I made a guys day today

[Phonetek]

There was a family bowling tonight. They were all very nice people. The middle aged woman came up to the bar and asked me what she should drink. I made a suggestion for her and she loved what I gave her. She raved about it. A little later I came down to check on them to see if they needed anything like I always do. She ordered something, don't remember what. I asked if it was on the same tab. She said yeah. She said it was her dads birthday today. I said in a joking tone "You're making Dad pay for everything on his birthday!?" Of course not she said. I turned to him said "How young are ya today?" He said "79". I said what's your name? He said "George" I said "Happy Birthday George, I'm glad you came here to spend it with us".

I went to the counter and grabbed the mic and announced "Attention everyone, I'd like everyone to wish George on lane 12 a happy 79th birthday today, stand up George" The whole place clapped and whistled and yelled congratulations. Many came down to shake his hand. I looked over and smiled and he waved for me to come over. The guy had tears in his eyes and said "That's the most awesome thing that anyone has every done for me, thank you for doing that. I've never felt more welcome and special." The guy almost had me tearing up. It was such a small little thing and it's funny how it meant so much. His daughter said he's gonna be talking about that for a long time. Now do you guys see why I love this job? Nothing else I have ever done compares. I never really announced anyone's birthday before but I guess I need to do that more often. It was cool so I thought I'd share.

[GrumpyCatFace]

Nice touch, man.

[fordman1]

That is nice. I am sec. of our Friday league. I put the birthday boys on the sheet every week. But the thing I do every year is on Veterans Day week I have all the vets go out on the approaches before practice and have everyone give them a hand of appreciation. Last year out of the 120 bowlers present there were only 6-7 who served.

[boatman37]

That's awesome! Feels good too. A few months ago me and my wife were at Cracker Barrel. There was an older couple around the corner that had a WWII hat on. I told my wife we were going to pay for their food but I didn't want to let them know. In the end I had to let him know we paid it because he started arguing with his wife about paying it...lol. She kept telling him it was paid and he was arguing with her...lol. Anyway, turns out he was a POW. Felt really good to do something like that. Something I will remember and hope he does too.

[fordman1]

that's awesome! Feels good too. A few months ago me and my wife were at cracker barrel. There was an older couple around the corner that had a wwii hat on. I told my wife we were going to pay for their food but i didn't want to let them know. In the end i had to let him know we paid it because he started arguing with his wife about paying it...lol. She kept telling him it was paid and he was arguing with her...lol. Anyway, turns out he was a pow. Felt really good to do something like that. Something i will remember and hope he does too.

that is absolutely awsome!

[Phonetek]

It just goes to show and these are only a few examples, the little things can make a difference to the right people. It's like when your driving, you let someone squeeze in by waving them in. Some people wave back and or say thank you, others just barrel out there and don't bother to acknowledge you. (I always wave back)

Only problem with me getting on the mic at work for the various reasons I use it and I use it often....I always have to try very hard holding back from shifting from the reason I actually grabbed the mic to a stand up routine. LOL You'd be surprised how much material one can come up with just watching bowlers. On a weekend I could probably fill 30 minutes without trying. =)

[GrumpyCatFace]

It just goes to show and these are only a few examples, the little things can make a difference to the right people. It's like when your driving, you let someone squeeze in by waving them in. Some people wave back and or say thank you, others just barrel out there and don't bother to acknowledge you. (I always wave back)

Only problem with me getting on the mic at work for the various reasons I use it and I use it often....I always have to try very hard holding back from shifting from the reason I actually grabbed the mic to a stand up routine. LOL You'd be surprised how much material one can come up with just watching bowlers. On a weekend I could probably fill 30 minutes without trying. =)

Try it out one night, using open bowling, and gauge the reaction. Might be a new gimmick that sells.

[GrumpyCatFace]

*during open bowling*

[boatman37]

that is absolutely awsome!

Thanks. My great uncle was a staff sergeant in the Army at Pearl Harbor the day it was hit. He was blown out of his Jeep and down over a hill. He was hit with schrapnel but helped his friend back up the hill. He turned 100 in April and is still going strong. To me he is a true hero. He healed up and returned to active duty. I also work for the VA. I never served but appreciate those that have. Actually I work for a company that has a contract with the VA so I'm not a VA employee but still work with VA employees every day and many of them are veterans. I am proud to say that I do what I can to serve those that have served.

