Going into December of 2001 I was left with very little dignity, money, and any indication that it was going to get any better. I had been out of work for much longer that I had anticipated and I was about to run out of unemployment money, meaning the checks were about to stop coming all together.
I finally realized that I was going to have to swallow my pride and start looking for a "hold me over" job. The only think that I could do and make decent money was become a waiter again. I started scanning the newspaper for open waiter positions. The pickings were slim to say the least. Everyone was laid off and the competition was fierce. I finally saw an add for a new restaurant opening in Fisherman’s Warf and that they were having open applications and would provide training. I figured that would be a great opportunity, especially since I already had experience.
I traveled down to the Hotel that was holding the interviews and spoke with the manager. He began to explain everything about the restaurant. "The restaurant is called Joe's Crab Shack". I was a little taken back. It sounded sketchy, but I needed a job. "Have you ever heard of it?" he said. "No" i replied. "Well the concept of the restaurant is that the servers will provide a fun atmosphere along with good food. People should have fun when they eat there." That sounded good to me. Having fun is always fun.
He continued "part of the atmosphere is that the servers will dance routines to songs periodically through their shifts when the music is played by the management." I leaned in as if I didn't hear what he said. I was trying not to freak out, but dancing was not in the ad. "Is that a problem?" "No, not a problem at all" I squeaked.
He gave me the job right there. I guess there were people who were not willing to dance as a waiter.
I spend the next two weeks in training. We learned about a dozen dances as well as the menu front to back. By the end of the two weeks we were ready to open the restaurant and dance out asses off.
The doors opened the last week of December; nearly 4 months after the 9-11 attacks. I think we had one customer that week. I had never seen Fisherman's Warf so empty. Needless to say, the show had to go on, so ever hour on the hour the management would play a song and I would run to my empty section and dance like a fool.
We started to pick up steam around the end of January and on a full Saturday night shift I could get people out of their seats and dace with me. It was quite fun when the restaurant was full, but the day shifts were like hell when you had to dance with one or two tables occupied.
Just another thing that I did to make ends meet. And it makes for a good story.
