My biggest acomplishment thus far...
Oh man, where to begin. Well to start, I returned to work at South Fin on Sunday. However, let's start when I first spoke to Debra after leaving that god awful place.
I called debra about 3 weeks ago. To my suprise she remembered me, because I was under "Luis Barback", and she was let go from South Fin. We talked for a bit about what happened after I left and all the drama that when down, then I wished her luck since she told me she was going to go to The Marina Cafe and got off the phone with her. I thought about it for a bit, more so because Debra sounded confident that they would definitly want me back. I looked at my phone, went to contacts under "S", hesitated, then pressed "Talk".
"Good afternoon, thank you for calling South Fin, this is _______ speaking how may I help you."
"Hello, which manager is in today?"
"Sonny, may I ask who's calling?"
"It's Luis, I worked there last summer."
"Sure, hold on a sec."
I'm not gonna lie, I was a bit nervous about contacting them again. I usually don't like to go back, especially now since when I tried to go back to the "bin", Anthony played me and never called me back. I held my breath and awaited a reply. Again, to my surprise, he remembred me as "Luis with the ponytail". He was very eager to hear from me again and bolted upstairs to find Joanne. I liked Joanne. She is the one in charge of the human resources part, as in she speaks to potential employees, sets up interviews, yada yada yada, the whole shabang. Of course Sonny is still the same, very, well, Sonny. Haha. I guess you'd have to know him to understand. As wonderful as all this may sound..as far as the business aspect of it...I went straight to the point. I explicitly told him if I were to return, that I would only do so to BARTEND! Not barback. I know I'm good but I busted my ass last year and I deserve more money for what I do. We talked some more. However, as I suspected, things got complicated. He tried sugar coating it, but I stood my ground and avoided beating around the bush. After all was said and done, he basically gave me an ultimatum. Either cut my hair and bartend, or, don't cut my hair and get stuck barbacking. It felt like an extremely long pause while I thought about what I had just heard. In my head it was no contest. I refuse to cut my hair or change myself for anyone, but realisticly speaking, I was broke and in debt. Before I hung up, I expressed how much I did not want to cut my hair however I would consider it after a while and he agreed to let me "train" and see how I do. I got off the phone and just sat ther contemplating in my head as if that really just happened. I made my decision. I was gonna bartend and show them how much they would want to have me AND stand up for myself and not cut my hair.
Wednesday I stepped foot back in South Fin. Filled out a few papers. I talked to th owner Mark and he too seemed happy to see me again and made it so I didn't have refill out some papers. Spoke to some familiar faces and awaited to be called.
ve Sunday going back felt like I never left the place. They opened up the bar outside and immediately I wanted to leave. When Sonny finall gets there, he tells me I get to do my thing and do both. That he'll be watching me and to make him proud. I got determined to do so and by the end of the nigh, I made out REALLY good. Sonny even scolded the morning bartended for not splitting the tip even with me because I was bartending. I got out early and went back to work yesterday(tuesday). This time, I was allowed to bartend a double shift. This time was sorta now or never. Jarrod, the other bartender with gorgeous blue eyes, left around 5 and Lintini took his place. I was working that whole bar. It was great! By the end of the night I made about as much as sunday, which in my opinion was awesome for a normally slow weekday.
While talking to John, the topic of my hair came up because the head bartender said I wasn't supposed to be behind tme bar. In the process I ended up coming out to him mainly because I began to get a bit heated. After that conversation ended, on a good note might I add, he came back with gossip that made me have a bit of hope. Few moments later, Sonny comes up to me with a serious face. Looks at me, and says "Alright, I have thought about it...and...I have decided...you can bartend. I look at him as a grin begins to blossom from hs face and he lets out "and you can keep the hair. Congratulation on your new promotion." He takes out his hand and I immediately grab it while trying to keep in my excitement from taking over. I felt an immense feeling of relief and yet I knew it wasn't over. I got the job. Now I need to keep it.
Tonight was a bit more problematic. A few mistakes were made but things were also improved. At the end of the night, Annie gave me a ride home. She told me Sonny said it right in front Mark how he believes 100% in my ability and how alot of other servers were proud that I finally have my chance to shine. That just totally made my night. Well that and the compliment this lady gave me on my Apple Martini. Said it was the best one she's ever had and she drinks them often.
