When I was a server way back when, I hated the "gamble" of the tip. You could do an awesome job with a couple's anniversary, control a massive rush of bus people, or blow the minds of a party of 12 and still get nothing but 5%, or get stiffed all together by blue hairs after a shared entree. Tips were a total crap shoot. Sure there was that hundred dollar bill on a $40 dollar dinner for two where they thought you were such an interesting server, or the $20 tip off a couple of drinks to impress someone's date, but most of the time it was all a shot in the dark. I know people that waited tables really just to get that high of a "big spender". It was a total confirmation for them about who they were and what a great job they'd done, and they would rail against anyone who didn't tow the 20% line. It reminded me of high rollers at a casino. I hated it, just tell me what you are gonna pay me, and let me get back to living for the weekends.
But that's just me.
