Tip Your Server

Blu Nyle is a musician, bartender, healer and all around Renaissance person hailing from Boston. She worked in the club and bar scenes of New York and LA while pursuing a vibrant career in music. We talk pre-pandemic about the grind of multiple side hustles, leading a spiritually rich life, and being grateful for the flexibility of service work in pursuit of bigger dreams. Enjoy!

Originally from Kansas, Ari Johnson started working in restaurants after college in Austin, TX. She made it out to LA a few years later, where finding a serving gig proved just as challenging as finding acting gigs. Eventually she landed in coffee shops M Street in Sherman Oaks and Coffee Commissary in Burbank, becoming an early riser. We discuss the problem with delivery apps, how cutthroat finding a server gig can be in LA, and her new web series Friend Request, premiering on YouTube next week. Enjoy!  

Originally from Muskegon, Michigan, Brandon "Bubba" Ogborn began his restaurant journey as a dishwasher at the age of fifteen. He eventually became part of the Trader Joe's family for years before landing at Restauration in Long Beach, where he once chased a crazed customer down the street. We discuss the dark side of restaurants, how waiting tables is like putting on a production, and his podcast Telephone Stories, available now on Luminary. Enjoy!

LA native and illustrator Conor FitzGerald started his restaurant career in college, doing the coffee shop grind at Peet's in Harvard Square. Eventually he moved back to LA, continuing his coffee expertise at M Street Coffee in Sherman Oaks, a local enclave for artists...and customers with "service animals." We discuss the perils of cafe tips, his life in the freelance illustrator world, and how grateful we are to be free of the service industry (for now). Enjoy!

Jeneta St. Clair started in the restaurant biz back in Indianapolis at the age of 16, closing the now defunct downtown hot spot Jillian's past midnight on school nights. She moved to LA at the age of 19 to pursue acting, eventually finding a bartending gig at the Dirty Bull Tavern in Woodland Hills. We discuss what it means to be a woman working behind a bar, the freedom that comes from leaving the service industry, and the importance of comedy in connecting us. Enjoy!

Texan Keleigh Kremers came to LA to pursue acting, landing a serving gig at none other than the infamous Saddle Ranch on Sunset. She eventually landed at pizza restaurant Stella Barra next to the Arclight movie theater, where a friendly run in with Gary Oldman left her speechless. We discuss the hustle of the entertainment business, teaching customers the art of good etiquette, and her script about women in World War 2. Enjoy!

Molly Silver starting working in restaurants in Knoxville, TN where she worked at the Mellow Mushroom pizza joint as a teenager. She then moved up to being a host at a local bistro, managing unruly out-of-town football fans. After moving to LA for acting, she landed at Gusto, a different kind of unruly crowd - the privileged elite of Beverly Hills. We discuss the importance of reading a menu, her current restaurant family and east side neighborhood gem Little Dom's, and her upcoming web series. Enjoy!

Amy Heidt started working in restaurants during college back in North Carolina, where she learned the importance of a cigarette break. She eventually moved to New York City and worked all over town, including at Danny Meyer's Blue Smoke and a small tasting room in the Chelsea Market. We discuss the harsh reality of the actor grind in New York, why we always want to wait on Mark Ruffalo, and how to zen it out before walking into a shift. Enjoy!

Originally from western Nebraska, Costa Lapaseotes began his career in food service at a Whole Foods in Chicago where he got his start in the butchery world. From there he worked around Chicago's finest meat establishments, including Standard Market and Chop Shop. We discuss whether or not to tip your butcher (yes!), the hard choice of a comedy career, and making the move from Chicago to LA. Enjoy!

Tarik Woodbine briefly worked at a Wendy's when he was a teenager, where he learned what they do with leftover meat (it's in the chili). Eventually he made it out to LA after college and worked at Mo's in Burbank, which turned out to be a wild time for the predominantly early twenties staff. We discuss why you should always tip for to-go orders, juggling both a restaurant job and working on The Santa Clarita Diet, and his new collaborative project The Collective. Enjoy!

San Diego native Victoria Truscott started working in restaurants at the age of 15, eventually making her way to LA to pursue acting after high school. Her resume includes a stint at Starbucks and Chin Chin in Beverly Hills, neighboring establishments with vastly different customer behavior. We discuss the importance of meal breaks, what happens when you deconstruct a menu item, and how waiting on Quentin Tarantino led to a featured part in his upcoming film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Enjoy!

