They've done it again

From the makers of Waiting comes a new comedy about the shenanigan's that go on in the service industry. Still Waiting makes a complete mockery of my job, and everything that goes along with it. This straight to DVD classic uses sexual innuendo, cheesy comedy, and a couple of would-be stars to sum up anything and everything that goes on in a corporate restaurant. If someone sees it, lemme know how it is, as I will probably not be spending the $5 to buy this movie at whatever gas station/24-hour diner it ends up selling at.

Kearney/UNK Issues

These are a few ideas for my next editorial.

1) Here on campus, we have a luxury over many other schools in our athletic conference. The Health and Sports Center. This indoor facility makes it possible for athletes and students alike to train or exercise when the weather doesn't allow for outdoor activities. This has always helped baseball and softball players because the rainy and snowy weather during their seasons prevent them from practicing on their fields. This semester, though, there is a new rule that prohibits balls thrown in the Cushing Field House. The rule only allows balls being thrown, or kicked, during reserved time by teams (University or intramural.) This does not seem fair to the athletes who's sport is paying their college tuition. They are simply trying to better their skills, and they pay the fees to use the facility.

2) Speed limits need to be better enforced on and around campus. It is a game of "frogger" getting across 25th Street, and it is also very bad on 29th between the football field and the sorority/fraternity houses. Not only do some people speed, some people go well below the speed limit (looking for these mythical parking spaces some speak of), which can be just as dangerous.

3) April is Sexual Violence Prevention Month. An issue on this campus that could be resolved is lack of awareness. Many women do not realize the resources they have here on campus that could lower their risks of becoming a statistic. Here on UNK Campus, we have a SafeRide program with Kearney Cab that few people know about, and also a SafeWalk program that insures the safety of students leaving their night classes or late-night study sessions. Many women come to college feeling more independent than ever without realizing the risks of living as a single women on a college campus. Kearney and UNK are both very safe places, but bad things happen everywhere and prevention and knowledge are the only ways to protect oneself.

Tip Your Tender

Ever think about what a bartending job entails? Not only do they need to know every drink, they need to know the menu. They keep your drink full, put in food if you order it, run credit cards for servers, and keep the tables' drinks full. So why don't people feel the need to tip them? I have never stiffed a bartender myself, but many many people do. Next time you think about stiffing a bartender, think about the little things they do for you while you are eating/drinking. Did they put a glass of water in front of you? How about silverware? Odds are they got your salad for you, and maybe they even brought you that side of mayo that you asked for. Not every bartending job consists only of spinning bottles and shaking martinis. Remember that bartenders, unlike servers, cannot take a break. If a server doesn't have a table, he/she can sit down for a few, roll silverware, even order some food, but not bartenders. Unless there is not a single person drinking in the restaurant or sitting at the bar, the bartender has something to do. Also remember when you are tipping that your drink bill is accumulating with every drink. If you would tip $1/drink, and you have 7 drinks, don't think that leaving a $5 bill is acceptable. It is just like a server waiting on you.

THIS SITE knows what's up, and THIS ONE is something I wish I'd started

TIP FOR SERVERS:
Tip your tender. Most of the time there is a mandatory amount that every server must tip out, but if not, take care of your bartender. They will take better care of you.

I dig travelers!!!

I'm not sure what it is about people on the road, but I love love love them! They are laid back, they are gonna have a few beers with their food, they are gonna ask questions about the city they're in, they are gonna ask about their server, and they are gonna tip! I met a young couple on their way to Utah to go snowboarding this evening. They were interested in me. Not the fake kind of interested (you know, the kind that I pull when someone tells me about a baby, or a marriage) the real interested. They asked questions, told stories, and laughed. Again, it was real laughter, not the kind that I use when a customer tells me the same joke that he has told me every Thursday for a month about the guy walking into a bar and saying ouch, get it? Get it? Yes sir, I get it, I just can't laugh at things that aren't funny. I don't have it in me. Nonetheless, if you, as a server, have time to talk to these people, they really are amazing. And if you, as a customer, are taking a road trip, make an effort to go into locally-owned restaurants and visit with the staff. You may make her night =)

