First off, I'd like to apologise to 'Pizza Hut Team Member'. He received a negative comment to one of his posts and defended himself. However, I think the negative remark may actually have been directed at the comment I had posted, so I felt I should explain in more detail.
Closing Time.
As mentioned in one of my first posts, we don't have one at the hotel. However, after a certain time, if it's quiet enough, the night manager will relieve me and I can go home. This means locking up the bar and putting the shutters down. This is the usual closing procedure. There is another closing time though, and that is when both the night manager and I have had enough.
Times when I've had enough:
1) When the people left in the bar are so drunk, it would not just be illegal, but also irresponsible to serve them
2) When the people left in the bar are being incredibly rude - insulting me every time I try to serve them, yelling insults at me when I'm trying to get on with other parts of my job, etc.
3) When I'm having things thrown at me - I have to try very hard to keep my cool at this. In my opinion, this should never happen
And, one I feel bad about as the guests in the bar have done nothing wrong,
4) When we have a busy day following and if I don't start cleaning glasses as fast as I can we won't have any - it's always embarrassing serving whiskey in a wine glass
In my comment on 'Pizza Hut Team Members' post, I was referring to putting the shutters down in front of guests during 'Times 2&3'. I did not make this clear, and I should have. With that in mind...
It is immensely satisfying putting the shutters down in front of guests who are irritating.
Additionally, if you lose customers through doing this, they are generally the type of customer you want to lose.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Friday, April 27, 2007
My Coupon
I read 'Lobster Boy's' blog recently, and it set me thinking about coupons.
In theory, I have nothing against coupons. I can understand the marketing strategy behind them. I quite enjoy using them as I like getting products at a cheaper price than they would otherwise be. I don't even mind taking them, assuming the person understands the coupon and isn't going to argue with me about what it entitles them to. As far as tips go, in my experience coupon-users tip less than other guests. I think this is because they are only in the hotel because they're getting something for free, so will be looking to spend as little as possible. A tip is not necessary, therefore not given.
What does annoy me, is when a guest hands me a coupon, and I have absolutely no idea what it is. This is not because the guest has scribbled on it, or made notes, or covered it in some sticky substance. This is because the clever person in marketing who arranged for the coupons to be distributed, didn't feel that the people who would actually have to deal with them should be told about them.
I have never once been told about a coupon promotion currently running. Thankfully, I don't receive coupons very often. However, every time I have I have had to smile politely to the guest, and then excuse myself, either ducking into the back room to look the card over and attempt to work out their bill myself or running to reception to demand someone explain it to me.
Reception staff are not told either.
If neither of us can work it out, reception will then call our marketing department and request an explanation. We'll be told we're idiots, but after an unnecessary amount of verbal abuse we we will eventually have the promotion explained to us. I then have to walk back to the bar, apologise to the customers for keeping them waiting, and prepare their bill for them. Once they have left, I can assess the bar and see just how far behind I now am due to the time it's taken me to give one guest a bill. If it's the evening not a problem, but during a lunch time rush a 5 minute delay could later cost me 20 minutes of catch-up.
Conclusion:
Coupons = Good
Marketing Staff = Idiots
In theory, I have nothing against coupons. I can understand the marketing strategy behind them. I quite enjoy using them as I like getting products at a cheaper price than they would otherwise be. I don't even mind taking them, assuming the person understands the coupon and isn't going to argue with me about what it entitles them to. As far as tips go, in my experience coupon-users tip less than other guests. I think this is because they are only in the hotel because they're getting something for free, so will be looking to spend as little as possible. A tip is not necessary, therefore not given.
What does annoy me, is when a guest hands me a coupon, and I have absolutely no idea what it is. This is not because the guest has scribbled on it, or made notes, or covered it in some sticky substance. This is because the clever person in marketing who arranged for the coupons to be distributed, didn't feel that the people who would actually have to deal with them should be told about them.
I have never once been told about a coupon promotion currently running. Thankfully, I don't receive coupons very often. However, every time I have I have had to smile politely to the guest, and then excuse myself, either ducking into the back room to look the card over and attempt to work out their bill myself or running to reception to demand someone explain it to me.
Reception staff are not told either.