Fellow Colorado alum Amanda Olmstead began her restaurant career as a runner at the fancy Boulder restaurant Flagstaff House, where she donned a tuxedo uniform and tried to avoid classmates. After a stint working for the famed Four Seasons, she found herself immersed in the vegan restaurant world of LA, bartending for the vegan raw staple Cafe Gratitude in Venice. We discuss the struggle with creative identity, the strange world of LA lifestyle dieting, and her new podcast She Said, She Said. enjoy!

Dave Rispoli got his start in entertainment and working with the public at Universal Studios in his hometown of Orlando, FL as the skipper on the Jaws ride. He moved on to the original Melting Pot where he discovered some of his coworkers partaking in their own Melting Pot fight club. We discuss run ins with Jordan Knight at TGI Fridays, what casting directors are actually thinking about you, and what happens when you drop it like Todd. Enjoy!

Bryan Baysore started his restaurant career as a pizza delivery boy in his home town of Malibu, working the perfect teenage summer gig. He then moved on to the World Famous Malibu Inn, a popular spot for locals and tourists that closed soon after Bryan's departure. We discuss what it's like growing up in an evolving beach town, the debaucherous behavior of customers at a bar venue, and Bryan's experience as an illustrator. Enjoy!

Fellow Wexler's worker Jackie Gonzalez-Durruthy came into restaurants just a few years ago, working at some of the trendiest establishments on LA's east side. Those restaurants shall remain nameless as we delve deep into questionable management practices and Jackie's hilarious take on wrongful terminations. We discuss the lack of HR in restaurants, what happens when the valet gets shot at your work (!), and Jackie's podcast The Most Wonderful Pod of the Year. Enjoy!

NYC native Max Bunzel worked in a variety of service jobs before landing at the lauded vegan bistro Crossroads Kitchen in West Hollywood. One of these gigs was opening Ian Schrager's Gramercy Park Hotel as a bellman, getting handsomely tipped from high profile guests at all hours of the day and night. We discuss the strange, evolving world of LA nightclubs, the food allergy dilemma, and Max's work at Vista Entertainment Solutions. Enjoy!

Clay and I went to high school together up in Menlo Park, CA, where we shared the stage in a particularly memorable rendition of Twelfth Night. He bussed tables (among other annoying sidework) at Masa of Echo Park before moving on to the famous Morton's Steakhouse. We discuss the ins and outs of the Morton dining experience, including working on all major holidays and the problem of homeless customers, as well as the writing/performing hustle in LA. Enjoy!

LA native Max Swanson bounced around some of LA's trendiest concepts, including Asian fusion Take a Bow and Umami Burger, finally landing at the popular Kismet in Los Feliz. He also briefly worked at a Starbucks in Santa Monica, where customers would line up out the door at 5am. We discuss why you can't bullshit a coffee drink, the restaurant lesson of humility, and his pursuits in filmmaking. Enjoy!

Hailing from Canada, comedian John Hastings got his start in the restaurant world after college in Montreal, where he found his best restaurant gig to date thanks to relaxed management. He also bartended across the pond in the UK, where he noticed many differences between the UK and American customer. We discuss wily former coworkers, how dating apps have changed bar culture, and his theories on the ebb and flow of stand-up comedy. Enjoy!

Robin Steffen got his restaurant career off the ground in the service town of Las Vegas, where he did everything from valet to serving poolside. In pursuit of comedy, he landed in LA, and consequently got a job at the infamous Saddle Ranch during its heyday, then moved on to Umami Burger during the LA burger craze. We discuss the perks of the job as well as his thriving commercial career. Enjoy!

Christina Howard, aka Tina Nguyen, started her restaurant career at the college age of 19, working as a greeter at The Olive Garden in Westwood. She eventually moved on to such places as Cafe 50s, where she powered through early mornings and manager harassment. We discuss the dilemma of gluten intolerance, how serving is a spiritual lesson in humility, and Christina's blossoming stand-up career. Enjoy!

Tim DeLone grew up all over the country but began his restaurant journey in the Big Easy while attending Tulane University. He also perfected his serving skills at an Italian restaurant in Washington, D.C., where a secret shopper gave him a score of 100%. We discuss the madness of waiting tables in New Orleans, the liquor sponsored softball league for bars in Georgetown, and Tim's comedy career, including hosting the open mic at Karma Lounge. Enjoy!

The very funny Dana Moon was eager to begin her restaurant career as a teenager, where she worked at Friendly's in East Windsor, Connecticut. She continued her server path as a senior at USC in Hermosa Beach, where she dodged invitations to play beer pong from a creepy manager. After college she moved on to Morton's Steakhouse, dabbling in the rigid, stressful world of corporate fine dining. We discuss the difficulty of building a community in LA, her thriving stand-up career, and her podcast called MoonMe. Enjoy! 

