A buffet restaurant wants to hire me to twist, but I am unsure how to work the restaurant. It is a large restaurant and I am worried that I will not be able to make it to every table that wants a balloon. I was thinking of creating a balloon line at the buffet restaurant. Everyone is already up and about getting there food and there is no lag time between ordering and delivery of the food.

Any thoughts or experiences working a buffet restaurant???

Thanks,
Doc

I would not do the line because if the kids are in line for several min. then they are not eating, which is why they are there. It is hard enough to get kids to sit down and eat. Do the best you can, hit the tables that you can. Go to the table that request you first then the others.

I do an All you can eat Mongolian Stir fry place & I have worked a Asian Buffet Restaurant before too.

You might get stuck with the kids for a little while at a table while the adult go a stuff their face. Like Monti says do your best and don't worry about it.

Nice thing you can hit tables in a proximity order and not a service order. Less walking....

Thanks Guys,

My meeting with the manager is next week I will not suggest a balloon line.

Thanks,

Doc

From experience I can also say that if you rely on tips in addition to an hourly wage from the restaurant to hit your "magic number" you may want to ask for more money from the restaurant. Good luck.

I personally decline to work buffets like Golden Corrals and such. Most want me to work from a single spot in the restaurant. My sole purpose for working restaurants is be paid to audition my entertainment skills for the parents, my prospective clients. In buffet lines, I become a babysitter for the kids and the parents rarely see me. Refuse to give a clingy kid a second, third or tenth balloon and suddenly you have an entitled mother complaining to the manager.

On the other hand, I won't table-hop in buffets because it's VERY difficult in larger places to hit everyone as they finish eating and I am uncomfortable approaching a table as they're eating. Inevitably, someone is going to complain to the manager that I "ignored" them.

From my experience, there's no way to win in these joints. As always, this is based on my experience and entertainment style. The buffet may work well for you. Good luck.

That is what I am concerned about Skip Way. This is a local buffet restaurant and it is different than a golden corral, but the place is huge and stays very busy.

It should be an interesting meeting.

Doc

Make sure it is mutually beneficial! Don't make concessions for them if they are going to hurt you. There's thousands of other restaurants out there. If it works, it works. If it's not going to be good for either party, part with a handshake. Good luck.

My wife and I have permanent stations for balloons and face painting in a huge pizza/birthday party place. We both sit and the kids come to us. I won't do walk-around with balloons because the kids are more than happy to come to me anyway. Plus I have my gag props all set and ready to grab as I twist.

I occasonally do twisting at the local Pound 'O' Gristle (Ponderosa) and They ask me to set up in a specified place, rather than work tables. I think the bottom line is the customer is always right: Even when they have no idea what they are doing!

I guess it depends on why you're working the joint. If one is chasing a steady paycheck and the occasional buck tip, then working a stationary position makes some sense and, yes, the customer is right.

If, like me, you're looking to promote your skills through a live audition before the parents and other potential adult clients (business owners, marketeers, managers...) then the stationary position is mostly a waste of time (IMO); they rarely see you in action. In this case, the customer is wrong - wrong for me.

That's my point, Skip. "Even when they have no Idea...." I would love to be able to table hop!

I hear ya, Buddy!

I sit in one spot. My set-up is there 24/7. When I'm there I have 3 big, bright lights (flashing) on it plus signs and an outdoor red & white 5 foot umbrella. The visual screams "here I am!" even when my mouth is shut (which is almost never.) My schtick uses plenty of sounds to help get their attention. Plus my jokes and gags result in a constant accompaniment of laughs and applause. I make my time and space there an event and it's the rare patron who doesn't see me. Gotta make 'em WANT to come see you.....