|
Having waitressed, I know why. You are "on stage" for eight hours or so dealing with hungry--and therefore often cranky--people, who can't get up and help themselves in most restaurant situations, but have to just sit there and be hungry. Anything goes wrong in the kitchen--a slowdown, a messed up order--you are "on stage" to the customer to smooth things over. Best strategy is to pay lots of attention to them--even if it's just chatter or eye contact (but also bringing water, putting bread or crackers on the table, serving coffee, wine, juice immediately, etc.)--and the longer the wait gets, the more you make eye contact and talk. It works. But it is very stressful on long shifts. You are basically a visible "talk show" host or standup comedian and "mom" for eight or so hours, with trapped, hungry and occasionally rude and difficult people. You don't get to be rude back (except at some old chowder place in Boston I heard of once). You are literally "on stage" having to act the part of a cheery, welcoming person, no matter what's going on. It's an act. You should be a member of the Screen Actors' Guild (and get union wages).
THE most stressful job, bar none. Top of the list. I don't remember what the most stressful job was for men, but waitering was right up there, with just a couple of jobs above it as more stressful.
This could be why a lot of waitresses, waiters and other food service people smoke. Stress. Also, smoking is kind of a screen against others and a meditation--a way to pull back into yourself. If you are dealing with a lot of strangers, and have to be "on stage" cheery all day, you can get yanked out of yourself, into their problems and personalities. Going out in the alley or whatever, to get a few moments alone and a drag on a cigarette is soothing. It is a readjustment. And there may be some people who need this more than others--people who take things too personally, or have porous psyches (absorb everybody's troubles). It is a way to rest, regroup, gather yourself together and head back into the fray.
One other thing--if you're around food all day, it might be a way for some people not to overeat. I've noticed quite a lot of cooks smoke. It's odd, because you'd think they wouldn't want their taste buds dulled. But they do. And they also have a stressful job--in terms of hungry people waiting for food and complaints/criticism.
|