in a good way, not as the self-perceived big shots you see in the mirror. No, we see you as the cheap ass holes you really are.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
The revolving door wardrobe.......
I’m gonna go off on a different tangent today…..first of all,, I don’t like clothes shopping…. (especially for work clothes)…..I’ve always been very price conscious, which takes out any fun there could have been….usually I only buy something if it’s on sale, or off season, which is another term for on sale. I have a terrible time finding slacks that are long enough…..I have to compare the length of every pair, and hope to find the one’s that were cut too long….or get something that has a large enough hem that I can redo it, to make them longer.
Thennnnnnn…. I went shopping with a friend at the Salvation Army Thrift Store. I went in with mixed feelings…I was looking for a black dress, for the next show. My friend told me she was really good at finding stuff…..okay, I’m game. She also had a 50% off coupon, and since it was Saturday, anything with a yellow tag was a dollar, but you had to buy 5 things. Okay, sounds cool.
Upon entering the store, she immediately commandeers a shopping cart. (I’m wondering why we need a shopping cart.) She points out to me where the black dresses are…I start looking through them….see a couple of possibilities….keep them in mind, and move to a different area of the store. I catch up with her a couple of minutes later….and there is a bunch of stuff in the cart. She found some stuff for herself, some stuff for her daughter ..…some stuff for me….(this woman is a pro)…so before I know it, we’ve found 12 dresses for me to try on. Okay, cool. So as I am trying these one, I shout from the dressing room that I need some black dress shoes. “Okay! What size?” “8 ½!” By the time I have the next dress on, open the door to see what she thinks of it, a pair of shoes has been found! And they fit perfectly! Double cool! The real kicker is, they have a yellow tag, and if between us we get 5 yellow tag items, I get the shoes for a dollar!
Ya know what? This is kind of fun! I like 2 of the 12 dresses, so they go in the cart along with the shoes. Now we need 3 more yellow tag items..…(she has one)so she points out the blazers….(knowing I like those) and tells me to look for yellow tags….I find three.
When all was said and done, I bought 1 pair of shoes, 2 dresses and 3 blazers for $20.00!
While shopping, I heard an announcement that they need donations….so I start thinking about all the stuff I seldom, or never wear…..and realize I should just donate it all! Since I can replace anything, dirt cheap, what’s the sense in holding on to it?!? If I get bored with any of my purchases, I don’t have to feel guilty about not wanting it anymore…if it’s still in good shape, I can donate it back! Thus, the revolving door, ever-changing wardrobe!
Upon telling my co-workers about my new shopping experience (with much enthusiasm) I find out just how many people get their work clothes from these thrift stores. It was like WOW! I see the light!
Thennnnnnn…. I went shopping with a friend at the Salvation Army Thrift Store. I went in with mixed feelings…I was looking for a black dress, for the next show. My friend told me she was really good at finding stuff…..okay, I’m game. She also had a 50% off coupon, and since it was Saturday, anything with a yellow tag was a dollar, but you had to buy 5 things. Okay, sounds cool.
Upon entering the store, she immediately commandeers a shopping cart. (I’m wondering why we need a shopping cart.) She points out to me where the black dresses are…I start looking through them….see a couple of possibilities….keep them in mind, and move to a different area of the store. I catch up with her a couple of minutes later….and there is a bunch of stuff in the cart. She found some stuff for herself, some stuff for her daughter ..…some stuff for me….(this woman is a pro)…so before I know it, we’ve found 12 dresses for me to try on. Okay, cool. So as I am trying these one, I shout from the dressing room that I need some black dress shoes. “Okay! What size?” “8 ½!” By the time I have the next dress on, open the door to see what she thinks of it, a pair of shoes has been found! And they fit perfectly! Double cool! The real kicker is, they have a yellow tag, and if between us we get 5 yellow tag items, I get the shoes for a dollar!
Ya know what? This is kind of fun! I like 2 of the 12 dresses, so they go in the cart along with the shoes. Now we need 3 more yellow tag items..…(she has one)so she points out the blazers….(knowing I like those) and tells me to look for yellow tags….I find three.
When all was said and done, I bought 1 pair of shoes, 2 dresses and 3 blazers for $20.00!
While shopping, I heard an announcement that they need donations….so I start thinking about all the stuff I seldom, or never wear…..and realize I should just donate it all! Since I can replace anything, dirt cheap, what’s the sense in holding on to it?!? If I get bored with any of my purchases, I don’t have to feel guilty about not wanting it anymore…if it’s still in good shape, I can donate it back! Thus, the revolving door, ever-changing wardrobe!
Upon telling my co-workers about my new shopping experience (with much enthusiasm) I find out just how many people get their work clothes from these thrift stores. It was like WOW! I see the light!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Gearing up again.....
Once again it’s mid-week, never a super busy time, but we’re looking forward to the weekend. Oh, there’s a buffet breakfast going on this morning…..I was supposed to work it, but the number of people attending shrank, so they called me off. I am not unhappy about this….working days was never my thing.
We’ve got another “DOUBLE TAKE IMPERSONATORS” show coming up on April 6th. Tickets are officially on sale now. As before, they are $25.00, that includes dinner. (Reservations are a must, call 734-507-0716) (last time we sold out 8 days before the show, so call early)
As with everything, one always wants to work out the glitches. So we are tweaking the show…..although no one knew about any glitches last time, we just ad libbed our way through it. It’ll never be exactly the same show twice…the audience is always different, we’ll always get slightly different reactions. But, that’s part of what makes it exciting…. playing off the crowd. What an adrenaline rush! It also keeps you on your toes!
I learned last time, that due to the angle of the spotlight, I can only see half the audience. So, I scoped out the room, and if I wanted to address any comments to the side I was blinded to, I just turned my head in that direction and pretended I could see them. Who knew? Maybe I’ll wear sunglasses this time, though I doubt that would help.
We’re working on a new Lady Gaga entrance….we figure we can get as outrageous as we want…pretty much nothing would put us out of character. We’re also working on a little choreography for the servers for the last number.
I gotta go work on a collage of scenes from the last show….enjoy the day…talk to ya later.
We’ve got another “DOUBLE TAKE IMPERSONATORS” show coming up on April 6th. Tickets are officially on sale now. As before, they are $25.00, that includes dinner. (Reservations are a must, call 734-507-0716) (last time we sold out 8 days before the show, so call early)
As with everything, one always wants to work out the glitches. So we are tweaking the show…..although no one knew about any glitches last time, we just ad libbed our way through it. It’ll never be exactly the same show twice…the audience is always different, we’ll always get slightly different reactions. But, that’s part of what makes it exciting…. playing off the crowd. What an adrenaline rush! It also keeps you on your toes!
I learned last time, that due to the angle of the spotlight, I can only see half the audience. So, I scoped out the room, and if I wanted to address any comments to the side I was blinded to, I just turned my head in that direction and pretended I could see them. Who knew? Maybe I’ll wear sunglasses this time, though I doubt that would help.
We’re working on a new Lady Gaga entrance….we figure we can get as outrageous as we want…pretty much nothing would put us out of character. We’re also working on a little choreography for the servers for the last number.
I gotta go work on a collage of scenes from the last show….enjoy the day…talk to ya later.
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