Found your site through a
link on Mark Evanier's blog.
Great stuff! Funny as hell, and a public service
to boot. Your description of what drinks various
demographic groups order alone was worth the
price of admission. It offered a marvelous
insight into...well, I'm not even sure what, but
I couldn't stop reading it.
Thanks!
Vince
Hi Vince,
I sympathize, many people
share your bewilderment. Thanks for not asking
for a refund.
Hi
just a woman wanting to try some new drinks
while on vacation !
I went
into webtender and wrote the names of several
that sounded good but when I tried to order them
I was told by the cocktail servers that they'd
never heard of them
Is
there a website to see common drinks that are
known at the average casinos?
I
couldn't even get a Satin Sheet or a
BuzzLightYear which are common drinks at home
Thanks
for all the information and pointers
Hi Alene,
The problem with ordering drinks
that are popular where you're from is that they may
be exclusive to your town, or known by a different
name in Vegas. Buzz Lightyear is known as a
Melonball, which is the more common name for that
drink anywhere. I have never had anyone order a
Satin Sheet before, so I would say that's not a
common drink either. If you want a drink that the
waitress has never heard of, just tell her what's in
it and she'll have the bartender make it for you.
Looking for a web site that shows common drinks in
Vegas...aren't you here?!
Which hotel do you work at
Ebeth863
Just like that, huh? No dinner,
no movie...not even a slap on the ass. Sorry, I'd
tell you but my pimp would kill me.
I went to Las Vegas for a few
days and I wanted to take some pictures of the
cocktail waitresses. I took a picture of a waitress
at the Venesian and she told me we are not allowed
to take pictures of them and that she would call
security if I did it again. Is there any way I can
get some pictures of them?
Doug
------------------------
Hi Dollie,
Came across
your web page and loved it. Never seen so much
information in one website.
Have a
question, hope you can email me back with the
answer.
I am a 45
year old married man from Los Angeles and visit Las
Vegas at least twice a year, for a week each time.
In my
visits, I spend the days walking and driving around
and taking pictures, and I have a good collection of
vegas pictures.
I was
wondering if it is considered rude to ask cocktail
waitresses for taking their pictures.
I have to
say, that I did try that on my last visit, and 3 out
of 4 said okay.
What is
your opinion? Also, if they agree, should I tip
them for the picture?
I hope you
will answer my email, and best of luck on your web
site
Alex O
Hi Doug and Alex,
Before the whole homeland security
thing, I would always agree to take pictures with
people, and I really didn't care if I got tipped for it,
although of course I would accept it if it was offered.
(What am I saying...definitely tip!) But now it is
against the casino's policy to take pictures, so I have
to say no. So if a waitress says no, it may be her own
decision or the house rule. Either way, she shouldn't
be upset if you ask, and you shouldn't try to sneak a
picture of her. I've seen some pictures of cocktail
waitresses on the Internet where they're walking away,
or it's obvious they don't know their picture is being
taken. At best, this is tacky, at worst, it may be a
violation of their rights.
I'm a cocktail waitress at a
casino boat in Iowa and I came across your website today
and OH MY GOD! Everything you said is so true. I'm so
glad I came across it. I've been cocktailing for four
years now and I've come across almost everything you
mentioned. (of course I'm not done looking at your
website yet) Its four in the morning I just got off
work at two. (I work swing) I can't wait to get up and
read the rest of it. Just wanted to let you know I
really enjoyed it and am going to tell my fellow
cocktailers to take a look! Keep it up. Someone has to
tell these people about tipping!
And people think I'm alone in my rants!
I have been a
server for 10 years and I can relate to ALL your stories.
The only difference is that I dont have the privilege of
being able to sass'm back. So please, tell off a bitchy old
lady for me!!!!!
I really enjoyed
your site.
Hi Jodie,
My pleasure...ain't no
bitchy old lady met a bitchier old lady than me!
Hey! My name is Jen, I
live in Michigan (a.k.a. cold as hell) and I just got 'juiced
in' (smile) to a casino here in Detroit as a cocktail server. I
got the job over a month ago, and after ALL this mess of drug
testing, background check, fingerprints, etc. I'm finally going
on Tuesday to get fitted for my outfit and start their training.
I was just wondering if you have any advice on being the new
cocktail girl at the casino. Like the best ways to work my way
up and relating to the other girls. I'm not really interested in
being friends but I do want a good working relationship. The
best ways to tips & especially PLEASE how do u deal w/ the guys
hitting on you? B/c I tend to get uncomfortable (guess I'm not a
good flirt). Please let me know 'Dollie'. = )
Also, its not common knowledge that I got 'juice'. I don't plan
on telling anyone. I'm a waittress now but I've never strictly
cocktailed. And I'm 23.
So if you could just give me some info! I'm definitely excited.
Thanks!!!!
Jennifer
Hi Jennifer,
Tell the other girls
you're juiced in so they'll be afraid to talk shit to you, spill
coffee on guys so they won't flirt with you and tip you just to
go away, and don't worry about making friends...the girls will
hate you just because you're 23.
Hi,
I'm a long time reader (came to your site through WizardOfOdds).
I've enjoyed your site the whole time, and I understand the
extra pressure you get from having a new baby (mine was 6 weeks
premature and is now
13 months old), and while I miss your updates, I know why you
aren't updating frequently. Today I was looking on your site for
a link (which I thought I got from your site) and I noticed that
you a typo on one of your link descriptions.