If neither of us can work it out, reception will then call our marketing department and request an explanation. We'll be told we're idiots, but after an unnecessary amount of verbal abuse we we will eventually have the promotion explained to us. I then have to walk back to the bar, apologise to the customers for keeping them waiting, and prepare their bill for them. Once they have left, I can assess the bar and see just how far behind I now am due to the time it's taken me to give one guest a bill. If it's the evening not a problem, but during a lunch time rush a 5 minute delay could later cost me 20 minutes of catch-up.
Conclusion:
Coupons = Good
Marketing Staff = Idiots
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
My Night of Fear
A guest once came in and was sitting at the bar, telling me about her hotel back in Dublin. She was the front office manager, and one morning had been called to a room by a housekeeper because the lady was 'sleeping' and she couldn't wake her up. The lady had been dead for several hours.
The night manager told me that in the time he's worked at the hotel he can recall two deaths, one of which he was on duty during.
My night of fear was the result of one elderly guest.
He'd come in early in the day and had ordered a pint of bitter from me. He was a typical 'gent' as I like to think of them. At a guess, I'd say he was in his 70s, spoke politely, and if asked would tell you all about his life, including as many pointless details as he could remember.
At the end of the night, I noticed he was sitting in one of the corners, and was very, very still. Having called out to him to ask him if he wanted another drink, and receiving no reply, I walked over to his table. Bending down to eye level, I reached forward and gripped his shoulder. He woke up with a start, and took a swing at me.
The night manager has since taught me the 'sleeper' procedure.
'Sleepers' are people who may have died in the bar, but it is much more likely they're just asleep.
Step 1) Call out to the guest
Step 2) Make a loud noise nearby the guest
Step 3) Reach out and grip the guest by the shoulder.
When carrying out 'Step 3', stand behind the guest. Most sleepers will wake up suddenly, and some will strike out as they do. They are however, much less likely to strike out behind them. In addition, grip them tightly by the shoulder. This stops them from leaping up and potentially knocking over a table.
Most sleepers are elderly. This I find particularly irritating, because they are the ones most likely to actually be dead.
I'm beginning to hate the elderly.
The night manager told me that in the time he's worked at the hotel he can recall two deaths, one of which he was on duty during.
My night of fear was the result of one elderly guest.
He'd come in early in the day and had ordered a pint of bitter from me. He was a typical 'gent' as I like to think of them. At a guess, I'd say he was in his 70s, spoke politely, and if asked would tell you all about his life, including as many pointless details as he could remember.
At the end of the night, I noticed he was sitting in one of the corners, and was very, very still. Having called out to him to ask him if he wanted another drink, and receiving no reply, I walked over to his table. Bending down to eye level, I reached forward and gripped his shoulder. He woke up with a start, and took a swing at me.
The night manager has since taught me the 'sleeper' procedure.
'Sleepers' are people who may have died in the bar, but it is much more likely they're just asleep.
Step 1) Call out to the guest
Step 2) Make a loud noise nearby the guest
Step 3) Reach out and grip the guest by the shoulder.
When carrying out 'Step 3', stand behind the guest. Most sleepers will wake up suddenly, and some will strike out as they do. They are however, much less likely to strike out behind them. In addition, grip them tightly by the shoulder. This stops them from leaping up and potentially knocking over a table.
Most sleepers are elderly. This I find particularly irritating, because they are the ones most likely to actually be dead.
I'm beginning to hate the elderly.
Monday, April 23, 2007
My Freebie
Having read 'barista brat's' and 'Pizzas Hut Team Member's' blogs, I felt I should discuss freebies. Working at the hotel, you would think that it is an expensive and formal enough of an establishment that people would not even try to persuade me to give them free drinks.
You would be wrong.
I have had people lick the bar when spirits have spilt on it.
I have had people attempt to sign other people's names so that they can charge drinks to their room.
I have had people sign their own names wrong so that when they check out they can claim that the signature isn't theirs and they didn't have the drinks signed for.
The following are regular requests:
Guest: Come on, there's so little left in that bottle, you may as well just pour it in.
Me: Sorry, sir, but I have another bottle in the cellar and when I need to do another shot I'll top it up with the spare. I can't give spirits away for free.
Guest: If I order 3 glasses of wine, can you charge me the price of the bottle instead of the cost of the glasses?