Now, just looking towards what the future has in store. I think tuesday will be my real test if we get slammed but we'll see. Time for bed. Night night.
~Luis
I called debra about 3 weeks ago. To my suprise she remembered me, because I was under "Luis Barback", and she was let go from South Fin. We talked for a bit about what happened after I left and all the drama that when down, then I wished her luck since she told me she was going to go to The Marina Cafe and got off the phone with her. I thought about it for a bit, more so because Debra sounded confident that they would definitly want me back. I looked at my phone, went to contacts under "S", hesitated, then pressed "Talk".
"Good afternoon, thank you for calling South Fin, this is _______ speaking how may I help you."
"Hello, which manager is in today?"
"Sonny, may I ask who's calling?"
"It's Luis, I worked there last summer."
"Sure, hold on a sec."
I'm not gonna lie, I was a bit nervous about contacting them again. I usually don't like to go back, especially now since when I tried to go back to the "bin", Anthony played me and never called me back. I held my breath and awaited a reply. Again, to my surprise, he remembred me as "Luis with the ponytail". He was very eager to hear from me again and bolted upstairs to find Joanne. I liked Joanne. She is the one in charge of the human resources part, as in she speaks to potential employees, sets up interviews, yada yada yada, the whole shabang. Of course Sonny is still the same, very, well, Sonny. Haha. I guess you'd have to know him to understand. As wonderful as all this may sound..as far as the business aspect of it...I went straight to the point. I explicitly told him if I were to return, that I would only do so to BARTEND! Not barback. I know I'm good but I busted my ass last year and I deserve more money for what I do. We talked some more. However, as I suspected, things got complicated. He tried sugar coating it, but I stood my ground and avoided beating around the bush. After all was said and done, he basically gave me an ultimatum. Either cut my hair and bartend, or, don't cut my hair and get stuck barbacking. It felt like an extremely long pause while I thought about what I had just heard. In my head it was no contest. I refuse to cut my hair or change myself for anyone, but realisticly speaking, I was broke and in debt. Before I hung up, I expressed how much I did not want to cut my hair however I would consider it after a while and he agreed to let me "train" and see how I do. I got off the phone and just sat ther contemplating in my head as if that really just happened. I made my decision. I was gonna bartend and show them how much they would want to have me AND stand up for myself and not cut my hair.
Wednesday I stepped foot back in South Fin. Filled out a few papers. I talked to th owner Mark and he too seemed happy to see me again and made it so I didn't have refill out some papers. Spoke to some familiar faces and awaited to be called.
ve Sunday going back felt like I never left the place. They opened up the bar outside and immediately I wanted to leave. When Sonny finall gets there, he tells me I get to do my thing and do both. That he'll be watching me and to make him proud. I got determined to do so and by the end of the nigh, I made out REALLY good. Sonny even scolded the morning bartended for not splitting the tip even with me because I was bartending. I got out early and went back to work yesterday(tuesday). This time, I was allowed to bartend a double shift. This time was sorta now or never. Jarrod, the other bartender with gorgeous blue eyes, left around 5 and Lintini took his place. I was working that whole bar. It was great! By the end of the night I made about as much as sunday, which in my opinion was awesome for a normally slow weekday.
While talking to John, the topic of my hair came up because the head bartender said I wasn't supposed to be behind tme bar. In the process I ended up coming out to him mainly because I began to get a bit heated. After that conversation ended, on a good note might I add, he came back with gossip that made me have a bit of hope. Few moments later, Sonny comes up to me with a serious face. Looks at me, and says "Alright, I have thought about it...and...I have decided...you can bartend. I look at him as a grin begins to blossom from hs face and he lets out "and you can keep the hair. Congratulation on your new promotion." He takes out his hand and I immediately grab it while trying to keep in my excitement from taking over. I felt an immense feeling of relief and yet I knew it wasn't over. I got the job. Now I need to keep it.
Tonight was a bit more problematic. A few mistakes were made but things were also improved. At the end of the night, Annie gave me a ride home. She told me Sonny said it right in front Mark how he believes 100% in my ability and how alot of other servers were proud that I finally have my chance to shine. That just totally made my night. Well that and the compliment this lady gave me on my Apple Martini. Said it was the best one she's ever had and she drinks them often.
Now, just looking towards what the future has in store. I think tuesday will be my real test if we get slammed but we'll see. Time for bed. Night night.
~Luis