Shows, Shows and More Shows
** This web site is run by Phil Arnold, who, according to
** according to what he drinks, is a young white girl. In any
case, he also loves to see Las Vegas shows and gives reviews
and other interesting news about Sin City. It doesn't cost
anything to join, it's just a fun site and informative site,
and you can also share your experiences with other Vegas fans.
As you can see, you've got two 'according to' in the first
sentence.
.... just thought you'd like to know.
Taylor Hutt
It wasn't a mistake...I
was emphasizing the phrase. Who am I kidding? Thanks, I fixed
it fixed it.
Are you for real? Is
this a real website??
Just curious,
DB
I'm quite offended that
you would doubt the veracity of my existence. It just makes the
hairs on my balls stand on end.
Loved your website,
and have a question about getting premium drinks. If I
ordered Grey Goose and Tonic and really wanted Grey Goose,
but am not playing at the high limit tables, what can I do
to increase the chances that the cocktail waitress will make
my order a "must be"? Thanks.
Sheldon Francis
Charlotte, NC
Well, Sheldon, a big
tip is the answer. If you give the waitress five dollars
when you place the order, you'll get your Grey Goose. Every
once in awhile this won't work. Like, if the waitress is
strictly "by the book," if the bartender she's working with
won't give it to her, or if Grey Goose really isn't
available (not all bars stock the premium alcohols). Or if
the beverage manager happens to be in the bar at the time.
A simple, "If I give you five dollars can you get me Grey
Goose?" will elicit an honest answer. But you didn't hear
that from me.
I'm a social
buffoon who doesn't understand tipping at all. Someone at a
Las Vegas website turned me onto your website and I realized
my usual dollar a drink was acceptable and the fact I always
have my dollar bills in my palm after I order the drink and
hold it there until the server comes back is not only NOT
obsessive compulsive, but appreciated by the servers. Now I
know why they keep coming back and I got so inebriated at
the craps tables.
I was impressed by your favorite websites, too. They are
three of my favorites.
Maybe I'll see you the next time I'm in Vegas.
Tim Phillips
I think the reason the
waitresses kept coming back was to see a real live social
buffoon in action...we rarely see one in Vegas.
hi
dollie,
my name is kenny,i am a single gentleman from new york,who
travels to vegas once a year.i am looking to meet a female
pen pal on line who lives in vegas to chat with about vegas
.i was wondering if you know how i can go about it.
thanks kenny
What a
coincidence...I'm a single female from Vegas who's never
been to New York and am looking to meet a male pen pal
online who lives in New York to chat with about New York.
Let's both keep our eyes open and maybe we can help each
other out.
Hey Dollie, Interesting
web site. I'll turn in on to some off my friends who work the
North shore clubs {Tahoe} . After reading on how to be a bad
customer I am surprised I never got a drink poured over my head
for some of the dumb stuff I did when I was younger/dumber. Hang
in there...Dan
Keep reading and I'm sure
you can find something that will be rewarded with a beer bottle
where the sun don't shine. :)
Dear Dollie,
Just wanted to say I enjoyed your site. I moonlight as a
bartender once a week (and worked more extensively behind the
bar in college) and enjoy it immensely. It was quite funny to
note the differences and especially the similarities between
your job and mine.
None of my jobs ever has involved cocktail waitresses, so I
can't claim any particular hatred for them.
My next trip to Vegas is in April. Wish me luck. ...
The same to you, and congrats on the site.
-- Rob
It's illegal for a man to
give a woman money for services rendered, but a cocktail
waitress is expected to do it every day for a bartender.
Methinks there's something wrong with this picture.
My Dad actually
sent me your site and I really enjoyed it. I'm a union
bartender at the Nashville Int'l Airport... where I also
deal with thousands of people of all kinds on a regular
basis. I know exactly what you're talking about regarding
customers asking things like "what's your best drink?" or
"What's on special?".... ('You're in the airport, honey...EVERYTHING'S
SPECIAL!!) I've actually been considering transferring
locals out to Vegas. I understand that by doing this, I
will save time it normally takes becoming a union
bartender... Graveyard shifts or whatever aren't a problem
for me... however no work for a couple weeks would be. Any
thoughts on the bartending side of things? Or do you know
of a site like yours devoted to the bartender?
I appreciate any
info. And thanks for the laughs!
The best time to get hired
at casinos is in the summer, when the pools open, and at the end
of the year, when they need New Year's help. In the summer,
casinos sometimes hire from the outside to fill the pool shifts,
which would obviously be best for you if you're looking for
full-time work right away. Depending on the individual casino's
union contract, they may have to "bid" out the shifts to their
current bartenders, and if any shifts aren't taken, they will
offer the positions to the rest of the department (restaurants,
room service, etc.), the rest of the casino, and to everyone
else, in that order. At the end of the year, the casinos do a
mass hiring to overstaff the bars (which pisses off a lot of
bartenders because another body behind the bar means less tips
for them), and they need a lot of banquet bartenders to work the
parties. Even if you get hired as an "extra board" bartender at
these times, you'll get a lot of work. The problem is, when the
pool closes (usually in October or November) and the year-end
parties are over with, it's very slow and you may end up working
only a few days a week for awhile, or even be laid off. Or you
could get lucky and bid on a shift that nobody wants, like
graveyard.
Can you fake a limp? Grab
your "disabled vet" sign and drag your leg to the Tropicana/I-15
overpass. Just remember which leg.
