Yeah yeah, cliche, the artist waiting tables. 

Your parents probably used it as a put-down saying “if you keep doing your music then you’re going to end up waiting tables!”  But is it really so bad?  How much can they make? What are the pros and cons?  This is part of a continuing series on ways to make money to fund you dreams, talking in real dollars so you’re armed with real numbers next time you have to fend off concerned family members.

Pros

  • Paid daily in cash
  • Some flexibility with schedules
  • Pays well
  • Fun, social working environment
  • Potential for networking
  • Easy to laterally move to jobs with other companies

Cons

  • Hours worked will tend to conflict with gigs
  • Health insurance is almost non-existent
  • No company-matched 401k at most places
  • Requires more self-discipline to budget your money well
  • Tips can vary drastically with economic cycles
  • Work can be physically exhausting

PAY: How much do waiters make? Did you know that waiters can often make more money serving food than their starting salary in their chosen profession?  I’ll bet your parents didn’t either!  Granted, pay can vary widely between different levels of restaurant and skill level of servers, but there is the potential to make a LOT.  Your pay will also depend heavily on where you’re located; servers in Podunk USA don’t make as much as those in NYC. 

Getting accurate figures for this industry is difficult since tips make up all your take-home pay and aren’t so well reported to the IRS and other agencies.  I’ve asked friend in a number of major US cities what they’re making and assembled my findings here.  Figures you’d find on www.salary.com are much lower, but remember that those median numbers don’t really reflect what people are taking home.

Assuming you’re living in a relatively large metro area since that’s where most artistic opportunities are found, you can expect to take home around $400-$600 /wk at mid-level places working  25-35 hours /wk. Higher-end places in big cities can press upwards of $1000-$2000 /wk if you’re working good shifts (one buddy of mine earns a 6 figure income in NYC waiting tables)! Remember that in this case we’re talking about take-home cash pay; you would need to earn ~800 /wk to have $600 in take-home pay, depending on how many deductions you claim on your taxes.  That’s about like having a job that pays $40,000 /yr!  For the higher-end jobs, you’re looking at equivalent full-time salaries of 70-100k+!!!  I’ll bet your high school guidance counselor never told you THAT!

How to get started: Like any other field, everyone hiring waiters wants ones with EXPERIENCE, so getting that first job will be a bit tricky.  If you’re still in school, consider waiting tables a little on the side so you have legit experience when you get out and need to support yourself.  Some places are easier to find work at than others.  Your corporate chains will typically have training programs and be willing to take newbies if they interview well.  Don’t plan on landing a top-flight job in a big city if you’ve never been a waiter before!

Especially in big cities, food service will be very image conscious.  If you’re overweight or unkempt, you will probably not get hired at any mid- to upper-level establishment.  Personality is also a huge factor.  These are not the kind of jobs you typically land just by dropping off an application and crossing your fingers.  If you don’t make positive, personal contact with the person who does the hiring, you probably won’t get hired.

If you’re having trouble finding a place to take you, look around for new restaurants going up in your area and apply there.  They are often more in need of people and will have to train everyone on whatever systems they use, so your lack of experience may not be as big an issue.  Plus, new openings tend to generate a lot of traffic in their early months, so you’ll probably make good money once you get the hang of it. 

Once you have experience, start keeping your eyes open for better-paying positions.  Moving up to bar-tending in the corporate chains is one step, as is taking a job at a higher-end place where you’ll generate higher sales and possibly have more tables.  If you get a few years of experience while you’re in college, you’ll have great earning power no matter where your artistic dreams take you after graduation! 

If you’re still not getting hired anywhere and don’t have the personality of a houseplant, you might just have to do what thousands of servers have done before you: LIE.  Just don’t get caught! And be prepared to prove yourself once you start working!

Other Thoughts: Food service is a great field for artists since it’s high paying, flexible, and easily transferable, but it does come with drawbacks.  The daily cash payouts challenge the self-control and budgeting of even the most disciplined people.  If you get paid once a month, you better budget effectively or you’ll be living off credit cards come month’s end!  But if you’re getting a few hundred bucks cash in your pocket every other day, it’s harder to force yourself to budget and save effectively.  Too many musicians get into food service and never come out because they get drawn in to the social scene and spend all their time and money in that world while never really making headway toward their artistic goals.  Make sure you’re effectively funding your business first, and party second.

The lack of health insurance and retirement savings is another big con to this industry, although that depends on your personal situation.  If you’re still young enough to be on your parents’ insurance, you’re probably ok, and not many young people think about retirement savings anyhow.  However, if you’re a bit older and pay for your own insurance, it’s definitely something to factor in to your decision.  If a restaurant does offer some kind of plan, it will likely not cover pre-existing conditions and be more like a regular individual plan you could buy on your own.  People with chronic conditions that require treatment may find a lower salary with great insurance actually yields more money when it’s all said and done. 

Conclusion: If you’ve got the personality and people-skills to be a good waiter, then the benefits make this a great job for a young musician looking for a reliable source of income to fund his dreams.