Community Voice

This is an editorial for class



On January 15, 2009, the Attorney General of Nebraska began an effort to get Kearney, Nebraska to change its 51-year old concealed weapons law. The law states that no person can conceal and carry a weapon. This is not a state law; this is a Kearney, NE City statute. The Attorney General continues to fight this issue saying that the law is costing the state too much money. The state law in Nebraska allows for concealing and carrying a weapon as long as the person has obtained a state certified permit. The problem lies in certain cases when a person is carrying a permit, yet is concealing a weapon in a city that bans concealed weapons. While this may not seem like a difficult issue to work around, it is causing quite a stir because the state is doing everything in their power to turn Kearney’s laws around.
Why? What is the point in having local government if the decisions are overturned by the state? Every city is different from the next in one way or another, and to generalize an entire state in lawmaking is foolish. In the way of guns, a concealed weapon in Chadron, Nebraska is much different from a concealed weapon in East Omaha. The people who live in the community should help to decide the laws because they are the people who have to live with them and abide by them. There is nowhere in the Nebraska statute that says a city must abide by state law. The statutes say that cities can make and pass laws as they see fit, as long as they don’t contradict state or federal laws.
A smoking ban has been in effect in Lincoln, Nebraska since October of 2006. The city voted to enact one and it passed. While this was not a state law, it was still enforced in the city limits of Lincoln. Now, this law did not catch any grief because it didn’t cost anybody at the state level money. Had someone objected to this law, would the state have urged Lincoln to overturn the ban?
Consistency is key in a democratic government. This country is different from anywhere else in the world because everyone has a voice, and everyone has an elected official helping to make that voice heard. If the highest government in the state is just going to take away that voice, then there is no point in having a city council or a mayor. The state as a whole is only complete when the individual cities are complete. If a city wants to keep guns out of their community, the state must respect that right. If a city wants to permit smoking, the state must respect that right. Every state in the U.S. is different, and therefore, they have different laws. Cities are no different. Each city must deal with their own problems as they come without having to fear the state overriding, and eventually making the decisions for them.

The times they are a changin'

Valentine's Day 2008= 6 hours @$2.13/hr=$12.78 + $240 in tips = $252.78, $42.13/hr!!!!!

Valentine's Day 2009= 6 hours @$2.13/hr=$12.78 +$100 in tips = $112.78, $18.80/hr =(

Don't get me wrong, nearly $20/hr. is still quite a bit of money, but less that half what I made the year before? Come on people. And here's the worst of it! Someone stiffed me! On Valentine's Day! I popped their champagne for them, drew chocolate swirls on their cheesecake, wrote "Happy V-Day!" on the ticket itself, and still got stiffed. How can you do that? I'll tell you how...you go out to eat once a year. You decide to take your wife out for a nice meal, and realize that you haven't been out to eat since waitresses wore pink skirts! You don't realize how much things cost, and you definitely don't realize that tipping is a requirement! You tell me how great my service was, then draw a straight line through the tip amount on the credit card slip. Wow! As if working on Valentine's Day isn't somewhat depressing in itself, someone stiffing you is an arrow to the heart. Mind you, the tickets on Valentine's Day are nearly double what they typically are. My average ticket was $50, and the ticket I got stiffed on was almost $50. $47.33 to be exact.

This may offer some insight as to why people feel the need to tip or not tip. "To Insure Promptness" was the original slogan for the reasoning behind leaving a tip, but now it is a necessity to leave money to your servers, especially on a holiday.

SNOW DAY!!!!