Hi,
Thanks for all the advice. Good to know that we are tipping the
right way for drinks but I need to know about the Limo tip. Do
you know what is the correct amount of tip to give to the driver
(Vegas airport to casino on the strip) when the ride is comp'd
by the casino? Any info will help.
Thank you,
Judy
I'm a really bad person to
ask about this because 1. I really haven't a clue, and 2. my
only time in a limo here was with a bachelorette party, and the
driver was a real asshole who scammed a twenty dollar tip from
my friend by lying about already being tipped by someone else
(the guy who paid for the limo had already tipped him twenty
dollars). And this was just for a one-way ride from a casino to
a strip club. So if any limo drivers want to write in, you're
more than welcome to, including that scam-artist prick.
Diet anything. Witch
really means anything as long as it doesn't have sugar in it,
because I am a diabetic and the sugar is a real killer. Also my
drinking days are temporally over because of the Metformin I am
on.I made that mistake once, of mixing Metformin and alcohol,
and I'll never make that mistake again, believe me!
Old white guy
Metformin and pregnancy
don't mix either. Just in case.
THANKS FOR YOUR WEB
SITE. I WAS READING MARK PILARSKI'S COLUMN IN THE ON-LINE
CASINO CITY TIMES AND HE MENTIONED
IT. I HAVE BEEN VISITING VEGAS TWICE A YEAR FOR THE PAST 7
YEARS AND EVEN THOUGH I AM NOT A DRINKER I FOUND SEVERAL
AREAS OF YOUR SITE VERY INFORMATIVE.
BY THE WAY, ONE
PICTURE SHOWS YOU QUITE PREGNANT. HAVE YOU HAD THE BABY?
THOMAS BURDETTE
YES, I HAD THE BABY,
AND I NO LONGER LOOK LIKE THIS. Now I look like this.
But
I'm trying to look like this again.
Great site, I
work in a casino in Wisconsin and will pass it on to the
waitstaff for their enjoyment and edification.
By the way, how
do you know I'm an "old man" just because I drink
whiskey 7? OK, so I am (sort of) but still...
Harold Wilkes
Oh, Harold, I'm not
concerned about your age. The fact that you can spell
"edification" and use it correctly in a sentence means you're
too edumacated, and aren't drunk enough. Have a double on me.
I just read your
website ( as referenced by Mark Pilanski's March 7th
article in Casino City Times) and found it both very
informative and entertaining. I gamble quite frequently
locally and make 2-3 trips a year to Vegas, Reno or
Laughlin, that is, to get away from the snow and cold. I
always tip regularly as I too have worked hard all my life
and know what's necessary to make a living. My point in
writing is to thank you for your informative website. I
have always wondered about many of the things you addressed
and appreciate your taking the time to give us the real
insight from someone who's been there and appears to be a
straight down to earth shooter.
Dick and Pat
P.S. Love your
sense of humor. Have a great day.
You are so sweet.
An Atlantilc City
cocktail waitress who I was friendly with once told me that
she appreciated cash tips more than chips. She explained
that when she cashed in her chip tips at the window, they
were reported to the IRS, while cash was her responsibility
to report. Any truth in this?
Edward Rhoades
As far as I know there is
no truth to this. However, all the information I've given
regarding tips and the IRS is relevant only to Vegas. Also, the
IRS tip allocation agreement was started around 1992. Before
then, every waitress was responsible to report her own tips,
which probably meant that most waitresses didn't report
anything. My opinion is, and most casino employees agree with
me, is that the IRS had undercover agents hired as employees to
"find out" how much money the waitresses made. They did this by
watching how much they had in their tip jars, how much they
cashed out, and by listening to what the girls said they made.
Or just posing as customers and asking a waitress how much she
makes. Some girls are stupid enough to tell. These are all
inaccurate ways to find the truth since a waitress doesn't
necessarily cash out her money every day (I always save my coins
and cash them in once a week) and people, not just waitresses,
lie about how much they make. In any case, I think that's how
the IRS came up with the tip allocation idea.
Some casinos do have house
rules that if a waitress is tipped a certain amount at one time,
like a $25.00 chip, she has to "call it in," which means she has
to get an OK from either the beverage manager or casino manager
before cashing it (maybe that's what your friend meant), but
there's no IRS form to fill out. That's to make sure that she's
not stealing money.
I worked with a pit boss
who was fired for stealing chips and cashing them in at another
casino. He was stupid because he personally cashed them in, and
he was cashing in big chips, like hundred-dollar chips, and
doing it every night after he got off work. The casino he was
going to got suspicious that this guy kept bringing in big chips
from another casino to cash in, so they called our casino and
sent them his picture. So they watched him for a week, and one
night, when the pit boss came on shift, security guards and
metro went into the pit, handcuffed him and eight other floormen
and dealers, and walked them out. They had seen him on camera
stealing the chips. He was very sly. He would order a hot tea
with extra honey in a Styrofoam cup from the cocktail waitress.
He would always "accidentally" get honey on his fingers, which
he would smear underneath the cup. Then he would somehow,
without anyone noticing, hold the cup over a stack of chips and
one would get stuck on the bottom. Then he would take the cup
with him when he went on break. He did that all night, every
night. Pit bosses get a break like every hour, so he was making
a killing. The other employees got fired because the casino
figured they should have noticed, working with the pit boss that
closely, so they must have been in on it to not say anything.
(The cocktail waitresses didn't get fired or in trouble.) I
think they got a raw deal. How come surveillance didn't catch
it? What about the security guards walking around? And the
casino manager? I have no idea if they got their jobs back, or
even tried.
