Advice for a first time waitress?

[FlyingTurtle]

I'm starting my new job tomorrow as a Server at Ruby Tuesday. I'm REALLY excited, but also REALLY nervous. I was wondering if anyone has been a server before and would have some advice or could tell me what to expect in this kind of a job?

[washize]

Don't kill anyone. Try not bash customers over their heads with the plates they want to send back. Don't shove the extra napkins and condiments up the customers asses.

Waitressing is a tough job, for every nice customer you'll have three terrible customers. People run you to death and practically want you to wipe the crust of their mouths, and don't want to tip you. There are people who will tell you everything is fine, then complain to the manager so that they can get a free/discounted meal. People think you're shit, treat you like shit, but for some reason, refuse to go to restaurants that DON'T have servers.

1. No matter what stay positive. Set a goal for how much you want to earn for the day, and put all your focus on that.
2. Be knowledgeable, know the menu, know the drinks, know how the food is prepared, and KNOW about allergy warnings.
3. Don't be a scatter brain. Write everything down. Remember everything.
4. Don't fuck up on allergy alerts from customers.
5. STAY ORGANIZED. You should constantly prebus when a customer is finished with a dish. Bring small items for multiple tables AT ONCE!
6. Learn how to time your runs, and when to interact with the customers.
7. Don't forget to check on your tables, but don't hover over them.
8. Learn to be a people pleaser, stories for old folks, stickers for kids, and compliments for parents and couples. Never flirt if someone is on a DATE.
9. Keep your area spotless!
10. Don't get an attitude with the guests no matter how shitty they are.
11. Screw a regular shitty tipper. There are some regulars that run you to death, and never leave a tip. Don't give them your best service, save it for the PAYING customers. People who don't respect your awesome service regularly don't deserve good service, fuck them.
12. Learn about the personalities of your customers, some are chatty, some want to be left alone, some are needy, est. Your interaction with them should depend on their personality.

[washize]

13. Don't let chatty customers hold you hostage
14. Keep drinks filled and napkins supplied

Good luck to you!

[Eiffelgirl21]

MrOracle pretty much summed it up!
But, another I will add, is to try to keep to yourself. Don't get involved with the drama and just mind your business. From personal experience, most girls that work there are EXTREMELY immature and love drama. Don't tell anybody anything you don't want the whole restaurant to find out as well.. because even if they act like your friend.. they are just a wolf portraying themselves as sheep! Most of them. Well, 99% of them. Definitely helps to know the menus s you will get a lot of 'guests' asking questions. The best thing to do, when you don't know an answer is to say "Excuse me for not knowing, I am still very new, I will go check" or something to that. You will have TRASHHHH guests, and then you will have very VERY nice guests who make you love your job. Everyday is pretty much a good or bad day.. haha for me anyway. But, if you stay out of the drama, it will be more good than bad. You will have others trying to boss you around at first, because they are immature and want to have some kind of control over the 'new' girl... just ignore them as much as possible. Make sure you are friendly to the guests no matter what.. and stick to MrOracle's advice for the rest! Also, don't expect tips.. as it will just upset you if you expect $20 and they only leave $5.. some people don't know how lousy we get paid per hour and some people are just plain ignorant. Expect people from other countries such as England to tip a little less.. as they are unaware of our preposterous minimum wage of $2/hour we make. They make like $12/hour I think. so yeah. Oh, and don't ever get on the managers bad side.. they will cut your shifts and act like children bout it. Expect at least an hour of side work every night as well.

[MrOracle]

1. Learn the menu, including how things are prepared and what goes into them. Try to taste everything on the menu as quickly as you reasonably can (obviously, it might take several weeks, but the sooner the better). Your customers will ask this stuff, and will want your opinion.

2. Don't forget condiments (ketchup, butter, salad dressing, etc.) when asked for, and most importantly, DON'T let people's drinks stay empty. Nothing will kill your tip faster than a person who has to wait 10 minutes for a refill. If it's a big table (birthday party or something), bring a pitcher or two of water and leave them on the table - they'll be happy and you'll do less work.

3. Learn the restaurant's processes and procedures, and execute them quickly and well, and you'll be able to provide your customers with better service, which will be reflected in your tips.

4. You're going to have crappy customers sometimes - don't take it personally. I've had customers in their 50s and 60s who act as if they'd never been in a restaurant before, and have NO IDEA how the process goes. I've had people who can't decide what they want and will hold up a whole table of orders. I had one guy who had pushed is almost-completely empty plate forward, but freaked out when I offered to clear it for him. Most of your customers will be fine, but some are just going to suck, no matter what you do. Take it in stride and don't let it get to you.

5. Wear comfortable shoes that still get good grip on a wet tile floor. Even if those shoes are ugly, having safe, comfortable shoes is a MUST.

[Eiffelgirl21]

he pretty much sums it up!

[MrOracle]

Another important tip for a waitress: learn your craft, develop your skills, and then FIND A BETTER RESTAURANT. Your tips are going to be based on the size of the check to a large degree, so you'll make a lot more money in a busy restaurant and in one where the average check amount is higher (i. e., a higher-end dinner restaurant).

Generally, the higher your tip potential, the more competition there will be for jobs, so you'll need experience (which you're getting now), plus you'll need a positive attitude and to be quick and efficient. In the right place, you can make a LOT of money.

[Izzy2102]

I used to work at Ruby Tuesdays for a few months, honestly don't sweat it. Be nice, flirt for tips (even with the girls) it makes a difference for sure. You live off your tips. In another place I used to get paid 8$ per hour and I got about 50$ in tips
But about that joint in particular joint tho, it's a rather cheap place, so tips are appropriately. Most people are students or at least part timers, so it's really relaxed. A lot of customers (at least here) were also students so there's a good chance you know a lot of them. And they don't ask too many questions

You're going to screw up and that's ok. Sometime someone is going to ask something you don't know. Especially in the beginning. They didn't really give much of an introduction, they just throw you in it, your first day, so it's not really you're fault. You're going to pick up things with time and what you learn beyond that is in your own time. Just say you're new, most people understand that.
Sometimes it was really busy. I only worked the busy shifts though, kinda as extra help, but it's way better than having nothing to do. I work at A&F in the mornings sometimes and there is nothing to do, it's terrible

[Hyped_up_on_coffee]

Be professional , always smile, talk to the clients but never about yourself , never tell them that the back of the house is in the weeds, never complain about co workers, Try to get along with the back of the house , Be attentive to detail , always keep an eye on if people need refills. Always check up on them to see if they like their food because some times things go wrong like the pasta isn't cook right or the food isn't hot. If you screw up bad and if there is a really long delay it is best to offer free drinks or free dessert ( but that depends on company policy )

[vertigo3201]

Biggest thing, expect assholes. I found that no matter how fast and nice you are, there are always people that are going to complain. For example, I had an old man order a piece of lemon pie, so I brought him the pie. He freaked out, called me a fucking idiot because I was too stupid to bring him the right pie. He wanted coconut cream, but asked for lemon.
I know it's really hard to not get upset when someone treats you that way, but try your best to smile and apologize to the customer.

Keep condiments on you or if you're bringing a tray of food put some on there. Or you could ask when you take their order if they need ketchup, etc. It's easier than making a bunch of trips.

[Jordikinz]

There is ALWAYS those customers that are extremely rude and HATE EVERYTHING. So don't take it to heart. I know a lot of first time servers get upset over customers like that. Just smile and wave it off. Not a big deal.

[inlovewithyou2014]

Well expect rude and nice people, always have a smile on your face and be pleasant simple as that.