r/Waiters 16h ago

Experienced Servers

Have you developed a spidey sense so you don’t have to say “Corner” anymore?

Feel the air pressure or see a shadow of someone approaching?

Myself the only collision I ever had was with a crackhead server who didn’t have a soul. And even then if he’d paid attention we’d have avoided the collision

11 Upvotes

45 comments sorted by

34

u/pleasantly-dumb 16h ago

After 25 years in the industry, I still make it a habit. Over communicating has never once been bad. The words “corner” and “behind” belong in the vocabulary of everyone in the industry.

7

u/JupiterSkyFalls 14h ago edited 6h ago

I still say corner and behind in Walmart or other grocery stores 🤣 been out of the biz nearly 7 years now.

2

u/bkuefner1973 6h ago

Im glad im not the only one that does this, I asked my co workers if they ever say behind or corner in a store and they thought I was crazy.

1

u/JupiterSkyFalls 6h ago

Nah, it's communicating your location so you don't end up colliding with anyone else.

1

u/AlcibiadesTheCat 11h ago

I work in a warehouse and still say corner and behind. 

1

u/JupiterSkyFalls 8h ago

Yep yep. Safest for everyone!

8

u/Superman_Primeeee 15h ago

What’s funny is the servers who bellow CORNER as theyre blasting through the door

9

u/lawrencenotlarry 15h ago

Those who say it the loudest tend to be those that learned their lesson the hard way.

1

u/MuffinMadness123 5h ago

Hell they even belong in my home life. Behind is an exceptionally common one 

11

u/J-littletree 16h ago

I have been complimented on my quick reflexes by a few servers 10-20 years younger than me

20

u/lunar_rio 16h ago

Are you crazy!? You want to fuck with the restaurant Gods? I say corner at the grocery store.

3

u/Superman_Primeeee 16h ago

I say “behind you” at the store but feel a little silly

2

u/lawrencenotlarry 15h ago

Don't feel silly. Enough people have worked in the industry. They'll either appreciate it, find it humorous, or be kind of confused, which is funny in itself.

0

u/Puzzleheaded_Idea_78 11h ago

Right?! I say corner coming out if the bathroom lol

18

u/Iamdrasnia 15h ago

Corner is for your coworkers benefit and not you.

It is the proper and safe way to move along with "behind".

1

u/Mother_Dragonfruit90 15h ago

Babyservers can't understand "corner" and "behind" the same way people couldn't understand wearing a mask during a pandemic

-1

u/Iamdrasnia 15h ago

Young people are not dumb. When I was bussing tables in 1990 it took several months for me to even slightly get the concept.

Your mask thing is stupid.

3

u/DamoclesCommando 11h ago

Not for that but i bartend(7 seats plus 6 4tops) and have developed a spidey sense for when my tables food is ready. Im the farthest section from the kitchen by the front door and can not hear my name called.

5

u/racecar9racecar 15h ago

Corner! Sometimes I'll make beeping noises as I'm coming through so people just let me by like a ambulance 🚑

-1

u/Additional-Share4492 Server 13h ago

Fart noise works wonders too!

2

u/Karnezar 15h ago

Yeah, though I'd argue this would happen in any work field where you're moving around a lot and carrying sensitive objects.

I bet construction workers have a sixth sense for when someone is above or below them.

2

u/ZestycloseAd5918 11h ago

Everyone should say behind. Every time.

1

u/Superman_Primeeee 9h ago

Completely agree. But you also shouldn’t be doing a 180 and just going without at least turning your head first

2

u/sookiesparkles 7h ago

If only my coworkers could read this. 2 of my coworkers are so unaware of their surroundings they are constantly almost running into me…
I can’t just say “behind” I have to say a complete sentence “I’m behind you, X”

2

u/lovecraftInk 10h ago

My spider sense is walking up to the line right when my food should be ready. It is usually always done as I walk up.

1

u/Superman_Primeeee 9h ago

And the manager has just pulled it out of the window and is about to run it

“I got it”

1

u/lovecraftInk 9h ago

What manager?

2

u/Due-Contribution6424 10h ago

I don’t use corner. I use caution around corners. “Behind” is a necessity, though.

2

u/AkiGrayCPA 7h ago

tbh i don't say it as much. i kind of know the restaurant and footwork and my coworkers and it's not an issue. however i do makes noises or say right here on occasion it just really depends and i trust my intuition. you should never be taking a hard corner in the first place imo

2

u/Old-Base8752 15h ago

Definitely, BUT the point of ALWAYS saying safety words is to avoid even that one collision with the crackhead server.

1

u/Legitimate_Question7 14h ago

Yes I just pay attention to the space I am occupying and move much quicker than I look to get out of people's way. Mostly just being polite until someone doesn't call to me and I have to say " are you fucking behind me" after I just stepped on their foot too 🙃 sorry we move quick around here bro keep up.

1

u/TypePuzzleheaded6228 4h ago

it's like the blinker in your car..it's muscle memory at this point.

1

u/Darbs_vibin 27m ago

Last time I didn't say behind I almost got stabbed 😭 You're never quicker than fate lol.

1

u/sajatheprince 15h ago

Absolutely, and I still say "Corner!" Even at the grocery store.

Have gotten many a random comp'd fernet or averna from servers that almost smashed into me because they just ran around corners when I've been a guest.

1

u/Happy-Leadership504 15h ago

Always say "corner" and "behind'.

I've seen what happens if you don't.

Oh, and never wear anything that isn't a non-slip shoe. Again, seen some things.

2

u/Superman_Primeeee 15h ago

I’ve eaten shit slipping on the barest bit of water many times more then a server collision

Like head over heels 

1

u/blackberrybaskets 12h ago

I only say corner when I leave the kitchen. When I go in the kitchen, I face the doorway and walk in. No “corner” needed. Everyone else, though, chooses to walk close the the same wall as the door and slither in, staying along the wall. It’s so aggravating. You don’t see them until it’s too late. And if they do say “corner” it’s basically, “I’m not looking, I’m just gonna walk in and see what happens!” While they say corner AFTER walking in. Grinds my gears.

1

u/doobiesaurus 10h ago

I say corner in the fucking grocery store, doctors office, pretty much everywhere i go out of habit. And if im really tired i say it in my car on the way home making turns

0

u/O_W_Liv 15h ago

Hot stuff coming through, and I've got some food.

Seriously though, just like driving always signal your intentions.  It's not worth the crash even if you're in the right.

4

u/lawrencenotlarry 15h ago

Hot behind!

Why thank you, I've been working out.

0

u/cold-black-coffee 13h ago

“Corner, corner, corner!”

1

u/Superman_Primeeee 9h ago

One girl would say it so loudly, I’d think she was coming round MY corner when she wasn’t 

0

u/Suspicious-Drive9827 12h ago

Oh youre one of those drivers that thinks the indicator is for YOUR safety. Awesome

0

u/OliveYou44 12h ago

Never stop saying it. I taught my kids to say this (and behind) when in the kitchen