Tips for tips: advice on being a server

[SuperBowlNachos]

Re: Tips for tips: advice on being a server

Every night is not at $15/hour night. That's pretty much just on the weekends. The weekend usually makes up for the when the restaurant is "dead" during the week. There are exceptions though.

Even if it comes out to $10/hr for the week that is still pretty damn good. A place like Chilis or Buffalo Wild Wings has steady business every night of the week. If they wait on just two tables an hour I am pretty sure they would make at least $8 between those two tables(plus the restaurant pays them like $3/hr right?).

$2 on a $20 tab is over exaggerating. I'm not that bad. I was just telling him to not be visibly upset if someone leaves a ****ty tip. The OP just needs to watch "Waiting" and do what they do

I know you're going to get just a $5 or a $10 no matter the bill total from some people and the service you give, and that's fine because I know. The good tables will balance the bad tables. Admittedly, this is one thing that's kept me from serving, having to deal with the **** customers. But it's come to the point where I just don't give a damn, I need to make some good money and I'm not going to let some bitchass customers ruin that for me.
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$10 is a bad table? So for waiting on a table for 45-60 minutes you would be upset that you only made $10 for that one hour of work? Not to mention the other tables you have. If you have four "bad" tables your in an hour you still just made $40.

[WDOgF0reL1fe]

Re: Tips for tips: advice on being a server

Having been in the restaurant business for the last six years, I'm going to go a bit different than everyone else it seems:

-Don't care about your tables. Obviously, don't let this come out in how you treat them, but don't care about them in the long run. Theyll get their food when they get it, you'll get their refills when you have a moment, and you're only human so you will forget things and make mistakes. Most of the time the people will be okay and understand, but if you don't care then those other times when the table is full of douchebags, their responses and attitudes won't affect yours an you can rebound on the next table.

-Never rush in the dining room. Doesn't matter if you pull a Jackie Cahn-esque chase routine in the kitchen, but in the dining room never hurry, never run.

-stereotype. Not even kidding. It's better to be pleasantly surprised by a good tip than let down by a bad one. You'll learn which stereotypes I mean, but I can't actually post most of them. Hate to say it but 99% of time people will play up to the stereotypes no matter how well you treat them.

-Eye contact is a big one.

-I, also, don't agree with the "don't write anything down" mentality. Most chain restaurants won't agree with it either. If you don't write anything down and then get something wrong there's no one to blame but yourself and the customer will notice. Most feel more comfortable when they see you at least jot something down.

-Become friends with the cooks and bartenders. They are the two most important jobs in the restaurant to have on your side. If the bartender likes you they'll make your drinks quicker even if they're busy, not to mention most will take requests if you really like a table and want to get them a free round.

As for the cooks, if they like you they'll help you out with extra requests and won't get annoyed if you ask them to do something.

I couldn't disagree more.
I care about every table, unless it is a previous table from a previous experience where I know something bad will happen. This is how I get away with not writing things down. I get familiar with the people and they get familiar with me, that way if I do make a mistake, which I do but rarely, I joke around with them a bit and they know that I did what I could and accept responsibility. If I didn't care about my table, and the kitchen or something out of MY CONTROL happens which ruins their experience, then they are going to be very hard to make happy. At first I didn't care about their refills and their experience, but now that their food is taking 30 minutes I all of a sudden am nice and trying to make sure they are ok?

I do agree about never rushing/running. I NEVER run, I NEVER look busy, I am always walking no matter what. People can tell Im busy though if I just don't really talk to any other server.

[cjonesfan921]

Re: Tips for tips: advice on being a server

I tip based on service. I'm well aware of what I 'should' tip but if the service isn't there, eff that. It is really difficult to mess up the important things, as in, being nice, timely, courteous.

If my order is messed up, it's not a huge deal. I know it can be busy and overwhelming.

I'm a decent tipper when need be, but, again, it is all based on the server.

[slickdtc]

Re: Tips for tips: advice on being a server

$10 is a bad table? So for waiting on a table for 45-60 minutes you would be upset that you only made $10 for that one hour of work? Not to mention the other tables you have. If you have four "bad" tables your in an hour you still just made $40.

The general rule is the tip is percentage-based off the bill. If you're throwing down $100, $200 in a sitting, and the general rule is 15-20%, yeah, 10$ kinda sucks. And chances are, the higher the bill, the longer the dining experience.

$10/hr sounds great. But you can't look at it that way... serving is purely tip-based. That's the lure of serving... a chance to make a lot of money, very quickly. If I was going to look at it as an hourly wage, I would've gotten a job in retail. By the way, your hourly wage (2 to 3 bucks an hour) is written off into taxes so your paychecks are typically $0. So you really aren't making a wage besides the tips you receive.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: Tips for tips: advice on being a server

$10/hr sounds great. But you can't look at it that way... serving is purely tip-based. That's the lure of serving... a chance to make a lot of money, very quickly. If I was going to look at it as an hourly wage, I would've gotten a job in retail. By the way, your hourly wage (2 to 3 bucks an hour) is written off into taxes so your paychecks are typically $0. So you really aren't making a wage besides the tips you receive.

Do whatever you can in your power to not report cash tips. You will be forced to report tips on CCs.

There's another tip for tippers. If you're paying with a debit/credit card, but have enough cash to cover the tip. Always tip cash!

[Burns11]

Re: Tips for tips: advice on being a server

Why should I help you defraud the government?

[Scott]

Re: Tips for tips: advice on being a server

Serving is the worst job in the world unless you work at a high end restaurant, this is coming from someone who has worked in many restaurants/bars. Reconsider.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: Tips for tips: advice on being a server

Why should I help you defraud the government?

Because they spend money poorly.

[cardsfan2222]

Re: Tips for tips: advice on being a server

Because they spend money poorly.

The rest of us still have to pay taxes, whether or not we agree with how the money is spent. Lying about what you make isn't fair to people who pay their full amount in taxes.

[SuperBowlNachos]

Re: Tips for tips: advice on being a server

I'm pretty sure 100% of Americans lie. Aren't you technically supposed to report anything you receive as a gift too? If my grandma gave me a $50,000 in cash she had stashed away I sure as hell am not gonna let the government take a % of it.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: Tips for tips: advice on being a server

The rest of us still have to pay taxes, whether or not we agree with how the money is spent. Lying about what you make isn't fair to people who pay their full amount in taxes.

Oh well, I like to give them the option.

[Burns11]

Re: Tips for tips: advice on being a server

Yeah, and hopefully you end up in jail for it.

[55]

Re: Tips for tips: advice on being a server

Yeah, and hopefully you end up in jail for it.

Hoping someone goes to jail for tipping someone in cash?

Really? Really? Realllllly?

[cjonesfan921]

Yeah, and hopefully you end up in jail for it.

That's a tad bit excessive!

Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using Tapatalk

[Beantown]

Re: Tips for tips: advice on being a server

Yeah, and hopefully you end up in jail for it.

Overreact much? Holy hell.