Me: I'm afraid not, sir. (the difference is about 5p)
When topping up a measure with a new bottle of spirit:
Guest: You can't mix that! I should have the unfinished measure for free and only pay for a complete measure from the new bottle.
Me: Sir, it makes absolutely no difference. You cannot have a free measure.
When ordering food:
Guest: If I order the caesar salad, but don't want any dressing, is it cheaper?
Me: I'm afraid not, sir, no.
I once left a bottle of vodka on the bar and turned my back on a guest to get a slice of lemon. He poured the shot I'd poured into his drink and refilled the measure.
Guest: You forgot to pour the shot into my drink.
Me: Oh? I'm terribly sorry, sir.
He went away quite pleased with himself for getting a free shot, unaware that I'd charged him for a double.
And my most unbelievable to date:
A guest walked into the bar and dumped his change in front of me.
Guest: I'll have a pint of lager, please.
Me: I'm sorry, sir, but you haven't got enough money to afford a pint of lager.
Guest: Oh, what can I afford?
Me: I could give you a half pint if you like?
Guest: Oh... Can't you just give me a pint and make the rest up from your tips?
I was not amused, to say the least.
You would be wrong.
I have had people lick the bar when spirits have spilt on it.
I have had people attempt to sign other people's names so that they can charge drinks to their room.
I have had people sign their own names wrong so that when they check out they can claim that the signature isn't theirs and they didn't have the drinks signed for.
The following are regular requests:
Guest: Come on, there's so little left in that bottle, you may as well just pour it in.
Me: Sorry, sir, but I have another bottle in the cellar and when I need to do another shot I'll top it up with the spare. I can't give spirits away for free.
Guest: If I order 3 glasses of wine, can you charge me the price of the bottle instead of the cost of the glasses?
Me: I'm afraid not, sir. (the difference is about 5p)
When topping up a measure with a new bottle of spirit:
Guest: You can't mix that! I should have the unfinished measure for free and only pay for a complete measure from the new bottle.
Me: Sir, it makes absolutely no difference. You cannot have a free measure.
When ordering food:
Guest: If I order the caesar salad, but don't want any dressing, is it cheaper?
Me: I'm afraid not, sir, no.
I once left a bottle of vodka on the bar and turned my back on a guest to get a slice of lemon. He poured the shot I'd poured into his drink and refilled the measure.
Guest: You forgot to pour the shot into my drink.
Me: Oh? I'm terribly sorry, sir.
He went away quite pleased with himself for getting a free shot, unaware that I'd charged him for a double.
And my most unbelievable to date:
A guest walked into the bar and dumped his change in front of me.
Guest: I'll have a pint of lager, please.
Me: I'm sorry, sir, but you haven't got enough money to afford a pint of lager.
Guest: Oh, what can I afford?
Me: I could give you a half pint if you like?
Guest: Oh... Can't you just give me a pint and make the rest up from your tips?
I was not amused, to say the least.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
My Desires
Having worked at the hotel for a while now, I have compiled a list of things I wish I could do, but sadly cannot.
1) To turn around to a customer when he insults me and be able to insult him back (I have kept this in so long that if I ever did, I'd end up unleashing a tirade of abuse that would probably span a solid 10 minutes and contain every profanity I know)
2) To be able to throw back at customers the objects that they throw at me (the largest to date is a bottle - bear in mind this is a hotel bar, and in my opinion this should not happen at all)
3) To collapse behind bar (I'm of the opinion that no one would notice until someone in administration glanced at the security cameras, either by chance or because a guest rang reception from the phone on the bar to demand service - I am not the only one who is of this opinion, I'd just like to test it)
Those are the sensible ones - I have others...
4) To be able to mute guests (I've heard every complaint before and every story they'd like to tell. I DON'T CARE. I DON'T CARE that drinks are expensive - You're in a hotel, not a bar! I DON'T CARE that there's nothing open in town at 3am - What do you expect me to do about it?! I DON'T CARE that you're horny, I am not going to try to arrange a prostitute for you! I DON'T CARE!
5) To be able to make all female guests appear young and beautiful (sorry, but if I have to listen to crappy stories, I could at least have something nice to look at)
6) To be able to turn myself invisible
(This has several applications)
a) When the bar is quiet and guests sit at the bar and force me to talk to them - I have to stay on bar, but it would stop them from talking to me. Don't get me wrong, sometimes talking to guests is nice, but sometimes I'm really just not in the mood.
b) I'd be able to see what guests do when they think no one's watching. I'm convinced some of them try to either steal things or get 'busy'.
