By Marie Beachdale
Sunday, Feb. 19, 2012, Surfside Beach - If you’ve never worked as a waiter or waitress, you probably think a server’s only responsibility is to wait tables, but diners often visit restaurants expecting much more than meals.

In addition to performing behind-the-scenes work, we play unobtrusive roles in customers' lives.

Because Myrtle Beach is a popular vacation destination, many diners I serve look at me as somewhat of a tour guide. This is one server side-job I particularly enjoy.  Playing tour guide is one of the easiest ways for me to relate to my tables. Every Myrtle Beach tourist wants to hear about fun things to do, and since relocating to the beach I’ve spent most of my time free time in search of a good time.

Out-of-town customers love hearing about what locals like to do for fun, and I try to give them my best advice. I will lead them away from the popular touristy restaurants and chains, instead sending them toward smaller, off the beaten path, locals' favorite establishments. It’s awesome when customers come back to tell me how great a meal was at a place I recommended!

Rainy days are particularly fun for me to play tour guide for my tables, because if I see kids becoming distraught over weather that doesn’t allow for a day at the beach, I’ll suggest the aquarium or other fun indoor activities for them to explore. I was delighted when a family of four I served invited me to tag along with them to the aquarium when I got off of work.

 Next comes the job of photographer. I’ve touched on this before, and the vanity of the general public still amazes me. I had a group of thirteen in my section last week, and at the end of their meal I spent at least a half hour arranging them according to height and snapping photos.

This was a senior citizen group, and I didn’t think they would be concerned with whether their photos were good enough for Facebook. So, I had to laugh when the spunkiest woman in the group excitedly examined each and every photo.

“I’m the only one here who doesn’t have a husband!” she told me. “I need to put myself out there!” Too funny.

Not often, but occasionally, I will feel like I am also expected to be an event planner. Since I work mornings, I will receive last-minute phone calls from people trying to plan a same-day get-together, meeting, and once, even a wedding rehearsal dinner.

These customers will come into the restaurant early, usually an hour or two before my shift ends, with bags full of decorations and a ton of special requests.  

One woman exasperatedly handed me a bag of un-inflated balloons, telling me, “I want to put these out all over the restaurant if that would be okay. I just need you to blow them up.”

She was lucky I didn’t have any other customers at the time. I blew up balloons until I was lightheaded.  

“OK, that’ll be enough. Now where should I hang the streamers? Should I put confetti on the tables? OH, and can you arrange the centerpieces I made?!”

Sometimes I think diners might assume that since we can accommodate large parties, every employee is a skilled event planner. Not the case.  

Finally, the biggest side-job a server has is the role of therapist. This is a broad term, because diners come in wanting everything from relationship advice to a shoulder to cry on.  

Before I started waiting tables, I thought it was only bartenders who had customers spilling life stories over a few beers. I quickly realized all a stranger needs is a smiling face to feel comfortable enough to start talking.  

It was my first year of waitressing when I had a middle-aged woman come in alone for lunch in the off-season. She was quiet, and my attempts at small talk weren’t working. When I dropped off her check, though, she started opening up.  

“Are you married?” she asked.

“No, I just moved here, I don’t know anyone, really.” I explained.  

“I know how you feel. I’ve been here for three years, and my mom just died, and all I want is to find my soul-mate. I’m so lonely,” she said.

She started tearing up, and I didn’t know what to say.

“Oh, I’m so sorry for your loss. You’re beautiful though, I know you’ll find someone.”  That was the only response I could think of.

Since then I have encountered dozens of people who just need someone to talk to. I’ve heard stories of bad days, break-ups and even medical issues, and I’m slowly getting better at dishing out advice.  

If you want to be a server, know that the job is so much more than setting food down on a table. These little side-jobs are, for me, what make waitressing fun-- and sometimes rewarding.  

Want to read more columns from The Sassy Server? Click here.

Want to contact The Sassy Server?  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

You can follow The Sassy Server on Twitter at @ASassyServer