Typically means no dinero for this girl =(. It's odd, I never correlated eating with the weather until I worked in a restaurant. It is a Friday night, and typically money on Friday nights is very good (people had a long week, they wanna sit and enjoy a drink and a meal, they don't want to cook, etc...) Oh no! Not tonight my friend. The second the first snowflake hits the ground, people cease to leave their homes. I guess this makes sense, somewhat. I don't particularly like driving in snow myself. One thing that I don't understand is the opposite of this, though. When it is beautiful outside, people don't go out to eat. They barbecue. Hmph! Basically, in a perfect waitress world, everyday would be fifty degrees with clear skies, and optimal road conditions. Oh yeah, and every table would be young, businessmen, who want appetizers, salads, drinks, entrees, and desserts with coffee. They'd also want to help out the aspiring lawyer who is taking their order and trying her hardest to flirt without flirting. To all you diners out there, enjoy your night in, please call and cancel if you have a reservation, and please please please don't let this weather keep you in for Valentine's Day tomorrow (it's like the Christmas of serving holidays!)

My First Rebuttal

Ok...so it's not really a rebuttal, but I should clarify. An avid reader of mine brought it to my attention that I was a little bias in my editorial. I should clear things up a bit. In my editorial, I ranted about owners and investors of restaurants. I used the example of car dealership owners offering their employees hourly wages to compensate for the lack of cars being sold off the lot. I should let the general public know that while servers make $2.25/hour, owners are required to pay their servers minimum wage. This means that at the end of a shift, a server must add up their tips, and if it doesn't average out to minimum wage, the owner must pay the server the difference. *CUSTOMERS* Please do not think this means that you don't have to tip. You have to tip. You have to tip well, very very well, please and thank you. B.P., hope this clears the air!

Tips for Servers

****DISCLAIMER***** EXTREME PROFANITY IN THE YOUTUBE VIDEO*******

Here's some advice for all my server friends out there...

1) SMILE.Nothing is more awkward and depressing than a server coming to the table acting unfriendly. Even if it is a fake smile, SMILE. I was out to eat last week in Omaha, and our server was so impolite. She didn't smile once, and she didn't make eye contact at all. It made me feel like I was inconveniencing her by dining out. Also, I wanted dessert, but she didn't offer it, she just dropped our ticket without a thank you, or a grin. Smiling in everyday life is important, but a smile is part of your uniform when you are serving.

2) Say your name. Say it clearly, say it a couple times, use it in a story you are telling, write it on the back of the ticket when you drop it, just make sure you get it out there. Just like servers remember good tippers, customers remember good servers. If you want repeat customers, say your name. Also, it helps eliminate customers that get your attention in a rude manner.

3) Check your baggage at the door. This is important in any job, but especially in serving. Sorry you had a bad day, it happens, but serving is one of the professions where you can not let your day affect you dinner rush. No customers care how bad your day was. No customers care how you feel. Sorry, it is a harsh reality, but a reality no less. One thing that helps me to leave the drama at home, is to leave my cell phone at home, or at least in my car. Pay attention to your job, and it will go by faster. Use the restaurant as a release from the rest of the world. Keep your hands busy, and your mind will rarely have time to catch up. If you must must must show emotion at work, keep it in the kitchen or serving station. Let it build up and boil as much as you can, then go back into the kitchen and string as many four-letter words together as possible.



Won't solve anything, but will offer some temporary release. Something else that helps is throwing something as hard as you can with your opposite hand (Thanks T.K.) I am right-handed, so when I am about to explode, I grab a towel and throw it as hard as I can into the hamper with my left hand. I feel better because I look and feel like a moron, but I don't feel like killing the lady at table 13 anymore =)

4) Be honest. If you don't know if the Alfredo has garlic, be honest. "Ma'am I am not positive on that, but I will go check with the cook and be right back." Then....you go check with the cook and come right back. This is common sense folks, but it is commonly overlooked. Some servers want to look like they know everything (trust me, I'm one of those servers.) But if you tell this customer that there isn't garlic in the sauce, and there is, BOOM! Allergic reaction, lawsuit, unemployment. It takes a few seconds to clarify. This can all be prevented by knowing your menu, though, and asking questions for yourself before a customer ever has to ask.


