WHAT CAN WE, DO FOR YOU?

    Coming in at 7am, still tired and sluggish. Hearing the chatter of all the golfers, the men’s church group on smoking side, your host calling out names; going behind the server aisle to clock-in, knowing that it’s about to go down. You briskly walk to your first table because you don’t want to look rushed. “Good morning! How we all doin’?” You say with as much enthusiasm as possible. Waiting for a response but nothing. The guests have been sitting there “patiently” waiting and are now angry that they waited an extra 3 minutes after waiting 15 to get a table.

“Alright. How ‘bout some coke? Maybe some coffee?” You say, still smiling but it’s starting to pull from the corners of your mouth. You can feel the fakeness about to make an appearance.

“Water. Water for the table,” says the angry guest with a bowing at his brow.

“Sounds great! I’ll get right on that!” You say with extreme distaste in your mouth.  Turning around quickly to walk away from that impatient asshole. Thinking to yourself: if I could quit, today would be the day.

You take the waters back and accidently spill one; not on the guest but he still throws a tantrum and gives ya “are you serious?” look. With a smile you say, “Oh my goodness, I am so sorry. Did I splash you?”

“Well no,” he says; kind of angry ya didn’t.

“Okay then. I’ll go grab another water for you guys after I get your food in. I’m sure we’re all hungry.”

“Only been waitin’ a half an hour, but no were fine.” He said with an over-exaggerate sarcastic tone out of this world. You have to remind yourself there are bills to pay, he will tip you, and he will pay for gas in your car.

Customer service is key. The fake faces, smiles, laughs a server gives is to make money to pay for milk, food, water for showers, gas in their car; you get the point. But no one thinks about the servers’ feelings. You think we don’t see you’ve been standing there for a very long time? Smelling all that luscious food, stomach churning at the sight of someone else eating? Getting the food butterflies because you’re so hungry? I have the inside scoop. We do. I know that feeling all too well. Serving ungrateful people and watching them shovel food in their faces like they’re never going to eat again, while I’m back here trying not to cry because of a guest’s hangry attitude is what I know best.

My name is Paige Russell. I am 23 years old. I am a full-time college student, full-time step parent, full-time significant other and part time server. I want to tell you about my experiences as a server and see how you feel. Maybe you’ve been in my shoes before, maybe you’ve been the nice guest to see the mean one, or (hopefully not) maybe you’ve been the mean one. I can’t wait to hear about your own personal experiences as I continue to share mine.