Julia Pels worked in her hometown of Chicago at the Lion's Pub, a traditional pub which doubled as an upstairs club at night. She discusses her tenure there, which included some very generous regulars coupled with long nights carrying large trays across shouting crowds of club goers. We discuss the caste system of tip outs, her transition into retail and the downsides of other customer service jobs, and her show Killer Unicorns, which she hosts monthly at the NerdMelt Showroom. Enjoy!

Originally from New Jersey, Phil started his restaurant career in college at the empire that is Starbucks Coffee, where he learned that waking up at 4am was not a blessing. He eventually waited tables at various locations in New York City, learning that his Italian heritage did nothing for his tips at Italian restaurants. We talk about the pros and cons of a Starbucks barista, working fancy catering events at Lincoln Center, and Phil's comedy pursuits that led him to Los Angeles. Enjoy!

Comedian Cruz began his restaurant career as a teenager working at a sit-down Pizza Hut, spilling mountain dew on his local Burtonsville, MD customers. He eventually moved to Baltimore, serving and bartending in a number of restaurants, including City Lights and Sotto Sopra, where he learned to appreciate wine and honed his serving skills. We discuss his experience working in three major US cities, our love of Italian wine, and his other side hustle in the massage therapy world. Enjoy!

Originally from Los Angeles, the hilarious David Murphy, aka Murph, got his start catering epic parties for the likes of P.Diddy and Maxim. He also catered for Patina at the Hollywood Bowl, where he discovered his appreciation for Radiohead. Eventually he made it to the famous Saddle Ranch in Universal City, where a run-in with a secret shopper costed him more than his gratuity. We discuss the perks of catering gigs (free alcohol), his thriving stand-up career, and his podcast, 60 Shots to Fame. Enjoy!

The lovely Frieda de Lackner began working in food as a high schooler, catering parties with her best friend in Berkeley, CA. This led to a job at the world renowned Chez Panisse. While dabbling in the restaurant world, she pursued a thriving acting and directing career, producing a performance Natalie actually witnessed as a teenager. We discuss the importance of teamwork, our love for the Bay Area, and Frieda's current pursuits in producing, including her own short called Meeting Matt Damon. Enjoy!

Rachel Paulson started bartending in her college town of Tallahassee, FL at none other than Bullwinkle's Saloon. Eventually she made it out to LA and has worked across the city, including at Franklin & Company, where she got sweet revenge on a very rude celebrity. We discuss the scandal involved behind the sudden closing of one gig, her experience learning from Julian Cox, and her hilarious chat show called Drink Responsibly. Enjoy!

Originally from Pittsburgh, Chris Wivell got his start as a teenager serving at a restaurant called Mardi Gras, where he first learned the perks of serving. He then moved to San Diego where he began his journey into the sushi world. After a few years, he landed in LA, working at such hot spots as Nobu and Blue Plate. We discuss the brutal commute to Malibu, the strange requests of California eaters, and his amazing stand-up career, which has taken him all over the world. Enjoy!

Shelley Scovin started in restaurants at the age of 18 at Boca Raton's lively Wilt Chamberlain's restaurant. After exploring a few colleges, she landed in Miami, working various serving gigs to all ages and all manner of customer requests. Eventually she made it out to Los Angeles, first working at the legendary Saddle Ranch on the Sunset Strip. We discuss avoiding check walk-outs, the downsides of LA liquor licenses, and her extensive experience in multiple fields of the entertainment industry. Enjoy!

Ace Hotel's Dede Drake started off bartending in her college town of Murfreesboro, TN, kicking out college boys from stealing beer in the walk-in refrigerator. After a brief stint in LA and Orange County, she moved to Chicago, where the later hours meant getting home around 4:30am. We discuss the downsides of craft cocktails, the horrors of bikini bars, and her burgeoning comedy career. Enjoy!

Bartender extraordinaire Meredith Howard started working in restaurants in her hometown of Nashville, TN. She eventually made it to New York City where she worked in several upscale restaurants including Jean-Georges at the Trump International Hotel & Tower before graduating to bartending at event venues, catching acts like Louis CK and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. We discuss customer harassment, perks of event venues, and her blossoming acting and dancing career. Enjoy!

Annelise began her restaurant journey at the House of Blues here in Los Angeles while attending USC. Eventually she made it out to New York where she bartended at a Canadian-themed dive bar in Brooklyn, in addition to pursuing a career in film production. We discuss the balance (and lack of sleep) of life in production and bartending, the not-so-fond memories of being a shot girl at a sports bar, and her new adventures into screenwriting. Enjoy!

