I know this because duh, that's what I'm doing right now, HA! There's a very reasonable
And, dudes, it's like really hard work. Customer service plus food service at a fast pace and all I can say is thank goodness for the tips. Yep, I'm working as a Server again after almost a decade of staying home. To be honest, I wasn't sure I could physically do it after 15+ yrs and those boring health issues of the past. But we were in a terrible bind and, yes, it was a desperate act the day I applied at SNS.
I had just enough gas in my car to make a mile circuit of my hobbit hole and I used google maps to find restaurants on that route. I remember being dissapointed that both of the local RR locations were out of reach. I had called first to ask if they were hiring so as not to waste a drop of that precious pricey gasoline. Then, I dropped 6 aps that day, 2 called me back, SNS hired me after the 1st interview.
The first few months were brutal. my poor feet weep for those cheap shoes I wore. who am I kidding my feet scream at me when they remember those shoes and all the terrible choices I ever made in footwear.
I was cocky during my training because I talk big like that but, also because being on the floor felt so familiar and I was picking it all right back up again. I knew what to say and how to serve the food and drinks. I passed the only test I set for myself which was carrying a tray and walking at the same time. My attitude stank of HURRY UP AND LET ME MAKE SOME MONEY ALREADY :D
In fact, the day they finally put me on the floor that pesky pricey precious gasoline issue was dominat on my mind in it's glaring absence from my car. I was estactic and confident when I finally made the seating chart. My first few days were cake because we were slow and even though I only made gas money I had a fist full of dollars. okay, singles but still, I earned those bills with my labor and that felt good.
Of course, we can't have cake all the time and I was about the endure the real test that colored my teeny tiny balancing act at best, elementary. Throughout my training and first week as a server (3 wks) I had never worked during a really busy rush. It had always been slow and I was thankful that the place seemed busy enough to make some money but not busy enough that I had to bring my non existant A game. My first rush came when I was finishing up what appeared to be a slow dinner shift.
The other server T had just been cut after we'd worked 2 hrs and about 5 tables each total with no mare than 2 at a time. I was the only server on the floor and within 15 mins there were ten tables on the floor. T had to come back on the floor, the manager had to take tables, it was truly the stuff of nightmares. I tell myself it wasn't quite epic fail yet, I'm sure my co workers that evening had another opinion.
The next few weeks were more of the same. When it was slow or even a steady flow with other strong servers I was a Rock Star on the floor but, when it was really busy I couldn't keep up and missed out on lots of tables + tips. My confidence dwindled and I began to make stupid mistakes because I was trying to work faster. I began to think they were going to fire me. I never thought about quitting, well, may be a few times...
Without noticing it things got better as I really got familiar with the menu and the seating plan and the computers. After about 2 months in I finally started getting faster, after 3 months I could finally take off the tunnel vision, and I tell you what; being able to see the whole picture really helps during those dreaded rushes.
I may not be as fast as the other servers but I'm great at delegation and while still not a Rock Star during the rushes (who is?) I think I'm finally proving my worth.
