ualifications and Benefits of Becoming a “Regular”
While you may think it’s easy to be a regular at a food service business, more goes into this title than you think. Simply coming into a business often doesn’t make you a regular, in fact this couldn’t be further from the truth. You could come into a bar every day of the week, and the wait staff may still not consider you truly a regular (they may however consider you an alcoholic). As many people in the food service industry can attest, regulars exemplify the best qualities possible as a customer and often carve themselves out a special place in our hearts. This article will outline some overarching characteristics that regulars display, and the benefits you receive in return. Even if you aren’t striving to become a regular somewhere, these are still great ideas to keep in mind when interacting with wait staff.
Qualification: Be considerate. This sounds easy, but is something that people seem to forget how to do in a place that serves food and drinks. If you are someone who regularly traffics an establishment, being considerate of the wait staff can get you on the fast track to their good side. Being considerate can be shown in many ways. If the bar is packed full of people, opt to wait for it to slow down before you order, make sure you have your order ready, or instead of ordering a complex cocktail, maybe settle for a beer this time. If a large group leaves your favorite coffee shop and doesn’t clean up after themselves, grab a couple dishes and put them in the bus tub when you go to leave. Nicely warn the staff about something, like the bathroom being out of paper towels, before a rude customer tells them. Finally, help to spread this considerate spirit to others in the business. If your food takes a little long, theirs a mistake, or the place is almost empty and the staff wants to leave, be understanding. Other individuals will see how you interact with the staff and takes this as an example of how to behave. Being considerate of others is always a good practice, and in this case, it’s a free way to get yourself on the staff’s good side.
Benefit: If you are considerate of employees at your favorite restaurant, they will notice and it will pay off. For those times when you waited to order until after a big, bartenders and waiters may ask you what you would like to order before the crowds of random people. It’s their way of returning the favor. Once you are on their good side, they would rather serve you because it gives them a break from all the inconsiderate people jockeying to get a drink. If you are one of those people who orders the same drink or food every time you stop in, they’ll see you coming and will be able to finish your order faster, or may have it complete by the time you order!
Qualification: Never ask for free stuff. You would never do this, right?! Well it seems like once people start to feel comfortable with an establishment and its workers, they start thinking they may be entitled to free things. The bartender may have been in the sharing spirit last week and passed you a free shot, but this does not give you the right to start asking for them. You’re a still in a business which needs to sell product in order to make a profit and keep the lights on. Asking for free things is a quick way to ruin your chances of being a regular, besides that it’s kind of embarrassing. This rule also applies to your friends. The staff may love you and regularly give you free stuff, but they don’t know your friends and have no reason to treat them the same way. This is a good thing to remember the next time your friend wants to drag you to their watering hole because “the bartender loves me!”.
Benefit: If you play your cards right and become a regular, you will get free stuff. A food order gets mixed up, the wrong beer is poured, a bartender makes a drink wrong or feels like creating a new cocktail, chances are they will ask if you would like it. They enjoy serving you and you are good for business so they want to keep you as a customer. A free appetizer here, a larger than you asked for coffee here, these things add up over time and is how the staff and business show their appreciation. You will also build trust with these people, and this is a huge benefit. Very few food service benefits allow people to open long-term tabs anymore, and for good reason. If you are a regular though and forget your wallet, don’t be surprised if they are willing to open you a tab or even let it slide. This doesn’t sound like a big deal until you are in this position.
Qualification: Regulars tip well. Regulars are welcomed back by the staff for many reasons, but a big one is because they tip well. This is true before you are a steady customer, and is true once you are considered a regular. The food service industry is not easy, glamourous, and in most cases, doesn’t pay that well. You may know all the employees, heck you may even be friends with some of them, but this does not negate the fact that they are their trying to make money. These people still have bills to pay, and while your friendship is an amazing thing, it can’t pay the rent (unless you can find someone to pay for your friendship of course). They have been scheduled to work, they would much rather be sitting on the same side of the bar as you, but since they are not, help them make a couple bucks while you’re there!
Benefit: We notice! Having your favorite customers (who tip well) come in on a slow night can be the difference between a good and a bad night. Tipping well can also be the key to many other benefits for a regular. If you tip well the bartender is much more likely to get you a free drink, or even buy you one from their own tips. Wait staff will seat you faster and even try to compete for who gets to serve you because they know that you appreciate, and are willing to pay for good service. In business’s where it may not be as common to tip your server (coffee shop, café, sandwich shop, etc.) the staff will be incredibly appreciative of this gesture. These individuals often work just as hard to make your order, but because social practices they are not compensated for it (example: people almost always tip when a server pours them a beer, which is very easy to do. But it is not common practice to tip someone for making you a latter or other espresso drink, which is much more difficult to make).
Qualification: Be a friend. This is an easy one (I hope), but be a friend to the staff and the business. The best way to make friends is to be one. Help the individuals one when you can and support the business when you are outside of it. If you are hanging around enough, they may ask you a favor, for your help, or even just your opinion on business or personal matters.
Benefit: Friendship. As I just said, the best way to make friends is to be one. Having people at your favorite spot that you consider to be your friends now, and they think of you the same way is a great feeling. This is what truly solidifies you as a regular and turns a random business into your place, your hangout. Be able to walk in somewhere and knowing there will be a friendly face, someone to talk to, great food and drinks, that’s well worth all the time and money you’ve spent in this establishment
These ideas will help you if you ever decide you find a place where you’d like to become a regular patron, but these are also great things to keep in mind when visiting any business. Always give people the benefit of the doubt and be considerate. Just because they are on the clock doesn’t mean they should be treated in a negative way. Never embarrass yourself and ask for free things, no matter how much time you spend at the business or how close you are with the staff. These people and business’s need to make a living, so compensate them for the hard work they are doing and show appreciation whenever possible. If you do these things you will be able to grow your favorite hangout into a place where you are welcome by smiling faces. A place all your people know your name and get treated like you’re someone.
This blog is so relevant. I work in an old Victorian mansion that has been transformed to a hotel and bar. We have some very interesting regulars. They demand a lot but overall I really enjoy their company. It is nice to see a friendly face that isn’t a coworkers every now and then at work. I have enjoyed reading your blog these four weeks. Have a great rest of your summer!