7) To be able to skip time - Come on, this needs no explanation.
8) To be able to selectively remove my sense of smell (my boss stinks. Really reeks. An odd mix of body odour, sweat, and fast food. One of the temp. staff actually nicknamed him 'Mister Stinky'. It's unbearable spending any amount of time with him.
There are others, but these are the main ones...
1) To turn around to a customer when he insults me and be able to insult him back (I have kept this in so long that if I ever did, I'd end up unleashing a tirade of abuse that would probably span a solid 10 minutes and contain every profanity I know)
2) To be able to throw back at customers the objects that they throw at me (the largest to date is a bottle - bear in mind this is a hotel bar, and in my opinion this should not happen at all)
3) To collapse behind bar (I'm of the opinion that no one would notice until someone in administration glanced at the security cameras, either by chance or because a guest rang reception from the phone on the bar to demand service - I am not the only one who is of this opinion, I'd just like to test it)
Those are the sensible ones - I have others...
4) To be able to mute guests (I've heard every complaint before and every story they'd like to tell. I DON'T CARE. I DON'T CARE that drinks are expensive - You're in a hotel, not a bar! I DON'T CARE that there's nothing open in town at 3am - What do you expect me to do about it?! I DON'T CARE that you're horny, I am not going to try to arrange a prostitute for you! I DON'T CARE!
5) To be able to make all female guests appear young and beautiful (sorry, but if I have to listen to crappy stories, I could at least have something nice to look at)
6) To be able to turn myself invisible
(This has several applications)
a) When the bar is quiet and guests sit at the bar and force me to talk to them - I have to stay on bar, but it would stop them from talking to me. Don't get me wrong, sometimes talking to guests is nice, but sometimes I'm really just not in the mood.
b) I'd be able to see what guests do when they think no one's watching. I'm convinced some of them try to either steal things or get 'busy'.
7) To be able to skip time - Come on, this needs no explanation.
8) To be able to selectively remove my sense of smell (my boss stinks. Really reeks. An odd mix of body odour, sweat, and fast food. One of the temp. staff actually nicknamed him 'Mister Stinky'. It's unbearable spending any amount of time with him.
There are others, but these are the main ones...
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
My Signatures
When I was younger, my signature was very, very basic, just my name written neatly. When I got a bit older, I curled a few of the letters, and after a little while I began to underline it. My signature stayed like that for years, until I decided it looked like a child had written it (hardly a surprise as I was a child when I first wrote it and it went unchanged). My signature suddenly changed into a scribble, that was essentially my name written quickly, slanted (kind of like in italics), and written with very little space between the letters. I felt this was missing something, so again underlined it.
My mum saw it one day and told me that you can tell a lot about someone from how they sign their name. When I asked her what mine told her about me, she replied:
"You're proud of your name, that's why you write every letter. However, you also don't want people to know who you are; that's why you write it so that it's illegible. Oh, and your attempt at underlining it; because you in fact cross out part of your name when underlining, suggests that you have low self-esteem and actually hate yourself."
Thank you mum.
Though it did set me thinking. I see, on average, 20 signatures a day. On busy days, I may see upward of 30. Some are actually quite interesting.
With the limited knowledge I have based on what my mum's told me, if I am given a signature where the person has written their full name and it's legible, I know that they are proud and want people to know who they are. If their signature is just a few letters, then I know they don't want to give too much away about themselves (or potentially hate their name).
Oh, and of course, if someone writes their name then scribbles over it they must hate themselves (again, my thanks go out to my mum)
One of the most interesting signatures I have seen though, was from a 40-50 year old guest at the hotel. Based on her appearance and how she spoke, I'd guess that she was upper-middle class, fairly wealthy, and the type of person who would do yoga classes in their spare time.
She began by writing her first name, Cynthia I think, very neatly in a curled artistic hand. It was delicately done and she wrote slowly and carefully. You could read every letter perfectly.
She then wrote her last name. I have no idea what it was. She wrote it quickly and aggressively, with each character spiked and completely illegible. She then underlined her name. The line went straight through her last name, yet managed to get under her first name just in time.
