I worked as a hostess before.
When I walked in, I was given a choice to do either rotations or sections. I think rotations is very easy to do and fair. However, if there's a big party (big parties = big tips), then I try to given a server one big party each. Of course, you'll have to tell the servers first. And usually, big parties will reserve beforehand, so you will know how much you'll get on a daily basis to prepare.
Yes, servers will be pissed if you double seat them, but sometimes, you can't help it. The restarant I worked in was always super busy at night, especially weekends. Not to mention it's located inside of a casino, so there's always a big volume of people coming through.
Our restaurant only seated about 70 people (which is pretty darn small), so my manager would always have 3 servers on the floor. Sometimes, if it's slow, my manager would cut a server. But whenever a server clocks out and leaves, there's always, ALWAYS a huge dinner rush. There would be a line of people and I'm not allowed to leave guests waiting by the host stand; so if I seat two tables and there's a group of people at the host stand, I have to greet them and seat them. This makes servers mad because I technically double-sat one of the 2 servers.
It's not my fault if the restaurant gets busy and my manager cuts servers to save money. -shrugs-
My tip for you is to be nice to the customers, the front of the house staff (servers, bussers, bar tenders), and the back of the house staff (cooks, dishwashers). You don't know when you'll need their help.
Be fast on your feet. [When I host, I had a 'uniform', but you probably won't unless it's a fancy restaurant. My uniform was a short, fitted black dress with heels. I had to make my hair presentable and I couldn't wear neon colored anything or jewelry that was too flashy.]
Oh, and if a server gets pissed that you double-sat them AND it couldn't be helped, don't try to argue with them. At least don't confront them about it until closing, when the customers are gone.
They should understand that it was a busy day.
Also, mistakes happen. If you double-seat a server, don't worry about it. If they can't handle it and start yelling at you that they were double-sat, just "it was a simple mistake, I'll give it to the next server on rotation".
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My stories: So, once you get into the ropes of hostessing, you'll have servers who do not want to take specific tables because they know they won't get a lot of tips. Be firm. Tell them they have to take it because it is theirs. It wouldn't be fair to give it to another server who took a bad table, now would it?
I had servers not wanting to take tables with black people sitting there. And it's for a good reason too. The majority of black tables do not tip and if they did, it was like 10$ tip on a 100$+ tab.
Well, I gave a black table to one server and she took one look at them and said to me, "It's not my turn. Why are you giving me that table?"
I showed her the rotation chart and it was indeed her turn. I went back to the host stand and sat another table. Then, one of the servers came up to me (we are close) and told me that server that I gave the black table to was talking crap about me and saying that I hated her because I skipped rotation to give her a black table.
I was like, wtf.
My manager (who I am also close to) came out to talk to me about it because that server was telling our manager. She asked me if I skipped around. I said no. And I explained to my manager that if that table had been white, she'd take it even if she was double-sat or whatever. It was a race thing, yes. My manager was understanding.
And the sad thing was, the table that I gave her were so nice. It was an old black man in a wheelchair with his son. (his son looked around 30) The old man was in a wheelchair and was missing both of his legs. They are regulars and I like talking to them.They are patient and never complain and are always smiling.
After I clocked out that night, I just sat in my car and cried because of the situation and stuff. Then, I put in my two weeks.
My manager didn't want me to go and the Food and Beverage managers also didn't want me to leave, because I was always professional and yadda yadda.
The other hostesses they hired to replace me are lazy, I was told. They were never in the front; they were always in the back kitchen eating and flirting/chatting with the servers. My manager wants me to come back, but I already have an interview at this clinic to work as an xray tech.
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