5) (If you are a customer, please stop reading now) Servers...here is a tip to make more tips. UPSELL!!! UPSELL!!!! UPSELL!!!! UPSELL!!!!
"I'll have a vodka tonic please," "OK Sir, would you like Absolut, Grey Goose, or Ketel One?"
DO NOT SELL WELL. If a customer hears their options, they are more likely to pick one, rather than just resorting to well drinks. This increases your bill one dollar at a time, but it is important. Always suggest soups and salads, and always bring out the dessert tray or describe it in succulent terms. The more money people spend, the more they tip (typically.) In this tough economy, servers must get customers to spend as much as they can. Know your booze so that you can list the various types of top-shelf vodkas, bourbons, scotches, and rums. Also, know your wines and beers. Don't just sound knowledgeable, be knowledgeable.

Tips for customers

*****Disclaimer*****This is a link to an R-Rated movie. It contains very graphic language and should not be viewed by people under 18 years of age.


Time for me to give back to my friendly customers. Enjoy!

1) The most important rule, the Cardinal rule if you will, is *****DO NOT F*CK WITH PEOPLE WHO HANDLE YOUR FOOD*****. While nothing as drastic as this would ever happen at a real restaurant, it is a warning. Be smart. Just because you do not have as much control over your life as you'd like to, does not mean that you can control and make the people who serve you feel like less than they are. Don't forget that the cute ditsy blonde that is bringing you your salad with lite ranch, is going to school to be a doctor. Just because you make $8.50/hour + benefits does not make you a better person, so don't act like it.

2) Everything from here on out will be a version of rule #1 worded differently. For example, there are 2 reasons that a server remembers a customer. Either they tipped very well, or they tipped very poorly. Sorry to break it to you. As much as you think the waitress was into you by the way she kept your beer and water full, it is her job. Nothing more. Now if you left her $50 on a $30 ticket (Which I've had happen by the way) she will remember every little thing you said. In my case, he was traveling from Iowa to Denver to watch his niece graduate. He had 2 Miller Lites with a NY Strip cooked medium. He doesn't care for soup or salad, because he likes to indulge in dessert; that particular night it was just ice cream with chocolate syrup. Thank you if you are reading this, I owe you my black open-toed stilettos from Baker's.

3) Cell phones are rude. The reason I am asking you if you are ready to order is because I am ready for you to order. I do not want you to think that, but I am at your table ready for a reason. I have a plan! I send in drinks for table 3 while checking back on the steaks from table 5. I just dropped table 8 his check and he is reaching for his card, indicating he is ready to leave. Do you see where you fit into this scheme? You on your phone means that table 3 is waiting for drinks, while table 5 might need their steaks put on longer. Table 8 is checking his watch, because he is trying to make a movie, while you sit and chat with a friend who is too important to call back. It is rude.

4) My name is Amanda. I will be taking care of you tonight. Ok, I will go put that order in for you right away, again MY NAME IS AMANDA, please let me know if you need anything. Know how bad it makes you feel being called sir or ma'am? Well it stings a lot deeper being snapped at, hollered at, or hearing "Excuse me, EXCUSE ME!!!" from across the restaurant. I promise if you at least attempt at my name, say something that begins or ends with an "A", I will respond.




5) Tip accordingly. Nothing is worse than making less than a bad server, when you did a better job. Certain people think that tipping 15% all around makes them a good tipper. Well, would you pay your gardener for doing half your yard work? Would you pay your doctor for a false diagnosis? Serving is no different from serious professions. Do not tip well unless you were satisfied. Do not condone, or promote bad service. If she didn't do well, let her know. If he forgot your salad, forget his 15%. It is an awful feeling doing a great job and not being rewarded accordingly, but it is an even more awful feeling watching someone else make money for a mediocre, or at times, pitiful job.