Daniel Long began his restaurant career in Iowa working at the quintessential college bar in Forest City. After a brief stint in politics, he moved to LA for acting in November of 2008, right as the recession hit. After bouncing around a few places, he finally landed at Houston Hospitality, a nightlife company behind some of LA's most popular bars, including Harvard & Stone, and Good Times at Davey Waynes. We discuss the economics of restaurant work, the business of acting, and surviving the hustle of LA life. Enjoy!

Marc dabbled in the world of corporate fine dining at Houston's Restaurant in Pasadena, which would teach him the perils of customer complaints and upper management. He then found respite at Mohawk Bend in Echo Park, where he met coworkers who would become his creative collaborators. We discuss the zen of serving, how restaurants allow for a creative life, and his upcoming feature film project which is on Seed and Spark at auggiemovie.com. Enjoy! 

Lyssa Mandel came to Los Angeles recently from New York City, driving across country during the Trump inauguration. She reflects on the differences between New York and Los Angeles restaurant goers from her tenure at Lexington Brass in Midtown to her current job at All'Acqua in Atwater Village. We discuss the zen of serving, brunch horror stories including a diaper changing at her table, and her hilarious podcast called The Bitch Seat. Enjoy! 

Coworker Brianna Baker started waiting tables in college at The Olive Garden, where she learned valuable server skills for life. These came in handy at Chin Chin in Brentwood, one of LA's fanciest neighborhoods. We discuss her experience waiting tables for LA elites like the Kardashians, the controversy over red lipstick, and her acting career including a role on House of Lies. Enjoy!  

Ashley Joyce had the unique experience of working at the original American Girl Place store and cafe in Chicago. Surprisingly, she explains, it was quite a money maker, despite entitled parents and interacting with children's dolls over pancakes. We go into detail about her experience there, as well as her many talents in entertainment including musical theater, writing, and producing. Enjoy! 

Originally from Long Island, Kim Kalish began her restaurant career in college, eventually making her way to New York City, landing a bartending job at Ryan's Daughter. This local Irish pub turned out to be the absolute dream gig, a family operated, neighborhood favorite. We talk about the boldness of bar patrons, Kim's catering gigs including the Oscars after party, and her appearances on Conan. Enjoy!

Mike Baker began his restaurant career in the Big Apple, unnerving his New York City denizens with his sunny west coast disposition. Eventually he made it back to California to act and manage Britannia British Pub in Santa Monica, which included numerous Kiefer Sutherland sightings and a Beatles tribute band. We talk about waiting tables during the recession, British expat customers, and his thriving acting career. Enjoy!

Coworker Josie Suhs has spent most of her life in the restaurant world thanks to her chef father, who owns a restaurant in the quaint town of Cadillac, Michigan. Thanks to her lifelong experience, she declares that she will never in fact be the owner of her own restaurant. In this episode we discuss our mutual employer, Sweetsalt Foodshop in Toluca Lake, the discrepancies with barista tipping, and her improv and writing pursuits in the comedy world of LA. Enjoy! 

Wyatt Gray got his start in service in beautiful Ojai, CA, running cocktails and cleaning sunglasses to poolside guests at the Ojai Valley Inn. We talk about his brush with the 1% of the 1% and how hotels are not big on overtime. We also discuss his America's Got Talent debut, and gush over our love for Emma Stone. Enjoy!

Mav Viola got her start as a barista in Virginia Beach, VA, moving on to crouton connoisseur thanks to her time at Panera Bread Co. We talk about her celeb run-ins at the Ace Hotel, our mutual disdain for to-go orders, and her thriving stand up career. Enjoy!

Sherra Lasley got her start in the restaurant game as a blizzard master at the Dairy Queen in Bettendorf, Iowa, eventually graduating to bar manager at the famous IO theater in Chicago. We talk about the perils of Postmates, our escape route from Grand Central Market, and her extensive comedy accomplishments, including her recent pilot. Enjoy!

Friend and coworker Amanda Lehan goes over her restaurant resume starting with her humble beginnings working at a Dunkin Donuts in Massachusetts, all the way to her run ins with homeless people and Kevin from the Backstreet Boys in Los Angeles. 

This episode features a conversation with the hilarious duo behind Schmabaret, a variety comedy show here in Los Angeles. We cover their humble restaurant beginnings in the midwest all the way to their current server run-ins with the celebrity denizens of West Hollywood.