What a Beach

Here's a tip, TIP!!!

2009-03-01T12:43:00.000-08:00

As a waiter/bartender my livelihood rests on the fact that those I supply service to open their hearts and wallets and remember that those of us that serve depend on those we serve, to pay our bills. I am not writing this to cry my woes to those of you who will read this, but rather to remind those that eat out, ride in a cab, use a restroom at a club or do anything else that is staffed by people who depend on tips, that you are our meal ticket.
By all means enjoy yourself, have a good time but do not forget that we would like to have a good time as well and our ability to do so rests on you. I have heard many a server grumble under their breath about poor tips. Now I realize if you get inferior service you should tip accordingly. I am talking about the server who meets and exceeds a guests (if you are in my restaurant you are a guest, not a customer) expectations.
Nothing is more frustrating than to be told “You did a great job! You’re the best!” and then receive a 10% or less tip. In most restaurants the server has to pay out 3% or more of their total sales, so if you are just tipping 10% you are really only giving that individual 7%. If you think they did well then tell them so, not by words alone, but by your actions.
I waited on a couple ladies the other night that looked around our packed restaurant and said to me “I thought we were supposed to be in a recession”. At the moment I just shrugged my shoulders and said “Yeah me too”, but after I walked away from the table, I gave that thought. While people still have to eat and they will usually find a way to eat out even if they can not pay their credit cards off or the interest on their homes. However what I realized is, while they may still be eating out, it seems that they are not tipping as well as they would have during better economic times.
Yes there may very well be a recession going on and you may be hit by it but if you can find the cash to eat out then you should also find the cash to tip your server. Do not allow your economic crunch cause you to take money out of someone else’s pocket. When you do not tip properly that is the very thing you are doing.
I for one would rather not have a table to wait on then have one I take care of who feels that it is ok to leave $2 on an $80 check. While this may seem harsh, it needs to be said, if you can not afford to tip then you can not afford to eat out!
It is a good rule of thumb to add in your head 20% to anything on the menu. If you are deciding what to eat by the price of the item then calculate an additional 20% to the cost. Should you end up with a server who truly does not deserve that amount then readjust it accordingly and you will have the extra money to place in the next ones pocket. But by all means do not go out and decide you have $50 to spend on dinner then ring up a $48.50 tab and only have the remaining $1.50 to give your server.
So the next time you go out to eat or ride in a cab or do anything where someone depending on tips is serving you, plan for the tip.

Thong ordinance

2009-02-09T11:56:00.000-08:00

The Thong Ordinance!!!

Barely covered Bunns and bodacious Boulders beware because Myrtle Beach is watching! No, I do not mean all the old men walking the beach with their tongues scrapping the sand, and their wives hitting them with their purses. (Harry Stop That!). I am talking about the city council and their ever-interesting ordinance originators.
Currently before the city council is the issue of too much tissue! Or the bust to bust exposed busts! Seriously, Tuesday the city council will vote on the first draft of an ordinance pertaining to indecent exposure. While a policy has previously existed, it has been current practice to just issue a warning. The council is considering STIFFER punishment for those that DARE TO BARE!
The council has said that will such lascivious behave may be tolerated elsewhere, they feel Myrtle Beach is not the place for that. The council has also said that this ordinance is not strictly being established for the benefit of the Bike Rallies (which we do not have anymore, but that is another subject) but for year round enforcement.
I say thank God! I for one am tired of seeing too much toosh hang off the end of a croc rocket while it goes blaring down the center of Kings Highway! I am also grateful for the fact that they are going to enforce this year round. Lord knows we have far too many 80-year-old Canadian grandmothers walking around in thongs on the beach in February!

Myrtle Beach Raises property tax to help eliminate May bike rallies

2009-02-08T19:21:00.001-08:00

Myrtle Beach has elected to eliminate two Bike Rally’s that occur in the month of May in an attempt to cut down on the crime associated with these events. It is popular opinion that the elimination of both events originated as a result of the uncontrolled behavior that primarily occurred during the second of the two events. In an attempt to eliminate these events the city has enacted a property tax increase, that is designed to raise $ 1 million for this purpose and generate new traffic during these periods.
The Spending breaks down as follows;
* $70,000 on 200 pocket sized digital video cameras, so that the footage can be used in court cases pertaining to violations handed out during the weeks of the cancelled events.
* $450,000 for a new squad of officers with new equipment, to monitor traffic during the designated time.
* $30,000 to fee out of town officers that will be brought in to assist with Myrtle Beaches force. (This amount has been spent each year in the past. This is not a new expense.)
* $25,000 donated to the Military appreciation event being held Memorial Day weekend.
* $40,000 for new signs announcing Myrtle Beach has new helmet laws.
The remainder of the funds have yet to be designated, it has been said that an undisclosed amount will be set aside to advertise that Myrtle Beach no longer has the Rallies.
The way I see this we are being charged an increase on our property taxes to increase the police force and equipment used to eliminate this event. Would it not make sense to use this to enforce the laws already in order?
If the council truly believes, they are going to replace the income lost during these events through this fund then why are they only currently dedicating 2.5% of the money collected toward creating new revenue. I say use the entire $1million to control the events. Not to eliminate them. Offer the Military appreciation event even if we have the rally. Most Harley riders are veterans, as are many of the riders during Atlantic Beach Bike Fest, let’s show them we appreciate them by welcoming them into our town and celebrating with them rather than casting them out and telling them, they are not welcome.

Horry County wants to charge fees to charitable events.

2009-02-08T15:31:00.000-08:00

Horry County wants to charge charitable fundraisers fees

An issue currently being considered by the Horry County council is Ordinance 04-09 regarding whether the county should charge a fee at community oriented events. The proposal is to charge non-profit organizations such as the Myrtle Beach Car Club a fee for their public activities, i.e. the Annual car shows. The proposed fee would be an initial fee of $250 and a daily charge of $100. The events that would be affected are those that directly contribute to the well-being of the community and are devices intended to support local charities.
It is the concern of the Directors of the Myrtle Beach Car club that these fees would be taking funds away from the people that need it most. Over the years, the Myrtle Beach Car club has donated untold amounts of money to charities right in our own community including the Rape Crisis Center (Safe Homes), children’s shelter, PK Ministries, and Camp Courage, a camp for disabled children. (Recently they donated $1000 to this camp.)
Another effect that these fees would possibly cause is the withdrawal of members who would otherwise be presenting their cars in the show and have done so in the past. These fees, which would have to be carried down to the individual members would make entering these shows more costly. This in turn would effect the events as a whole due to the reduced number of members able to attend these functions.
Along with being, a major contributor to numerous non-profit organizations the Myrtle Beach Car Club also contributes to the education and well-being of numerous teens in the community who have become involved with the Car Club and gained a constructive hobby. These teens learn a trade and are kept off the streets.
Perhaps the County council should be focusing their attention on ways to continue to support the traffic of tourists into the area rather than creating ordinances that may result in choking out the very activities that bring them in. These events attract revenue for local businesses, such as the numerous restaurants that see increased traffic as a direct result of these events. They also bring additional business to local business such as parts houses, paint shops, tire stores, glass shops, plating garages, upholstery shops and more.
In a time of such economic hardship that is already putting such a tight restraint on a community that is dependent on tourism, should we be hindering the very organizations that help attract revenue to our area?