"Sack of Potatoes" Employees

Ever have that one person you just can't stand working with? I call those people "sacks of potatoes" because they are basically nothing and do not do anything useful.



This past weekend, I only worked one party, but I worked with one of the most useless people on staff.

Strike number 1: he showed up a half an hour late. He could barely keep his eyes open during set up and just waddled around while I did most of the work.

Strike number 2: As captain of the party, I had to take care of a lot of internal business while his job was to set up the tables and such. All he had to do was set up six tables and in the time he took to do that I got the bread baskets made, cake plates counted, napkins folded, dressings made, and helped with the bar set up.

Strike number 3: He would randomly disappear during the party. More than likely he took a smoke break, but staff members are not allowed smoke breaks unless they're actually on their lunch break.

So needless to say I ran that party by myself pretty much. At least it was small and fun and I was so happy to say goodbye to the "sack of potatoes" after the party ended.

Weekend Tip

I worked at the banquet hall all weekend. That means Friday, Saturday, Sunday. I hit close to 25 hours and I pretty much ran myself ragged. The little something that made the weekend better? A tip.

I got a $20 tip for a party I worked Saturday morning. I worked a late wedding the night before and really wasn't in a good mood getting up for work early the next day.

I trudged through the day, drinking a lot of coffee of course. But the people were awesome and so nice. It helped me get through the day knowing the people were appreciating the work I was doing. And they showed that they appreciated it by giving me and another waitress a generous tip.

Getting tips never fail to make you smile, regardless of how the day went. Just knowing that my hard work was appreciated and enjoyed, a smile automatically appears.

Even though that was my only tip for the weekend, it helped show me that even though I didn't have a great weekend, I made someone's party extra special.

Want to try to get tips more often? Click here!

Planning a holiday party?

So as the holiday season rolls around, is there anyone out there planning a holiday party? This website gives some great ideas and tips for the holiday event planner!!!

Click here!!


My top 3 tips:
1. Pick a theme and go with it
2. Food is key- don't be afraid to add a creative aspect
3. Entertainment is useful and always guaranteed for a good time.

Adoring Christmas

I will not be telling a crazy story in this post. I want to take about the magic of Christmas and how working at the banquet hall really brings out the Christmas spirit in the staff.

After Thanksgiving, the entire hall and lobby is decorated for Christmas. The walls are adorned with wreaths and holly and there are several trees and other decorations throughout the hall. Everything is so sparkly and it just gives off a happy atmosphere.

December brings about the holiday party season and almost all the napkins for the week are red and green. By the time January rolls around, one may be sick of those colors, but they always give off a sense of happiness that Christmas is all about.

The Christmas parties themselves are always a happy time. Everyone is always so nice and in a great mood. Christmas music plays in the background and a smile never leaves my face.

Christmas is probably the best time at the banquet hall. It IS during the season of giving and happiness.

Balloon Shots

Repetitive noises that sounded like gun shots rang through the banquet hall tonight.

There was a party (from my high school Alma Mater no less), and there were purple and white balloons. The people in charge gave the staff some since they really didn't want then anymore.

Well, we took them back into the kitchen to cut the strings....not before letting go of them without thinking.

POP! POP! POP! POP!



The Giant fan above a door in the kitchen caught the balloons, popped them all, and made the loudest noises ever that made the entire kitchen stop in its tracks. It sounded like gun shots.

And the first thing out of my boss' mouth...."who fell????"

Off-premise rules

Whenever I check my schedule and see that I am work an off-premise party, I immediately get happy.

I always prefer working off-premise parties to in-house parties, because there is not as much pressure during my shift. Off-premise parties are parties that we cater.

I worked a Surprise 80th birthday party with one another waitress at a fire hall, and the night could not have done smoother. Since we didn't have the entire staff and management breathing down our necks, there was no stress and days like that are amazing to have.

The people were all super nice and treated us with respect. I love nights like that. Normally you don't have to worry about drunk people spilling their drinks or everyone on staff running you mad because its so chaotic in the kitchen.

Off-premise are always so relaxing and I'll take them over working a crazy wedding any day.

Awkward Argument

I went into work the other day to get my paycheck, and I walked in on the most awkward argument between my bosses.

They were arguing over when they were going to have time to decorate the lobby and different rooms for the holidays. I was just watching them like a tennis match when all I wanted was to pick up my pay for the week. It took like ten minutes for that to happen.

If they were that concerned with time, why not set them up while you're arguing? Some things just do not make sense to me.