[Phonetek]

Try it out one night, using open bowling, and gauge the reaction. Might be a new gimmick that sells.

What, doing a stand up routine? I've done it a couple times on our open mic night. We have another one coming up I think in October. Problem is the mics we use in the bowling alley suck, they cut out all the time. You really have to talk fast and keep talking, when you pause they cut out. If you have a higher tone voice they cut out or don't pick it up at all.

Fortunately I have a rather deep voice and my "radio voice" is even deeper so I don't have much problem with it picking me up. I did have a radio DJ at an event who I was talking to tell me I should be in broadcasting. Maybe I missed my calling. When I was a phone tech I had to do the "You're call may be monitored or recorded for quality assurance and training purposes" all the time as well as "For blah blah blah, press 1" and so on for hundreds of telephone systems. Speaking in a mic, even in front of people doesn't bother me a bit. I don't know about doing stand up for open bowlers though, I think it would be more corny than a good gimmick. Plus if I had to do it all the time, I'd have to come up with so much material! I'm much better at improv on the spot. LOL My best stuff isn't exactly "G" rated either.

[GrumpyCatFace]

Maybe not stand-up, but you could heckle the bowlers a little. Announce birthdays, bachelor parties, etc. make some jokes.

[Phonetek]

Maybe not stand-up, but you could heckle the bowlers a little. Announce birthdays, bachelor parties, etc. make some jokes.


Oh sometimes I tend to heckle the bowlers a little, I've been known to do that. We were pretty crazy on the mic late last night. Someone played some really awful music on the jukebox. I got on there and said "Whoever played this sh** on the jukebox please come to the counter for your refund, I'm skipping it" Funny thing was, the guy came up with his head hanging and apologized and I gave him his money. LMAO We were all obnoxious last night.

[Phonetek]

Maybe not stand-up, but you could heckle the bowlers a little. Announce birthdays, bachelor parties, etc. make some jokes.

I took your advice. Last night I had a family in bowling who were a fabulous group to have there. One lady threw a strike and they cheered so loud that the entire place looked at them like "What the?" So I grabbed the mic and said " Man oh man what was that? I didn't get that excited when I got my first girlfriend. If everyone is wondering what all the commotion was about, the lady on lane 10 finally didn't throw a gutter ball for the first time....she got a 3... giver her a hand." They absolutely hit the floor laughing so hard, including that lady. The dad came up and said, "You gotta do more of that, that was great!" On the mic I said "You want more of that? Okay, I'll wait until it's your turn to go up and bowl" He asked in the mic "How long have you been a bartender?" I said "Since Feb of this year" He said "No I mean total" I said "Since Feb but I got all the experience I needed from my dad, he was quite a drinker. The last time I seen him he seen a sign that said "Drink Canada Dry" so he drove up there to do it and I haven't seen him since"

Everyone in the place had a great time, especially them. They were all so nice. In 2 hours they were there I made almost $80 in tips just from then alone. Everyone was all smiles and nothing but compliments. They were so nice I gave them an old bowling pin to take home. The all signed it and put the date on it and my name so they wouldn't forget that night. They said, "We will definitely be back here soon but only if you're working!" LOL Gotta love that stuff. Like I said, if you enjoy your job it's not work at all. So what do you think Grumpy, how did I do?

[GrumpyCatFace]

I think you just found a way to make GM. ;)

[Phonetek]

LOL I don't know about all that. I'm not sure what my GM would have though had he heard me do that. He don't have much of a sense of humor and he's terrible at it. He tried making jokes over the mic when the high school came in the other day and they all look at him like a dog staring into a ceiling fan (cue the crickets) I just looked away with a face palm. He's actually had Yelp reviews that specifically said that cranky old man needs to retire. LOL

[GrumpyCatFace]

Sounds like opportunity to me.

He’s not going to object, if you bring in bowlers. Just don’t cross some racial or sexual line.

[Phonetek]

I think there are plenty of other ways to be funny without those kind of jokes. Racial jokes especially, major no-no. During actual stand up you can get a little on the pervy side or even late on a Friday or Saturday night provided it's only adults in the place. Why walk the line though and risk offending anyone. Like I said, lots of ways to keep it clean and make people laugh.

[got_a_300]

Sounds like a good time was had by all and that makes
bowling quite a bit more fun that way.