I'd say she was divorced.
My mum saw it one day and told me that you can tell a lot about someone from how they sign their name. When I asked her what mine told her about me, she replied:
"You're proud of your name, that's why you write every letter. However, you also don't want people to know who you are; that's why you write it so that it's illegible. Oh, and your attempt at underlining it; because you in fact cross out part of your name when underlining, suggests that you have low self-esteem and actually hate yourself."
Thank you mum.
Though it did set me thinking. I see, on average, 20 signatures a day. On busy days, I may see upward of 30. Some are actually quite interesting.
With the limited knowledge I have based on what my mum's told me, if I am given a signature where the person has written their full name and it's legible, I know that they are proud and want people to know who they are. If their signature is just a few letters, then I know they don't want to give too much away about themselves (or potentially hate their name).
Oh, and of course, if someone writes their name then scribbles over it they must hate themselves (again, my thanks go out to my mum)
One of the most interesting signatures I have seen though, was from a 40-50 year old guest at the hotel. Based on her appearance and how she spoke, I'd guess that she was upper-middle class, fairly wealthy, and the type of person who would do yoga classes in their spare time.
She began by writing her first name, Cynthia I think, very neatly in a curled artistic hand. It was delicately done and she wrote slowly and carefully. You could read every letter perfectly.
She then wrote her last name. I have no idea what it was. She wrote it quickly and aggressively, with each character spiked and completely illegible. She then underlined her name. The line went straight through her last name, yet managed to get under her first name just in time.
I'd say she was divorced.
My Night of Boredom
When I get home from work, the first thing my flatmate always asks me is "Busy night?"
However, the reply is fairly ambiguous.
"Yeah, busy" - Can mean I was rushed off my feet, and I'm knackered. All I want to do is collapse in a heap and get a large drink inside me. It can also mean, I had a constant stream of people, and didn't have long dull periods where I got bored.
"Nope, quiet night" - Can mean it was a nice, hassle free night. I was able to give good service to the few guests I had, and didn't have to rush and stress myself. However, it can mean I did nothing for a large amount of the time, and gently felt my mind turn into mush as it moved through the various stages of boredom.
On one occasion, I came in and replied "Dead."
"What, really quiet?"
"No, DEAD. Absolutely D E A D."
I then went on to explain that an hour into my shift, I served my last guest. I was then stuck on bar for another 6 hours without another guest coming up to the bar. At first it was nice, then it was just dull. Really, really dull.
I became a waiter in the restaurant for an hour or so, just so I'd have something to do.
I then became a porter at reception, taking guests' luggage up to their rooms.
I then became a maintenance man, explaining to guests how to work their showers and attempting to repair towel rails.
I then came back onto bar, and made a small display stand out of corks and toothpicks.
I then used this to display a cork.
I then stacked coasters into a small hut, before taking apart one of the coasters and gently turning it into a helix, which I hung from a coat hook.
I then explored one of the cupboards under the bar and discovered an induction to health and safety for the hotel, caked in dust, written in the 70s, and not actually belonging to our hotel chain.
I then researched the manual and found that the hotel chain that distributed it owned the hotel 4/5 owners back.
I then decided to write a short story, about a small sausage who lived in an igloo with his best friend, a slice of streaky bacon, who was also his dad (by the time my night ended, this short story spanned 8 order sheets. When my flatmate was presented with it to read, which took 5 minutes, I was informed that it was mostly gibberish, interspersed with minor insanity).
Having read my short story, I was handed a large drink, and put to bed. It's strange what the mind will do when allowed to roam free...
However, the reply is fairly ambiguous.
"Yeah, busy" - Can mean I was rushed off my feet, and I'm knackered. All I want to do is collapse in a heap and get a large drink inside me. It can also mean, I had a constant stream of people, and didn't have long dull periods where I got bored.
"Nope, quiet night" - Can mean it was a nice, hassle free night. I was able to give good service to the few guests I had, and didn't have to rush and stress myself. However, it can mean I did nothing for a large amount of the time, and gently felt my mind turn into mush as it moved through the various stages of boredom.
On one occasion, I came in and replied "Dead."
"What, really quiet?"
"No, DEAD. Absolutely D E A D."
I then went on to explain that an hour into my shift, I served my last guest. I was then stuck on bar for another 6 hours without another guest coming up to the bar. At first it was nice, then it was just dull. Really, really dull.
