Why Restaurant Patrons Should ALWAYS Leave a Tip!
Why Restaurant Patrons Should ALWAYS Leave a Tip!
Tequila Suprise!!!!
When I turned eighteen years old, despite my parents’ opinions to focus solely on my education, I began working. I wanted to be as independent as possible (while still living under their roof) and be able to put gas in my car, buy a cell phone, and pay for the expensive jeans I wanted but my mother wouldn’t waste money on. I started off working by “bussing” tables on the weekends at a restaurant. Since I was a gregarious person, I quickly made relationships with clientele. And since I inherited the “blue collar work ethic”, I quickly moved up the echelon to server and then eventually bartender. I continued to work at the restaurant long after I graduated high school, community college, and the university. Even though I obtained a full-time teaching position at a local pre-school, I still loved going into work on the weekends (and as a teacher at a non-profit organization, I still needed money to pay my bills and rent). The people I worked with felt like family (probably because I unfortunately spent more time with them than my own blood). Quickly I learned names, what beverages regulars liked, and would have their drinks ready before they even sat down. I liked my job and would rarely have problems with anyone especially with tipping, since the majority of my regular customers would leave 20% or more gratuities.
Once day, a group of three individuals walked in. I asked them what they would like to drink. The one man replied, “Tequila Surprise!” I responded, “Sir, that sounds delicious; although, I only know how to make a tequila sunrise, so you will have to tell me what a tequila surprise is since I have never heard of it before.” He yelled, “It’s tequila, tequila, and more tequila, SURPRISE! It’s tequila.” Since this man was with two sober people who were driving him, and I recognized this obnoxious man, I served him numerous drinks made with……surprise…..tequila! I recognized this man as one of my previous teachers, and let him know that I was one of his former students from a particular school. He seemed less than fascinated with my information; he most likely did not recognize me from his AP Chemistry class roster from almost a decade ago.
These three individuals ate, drank, bought drinks for people, socialized for three hours and tallied up a bill around $80. When they cashed out their check, the gentleman quickly shoved his change in his pocket and said, “Let’s go.” Since I am not a timid person, especially at work when money is involved, I asked if everything was ok since they were not planning on leaving a tip. The man said, “Oh, a tip, you probably want a tip……Well, here’s a tip, missy, go get yourself an education. There you go…. there’s your tip.”
The man neglected to realize that I was an educated person and seemed to think he was better than I was since I was “serving” him. Well, I gave this man a little piece of my mind and felt like I was on a soapbox for all individuals that work at a restaurant and were high school, technical school, community college, military affiliates (past, present, and future) and/or university graduates!
I collected my thoughts quickly; although, I was ready to spontaneously combust with anger. I replied, “An education? Thank you, but I already got mine! You see sir, I graduated high school with a 3.2 grade point average, participated in numerous extra-curricular activities, volunteered my extra time to various organizations, all while working here; I graduated from community college and a university~ Cum Laude with two majors. I have worked hard my whole life and I am proud to be the first person on all sides of my family to graduate from college; I have a teaching degree, and am a highly-qualified, certified educator just like you! So, thanks, but, no thanks; I don’t ‘need’ to go get myself an education….I already got mine. ”
You could have heard a pin drop for a few moments after my impromptu monologue, then a plethora of shouting and yelling from regular customers; including, but not limited to, “You tell him like it is, honey!” “You go girl!” “I hear ya!” “You better leave something, you …”
The man said to his accomplices, who were previously not going to leave any money either, “Give the girl a few bucks!”
I’m not saying that every single server, bartender, bus person, chef, host, maitre d’, dish washer, or other employee of your favorite fine-dining establishment is worthy of your 20% tip (or more!), but just understand that the person who is “serving” you is not your personal “servant”, and they might just be smarter than you think!
