To quote one of my staff members, it’s always important to read the room.

What does this mean?

Look around. Figure out what’s going on. Is it the time? Or the place?

Tonight around 10:15 one of the bartenders comes out to say he has someone he wants to meet.

I tell him I’ll be right there.

I don’t mind. I love meeting our guests.

So I go in.

And within 6 tenths of a second I realize the angle.

The girl he’s introduced me to, is looking for a job.

She begins to bombard me with questions about are we hiring? What are we looking for? She calls off her resume! Etc. etc. etc.

This goes on for about 20 minutes.

Referring back to last weeks post about trust your gut, I’m getting a bad read on her. Something is just not right.

Then she shared that the reason she quit her last job was because she had an emotional issue because of all the drama with her owners.

Ahhhh.

Top ten things not to say while looking for a job in a restaurant.

1. My least favorite thing about waiting tables is having to get things for people.
2. The last time I was angry at work was when I punched the bartender.
3. Hi I’m addicted to heroin, but I’m trying to get clean.
4. The reason I quit my last job was because the got mad that I was alway ten minutes late.
5. I know I applied for the food runner position but I’m a bartender and I only want to bartend.
6. Yes, I know it’s July 28, but I can only work till August 10.
7. Yes, I’ve applied for a food running position at a seafood restaurant , but you should know that I have a severe seafood allergy. If even the juice from an oyster touches me, I’ll need my epi pen.
8. Yes, I’d like to be a server, but I have a curfew and have to be at my home by 9:00.
9. I want to work her but I can only work on Friday or Saturday.
10. I left my last job because I had a nervous breakdown from the stress.

All of these are true. No embellishments. No exaggeration. My favorites are #1 and #2.

My gut says no on lady at the bar.

Don’t ask for a job at the end of my 10 hour day.

And #10.

Last fall, right after I took over hosting as all of my staff had gone off to college, a lovely lady called to make a reservation.

Her name was Ruthie and she was looking for seats at the bar. I made the reservation. 2 people at 5:00.

Later that night, she arrived. She was about 5’2” and was as sweet as could be. She had her wife in tow whose name was Jane.

Seriously, you have never met anyone sweeter.

That night on their way out, I chatted with them. They lived in Mass and had just bought a vacation home up north. They shared stories, details etc.

And they left.

Since then they have become regulars. They make a trip in at least once during their visits. Always early. They stay 2 hours and are always nothing but pleasant.

They came in tonight.

It was great to see them.

I chatted with them at the bar while they waited for their entrees.

At the end of the night we all say our goodbyes.

They leave.

About 6 minutes later, my new host (her second day) comes up with the cordless phone and says there is a woman on the phone with a problem.

I answer the phone as I walk toward the host stand.

There is no one there, but the new host has figured out it was Ruthie.

So, I call her back. I can’t imagine what the problem would be.

She is super excited that I called back.

She called to let me know that the moon had risen over our back parking lot and has two rings around it. She insists I go look at the moon immediately. She says it’s stunning.

I thank her for letting me know and she hangs up.

It might be one of the nicest thing a guest has ever done.

Unfortunately I was busy, and never made it out there.

It was overcast when I left.

I’m sure it was beautiful though.