8 years and counting...

So I'm going on 8 years of having to be a waitress at numerous restaurants. I used to believe it was a respectable job, part of me still does. However, there's nothing respectable about it when you come across those people who can ruin your whole day, not to mention your whole tip. You get berated, yelled at, demeaned, run ragged by needy people and often, you feel powerless. You can't just tell a customer off when they are in the wrong. You have to suck it up and pucker up. It's not the greatest feeling.

Amazingly, I have learned that A L O T of people do not realize what the majority of servers make nowadays. Hence, they do not always tip properly. It's customary to tip 15% if your server did an O.K. job. 20% if they just blew you away with customer server, not one mistake in your orders and a friendly person. These percentages are vital, because as of right now, as a server, I only make $2.13 an hr. That's it. I don't make any more than that unless they are through the tips the customers give me. The customer is the one that determines how much I make on a daily basis. Not all of them are fair.  

So of course, when I get screwed on a large bill, I tend to get upset. It makes me wonder why I should even give my next table the best service I can. Because now I'm afraid to put all that effort in, only to be rewarded with a lousy $5 tip on a $60 check. The worse part about that tip is that the customer goes on and on about 'You were great! Excellent service!'. Apparently not that excellent. And the stupid thing about this is, at our place, the tip percentages are PRINTED out at the bottom of the check for you!!! But yet, they still leave below the percentage. It's really frustrating. I don't know how people can live their whole lives being servers. It stresses your mind and body out until you become all worn out. And it shows.