No joy in Sin City

What follows was shared with us via Facebook. It shows the (ugly) face of customer interactions in present-day Las Vegas …

“I need you to know what people in positions of service are experiencing right now.

“Tonight I am working at the Piano bar with … two of the most patient and composed people I know. A party of 18 came in. Sundays have been pretty slow lately, so we were grateful for the business. This party, like many, started out upset at the mask requirements and like many, expressed their displeasure by haranguing the bartender taking their orders. After receiving their drinks, they became even more upset by our current ‘no open mic’ policy, a safety precaution mandated by the state. By the time I was called to sing my set, their ire and inebriation had snowballed into aggressive shouting, again, not uncommon for the current bar scene. I sang my party songs, hoping to turn it around. By my third song, the were singing/shouting along with the music and replacing the lyrics with sexually explicit verbiage about me. As I began to pass the tip jar, a member their party became unreasonably upset about the minimum on his tab, which is posted on our door and explained when patrons are seated. The whole party rallied behind him and they all decided to close their tabs and leave. They closed their many tabs, upon only one of which was left a tip, of two dollars. This is not a story about the money though …

“I need you to know that this, while extreme, is not an isolated incident. These patron experiences run the gamut from mildly irritating to wildly harmful. In the past month I have been told that I am ‘the face of Sisolak’s dictatorship’ and a ‘sheeple bitch’. At the mere mention of masks, people have shouted, ‘I hate you!’ In my face. Last week I watched a woman loudly Boo the piano player for several minutes because she was livid that patrons are currently not allowed to dance in our tiny bar. I pride myself on being as polite and pleasant as possible when asking patrons to wear their masks. Still, I have repeatedly been told to go fuck myself. Patrons upset with the situation write hateful things on their checks, napkins, and cash tips.

“I need you to know that we don’t like the rules either. Capacity limits mean less money. Minimums, even small ones like ours, can be difficult to track and enforce. We want open mic back when it’s safe. We want you to be able to dance. We want the masks off of our faces too. But we also want our coworkers and patrons to stay healthy. Working through the pandemic is a constant balance between safety and survival. My job allows me to pay my bills and eat, it also means that I am a little bit worried about getting sick all the time. My job means that I am one of a handful of my friends getting paid to sing, it also means that I haven’t been able to see my high risk father for months. My bosses have worked so hard to keep their business open while keeping our whole team safe and employed. Of course I want to see them successful. Of course I miss the days when our bar was slammed full and busy with people having fun. I miss our team working so hard and singing our faces off and being exhausted at the end of nights that flew by.

“I need you to know that we are still exhausted, but it’s not from the work we love doing. I am exhausted from tending to my sanitizer-worn hands. I am exhausted from trying to make ends meet now that business is slower. I am exhausted from smiling in response to hateful words because I can not afford to lose whatever tip I might receive. I am exhausted from missing those that I am most terrified to accidentally infect. I am exhausted from bearing the consequence of misplaced frustration. I am exhausted from watching my friends and coworkers be subject to the same. It is exhausting. Your servers are exhausted.

“I don’t mean to be ungrateful. I love my job and I do not take lightly the privilege I hold in my employment while so many people are struggling. We meet many positive patrons too, and my appreciation for them is overwhelming.

“It is my hope that no one reading this is the type to write or say hateful things to their servers. But even if you are not the ones doing it, please know that is happening to all of us, every day, every hour, all the time.

“Please be patient and kind. Please work to remember that those in positions of service are whole people with thoughts and feelings and lives. Please try to be a person that sparks overwhelming appreciation. We know you are frustrated and tired. I need you to know that we are too.

“Many thanks, The singin18g bartender”