(Note: in order to get the most out of this post you should read parts one and two. They create the foundation for this summary post and will be referenced frequently.)
My friend Marcy has the innate ability to intimidate people. She is a beautiful 5’8” blonde attending law school. She is aware of having this effect on people, but neither of us truly understands why. While other people see the surface, I have seen her trip over her own feet and know that she occasionally enjoys cold marinara as a salad dressing. This makes her far less intimidating to me. Where others are intimidated by her appearance, I know that there is a health portion of inner dork beneath the surface.
As a server, you must be aware of your intimidation factor. There are most likely traits that you have which will intimidate your guests and create hostility. While you cannot change these, you need to be able to counterbalance them by relating to your guests in a way that overcomes them. Remember the third rule of serving: generic servers receive generic tips. The key to winning over a hostile guest is to not be a generic server by showing that you are professional, human, and similar to them.
Integrating these characteristics into a serving routine is not as difficult as it appears. Over the course of a meal there is time to convey all of these traits to them. They are not contradictory, but rather compliment each other nicely by creating an image of you as a well-rounded person. To win over hostile guests you must be more than a one-dimensional person reciting the same lines you do with every table. You must exceed the guest’s preconceived notions of you and become someone more relatable. Tripping over your own feet is optional.
Here are the steps to integrating the factors discussed in the first two parts of this series to win over hostile guests.
Read the full post at Tips For Improving Your Tips
yellowcat
Dec 02, 2010 @ 00:51:05
I know I’m intimidating and I have no idea why. I’m short, round and tend to trip over my feet a lot. I try to give off a professional air, but there is a fine line between professional and unapproachable. I never thought about any of the suggestions you gave about relating to the table. It would be easy to start a conversation on events or likes without being invasive. I’ll give it a try!
Emily
Dec 03, 2010 @ 18:21:39
I hope I’m intimidating. “Fuck with me, I’ll break your legs” is what I’d like people to think when they see me come up to the table. Especially at happy hour.
Emily
Dec 03, 2010 @ 18:22:30
furthermore, why do we get quilt squares if we don’t have pictures?