How to Ensure Tips Despite a Slow Economy

The recession has affected everyone's pocketbooks, and if a customer doesn't have a ton of money to spend, one area for cutbacks might include how much is left as a tip when using a service worker. However, if you know how to ensure tips despite a slow economy, you can continue to work hard at what you do and earn the money you would expect at your occupation.

Steps

    1
    Prepare your area before starting your shift.
        Make sure that the tables have been and continue to be properly cleaned.
        Ensure that all of the condiments are full and ready to be used.
        Confirm that the common areas that you use throughout your shift, like the drink refill station, where the extra napkins and/or silverware are kept, or particular areas of the kitchen that you frequent are in the working order that you need them to be in.
    2
    Be knowledgeable about the menu at your establishment.
        You should know your menu front and back, particularly the side items.
        You should also familiarize yourself with what cooking methods your chefs or cooks make available for the food served at your establishment. Know the difference between baked, broiled, pan-fried, grilled, seared, etc.
    3
    Get up-to-date on the day's specials so you can describe them appropriately to your clientele. Don't just be prepared to list them, but instead describe them accurately to whet the taste buds of your clientele.
    4
    Try the food at your restaurant. Have some favorite dishes, side dishes, drinks and desserts so that when a customer asks you your opinion, you can quickly rattle off suggestions without having to think about it.
    5
    Be prepared to up sell, and know your numbers.
        Being aware of appetizers to suggest, alcoholic beverages to pair with meals or desserts to tack onto the end of a meal will help you increase your total meal ticket and accordingly bump up your tip as well.
        Realize that you are only going to have agreement from your customer a certain percentage of the time. So the more times that you inquire throughout the night to your various customers, the higher the likelihood that you will have someone say yes and actually order the additional item or items.
    6
    Put on your charm, and address each group accordingly.
        Be courteous and friendly to everyone, and be especially friendly to the people who are nice to you back. This receptiveness to your kindness will vest them more in the tip-making decision.
        Make appropriate conduct decisions when working with customers. Wives don't usually take too kindly to you flirting with their husbands, so make sure that all banter is friendly, appropriate and fun.
    7
    Keep the refills coming. A customer's glass should never go empty.
    8
    Write everything down. This will help ensure that you get the order correct and will avoid any animosity from those whose pet peeve is when wait staff don't write down the order.
    9
    Learn the timing of your kitchen, and take it to your advantage by timing your rounds accordingly.
    10
    Multitask so that you address the needs of multiple customers each time you pass through your serving area.

Tips

    Always be polite no matter how dumb a customer question might be.