Waitress/waiter experience?

[live4christp1]

So I think I'm going to bite the bullet and look for another table waiting job, it would be part time (I work full time already). My last wait job was Cracker Barrel........tips where up and down depending on time of year etc......worked there 3 years Friday & Saturday nights......averaged $70 - $100+ per night.

Here's where I need some input from you guys.

I'm torn between going back to work there, tables turn about every hour so as long as they are busy you have plenty of business or should I go to one of the local high end establishments (not chains)? My thinking is tables might turn slower there (more courses) but the tips are going to be bigger (no guarantee though).

Anyone want to share any info or suggestions?

 

[NotUrsula]

IMO, the best p/t return is in banquet work, though the hours tend to run both early and late. Try looking at hotels and caterers and see if you could manage that. The work is easier and the tips come off the top of the contract.

 

[live4christp1]

IMO, the best p/t return is in banquet work, though the hours tend to run both early and late. Try looking at hotels and caterers and see if you could manage that. The work is easier and the tips come off the top of the contract.

Thanks! I'll have to look into that, it just reminded me that I have a friend who has a catering company......though I don't necessarily think I would go to work for her......don't really like working directly for friends.....DH has in the past and there can be some strain on the friendship there. At least she could give me an idea of what the market is like in our area.

 

[jen0610]

We currently have 1 nephew, 2 nieces, and 3 friends working in the restraunt industry. In the past month, we have had conversations with them and the topic of tips have come up.

All 3 of the friends work in chain restraunts. All 3 said that in the past year, their tips have gone down, doesn't matter what shift they work. Even long time regulars are not tipping what they did, 1+ years ago. Of these regulars, none of their ordering habits have changed. They are just tipping less.

1 of the nieces and the nephew works in local restruant, but they are considered a top end restraunt. During the week nights the tips are the same or just a bit higher then 1+ ago, as well as during the lunch crowd on Sat and Sunday. But on the Friday/Saturday night shift, tips have almost doubled what they were a year ago.

The other niece works in a local restruant that is open for breakfast and lunch only. The prices are very reasonable. The tips are almost double what they were last year.

 

[live4christp1]

We currently have 1 nephew, 2 nieces, and 3 friends working in the restraunt industry. In the past month, we have had conversations with them and the topic of tips have come up.

All 3 of the friends work in chain restraunts. All 3 said that in the past year, their tips have gone down, doesn't matter what shift they work. Even long time regulars are not tipping what they did, 1+ years ago. Of these regulars, none of their ordering habits have changed. They are just tipping less.

1 of the nieces and the nephew works in local restruant, but they are considered a top end restraunt. During the week nights the tips are the same or just a bit higher then 1+ ago, as well as during the lunch crowd on Sat and Sunday. But on the Friday/Saturday night shift, tips have almost doubled what they were a year ago.

The other niece works in a local restruant that is open for breakfast and lunch only. The prices are very reasonable. The tips are almost double what they were last year.

Thanks! That's very helpful and encouraging. The drop in tips is at the chain is what I figured.......when I was still there (when gas was at about $4 a gallon) the business was way down as well......instead of having a wait time for tables almost all night long on Friday & Saturday, usually there was no wait time beyond 7:00 PM and by 9:00 PM the tables were few & far between.....a big difference from a year before when we'd have a 20 minute wait at least all the way until about 10:00 PM and still have a floor full up until close at 11:00 PM.

 

[browneyes106]

We currently have 1 nephew, 2 nieces, and 3 friends working in the restraunt industry. In the past month, we have had conversations with them and the topic of tips have come up.

All 3 of the friends work in chain restraunts. All 3 said that in the past year, their tips have gone down, doesn't matter what shift they work. Even long time regulars are not tipping what they did, 1+ years ago. Of these regulars, none of their ordering habits have changed. They are just tipping less.

1 of the nieces and the nephew works in local restruant, but they are considered a top end restraunt. During the week nights the tips are the same or just a bit higher then 1+ ago, as well as during the lunch crowd on Sat and Sunday. But on the Friday/Saturday night shift, tips have almost doubled what they were a year ago.

The other niece works in a local restruant that is open for breakfast and lunch only. The prices are very reasonable. The tips are almost double what they were last year.

I worked in the restaurant industry about five years ago and tipping as good back then. Lately I have read and heard about tips going down. About two weeks I went to eat breakfast at restaurant where I head an elderly couple tell the waitress that they wouldn't be tipping her.

 

[minkydog]

I worked in the restaurant industry about five years ago and tipping as good back then. Lately I have read and heard about tips going down. About two weeks I went to eat breakfast at restaurant where I head an elderly couple tell the waitress that they wouldn't be tipping her.

That's just wrong. Unless she spit in their food she certainly deserved at least 15%. My DS23 has worked as a waiter off and on. It really brought to my attention how hard they work for their pay. In fact, as a result of his experiences we have increased our tipping to 20% unless the service is truly awful. And my definition of awful is pretty low. I try to give the waitstaff the benefit of the doubt. Most of them seem to be working as hard as they can.

I have a question, though: how hard is it to learn waitressing? I've thought about doing that part-time just to supplement our income. I have no experience. Would some place like Cracker Barrel even consider me?

