General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I waited and I waited for help but all the rich people just stared at me and kept eating. [View all]2naSalit
(86,576 posts)Wow. And I have been in similar situations. I have only had a few wait staff jobs and non were quite so stuffy, but I can see it from our skillful description.
I was once a chauffeur, limousines... And there were times when the clients' guests would have a bit too much champagne from the wet bar and that all had to be cleaned up at the end of the long night, bar glasses, restock the bar, steam clean the upholstery... because there could be an impromptu luncheon or surprise guest just dropping in the next day.
I did have one private client (actually it was two people who were partners), near the end of that stint in my career, who were awesome. They gave me all kinds of perks, made me go into hoity-toit restaurants and clubs, private parties and join them unless it was a strictly business event or the single one was on a date. They tipped me quite well on top of the hourly rate and I didn't mind when the "rented out" the car with me as the designated driver. Those guys were great. I recall one time they were enjoying a private party, Hallowe'en, and I had to be in some "interesting" costume as per request... I had so much fun that I didn't charge them for the night even though I really needed the cash. Most of their friends who "rented" were a lot fof fun too, some wanted to sit up front with me. That was a very rare job indeed, but it was well worth it while it lasted.
But some of the other clients I worked for were pretty rude and obviously played the "exceptionalism" role, would only speak to me on the phone, kept the divider up and couldn't be bothered with cash so the tips were less than fair. They were all about appearances and usually weren't as "well heeled" as they portrayed themselves to be.
I think it's the last bastion of the aristocracy that came to "the new world" hoping to rule it or re-invent their place in the social strata when they were several rungs below royalty (or whatever desired level of superiority they felt they were destined for) wherever they came from. And they still exist today, unfortunately. Democracy and equality never made sense to to them... thus, the Rmoneys.