You're server is making $2.33 an hour...

As you know by my previous blogs, I am a server at a restaraunt. I work 4 to 5 days a week serving tables, and dealing with customers who range from happy to not happy. Some tables are already grumpy when they enter the door, some tables are in a good mood no matter what. It all varies by the customers I meet, which is why I love my job. I get to interact with so many different people, its definatley never boring. I have been working in restaraunts since I was 16,and I have done pretty much every job imaginable. Lately, I have been joking with my managers about how I am going to write a book on what to do, and what not to do when your at a restaraunt. An insight into the mind of a server who is waiting on you're table. This week's blog will be just a few things I have come up with.
1) Your server is getting paid $2.00 to $3.00 an hour, depending on the restaraunt. You heard it right, in Wisconsin most restaraunts only pay thier servers $2 to $3 an hour. Our entire job is based on tips. So when you and your friends think its funny to leave a pile of change in the shape of a smiley face on the table, we are not smiling. We can't pay any sort of monthly bill with that smiley face.
2) If you need a refill, ask, instead of sucking on your empty glass.
It is probably the most dreaded noise to my ears. If you need a refill on a drink ask, or set the empty glass at the end of the table. Don't suck on the straw in your empty glass. That's just rude. Would you act like that if you were having dinner with you're mother? No, because she raised you with manners, so act like it.
3)Servers are perfectly capable of understanding what you're saying...so don't snap your fingers.
This goes for snapping your fingers, clapping you're hands, or waving at us. We understand that you are in our section. We aren't you're pets, so don't snap or clap at us. This also includes yelling our names across the dining room, or waving you're empty coffee pot around. We can see you, and we can comprehend you just asking for another pot. We aren't all rocket scientists, but we can understand simple requests.
4) Just because you went out to eat, doesn't mean your kids get to trash the place.
We understand that you went out to eat so you wouldn't have to clean up a mess at home. We also expect to have to do a little extra clean up, that's only natural. However, this does not make it acceptable for your kid to be smearing crushed up macaroni everywhere, and throwing food all over the place. This also goes for them running all over and yelling. You try carrying an entire tray of hot food, and having some toddler run in front of you while thier parents are letting them do laps around the dining room. Lastly, you apologizing because you let your kid make a compost heap on our table does not make it okay. We say it's okay, because that's our job, but we don't mean it.
5) We don't cook the food, we only serve it.
Its understandable to be upset if your server completely messes up you're order. They totally rang it in wrong, thats thier job, so you have every right to be mad. That bieng said, we are not cooking you're food. We don't hop back behind the cooks line after taking you're order. So if you don't like the way something tastes, or the temperature isn't right, we didn't make it. You are completely entitled to let us know so we can fix it, but throwing a temper tantrum like some 6 year old is just rediculous. I don't stick my fingers in you're mashed potatoes, so how would I ever know they were cold? You're right, I did it on purpose so you could yell at me about it, you caught me. And honestly, as an adult, don't you have bigger things to worry about in life? If your entire day is ruined by your steak not bieng medium rare, then it's time to evaluate how you're spending your days.

These are just a few I could remember off the top of my head, but I hope I gave you something to chew on next time you go out to eat! Treat your servers well!