I have a self
imposed rule I follow in the Casino that I would like to
share with you:
Any money,
chip, token, or ticket I find in the tray of a Slot
Machine or on the floor I give to the Drink Server in
the area the money, chip, token or ticket was found.
This is not in lieu a regular tip. I have spotted a five
dollar chip on the floor while walking and picked it up
and placed it on a drink servers tray without missing my
stride. The tone of the "thank you" in her voice let me
know it was appreciated. She later found me and told me
she had seen the chip but, the Casino did not allow them
to pick up money on the floor or in the trays of
unoccupied slot machines.
Steve Sawyer
Most casinos have a rule
that any money on the floor is finders, keepers. Some casinos
have a rule that if the money is above a certain amount, it has
to be turned in to security. If money is found anywhere else it
is "lost property" and must be turned in to security, regardless
of the amount. When an employee turns property in to security,
if it isn't claimed in thirty days, the employee can claim it.
This is, of course, ridiculous. I know so many employees who
turn in money, and in thirty days they were told the owner came
and got it. Yeah, right. Like a customer is really going to
come up to security and say, "I lost $40.00 in increments of a
twenty, ten, and two five-dollar bills, in the shelf between
machines 1024 and 1025 around 6:20 PM twenty-nine days ago."
Next time I find money,
Steve, I'll have you claim it for me.
Learned a few new
things - Definition of TIPS, how you are taxed, and that I
have been tipping right!
Thank you, and Mr.
Pilarski for steering me to your site.
Jack De Reese
:)
Hi
Dollie/Jebediah,
Just
visited your site. Great info and entertaining.
We’re
visiting in May’05 (our 4th trip) from the UK.
Your info is invaluable. I play poker but I’ll make sure I
tip at least a dollar for drinks.
Never
know we may meet – lol.
Brian.
There's no poker room
where I work - darn! Cheers! :)
Fun to read you
notes: I had 8 years full-time in the bar business in CA
(College and Farm towns: ugh) in the 80's. Closing shift
Bartender, then Manager: such weirdness. Still....
Looks like you have
a call order: You never forget: bourbon, vodka, gin, scotch,
brandy, rum, tequillllah! (Kind of a rhythm to it!)
and then what?:
well, call, simply, fancy, blend, hot, soda, wine, beer.
You never forget.
Oh, and Bourbon,
the silent alcohol: Coke is Bourbon Coke, 7 is bourbon
seven-up. You wanted a plain coke? "P-coke", "P-7"
(ordering"P-water" was a little awkward, and we would giggle
about that when it was slow...)
We didn't use
"out": it was usually busy enough, and with the call order,
when the ladies stopped talking, the order was done.
Interesting.
I am now a Nickel
slot player, after I run low from BJ and craps, and I tip a
buck a round (black Russians: yum). I have noticed that I
do indeed get better service when I tip when ordering. The
act of certainty. The morning nickel slot section ladies
love it, and I enjoy how it perks their mornings. Silly, but
fun. And I figure AM, PM what's the difference?
Still, it is funny
when you've busted the budget, and been tipping, and
suddenly, there isn't any more. Life's little
awkwardnesses. Oh well.
Anyway, some
softball boys and I will be our over part of Easter, and
leave a small ( but loved) portion of our paychecks with
you.
Thanks for the trip
down memory road.
...And yes,
customers (even nonpaying ones) can be real A__holes,
but....
P-water, huh? I don't
know what's more disturbing...the fact that you would say it, or
that you giggled about it. And somehow I think your English
professor would agree that BJ, craps, and yum
should not appear in the same sentence. Nothing like mixing
your interjections with your fetishes. :)
Just a note to tell
you how much I enjoyed your website. As a Las Vegas
semi-regular (some 20-30 trips in the last 15 years) I got a
big kick out of your observation. I saw many people I know
and even my self in some of your stories.
Thank you for for a
refreshing few minutes. I'm sure you served me drinks
somewhere in the last few years. I hoped I tipped you well.
I'm leaving for
Vegas on Monday and will be staying at Paris. Rest assured
that the cocktail waitressess there will be well taken care
of by me....for the few drinks that I will have.
Damn, how come all the
good tippers are coming out now that I'm on maternity leave?
You have an awesome
website. I followed a link from WizardOfOdds.com and I didn't
regret it, as I have read about all the material on your site.
When one day I will fulfill my dream of going on a gambling
vacation to Vegas, I will take all of your advice to heart.
Walter.
Let me know if you still
think it's awesome after you've read all the material. :)
Calvin & Hobbes rule!
and definitely an A+ for Cold Stone! and yeah, as you probably
already guessed, I like your pics too. Know anyone else who'd
read Calvin & Hobbes over Cold Stone Strawberry Cheesecake
wafflecones?
Here's a joke for ya from an engineer who sees things a little
differently... stop me if you've heard it.
A budding young scientist decides to show the relationship
between the number of a legs a frog has and how far it can jump
for his grade school science project. He starts with a frog with
all its legs, places it on a line on the floor and yells, "Jump,
frog! Jump!" The frog jumps as expected and the boy records in
his journal, "Frog with four legs jumps 4 feet." Next he
proceeds to tie up one of the frogs legs (okay the original joke
was not PETA approved) and placed it back on the line. "Jump,
frog! Jump!" Again he records in his book, "Frog with three
legs, jumps 3 feet." Tying up yet another leg, (this kid will
probably grow up with a fetish for tying things up) he repeats
his experiment, recording this time, "Frog with two legs jumps 2
feet." Tying up the third leg, he shouts again, "Jump, frog!
