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 Message 10917 of 22774 in Behind the Bar
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Subject: Re: Just started!
From: Mister2
Posted: Wed Feb 15. 2006, 03:11 UTC
Followup to: "Just started!"  by TheRookie  (Mon Feb 13. 2006, 20:12 UTC)
> I recently completed a bartending course and after getting rejected 
> over and over due to lack of experience, I finally talked my way into 
> a small classy restaurant as a bartender. They wanted to get me in 
> for a few days to be trained before I start on my own, no biggie. I 
> worked this past Friday and Saturday night just mostly watching the 
> bartender and helping out as much as I could. I actually started 
> tending on my own later on in the evening on Saturday since it wasn't 
> as busy. I've learned alot so far and have been getting positive 
> feedback from customers since they noticed I was new. Here's my 
> question, I didn't punch in/out either night...so I don't think I'm 
> getting paid which is ok since I'm training. But if I actually helped 
> the bartender make some tips, was it rude for him not to give me a 
> portion of the tips? This is just a part-time gig for me since I work 
> full time, but I'm doing it for extra cash and to have fun...not 
> pro-bono. I notice some co-workers were nice and some weren't..is 
> this sometimes a cut-throat industry? I'm not going to step on any 
> toes while I'm there but I'm not going to be naive either.
> 
> any other useful tips for a newbie would be appreciated.
> 
> -the rookie

You should DEFINITELY be getting an hourly - min. wage, not even 2.13.  It's 
illegal to do otherwise, there's no such thing as "unpaid training" while on 
the job, at least if you're in the US.  There are exceptions, of course, but 
not that apply to this job.

Tip sharing - that's up to the other bartender.  If he tips you out, it comes 
out of his pocket, so it's absolutely realistic for him to not give you 
anything, especially if most of what you did was watch him work to get a feel 
for it, rather than help him out.

As far as waiters/whoever being rude - this IS a cutthroat industry to a 
certain extent, as there are HUNDREDS of bartenders in every major city that 
are always looking for your job - some of them are qualified, some of them are 
not, but in this industry, new bodies are just a phone call away.  Some of it 
is jealousy (at least one of your coworkers probably wanted to bartend, and 
you took what they perceived to be their promotion), some of it is simply 
"freeze out the new guy."  Either way, I wouldn't worry about that - bust ass, 
do YOUR job, and eventually it'll work itself out, one way or another.  If you 
excel at what you do, and you don't give anyone a reason to dislike you, all 
will be well in the long run.  There's always a level of apprehension with any 
new coworker: "Will they pull their weight, will they work well, will they 
piss off my customers, are they capable and willing, etc."  Once you get past 
that, you should be fine.

I'm rambling, so I'm going to shut up, but I wouldn't worry about it if I were 
you.  All will be well.


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