New job waiting tables -- any suggestions?

[live4themusic]

I just started working as a waiter for a posh but not too upscale restaurant. It's

my first job as a waiter, so I'm trying to determine what might help me garner more generous tips, while learning

the ropes of waiting tables at the same time (obviously I've been perusing resources for waiters as well -- I

definitely don't consider pheromones the panacea for all aspects of life)

I've already resolved not to wear LT

until I'm more acclimated to the job, because my first day wearing it (one spray, along with some other stuff I

can't remember) I worked for two hours, and the person training me spaced out and even dropped a plate (he's had

25 years experience as a waiter).

The second day, I wore about 4 drops of SPMO, a spray of Chikara, and maybe 2

dabs TEsandalwood (actually a light spray but I estimate it at two dabs), and about 1/6 of an SOE gelpack. My mood

at the beginning of my shift wasn't that great, but picked up maybe 3 hours after starting work. The person

training me was coughing a little bit and said he felt out of it and hot, but he attributed it to having been

drinking the night before (told me about how he was a heavy drinker now, maybe TMI brought on by the SOE?)

The

first table we waited that day was a party of 14 people aged 30-60, very dressed up, and in a jovial mood (at least

they seemed pretty animated every time we were at the table). To my dismay, I spilled a few drops of unsweet iced

tea on the back of one lady's white coat, while refilling her drink. She didn't notice, but I saw that several of

the other people at the table did, and there was an awkward moment where I went: "Um, maam, I'm really sorry, I

just got a few drops of tea on your coat." The woman sitting next to her, thinking quickly, took one of the napkins

and dabbed it up, so it wasn't really noticable. The woman said no problem, but I don't think pheromones really

played a role in this at all. The table's bill came up to about $250, and they left a $60-80 tip (don't remember

exactly).

The first table of the day that I did the introductions to (the guy training me was letting me practice

waiting on my own, instead of introducing himself and then me as he had to other tables), may have been a little

ticced off by my service, and left a $3.50 tip on $25 dollar order (it was an elderly couple, if that makes a

difference). The last table I waited on that day was a young couple (21, and 22) who were from out of town and were

enjoying a few drinks. I chatted with them a little bit (this was towards the end of my shift and my state had

improved since the beginning), and they seemed to enjoy the service I gave them (they understood I was new). After

about 2 hours, they left their $35 bill with a $17 tip (nearly 50%). The man training me (who was collecting on all

the tips as I'm in training and only making $5.15 for right now) said "That's a damn good tip!"

It's really

hard to tell if pheromones are playing any role in this as all as I have no prior experience as a waiter, but as

someone who messed up quite a few times today, and definitely didn't come across as an experienced waiter, it

seemed I did alright in tips. Do any of you with experience waiting tables know if this is normal? Also, if anyone

has any suggestions for mixes or products that would be great for increasing gratuities, I'd appreciate the tip

!