Jump!" and the frog jumps yet again. The boy records, "Frog with
one leg jumps 1 feet." (Give him a break he's only in grade
school, besides its a science project not an English
assignment.) Tying up the fourth and last leg, the boy shouts,
"Jump, frog! Jump!" This time the frog strangely does not jump.
Again he yells, "JUmp, Frog! Jump!" The frog does not budge.
Yelling louder, "JUMP FROG JUMP!" And the frog remains
motionless. The boy scribbles in his journal, "Frog with no legs
goes deaf."
Shawn
Poor frog...can't hear,
can't jump...maybe that boy would like to experiment on me?
(This e-mail was sent to
Jerome Hamilton, who forwarded it to me.)
Thanks again for the
print. I went to "Dollie's" site, and it's a kick. I noted
in particular how many times "Coke" shows up as an
ingredient on the list of "who orders what".
Ben
The Coca-Cola Company
I'm glad you liked my web site. The casino I work
at has Pepsi products, and people always ask me for
Coke - I wish they would switch!
Enjoyed your
website - was refreshing to hear an inside view of LV.
Informative, frank, and funny in spots. Best of everything
with the new member of the family.
Steve S. (Long
Island, NY)
Thank you...I'll try to be
funny all over from now on!
Thanks for your site
Dollie. I'm a 53 year-old female that is visiting Vegas after
not being there over 20 years. Your site has enlightened me, to
say the least!
My husband is really irritating when he asks "what kind of beers
do you have"? I'll have to tell him about your answer. I love
it!
I do have a question......
Is it faster/better for me to go to the bar and order a drink
and then find a machine? Or should I go to the machine and sit
and wait?
Also, can I get in trouble bringing a flask and adding some
extra to make it a double?
I know these might be stupid questions, but they aren't to me.
Thanks!!!
LLehtinen
It's probably faster to
get a drink if you go to the bar first, unless you happen to sit
at a machine right when the waitress is coming around taking
orders. Or you can look for a waitress who is taking orders,
sit in her section and order a drink from her. And you can pour
the drink into your flask, there are no rules against that.
I love your site.
It gives the tipping handicapped of the world a point of
reference.
I find that the
points you mention on you site are true indeed!
I have written to
you before and mentioned that I am a poker player that
drinks coffee and water all night and that I tip
I have noticed that
my "coffer" is never empty. In fact the service is so good
at any table that I sit at. that the drinkers get drunk
faster (good for me) and most of the time my coffee is still
hot and my water is still cold when the waitress comes
around again.
Where I live
(Connecticut) the alcohol service stops at 2am usually
making it impossible to get a coffee near this hour (never a
problem for me)
During a shift
change the waitress's must tell each other where the
"tippers" are. because the service continues to be great for
me.
And yes, I tip
before I get the first drink ($10.00) so that I am
remembered and then $5.00 all night long.
The money I have
made from the drunks (Thanks to you!)
has paved the way
for me to move up to higher limit poker and higher tips in
the future.
Many thanks to you
for all of your hard work! (I have seen a waitress with
drinks stacked 3 high and it must weigh a ton)
I remember you...that
rare $10.00 tipping poker player! Believe me, the
waitresses will always tell each other about you, and they
should remember you every time you come back. Well good,
I'm glad you make money off of the drunks. In a game like
poker, pretending to be drunk may be smart, but actually
getting drunk is stupid. I'm sure you know that.
I've also seen
waitresses with drinks stacked on top of each other, and I
have no idea how they do it. They must take steroids.
Dear Dollie,
Absolutely love your site. Saw a plug for it at Wizard of Odds
and ended up reading everything on it. I must say you've got a
great sense of humor and there's no way I'd have thought you're
a day older than 24 from your pictures.
Anyway, I'm 20, and I've been planning my 21st birthday in Vegas
ever since I learned how much fun gambling is. Also, as someone
who's a fan of the once or twice or 9 drinks, I'm trying to find
out what's the best way to have a rip-roaring time in Vegas. My
first thought would be to just play something non-skill
intensive like slots, and get the drinks free (plus red-chip
tips for my lovely cocktail waitress, who'd definitely keep them
coming for red chips). The thing that upsets me is the rather
parsimonious definition of a drink. ONE shot's worth in tiny
pre-iced glasses AND I can't order two at a time? And I can
only get served when the nice cocktail waitress comes by (and
thanks to you I know how truly busy she is). Then I thought I
should just chill by the pool/bar/lounge, but $5.50 for a
Corona??? People actually PAY for that? In my college town of
UGA (Athens, GA, there's literally 80 bars downtown that don't
care AT ALL about fake ID's). We have ONE dollar tequila,
jager, or 151 shots and 10 dollar wristbands for all you can
drink draft (i.e. Bud Light. Everyone has Bud.) Should I just
stick to free and order heavy drinks (like Everclear 'n Tonic
with lime) or just pay for it; start the night off at a bar, and
hit the ground running with 10 shots in five minutes, then hit
the casino floor and maintain the buzz for free? What do you
think is the best idea?
Congratulations on the baby, I know you're waaaaay too busy with
a 6 week old to answer the hedonistic decadent questions of an
underage drinker. But whenever ya get a chance... You're the
best!
