When Ken and I decided to build a new home vs trying to add on and remodel our existing home we decided that I should go back to work to earn a bit of extra money. I looked into going back to accounting, but being out of it for so long, or rather I should say having not worked for corporate doing accounting, the recruiters I spoke with wanted me to work temp or minimal level accounting work. Along with minimal pay of $10 -$12 an hour. At the time I was coloring my hair some fun colors too. No way were they going to let me back in corporate America without changing my hair! I really did not want to go back working in corporate America any way. The hair and the money added to my reasons for not!
me with colorful hair
I did a bunch of research on some of the best paying part time jobs. Bartending kept popping up. It seemed to be the route to go to make some decent money without a whole lot of responsibility. I could leave work at work, plus it would give me the opportunity to meet some people. I attended a bartending school and got a job bartending with a small Italian Restaurant in Chapel Hill. I quit the first day I started as he wanted to make me into a server. He called me back with the promise I could bartend, which I did. It was not a whole lot of bartending. I eventually got a job with a catering company. They too wanted to try and turn me into a server. I did initially give it a try a couple of times. HATED IT!! I went back to only requesting gigs where bartenders were needed. They did try and make me serve a couple of times but I told them not going to do it and didn’t!
I worked a couple other places for a short time while continuing to work with the catering company. Both of the places I worked did not work out for one reason or another. In the summer of 2016 I started bartending at the Durham Bulls! Loved it and was making some fantastic money so quit the catering company. We had also moved from Chapel Hill to Hillsborough. The catering company and the jobs were mostly in the Raleigh area so it was not worth it for me to travel that far.
Initially the Bulls wanted to offer me a job as a suite attendant. AGAIN what with everyone trying to turn me into a server. I didn’t pay $500 to attend bartending school and not bartend! I turned it down but they came back offering me a job as a bartender. My first season at the Durham Bulls I not only made some great money but also made some great friends. I got called back to work the next season. Again I was making really good money, though not quite as much as the first season. At the end of the season we were just starting to build our home so I got another bartending job at a local bar, was only a bar. Loved the management, loved the patrons and the people who I work with only problem, no money! I mean like below minimum wage no money! I continued to work there until the 3rd season of the bulls. Then I told them that unless I made more I was going to spend most my time working at the Bulls, which I did and still am!
About half –way through the season I started working at the Sports bar. I got the job through my old boss at the Durham Bulls who left at the end of my second season. Sure do miss her this year. To cut to the chase not sure how long I will last at the sports bar. Again, the money is not there. At least it hasn’t been yet. Here is a recount of this past week. On Friday working the day shift, management decided to give me two tables. In a roundabout way I said do I have to? In no uncertain terms I was told yes! I have had no experience waiting tables. None! Nor do I have any desire to learn, or do so. Granted I think the servers make more money than the bartenders currently do but yet I just do not want to be a server. Management knows this from working with her at the bulls.
I get the two tables, I am not happy about it but try to put on a happy face and begrudgingly take their orders. About the time they get their food I get slammed with 9 people as the bar. All of them wanting food. I let them know I needed help. I was told not to worry about it that my tables would be taken care of. The one table another table paid their tab. My other table one of the guys did not get his food. I checked twice before they finally had his food ready and I brought it out to him. This while still trying to take all my orders at the bar and make drink orders for all the servers. Since I thought my tables were be taken care of, I never went back to check on them. The guy came to me at the bar and asked for the check. Ok, so much for taking care of my tables. I said to him, “certainly.” I got his check, he gave me his card. I went back to the table and said, “I apologize. I am not a server but a bartender. I have never been a server in my life, but today they decided to give me some tables to wait on. I know that you have had the worst service ever.” And believe me they did! “I wouldn’t blame you if you never came back. I hope you give us another try when I am not your waitress!” I truly was not expecting any sort of tip from them. They did give me 5 dollars. Not bad, considering! Lucky for me no more tables the rest of my shift.
The day got even better. I had that little rush and that was about it for the day. Needless to say I made a whole $60 in tips, of which I got to take about $40 home. This was a 6 hour shift. Do the math. Yup! That’s it! When they closed me out, I was almost $20 short. I know I wasn’t and had I not been so “peeode” about everything I would have asked for them to show me how I was so off. My bartending career may be ending soon or at least at the sports bar. Any bartenders out there in the Durham, NC area making some great tip money and loving their job?
On a brighter note. I don’t work at the sports bar at all this week. I am heading to a gem show in Franklin, NC. I am excited to getting back to what I love most. I am getting my studio in order too. Not quite there yet. I know I will be rearranging things as I really begin to gear up but progress is being made.
Hammer rack
Ta, ta ‘til later
Cheryl