Working at a restaurant is not just job; it is lifestyle, too. And if you do not even learn how to navigate the madness, you will burn up faster than cheap diner coffee left on a burner for too long.
So, how do you survive in The Biz without completely losing your mind? Here are a few hard-earned tips from my years of trenches, as shown in My Wife Works Nights:
Fake Smile Expert- You will have customers testing your patience. Smile through it. You will have coworkers pushing every button you have. Smile through it. Someone will tip an entire pitcher of soda on you at the peak time. Fake. That. Smile
Break Room Escape Plan- If you don’t have a quiet spot to go hide in for five minutes, you will probably go mental. Storage closet, alley behind the restaurant, or, my personal favorite, the walk-in freezer-you need to have a refuge where you can breathe for a minute.
Develop an insanely high tolerance for insanity- One shift you’ll be with a table of screaming kids throwing fries at each other; another will feature an old guy who wants to unload his entire life story while you’re drowning under orders. Nice to Meet You, The Biz. Know when to cut them off- This applies to both drink and conversation. For example, if a customer is so drunk that he can’t even hang on to his fork, it would be time for him to be cut off. Similarly, if your coworker is being too oversharing about their love life during the busiest part of the rush, just back away slowly.
Remember: It’s Only a Job – At the end of the day, no matter how crazy it gets, clock out and leave it behind. Unless you’re a lifer like me… in which case, you write a book about it.
Working at The Biz is one of the most demanding jobs anywhere, but it is also one of the most fun. You’ll walk away with some incredible storytelling right there. And if you ever had served time in a restaurant, then trust me- My Wife Works Nights would feel like home.