I became a waiter in the restaurant for an hour or so, just so I'd have something to do.
I then became a porter at reception, taking guests' luggage up to their rooms.
I then became a maintenance man, explaining to guests how to work their showers and attempting to repair towel rails.
I then came back onto bar, and made a small display stand out of corks and toothpicks.
I then used this to display a cork.
I then stacked coasters into a small hut, before taking apart one of the coasters and gently turning it into a helix, which I hung from a coat hook.
I then explored one of the cupboards under the bar and discovered an induction to health and safety for the hotel, caked in dust, written in the 70s, and not actually belonging to our hotel chain.
I then researched the manual and found that the hotel chain that distributed it owned the hotel 4/5 owners back.
I then decided to write a short story, about a small sausage who lived in an igloo with his best friend, a slice of streaky bacon, who was also his dad (by the time my night ended, this short story spanned 8 order sheets. When my flatmate was presented with it to read, which took 5 minutes, I was informed that it was mostly gibberish, interspersed with minor insanity).
Having read my short story, I was handed a large drink, and put to bed. It's strange what the mind will do when allowed to roam free...
Monday, April 16, 2007
My Fault
Every week, we have new stock delivered.
Every week, the day before new stock is delivered, we have run out of something.
Every week, the day before new stock is delivered, and we have run out of something, a guest blames me.
I am not in charge of ordering stock.
I am not even that high up the chain of command. I am in fact on the bottom rung, above only the people I am given to train.
Yet, whenever we don't have someone's drink in stock, it's my fault. I have had guests sigh, laugh, walk away, insult me, and even ask to speak to my manager. I don't see the point in asking to see my manager, as instead of asking him why he's too useless to order enough stock to last a week, they just want to ask him for their drink.
To me, this implies that they either:-
a) Think I'm lying
b) Think I'm deliberately being unhelpful
To their defence however, if I went into a bar and found that they had run out of Coke, I'd be annoyed. Yet, when we ran out of Coke, we had 8 crates of Diet Coke delivered the next day...
So, if a bar doesn't have the drink you want in stock, don't blame the bar staff. For one thing, it's not their fault. Also, they won't care and you're just wasting your time. And theirs.
Every week, the day before new stock is delivered, we have run out of something.
Every week, the day before new stock is delivered, and we have run out of something, a guest blames me.
I am not in charge of ordering stock.
I am not even that high up the chain of command. I am in fact on the bottom rung, above only the people I am given to train.
Yet, whenever we don't have someone's drink in stock, it's my fault. I have had guests sigh, laugh, walk away, insult me, and even ask to speak to my manager. I don't see the point in asking to see my manager, as instead of asking him why he's too useless to order enough stock to last a week, they just want to ask him for their drink.
To me, this implies that they either:-
a) Think I'm lying
b) Think I'm deliberately being unhelpful
To their defence however, if I went into a bar and found that they had run out of Coke, I'd be annoyed. Yet, when we ran out of Coke, we had 8 crates of Diet Coke delivered the next day...
So, if a bar doesn't have the drink you want in stock, don't blame the bar staff. For one thing, it's not their fault. Also, they won't care and you're just wasting your time. And theirs.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
My Stance on Prostitutes
It seems to be happening more and more... or maybe I'm just becoming more observant.
Whatever the reason, I am beginning to see more and more prostitutes.
It can be little things that give them away; a furtive exploratory glance that someone gives as they walk a lady to their room, as if trying to see if there's anyone they know so they can backtrack quickly and avoid embarrassment.
Sometimes, it is quite blatant signs that highlight a woman's profession; coming into the hotel late at night and asking directions to a room, wearing stockings, thigh high boots, and a gaudy handbag (sounds cliched, but I've seen it too many times to deny). Oh, and the confirmation being when she leaves again 30-50 minutes later and climbs into a large silver Mercedes that I've seen quite a lot, strangely, always picking up women from outside the hotel.
One of the stranger signs for 'detecting' them, is when they accompany Japanese men. For starters, they look out-of-place walking alongside a Japanese businessman as they enter the hotel... especially as he's holding her hand. He'll even walk her out an hour or so later... still holding her hand.
