Valentine's Day

"No mistakes in the tango, not like life!"

Ahh... "Por Una Cabeza" by Carlos Gardel. No other tango music is as popular in cinema! No other person could present that like Al Pacino. So saucy! 

Wait... what does this have to do with a restaurant? We're one day away from Valentine's Day! We're working on Valentine's Day! Working on V-Day doesn't mean we can't get in the mood. Guests are going to bring their significant other to the restaurant. Dating coworkers are going to be working with each other. Some of my coworkers are married and leaving their S.O. behind. I'm single and I have very little reason to celebrate, but we can celebrate Valentine's for other people! We can celebrate for the single people! This shouldn't be just for couples. It should be for all of us! Valentine's Day could be for the hopeful singles too!

I'm taking applications!

Valentine's Day normally comes and goes without much thought, but I realize there's more to the world than just me. There are many hopeful singles I work with, and many who are taken, who do consider Valentine's Day as being a big day for them. How to make it special if you have a S.O., and how will an introverted pantry guy going to help? I'll tell ya!

• People love being treated like they're special. How can that happen in a crowded restaurant? It could be distracting so be close, make eye contact, have some physical touch... appropriate physical touch. Some people are PDA-phobic (public displays of affection), I.E. single & jealous onlookers. It's Valentine's Day. We should allow for some. Let's not have make-out sessions in the booth though.

• Gifts. We have flowers, candies, and corporate interests to uphold, and a gift can show you thought of them. We have busy lives, stressful studies, and social drama, so that gesture will mean a lot especially if it's a handcrafted gift.
• Present your significant other like you're showing them off. Flatter them! Show the world that they are the most special guest in your life. If you embarrass them, it's a good sign. Here are some benefits of embarrassment.
•  Romantic music. Dance to a tango!* Part of the flirting game is copy another person's movement, but I think synchronized movement would be more potent! This will get the person out of their head and into the moment. They have to pay attention to the here and now! You are front and center. You're everything. 

*You'll have to wait until after the restaurant though. This is a blog about life at a restaurant after all!

•  You're not done with flirting, no matter how long you've been in a relationship! There is no, "Okay, the flirting part is done since I won them over!" It's a commitment! The more successful couples flirt with each other all the time. Need a refresher? Here you go! Flirting tips...
•  You should know some details about your S.O. that nobody else knows. Remind that person that you pay attention! Make a list and remind yourself why these details are important!
• This is not a day to play therapist. This is a time to enjoy each others' company!
• Seduction. Nobody, ever, ever, ever, is done with seduction. You have no choice! Single or taken, it's a necessity. You don't have to be Casanova. You don't have to be that attractive. It's all about how you make a person feel! The best way is through proximity and touch. The warmth of your bodies, the smoothness of your skin, your fragrance, the feel of another's hand as they firmly hold you in your arms... whew! *ahem* Just be a little more conspicuous if you're working, but sometimes it isn't conspicuous. Good thing there's a walk-in freezer.

What about us single people? Some of the above tips would help too, but I'll add a few things:

• Learn! Pay attention. There are signs someone is flirting with you, but sometimes that flirting means they like you, or they're a playful flirt. Do they stand close to you despite having plenty of room to stand elsewhere? Do they tease you? Do they copy you? Do they spend more time around you than anyone else?
•  You will be tested. Everyone tests everyone especially at a restaurant. It could be for the job, it could be for friendship, or it could be for romance. Most of the time the testing is subconscious. Would you buy shoes without trying them on first? I've had a few interesting tests at this job, like being asked to do menial jobs they could've easily done for themselves. Did I pass? Probably not. I'm a pushover. Some people test your comfort zone too. How does it feel to be close to this person?
• If you're afraid of rejection, chances are the other person is just as afraid. This is why I'm single most of the time. I'm still learning but the fear is still too much.
• Give them attention. Call them by name. It's great to be recognized! People will appreciate it.
• Any self image issues you have does not matter. All that matters is how you make someone feel! I mentioned this several times in this blog because it is the single most important thing I've learned. My head was buried in the sand to realize this. If you think you're too ugly, too skinny/fat, too dumb, too awkward, or too messed up, then you have to let ALL OF THAT GO! Remember, even the most physically beautiful person in the world could be a total douchebag. You can't feel good with that type of person. All of these tips I'm sharing will contribute to making someone feel WONDERFUL! Even awkward geeks like me have a chance.

Now matter which side of the spectrum you are on Valentine's Day, there's plenty of room for you! Scoot over...

Here's some music I wrote for Marc Camoletti's "Don't Dress for Dinner":
I present "A Friend, A Cook, and a Tango"
Happy Valentine's Day!

Videos courtesy of YouTube

Images courtesy of:
https://www.lfgdating.com/
https://www.pinterest.com/
http://cdn.smosh.com/
http://amipsyche.com/

Music provided by https://soundcloud.com/