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Real Jobs vs Fake Jobs

I have recently come across a lot of backlash concerning the custom of tipping and whether or not working in the service industry is a "real job" or not.  After dealing with all the various customers throughout my years in this service industry vortex, I can assure everyone that this job is VERY real.

I posted an article written by Matt Walsh for "The Huffington Post" where he addresses a server's plea about bad tippers on my Facebook Page to show how some people's attitudes about tipping (or not tipping) coincide with the remark, "Get a real job!"  Read the comments after the article.

Enough already!  Who the hell is to say one job is "realer" than another?  One girl (Jade L.) was dumb enough to say that waiting tables is not a "life" job, it's a "student" job.  Granted, I am tired of working in this industry and would rather be running my own TV show, and doing stand-up in the off-season--a la Louis C.K.--but in the meantime, this IS my life.  And people who work as servers or bartenders while getting their undergraduate degree aren't working to make a living.  Some, yes.  But most are not.  They are working for free booze, booze money, and if any tip money is left over they'll spend it on hookers.  Just kidding!  They'll spend it on books about booze.

My east coast counterpart, The Bitchy Waiter, recently wrote about somebody commenting on his post and saying that if we are all so unhappy with our unfair wages, federal average is $7.30, that we should get "real jobs," and stop whining.

So to all those ignorant people out there who think that what I do is so fake and unworthy, let me tell you what I have done through my fake jobs...

  • If you average my tips with my minimum wage  (CA min. wage $8.00) I make more per hour than most executives.
  • I have met and or waited on George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Jermaine Jackson, Molly Shannon, Ozzy Osbourne, Whitney Houston, Saudi Princes, The artist Prince, Cindy Crawford, David Mamet, Everybody on every show on HBO, Joss Whedon, Ron Jeremy, and too many others.
  • Been able to live in Los Angeles, CA all through tips.
  • Watch friends get famous.
  • Worked at The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows, The Four Seasons Hotel and Resorts, Wolfgang Puck and Kerry Simon.
  • My wife and I honeymooned in Tahiti, Moorea, and Bora Bora in an overwater bungalow through my service industry job.
  • This blog (for those that read it--thank you!)
  • Podcast
  • Pursue stand-up/writing/ and acting while not having to go broke.
Tipping started centuries ago.  If you really have a problem with it, get in your time machine, go back to the English pub that started it, and stay there!

This all sounds pretty real to me.


Until next time... Server's don't pay their rent with compliments.

"Bitter.  Party of 1?  Your table is ready."

The Bitter Bistro




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