Now everyone has an opinion about hostesses, and these opinions should come from observations they’ve made for a number of different reasons.
- They’re experience with hostesses in the past at different restaurants.
- Whether they’ve worked in a restaurant before as a hostess or just a server.
- Whether they’re nice people, or just *ssholes.
With those reasons in mind, let’s dissect the six perceptions about hostesses.
- What society thinks I do: the picture shows a girl who looks like she works for Hooters or a club that has a pool. Or a strip club (probably the latter). No decent hostess would wear something like that, so this particular perception is a tad confusing. Most restaurants all have a dress code that requires a hostess to wear something that covers the shoulders, midriff, and does not reveal too much decollete. Honestly, not much to say on that one.
- What my parents think I do: that picture reveals a nicely dressed girl with menus. That is kind of accurate. She looks professional, and is holding menus like a shield in front of her. When you’re dealing with a confrontational customer, those are like a barrier between yourself and the jagoff. If the restaurant is nice and upscale, the hostess would look like that, instead of sorry dump and dressed in jeans. But, as the first person the customer sees, it is her job to look professional.
- What customers think I do: it shoes a pictures of some guy double flipping somebody off. Now, that one depends on who you are. If you come off as demanding and a bastard or a b*tch, then yes the hostess will do that the moment your back is turned. There have been many people that I basically do it to once I’m done dealing with them. Why? Because it’s easier for me to do that behind your back than say it to your face. And I’m less likely to get fired.
- What my coworkers think I do: this one kind of made me smile. It shows somebody laying down on a recliner, just chilling. Okay, let me set the record straight: some restaurants (most) do not have a place for their hostess to sit. She or he has to stand for the entirety of their shift. That’s not moving around as much as a server, but your feet and your lower back definitely don’t like it. So, we definitely don’t sit around. A good hostess never sits around.
- What I think I do: is the closest to the truth than any other picture shown. In a way, we do hold back the mindless rabble. We try to make sure that everything is done in a systematic and organized fashion, so that the servers don’t want to commit suicide. We are the first defense against the zombies that come in demanding brains- I mean! Food! I just wish I could have a gun that way if somebody didn’t want to sit where I wanted to put them, I could just make them.
- What I actually do: you would not believe how many times people ask you where the bathroom is, you tell them, and they still go to the wrong place. It’s amusing to watch. They’ll walk into our lounge, which is full of people, and walk out a second later like a dog with their tails between their legs. It is said that any place that actually has a sign to indicate where a restroom is, it makes the place seem less ‘classy’. That’s what I heard. But, if having the sign up saves me the hassle of constantly telling people where the bathroom is, I’ll take some points off in our ‘classy’ department.
And there you have it! Those are the six perceptions of hostesses. For those of you out there who have worked in a restaurant before, are these perceptions accurate? And for those of you who haven’t worked in a restaurant, pay attention the next time you go to one. It could be the factor that saves you from getting a stigma.
And on that note, it’s been real!
It's Been Real! 