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Cocktail waitressing
I am going to start cocktail waitressing pretty soon. Are there any things that I should know about it, going into the job? For example, any helpful tips that could go a long way?
I am a little nervous about balancing trays full of drinks. Would it be beneficial to practice at home with trays? Do they start off first-time cocktail servers with full trays on the very first day, or do they start them off slowly?
I am very excited to start!! :D I start next week, and I hope I do okay. I am good with appeasing customers, taking orders, and staying focused...however, I am mostly just concerned about how to balance the trays. And by the way, I still have the bartending gig...but they haven't been giving me many hours at all, so I lined up a waitressing gig so that I can be working as much as possible. I haven't been working much at all lately, and it's been getting boring!(plus, I'm running out of money)
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Re: Cocktail waitressing
are you waitressing at a huge place, or a smaller club? My club can hold about 200, so I guess it's medium. But the waitresses usually only carry drinks for 1 group or about 3. That's not soo much, imo. I don't think you'd need 2 trays, 1 seems sufficient for drinks. You can practice at home, but I don't think it's necessary. They won't expect you to be ass good as a vet, just to do your best (if that). I've never really waitressed (well, I've done some parties, but not a lot)but that's my opinion.
good luck!
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Re: Cocktail waitressing
Absolutely no one is going to be thinking about the weight of the tray. You take the table's order and deliver the drinks, regardless of how many there are.
The best way to balance a drink tray is by spreading out the fingers of your left hand and balancing the tray on the pads of your fingertips. Spread them out very wide and make sure it's firmly balanced before you let go with your right hand. If you need to, you can use your right for additional balance while you walk, and then just pass out the drinks standing still. NEVER, ever set the tray on the table; that's very bad form.
How come you'd rather waitress than dance, anyway?
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Re: Cocktail waitressing
I did cocktail waitressing for quite a few years and it takes a little bit of time to get used to holding that much weight, especially if they're glasses and not plastic cups. What I found to be most helpful when your tray is heavy is to hold your arm in a "L" shape to balance the weight against the upper part of your arm-plus your lower arm is catching the brunt of the weight, which is much easier when you're first starting out rather than trying to hold your tray up with your fingers.
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Re: Cocktail waitressing
The reason why I would rather cocktail waitress, is because I got burned out on dancing. I'm looking for a way to support myself without having to strip. I started to get tired of dancing a few months ago, plus I wasn't making very much money. In my opinion, if I'm not making much money dancing, then there is no real reason for me to keep dancing, especially if I am concerned about people in my personal/professinal life possibly catching me doing it.
I know this doesn't sound very impressive...but it is "impressive" considering my shitty track record with obtaining jobs...but do you guys realize that if I *do* succeed with this cocktail waitressing job AND take on the new day job(different post altogether; I will post about that topic in a fwe mins), that it will be THE first time in my life that I'll be able to independently support myself without HAVING to dance?? Wow! I know that isn't saying much, but it is for me. In the past, I had a HORRIBLE time getting jobs and lately my luck has started to turn up. :) I got the bartending gig last week(although they haven't been very responsive with giving me shifts, so we'll see how long that pans out), a new office day job today, and then the cocktail gig. That is the best luck that I have had with jobs in my life!(again, I know that's not saying much esp for someone who holds a Math B.A., but it's progress for me) So hopefully everything will work out, and I'll be able to support myself without dancing(which I'm not even good enough at). Maybe there IS hope for me! :D
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Re: Cocktail waitressing
Buy a wrist brace. Your wrist will be very sore for the first few weeks, espicially if you are carrying a heavy tray. Cocktailing in Vegas, i have had to double stack my tray at times to get all the drink orders out. Your wrist will be sore. Also, so will your feet. Buy a really good pair of shoes, and buy some good insoles for them. Arch support are the best. This may not apply to regular cocktail waitressing in a club, since I only know waitressing in casinos, and the area I had to cover was much bigger than a club, but its still good advice.
Learning to balance the tray will take time. At first, you will need to use 2 hands to carry the tray, and balance it on your hip when you need yoru other hand to serve the drink. In time, your arm will get stronger, and the balance will be better so you will only need one arm to carry the tray, freeing up your other hand to serve the drinks.
At a club, if thats wher eyour working, you may only be serving drinks to one table at a time, so it will be easy to know who got what. At a casino, when I was taking out 30-50 orders at a time, it gets trickier. I would writ down things like Bud light - M Blue( male, blue shirt) To keep track of who got what. Nothing looks worse than a waitress who holds up a beer and says, Ok, whos is it?? Your woring for tips, so customer service goes a long way. remembering who ordered what drink will get your good tips. So will remembering what your regulars drink. Extra points if you spot him comming in and walk up with his drink in hand. Ask for names, and use them. Become familiar with where you work, and whats nearby. Be prepared to answer a zillion questions a night.
Its very hard work. You will work your ass off for every single dollar you make. You will be sore at first. The legs, back, wrist, everything hurts. Soak in epsom salt.Make SURE to get good shoes and good insoles, and try to wear thoes shoes a few days first to break them in. Your feet will hurt! It feels like your walking on big swollen footballs. Your wrist will hurt terribly at first. It will go away as you get stronger. I rectangular tray is easier than a round tray to carry.
Good luck!