Maybe it's because I'm the barman, or maybe I look quite 'well-travelled', but apparently I am expected to keep a directory behind bar so that I can arrange ladies for guests at short notice. I have been asked by numerous guests how much it would cost to arrange a visitor to their room. I have even been asked who I would recommend!
Personally, I don't mind if guests bring prostitutes back to their room. I don't mind if they sit and have a drink in the bar beforehand (the lady usually looks a bit uncomfortable, though one advertised herself to me while the guest went to the toilet). I don't even mind it when I have to drive to a petrol station after I finish to pick up condoms for a guest who's expecting company and forgotten one small detail (usually I get tipped handsomely for this).
What I do mind, is when guests attempt to begin their 'transaction' whilst still in the bar (the ladies don't tend to like it either). I don't particularly like it when it is painfully obvious to everyone in the bar what the lady's profession is (it looks like I'm encouraging it).
One thing that puzzles me though. I have never been asked to arrange for a young man to visit a lady's room. I wonder if any of the female bar staff have?
Whatever the reason, I am beginning to see more and more prostitutes.
It can be little things that give them away; a furtive exploratory glance that someone gives as they walk a lady to their room, as if trying to see if there's anyone they know so they can backtrack quickly and avoid embarrassment.
Sometimes, it is quite blatant signs that highlight a woman's profession; coming into the hotel late at night and asking directions to a room, wearing stockings, thigh high boots, and a gaudy handbag (sounds cliched, but I've seen it too many times to deny). Oh, and the confirmation being when she leaves again 30-50 minutes later and climbs into a large silver Mercedes that I've seen quite a lot, strangely, always picking up women from outside the hotel.
One of the stranger signs for 'detecting' them, is when they accompany Japanese men. For starters, they look out-of-place walking alongside a Japanese businessman as they enter the hotel... especially as he's holding her hand. He'll even walk her out an hour or so later... still holding her hand.
Maybe it's because I'm the barman, or maybe I look quite 'well-travelled', but apparently I am expected to keep a directory behind bar so that I can arrange ladies for guests at short notice. I have been asked by numerous guests how much it would cost to arrange a visitor to their room. I have even been asked who I would recommend!
Personally, I don't mind if guests bring prostitutes back to their room. I don't mind if they sit and have a drink in the bar beforehand (the lady usually looks a bit uncomfortable, though one advertised herself to me while the guest went to the toilet). I don't even mind it when I have to drive to a petrol station after I finish to pick up condoms for a guest who's expecting company and forgotten one small detail (usually I get tipped handsomely for this).
What I do mind, is when guests attempt to begin their 'transaction' whilst still in the bar (the ladies don't tend to like it either). I don't particularly like it when it is painfully obvious to everyone in the bar what the lady's profession is (it looks like I'm encouraging it).
One thing that puzzles me though. I have never been asked to arrange for a young man to visit a lady's room. I wonder if any of the female bar staff have?
Sunday, April 8, 2007
My Training
I was recently given the task of training a new barman. I was told the guy had bar experience, so it should just be an induction, familiarising him with the specific way we did things. As a hotel bar, we are expected to do table service, serve to core standards, take care of room service, and of course, stay open 24 hours. This shouldn't actually take long to explain to someone with bar experience. It didn't even take that long to train a girl who had no experience. Within a week she was doing shifts on her own.
What I wasn't told was that the bar experience the guy had, was 4 years out of date...
... and he was an idiot.
This may sound harsh, but he has now had 5 weeks of training and still cannot:-
1) Cut fruit properly
2) Remember which fruit goes in which drink
3) Change a keg
4) Change a gas canister
5) Remember to carry a tray at all times
6) Remember how to properly address guests
7) Remember to NOT answer his phone on bar
And possibly the most impressive...
8) Remember that when he locks up, he should actually LOCK UP, not just close the shutters
What I wasn't told was that the bar experience the guy had, was 4 years out of date...
... and he was an idiot.
This may sound harsh, but he has now had 5 weeks of training and still cannot:-
1) Cut fruit properly
2) Remember which fruit goes in which drink
3) Change a keg
4) Change a gas canister
5) Remember to carry a tray at all times
6) Remember how to properly address guests
7) Remember to NOT answer his phone on bar
And possibly the most impressive...
8) Remember that when he locks up, he should actually LOCK UP, not just close the shutters
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