“Your job seems so easy, all you have to do is just write down orders, how hard can it be” ha ha, very funny. Yup, you’re totally right Karen, I’ll I do in a shift is just write down orders and bring the food out to your table. NOT. Working as a server is one of those jobs that everyone thinks they understand—until they actually do it. It seems simple: take orders, bring food, collect tips.

But once you get into the action, it’s wild. Serving is a skill, and like all skills practice makes perfect. But do I think anyone will ever be perfect at serving? No, because there will never be a perfect customer. Ok, I may have over shot that one, there can be perfect customers but it is so so so rare these days. Behind the (fake) smiles and niceness us servers give off is a whole world of chaos.  From dealing with impossible customers to mastering the art of balancing ten different tasks at once, the life of a server is far more complex than most people realize. So next time you’re going to complain about me forgetting your side of ketchup, you might think twice before giving me such a hard time. 

Serving is basically mastering the art of multitasking. And studies show multitasking is kinda impossible. I mean you’ll never be able to give 100% of your attention to two things at the same time, things have to get prioritized (like your 10th side of ketchup or a slice of lemon for your water). And trust me I know good service is hitting all those marks but sometimes it can literally just be impossible. Imagine being in the middle of taking an order when another table waves you down for the bill, the kitchen yells that a plate is ready, and a new group walks in expecting immediate attention. Servers live in a constant state of multitasking. In this chaotic state where it feels like a million people are needing my attention I can’t remember if table 10 needed a refill or if table 14 needed the bill, it’s sink or swim, I’m just trying to survive. And in a job where your tips practically make up the majority of your income you want to make sure you’re doing it right. It’s also just bad when you go out to eat and the service sucks. I don’t want to be the one who takes the fault of ruining your birthday dinner or date night, sometimes it’s just one of those days. 

One of the best (and worst) parts of serving is dealing with customers. I’ve had the chance to meet some pretty great people. (one of which I actually gave a job application to while serving and now they are one of my work besties). It’s also fun for me to read the room and get the grasp of the vibe of the table. Serving a 19th birthday? Let’s sound a round of shots over. Celebrating a 60th anniversary, I’ll probably be putting your dessert on the house. But with all these celebrations, sometimes people come in that have been going through it. I served a group of people that were just grabbing a bite to eat after a funeral last week and it was hard, they got emotional and opened up to me. So I really do get to meet such a big variety of people from all walks of life and as a self proclaimed social butterfly, I love it. But then there’s those people that literally make you want to just quit on the spot, through your apron down and just walk out, and unfortunately that happens way too often. I’m also a pretty sensitive person so if you tell me you don’t like the food, I’m taking it to heart and holding back tears. There are some who treat you like their personal butler, snap their fingers, or talk to you like you’re beneath them. It’s honestly super hard to deal with. I know I’m a “server” but I shouldn’t be treated so poorly. Some people are just plain rude. Asking me how hard it is to just take down an order when 9/10 times it’s the kitchen misreading the bill, but us servers get the grunt of it all.  And let’s not forget the “campers”—the people who linger for hours after paying, holding up a table that could have seated two more rounds of customers. Some customers come up with requests that make you question reality, or dishes that aren’t on the menu. The most annoying part is when I’m super busy and have a 100 things to do and a table waves their arms at me ready to order so I go over anddddd they aren’t ready. At all. “What do you have for starters” then I go “oh well here is our starters on the menu” *they glance at it once* “hmmm do you have nachos?” nope we don’t and if you read the menu maybe you’d know that. Those are the times I just want to get up and walk away, but that would be considered rude, so I just bite my tongue, smile and nod. 

Unlike other jobs where pay checks are consistent, servers rely on tips. And let’s be real—some customers just don’t tip well (or at all). It’s a gamble every night. You could provide flawless service, make jokes, keep drinks filled, and still walk away with a 5% tip. I also 100% get that sometimes all that’s in the budget is the food, and that’s completely okay to me, I get it this economy is insane right now. But what I don’t get is being completely rude, not tipping, and letting me know that you aren’t going to tip. Like okay? Just keep that to yourself. On the flip side, some customers are surprisingly generous, leaving a 30% tip for no reason other than being kind. You never know what you’re going to get, which makes every shift a financial mystery. Gambling is kinda fun right? Ya, I think so, but not when it’s a gamble on being able to fill up your gas tank all the way. But that’s just the name of the game, I signed up for this so I can’t be one to complain. 

Despite the stress, there are some amazing perks to being a server. First, the money can be surprisingly good, especially in busy restaurants or high-end spots. You might leave a shift with a stack of cash that rivals a desk job’s pay check. The culture and camaraderie of my fellow servers is great too. We all just get it. It’s fun. Sometimes it’s just like being paid to chat it up with friends and strangers. 

So ya, serving is not as easy as it looks, obviously I’m not a heart surgeon performing a 24 hour surgery, but ya it can be tough. So, if you’ve ever thought about being a server, just know: it’s tough, it’s unpredictable, but it’s also one of the most rewarding jobs out there and a great part time gig to pick up while in school. And if you’re a server, I salute you, you got it.