 

[paintnolish]

minky- It does take some getting used to, but if you are personable, good at multitasking, and able to think straight under pressure, you can handle it. I have been waiting for about 2 years now and didn't get into it on purpose. I interviewed for the hostess job because I was kind of scared to serve. The owner really liked me and liked that I was older than most of the college girls she had (Gee, thanks) and offered me a job as a head waitress!

I do agree with tips being higher at nicer establishments. I think that sometimes people take the budget a little too far at chain restaurants, especially with their combo deals (App, entree, and dessert for a set price), and let it effect their tipping. At higher end places, many people aren't going there for a cheap meal-it's a treat. We have very high standards for service and are expected to maintain a 20% average tip percent. I rarely see anyone with less than 18.5%, with the majority of people close to the 20%.

 

[live4christp1]

That's just wrong. Unless she spit in their food she certainly deserved at least 15%. My DS23 has worked as a waiter off and on. It really brought to my attention how hard they work for their pay. In fact, as a result of his experiences we have increased our tipping to 20% unless the service is truly awful. And my definition of awful is pretty low. I try to give the waitstaff the benefit of the doubt. Most of them seem to be working as hard as they can.

I have a question, though: how hard is it to learn waitressing? I've thought about doing that part-time just to supplement our income. I have no experience. Would some place like Cracker Barrel even consider me?

I had no experience when I went to work there. We trained on the floor with a senior server for 3 shifts......before that we went through about 4 days of class learning codes etc.....then our store switched to a system where we entered the orders and it printed out a ticket so no more need of codes. Wasn't terribly hard though trays of food can get really heavy over a period. The big problem at our store was we had a lot of servers that would take the orders, get the drinks to the table and then disappear (breakroom)to never go back to their table again so the rest of us end up running food, getting whatever else the customer needs, etc. The other thing about CB is if you have a party over 8 they don't automatically add the gratituity as many other places do so big parties don't usually = a good tip. I stayed on the floor constantly when I was there because I wanted my customers to get the very best service because that usually means a better tip for me........you just end up doing a lot of work for other people as well and not getting any tip for it.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

If you dont' mind the atmosphere, I'd definitely go for a sportsbar or nightclub.
People drinking tend to tip better

 

[live4christp1]

If you dont' mind the atmosphere, I'd definitely go for a sportsbar or nightclub.
People drinking tend to tip better

Thought about that, just not sure I can handle that. I'm sure it's got to be noisy......Cracker Barrel was noisy enough. Plus I'm afraid the hours would run way later than what I'm wanting.....don't want to be there at 3:00 AM.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

Thought about that, just not sure I can handle that. I'm sure it's got to be noisy......Cracker Barrel was noisy enough. Plus I'm afraid the hours would run way later than what I'm wanting.....don't want to be there at 3:00 AM.

oh yeah, they are generally loud... and you are there late. I remember when my oldest was a baby, I'd put her to bed and be at work by 8pm (nightclub). I wouldnt get out til about 4am...but I only did Friday and Saturday nights and I'd average $200 a night

 

[live4christp1]

oh yeah, they are generally loud... and you are there late. I remember when my oldest was a baby, I'd put her to bed and be at work by 8pm (nightclub). I wouldnt get out til about 4am...but I only did Friday and Saturday nights and I'd average $200 a night

$200 a night. Wow!!!! 4 AM though, DH would die.

 

[Buckalew11]

Waitressing scares the crap out of me! I think I'd be terrible at it.

 

[live4christp1]

Waitressing scares the crap out of me! I think I'd be terrible at it.

That's what I thought too.....wasn't so bad. The thing that scares me the most is spilling something hot on someone.....like coffee.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

That's what I thought too.....wasn't so bad. The thing that scares me the most is spilling something hot on someone.....like coffee.

I've been waiting tables for 21 years. And last year for the first time in nearly a decade I spilled hot coffee on a customer and he just laughed about it. Said it was a good thing he had on the jacket. I still had the manager go over and visit and everything was just fine.

I'm working now at a buffet and making about as much as I made at a full service restaurant. The past week was rough and the next few will be because school is starting back and he's cutting hours. One of the other servers just told me to hang there it'll get better. I've only made $84 this work week when I'm normally close to $200, but hubby got paid Friday so we're good.

I prefer the buffet to the full service right now as I have less work to do and can make just as much money.

 

[jsmith]

The best paying job i had-til the one i have now was waiting tables in a high end place-that was in the early 80s and i was pulling in over a 1000 a week working 6 to 8 hours 3 nights a week. I would go back to it but the hours arent great for someone whos spouse is gone as much as mine is.

 

[live4christp1]

The best paying job i had-til the one i have now was waiting tables in a high end place-that was in the early 80s and i was pulling in over a 1000 a week working 6 to 8 hours 3 nights a week. I would go back to it but the hours arent great for someone whos spouse is gone as much as mine is.

Your post inspired me and I applied at one of several I'd been interested in. Got a call today and go in for an interview tomorrow afternoon. Had listed Friday and Saturday only as my work days and the place is only open from 5:00 - 10:00 PM daily (I'm sure that if it's like previous experience that's when they close the doors to more customers but could end up being there an hour or two more depending).