Steve Krieger
Athens, GA
P.S. I'm definitely hitting as many casinos as possible when I
get there a) to say that I have, and b) so that there's an off
chance I might run into you and tell you how awesome and
beautiful and uber-cool you are!
Drink prices are
definitely a rip-off in Vegas, but sometimes it's what you
gotta do. Now, if you're tipping reds in slots, I can
guarantee that every cocktail waitress will bring you a
double or two drinks. (But if you want two double shots you
should tip two reds.) Give her the red first so she knows
you're good for it. The only time she might not do it is if
the beverage manager is in the bar or hanging around. You
should also put a couple coins in the machine even if you
don't want to play, just so the cameras can see that the
waitress is serving a player. And if you're planning on
drinking before you turn 21, make sure your fake I.D. is a
good one. As long as you keep tipping well and don't puke
or get so loud that slot or pit bosses notice you, she'll
keep bringing the drinks. If you want your drinks right
away and to keep them coming fast, sit at a machine right
outside the service bar or by the waitress' well. Stop any
waitress that walks by, hand her the red and say, "Can you
give this to the waitress in this area and ask her to bring
me a double shot of Jager (or whatever)?" This will work
most of the time. When she brings your drink, find out her
name, hand her another red and ask her if she can bring you
another on her way back. Keep tipping, and you'll get
drinks.
If you do order from a
bar or lounge, you'll have to pay for every shot, and the
shots are pre-measured from the gun or a jigger. You might
find a bartender who will freepour, and if he does and you
can see that he really is giving you a long shot and he
charges you for only one shot, make sure you tip him at
least a five. I know that's a lot of money for one drink,
but they don't set the prices.
Dollie- Found your site from the
Las Vegas Forum. One of the locals put up your site.
My dad always said a tip was for
the service. He always tipped good...for good service
and not as good for poor. He used a plus and minus
scale.
I have been down to Vegas many
times and always tip each time for my water.
You had me rolling about
the "really I take hundreds", and the "I have a
pussy"... ordering... It amazes me how some people are.
I know you see them all the
time...(did you get Ben's autograph?)
Well I am off to Bally's March 1st
for a few days. If you are there or Paris and the craps
tables are your station, and a guy orders a bottled
water and tips you $5 when he orders...my name is Erik
Thanks for your
e-mail. I'm on maternity leave so I won't get a chance
to meet you. I did work at Bally's years ago, but I
haven't been there in years. Paris is beautiful, I'm
sure you'll love it. I hope it doesn't rain while
you're here! Let me know how your visit goes!
P.S. No, I never
did get Ben's autograph...sigh!
What happened to your Ben Jacobs? I didn't see him on tv. Did I
miss him or was he full if B.S.? Congrats on your baby.
M96jack
I have no idea where my
Ben Jacobs went...and he was so cute too! I don't think he was
full of B.S., but obviously he didn't make it. Maybe he was
just a so-so singer, not good enough to make the cut, but not
bad enough to show on TV. One of the cocktail waitresses I work
with auditioned. She's a pretty good singer, but she didn't
make it past the first audition. (You have to audition for the
producers before you can audition for Paula, Randy, and Simon.)
They told her that to make it past them you have to (in their
opinions) be really good, have "star" potential, or be so bad
that you make good ratings. Maybe the secret is to suck really
badly at the first audition, then wow the judges later.
Its me Divine
living now here in vegas for a month!! I saw your beautiful
website...
Im interested to
work as a cocktail waitress, maybe you can help me where to
start and how?
You said in your
website that its need to be a part of a UNION? is that a
training center?
The union is not a
training center, they just take your money and send you to
casinos that are hiring. They aren't an employment agency
either; they don't guarantee you a job or anything. You don't
need to join the union, but most big hotels are union,
so if you apply without being referred from the union, you most
likely won't even be considered. That's because they have to
hire union employees first. You can also go to each hotel's web
site and apply online. This is actually a good idea because
they will have a list of available jobs. If a hotel isn't
hiring cocktail waitresses, they won't even take your
application, so it will save you a lot of footwork.
Hi from the
Great White North,
Where did the snow
go? Damn Canadian groundhog forecast an early spring, even
though the one in the States predicted 6 more weeks of
winter. Those pesky rodents are just like politicians: can't
agree on anything.
But, I digress. I
noticed you spelled whisky right (without that sneaky Irish
"e"). I'll contribute the following observation -when I was
young, single and had most of my faculties, I hung around
with a Rhodesian (the place is now called Zaire.
I believe) who made
Shandy (Shanty?) with that dreaded ginger beer mixed with
lager. That makes more sense than lemonade, but the Brits
are a peculiar bunch at the best of times.
I didn't know Canada
had a groundhog. Of course you have groundhogs, I just
didn't know they predicted the weather too. Well, if
"winter" means continuous rain, then I think Punxsutawney
Phil was right. I'd rather have snow!
I never understood the
Shandy thing, but then again, I can't stand Red Bull either.
Congratulations
on your beautiful baby! Hope you're doing okay.
I thought you'd
appreciate this story. My partner and I were in Vegas
with a married couple who were friends of ours. We
hadn't seen them in a long time and I always thought
they were "frugal" (even though he has a great job and
she's never had to work in 25 years), but now we know
they are CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP.
We had comps
for two rooms, so it cost them nothing, but do you think
they could even spare $5 for their housekeeper? Then
they bitched about not getting washcloths or fresh
soap. I told them, "It wouldn't kill you to leave a
tip. The room is free, after all." I know they never
did. They wouldn't take the bus "because it cost $2"
and walked all the way from NYNY to the Stardust one day
while we had the car.
