Ok, so my 19-year old daughter just was hired at an upscale resort here in SW Florida as a valet. They were impressed that she can drive a stick, and she did inform them that the car she learned on was a highly modified car so she knows how to carefully modulate a clutch and the throttle to keep things under control and smooth. I think they were surprised that she even knew that was important.
Anyway, any tips and tricks for someone starting off in the job?
She is excited. She was walking past Laborghinis and Ferarriis left and right. I told her that she would see few manual-transmission cars, and we both agreed that would be a good thing.
NOHOME
MegaDork
1/2/24 12:16 p.m.
The movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" has a valet training scene.
Very cool. This will then be a "tips" job so putting the customer at ease is likely good for tips.
Let's talk real world...young and girl may not be the first things that put the customer at ease.
So, I recommend something visual that says ,"really, I can drive a stick.". Not quite 13 pieces of flare but I think a noticeable but discreet manual trans laple pin would work wonders in this situation. The pin doesn't have to say any real words but I think its presence would very much say , "I am manual trans certified."
If customer jokingly or even harshly asks " do you know what you're doing?". She could defuse the tension with just a polite gesture to the lapel pin.
Would also be a really nice gift from Dad!
Just googling up " manual trans lapel pin" or "gearshift lapel pin" brings up many options.
Sample https://www.etsy.com/listing/707801685/gear-shift-lapel-pin-5-speed-lapel-pin
In reply to 914Driver :
No, you're not. And I posted the thread lol.
In reply to NOHOME:
That's right where my head went too.
In reply to John Welsh:
I thouht about that too, the issue of young woman/girl driving a manual. That's why I told her to mention in her interview that she's been driving one for a few years, and it's not a particularly easy car to drive and she does great.
I like the idea of a little pin or something.
John Welsh said:
Let's talk real world...young and girl may not be the first things that put the customer at ease.
Depends on the customer...
I expect valets are likely to be young. I also expect they're more likely to be boys who think they know how to drive. A young woman I would actually be *more* likely to trust to be careful and considerate of my car.
As a general rule - give the impression that she takes her job seriously and will care for the condition of my car. I really like the idea of a subtle lapel pin. Communicates a knowledge of and interest in cars.
Friend of ours kid worked at a Ft Lauderdale/Miami area similar resort and started in the same spot. They had morning meetings and were shown guests pictures and they memorized names so they can greet them properly upon arrival.
So work on memorizing those last names.....
When I drove a limo in Los Angeles, I particularly looked forward to events worked by the Valet Girls. You'd drop off your client at the party and hang out for a few hours with pretty young Socal girls. I ended up dating one for a while.
Turns out that almost 40 years later, they're still in business. Except now they hire men as well:
https://www.valetgirlsparking.com/
Beer Baron said:
John Welsh said:
Let's talk real world...young and girl may not be the first things that put the customer at ease.
Depends on the customer...
I expect valets are likely to be young. I also expect they're more likely to be boys who think they know how to drive. A young woman I would actually be *more* likely to trust to be careful and considerate of my car.
As a general rule - give the impression that she takes her job seriously and will care for the condition of my car. I really like the idea of a subtle lapel pin. Communicates a knowledge of and interest in cars.
The last two times I used a valet were bad.
1. '13 Mustang GT. Watched him buck and fumble and restart through the intersection.
2. '15 BRZ, friends wedding at a fancy place, the car came back smelling of burnt clutch.
Do you think an SCCA patch is a little too much ?
I was a valet all through college in downtown Atlanta. It's a great job for the youth because it's "dense work" - lots of money in a short amount of hours, but very physically exhausting. And since all the good money is on weekends, it doesn't take you away from your studies. I worked everything from hotels, clubs, private events, and fancy restaurants, and saw ALL the things that could possibly happen. Unreported body damage, fried clutches, dealing with homeless people, totaled cars, DUI's you can't do anything about, pedestrians run over (usually by customers), E36 M3head coworkers stealing tips, the nastiest meanest clubrat customers you could possibly imagine, and don't forget the boot man. Everyone has a bad day when the parking boot man gets called, and he's always packing.
Anyway I never valet my cars if I can help it. If I'm driving a stick, I give them enough cash to let me park myself. $20 usually does it.
Walking around NYC and came on three Valets trying to move some Italian supercar, they couldn't find reverse. A small crowd gathered when a 14 year old asked if he could help, they all shrugged. Kid climbed in, put it in neutral and hit a button on the front of the seat. Backed it up.
Congratulations Dr. B!
