Making more tips as a waitress?

I have been in the restaraunt business for over ten years. I have started at age 15 as a hostess and a busser and moved my way up. Those jobs were easy and I was very good at them. At 18 I started waitressing and bartending. The first table I ever waited on was a great experience, but I was extremely shy. After a while all that went away. I'm 26 now and I have come to know and understand a guest's needs. Every person I take care of, I treat them how I like to be treated when I go out to a restaraunt. Servers are much more observant and picky when we eat out too, but we always tip amazing even if the service sucked. 1. Be friendly, SMILE!!!!!, Laugh and make little jokes. Interaction in the first 30 seconds really breaks any barriers the customer may have in the beginning. I always make the customer laugh or chuckle before I leave to go get their drinks. I MAKE them like me. It works.... Sometimes I have to make fun of myself, whatever it takes to make them smile. While I greet a guest I always mention my name, Welcome them, ask them if they have any questions, and tell them about any special I have. I give suggestions if they want them and after I get their drink order, I repeat my name again. It helps when they know my name, if they need to pull someone aside to go get me. 2. Write their orders down no matter what and always repeat back so they know you have exactly what they want written down. If the order is crazy, ring it in and go and remind the cooks on how they want their food. The guest ALWAYS gets what they want and however they want it if its possible. 3. Be on top of refills always. No need to ask a dumb question and ask them. Just keep bringing them until they have finished their meals. Only ask after they have finished if they want more. 4. PRE-BUS!!!!! I hate a dirty table when I am eating out and so do they. Clean off everything as they finish whether it be a salad plate, glasses, crumbs, strawpapers, and piling up sugar packets. It makes the whole experience that much better for them. 5. Keep Smiling...... 6. Act like you love your job, even if you are having the worst day ever. We all have them and there is no reason the guest should know that you dont want to be there. I hate servers that are pessamistic and grouchy. Show appreciation for the guest because without them you would have no job. 7. This method while serving and bartending has made me many friends and regulars that see me weekly. They fortify my lifestyle and I appreciate them all. 8. Trust me I know how crazy people are, and let me tell you I have seen it all.... I'm human, I realize sometimes I make mistakes and most of the time the guest doesnt care becase they like me. Sometimes they do get mad, but it's rare. I do everything to resolve situations and I always involve my manager. They are a very helful tool in a guest that may be discruntled. The guest wants to feel like you care. If they feel like you didnt care about their experience or complaint, then they will tell 3-10 people on their bad experience. Never let them leave unhappy if it's possible. I hope this helps. I know it's alot, but serving is not easy. We get busy and we run around like a chicken with our heads cut off, but in the end it gets me an average of 20-30% tips everytime.

watch their tables and swing by when someone's drink is maybe a little less than half full, and ask if they want another. smile a LOT, i think that's important. i'm not sure what else to tell you, though. i've heard that if you ACT outgoing, even when you're really not, slowly you'll actually become more outgoing, so maybe try that. maybe you could just ask the other waitresses and say that you're kind of shy, and ask them if they've ever been shy. i'm sure at least one of them was shy at one point or another.

I've been a server for 20 years. I have also followed Answers regarding tipping, and tipping forums. People generally tip for service. They want you to anticipate their needs. Napkins, refills, condiments, try to get those things for them before they ask. Every time you go to that table, clear something off of it. keep the table clean. 2-3 months isn't a long time, you will get better at your job, and your tips will improve. NO ONE makes money when they first start- Hang in there!!

Having friendly wait staff is a good thing. I don't want them hanging around the table I just want pleasant service and attention to the needs of the table. Keep up the hard work and caring and you will find that you will do better when you relax and enjoy what you are doing.

Maybe they are waiting on the customers that look like have alot of money so know they gonna get tips and leave you with the ones that don't. Or try making a conversation with them you could take their order to their table ask if there is anything else they need etc. then again when they have finished their meal when you are going to take the plate you could ask them if they enjoyed their meal. Offer them some more drink if they don't have any on the table. If you take the orders from them at the table and they tell you what they want you could say something like good choice i find that really nice too or something on lines of that. I would rather a waitress talk and be friendly than just give me my meals and that's it, it makes more of an atmosphere. Hope this helps.

well first you cant joke with all ur customers u kinda have to feel who you are dealing with some people will love u to joke around and some other could even be offended if you try and make to close contact( some people think that ur just a piece of ....). I don't know how good looking u r, that's a first point,ask yourself pay the bill mostly???(not always of course but i'd say 80% of ur tables) Then the smile is a very important thing, never loose it whatever happens, and as you said being nice and polite is obviously needed. I think with time and experience tips will come for u.

Smile alot, then if the orders wrong, look upset and apologise profusely (e.g. "Oh I'm so sorry i'll go inform the kitchens and see they get your order right.") Just carry on being polite, make the customer feel welcome and act professionally. If they keep getting your orders wrong, which is unlikely because you write their order down and they just do what's on the list, you should report them because they're not only wasting food they're making you look bad when you turn up with the wrong order.

I tip for good service, but I tip the most to people I like. Work on the personable tricks, like eye contact, complimenting a woman's outfit, smile like you're attracted to the guys . . . just imagine these are friends of yours, how would you treat them?

Get customers to drink as much as possible. More booze=more tips.