Then (and this
is the part I thought you'd be interested in) we were in
a casino. The husband was busy at a VP machine, playing
his single quarter at a time, and a cocktail waitress
came up and took orders. He asked for water, and when
she brought it, he said, "Thanks" and turned back to his
machine. I was standing near him and said in a loud
voice, "Hi there. I'm sure my friend meant to give you
a gratuity, so let me take care of it." And I handed
her a fiver. She was very appreciative. I don't think
we'll be traveling with them again. Ugh, I hate cheap
people!!!!
Best wishes to
you and your family.
Too bad about your
friends. I don't understand why people who are cheap come to
Vegas. I mean, I know that everyone loves free stuff,
and nobody wants to waste money, but they really are the only
ones who suffer by hanging on to every penny. If the bus is
only $2.00, it's worth the ride, unless they enjoy wasting half
their day walking! Some people just don't get it, even when
you're right there telling them how it should be done. The
waitress was lucky to have you around, and your friends were
lucky too, because they probably wouldn't have gotten any
service otherwise!
Dollie,
Let me tell
you...went all over. I had never been to the Hard Rock or
the Palms, but heard it was a younger crowd - loved them
both! The Ghost Bar at the top of the Palms is the coolest
bar I've ever seen. Spent most of my "gambling" time at the
Stratosphere's craps table. Any place cool that I'm
missing?
Anyhow, I did have
a couple of questions on tipping, and because you are THE
authority, what better place to ask? First, I don't drink
while gambling (house has a big enough edge without my
helping!) but always tip a red for iced tea or coffee. Now
would you and your colleagues be offended if I tipped a red
the 1st time around and then switched to $1s on subsequent
drinks? I never knew $1 was the "going" rate...not that
it's going to change my behavior ;-)
Also, are you
supposed to tip the hotel guy who opens the door to a cab
for you? Someone told me to tip only if he carried stuff
for you, but I could never quite figure that one out.
Actually, I'm
trying to put together another trip on President's Day
weekend - love those long weekends!
Thanks for teaching
us the "right" way!
Victor
------------------------------------------------
Dollie,
I'm heading out to Vegas for my first time ever, on Monday
the 5th! I'm very excited about the whole trip!!
I saw your website, and found it very informative!! I really
appreciate the service the waitresses provide, plus most are
very beautiful, and pleasant people!! I like to have fun
with everyone, including all the staff at the casino's, but
don't want to be considered rude or not polite.
I will always tip a dollar a drink as you recommend, but my
question is:
Is it okay to tip the waitress $5 the first time you see
her, to get your attention, and then tip only a dollar for
each drink after (unless you hit a jackpot or something like
that) ?? How do you view this type of customer?? I usually
do this, but maybe that's not the right thing to do.
Please advise!
Thanks,
Rich
Here's the thing about
tipping in Vegas...everybody takes tips! Actually, there
are some people who are not allowed to take tips, like pit
bosses and slot managers, but they won't be offended if you
offer, and sometimes they'll take it and give it to an
employee. Even though I work in a tipping job, it does
irritate me that everyone has their hands out. Personally,
I have never tipped a door opener, but yes, they do accept
tips, but I don't know how much is expected.
Now, about tipping a
red on the first drink, then a dollar on all the
rest...here's the thing...when you give a red you're
establishing yourself as a good tipper, someone who deserves
and will (usually) get better service, better quality
drinks, etc. If you change to a dollar, the waitress is
going to think either she did something to piss you off, or
you were "tricking" her into thinking you were worth the
extra steps. She'll give you a couple chances to redeem
yourself, but if you continue to give "only" a dollar,
she may stop serving you iced tea in a tall glass ("I'm
sorry, we ran out of tall glasses."), or no longer make sure
your coffee is hot and fresh. I'm not saying every waitress
will do this, or that you deserve it, I'm just saying it may
happen. Maybe you've experienced that already. It's a
psychological thing; a dollar is a good tip, but not if you
start out tipping more. Here's what I suggest you do.
Start out by giving a dollar for each drink. Then, when you
know that you will be having your last drink, give a red.
Believe me, the waitress will be much happier this way. And
if you get the same waitress again (if she remembers
you), or if she sees you in another waitress' station,
she'll say, "That guy tips a dollar at first, but if you
take care of him, he'll give you a red."
Found your
site by accident but found it very informative as well
as entertaining! As I was perusing your site I came
across the story of the birth of your baby!
Congratulations! Just a note to say you seem like a
really cool down to earth person and I do appreciate
knowing the proper etiquette for a gambler or even as a
patron in a local watering hole! Hugs and Best Wishes
to you and yours! ~Smitty, Annapolis Maryland
Thanks for the
good wishes, and for letting me know you enjoy my web
site, that was very nice of you.
Congratulations on the
birth of Joshua! It sounds like you both must be doing well by
now if you're back to enjoying "American Idol." I hope this is
a really blessed time for all of you. Though I am looking
forward to you returning to work and hearing more "war
stories." :)
Thanks for sharing so much with us,
Jim in San Diego
Thank you! I have to say,
I'm enjoying being a mommy much more than being a cocktail
waitress. And now that American Idol is on, well, I just don't
have time for anything else!
Your favorite
TV show comes to your town, a fellow cocktail waitress
moves on to the next round, and you don't post an
opinion on your blog? For shame! Let Daddy feed the
baby and give us fans a quick line or two.
