Del, a bartender somewhere in the Midwestern United States, happens to be black. After reading about the black, female bartender, he thought he’d share with us what it’s like to be a black male tending bar.
After reading the post by a black female bartender, I thought I’d share my thoughts as a male in a similar situation. I’ve been working in bars and restaurants since I was 21. I’m in my late 30′s now. So, I’ve gathered quite a bit of knowledge. I’ve worked in dive bars, college bars, hotel bars, dance clubs, fine dining restaurants, and casual restaurants.
Now, as far as tipping goes, I of course know the old saying how black folks don’t tip. And like most STEREOTYPES (which it is) there is some basis in fact. BUT, what I’ve noticed is that this had has much to do with CLASS than anything else, and let’s face it “ghetto” people of any race tip poorly. And when a server or bartender gets a poor tip they tend to remember that a lot longer than they do the average tip. And thus the cycle perpeuates itself. And it is a cycle. If a bartender or server thinks the average black person isn’t going to tip them well, the odds are the service isn’t going to be very good. And if you’re the average, never worked in the business customer, how well would you tip on poor service? And thus the cycle continues. Having worked in the biz for as long as I have, I always tip well. But that’s because I know what I know. Is there a solution? You tell me?
Personally, I don’t like what Del is saying. If you’re a good service industry worker, you’re going to give everyone great service. If you’re a shitty service industry worker, you’re going to give everyone shitty service. If you’re somewhere in between, you’re going to have good days and bad days, giving good service and bad service. Del is feeding to the easy out a lot of asshole customers use, regardless of merit. Jerks who just don’t like to tip, but have some kind of guilt conscious, will always try to find some reason not to tip. If there isn’t one, they’ll try to create one or just make one up.
Personally, I give everyone a shot at great service. Only after they start acting like jerks does that quality of service change. Truth is, I really never know what kind of tip I’m going to get from people. Another truth is, by and large, black people far exceed any other demographic when it comes to stiffing me, leaving me a shitty tip, and treating me like trash.
Even though management frowns upon this behavior, many service industry workers, not unlike myself, go into what I call “robot mode”. Regardless of race, color, etc. etc., you’re getting the same quality of service that everyone else has had. What gets me to snap out of robot mode is when someone is exceptionally awesome to provide service for, or someone who I’d like to punch to sleep.
Special thanks to Galena for the featured image. It was really hard to find a picture of a black bartender. Why, I don’t know.
extremely well said, until the service part…in my experience people tip the same most of the time. i call them pre-tip budgeteers. if u ever had regulars then u know. its busy, slow, watever, the tip is the same 90% of the time. i think i have quite a bit of knowledge with this working at a casino, where people lose money and thats their whole motive for tipping. SOOO, the games in the casinos are racist towards blacks?? believe me, they hate me too, but i still tip
He’s right that it’s more a matter of class than a matter of race. Sadly, more black people tend to be in a lower economic class than other races (insert the multitude of social reasons here, I’m not in it for that debate).
Just tonight I had a black couple at my table and they were well-dressed. They fit other stereotypes (extra napkins, extra dressing, chicken and seafood, and so on), but they still tipped me 30% and thanked me for great service by shaking my hand. My other table was a bunch of white rednecks who left me 5% after giving them the same service. So economic class does have a lot to do with it.
That being said, sometimes you just never know. I’ve had some of the wealthiest looking people leave me next to nothing and some of the trashiest looking people drop a 50% tip on me. I’ve noticed that race typically doesn’t factor into it, it’s more economic bracket…unless it’s just an old person. They just don’t tip period.