A Loyal Fan,
Sam in Hawaii
Yes, I know. And
my pal Ben, a guy I met who auditioned for American Idol
here, said he would be on TV and he wasn't! Geez, that
was a disappointment.
I read your
webpages, and found them very intersting. You have a knack
for writing, and are good at inserting humor (and humanity)
into your writing.
I haver just
returned from Vegas, and while I enjoyed my vacation, I was
surprised by the amount of verbal abuse some of the cocktail
waitresses received. ( Some customers made some pretty crude
comments within earshot of the waitress.) Is this typical in
the day of a cocktail waitress ?
Okay, besides
trying to tip well, being polite and respectful, and
throwing in the occasional compliment, what else makes a
good customer ?? ( I did get a smile out of one waitress
when I wrapped my tip around a chocolate Santa....any other
suggestions?? )
Hope you are having
a good week,
Verbal abuse isn't
really a daily occurrence. It may happen more often with
certain crowds in certain atmospheres, like around really
drunk guys or in a club. Most people are pleasant, and the
annoyances are more with ignorant people than anything else.
Hmmm...tipping well,
being polite and respectful, compliments and chocolate
Santas...I don't think I could ask for anything more.
Really, you sound like the perfect customer.
(This e-mail was sent
to
Michael Bluejay, who forwarded it to me.)
Hi,
I was directed to your
site from cockeyed.com and wanted to correct you on something.
Well, maybe not correct you on something, but tell a story about
a bit of disappointment.
The casino is well
stocked, so there's no need to ask whether they have your
particular drink -- just order what you want since they
probably have it, and if they don't the waitress will tell
you.
That's what I thought
as well until I made my first Vegas trip 2 years ago. When I
drink beer I drink Budweiser. Don't bother to give me crap about
Budweiser, as I've heard it all before. But when I drink
cocktails, I prefer vodka lemonades. First vodka lemonade I
ordered at the Nile Lounge/Bar in the Luxor, the bartender gave
me a strange look and 5 minutes later came back with something
that resembled a vodka lemonade, but instead was vodka and sour
from the gun. Yuck! Went back to Budweiser. At least that
always tastes horrible and I know what to expect.
Moved on to Mandalay Bay. Played some slots. Waitress came up to
me and I ordered a vodka lemonade. Same thing. Lousy sour mix.
Horrible!
Went to Von's and
picked up a 64oz jug of Minute Maid lemonade and some vodka to
bring back to my room. (unfortunately, the ice machine only had
shaved ice instead of cubes, so my drinks became watered down as
soon as the vodka hit the ice, but that's another story)
Scurried on over to the Excalibur. Played some blackjack.
Waitress asked what I wanted and I ordered a vodka lemonade.
Same damn thing. Sour mix! Sour mix is not lemonade!
Since we were staying at the Luxor, we decided to head back
there and get ready for dinner. I can't recall the name of the
other bar with video poker embedded in the bar but it was the
one opposite of the Nile. I asked the bartender what the deal
with lemonade was. He told me that the Luxor doesn't have
lemonade. And since Mandalay Bay, Luxor and Excalibur are all
one in the same, ownership-wise, that explains the lack of
lemonade in those three casinos. I didn't ask why they didn't
carry lemonade, but I did ask why, that if they didn't have
lemonade and I ordered a vodka lemonade, why nobody told me I
would get sour mix instead. He apologized, although he didn't
know. Are people really that dense that they can't tell the
difference between sour mix and lemonade?
Do I dare rant on how they tried to pass off Jim Beam Black as
Jameson?
Regardless, I still tipped even though they should have let me
know. I was there to have a good time and can get wasted on
anything. It was just a little bit of disappointment, as I ended
up getting stuck with drinks each time that I did not order, and
someone could have spent 2 seconds stating they didn't have
lemonade and I would have been content. I guess this doesn't
really have anything to do with tipping as I always tip wherever
I go.
Anyway, back to enjoying your site. Take care.
-whisk
Hi Whiskey Mike,
Michael Bluejay sent me a copy of your e-mail, so I thought I
would respond to your situation.
Vodka lemonade is the name of the drink, not the list of
ingredients. In the same way, when you order a Long Island Iced
Tea, there is no iced tea in it, it's sweet and sour with a
splash of Coke. When someone orders a lemonade, it is always
made with sweet and sour with a splash of 7 UP. I don't know
why the bartender at the Nile bar gave you a strange look when
you ordered a vodka lemonade, or not know how to make it,
because it's a pretty common drink. The only thing I can think
of is that he was not an experienced bartender, may even have
been a barback. Or he did splash 7 UP in it and you just
couldn't taste it. As far as the waitresses serving you just
vodka and sour mix, well, they don't make the drinks, so they
have to assume the bartender made the drink the correct way.
Sour mix with or without a splash of 7 UP looks the same, so
unless you say something, they don't know if it's the right
drink or not. My question to you is, why didn't you ask the
bartender or waitress how the drink was made, instead of
ordering the same drink and getting the same "wrong" drink
continuously? You may think it was their job to inform you when
you ordered the drink that they don't have lemonade, but they do
have lemonade...just not your definition of it! I have served
many vodka lemonades, I have never said, "We don't have
lemonade," because we do; it's always been made with sweet and
sour with 7 UP. So you are being served the correct drink. I
can almost guarantee you that any bar, not just the Mandalay Bay
properties, will not have real lemonade.
Take a look at my
Who Orders What page
Page
1
Page
3
