I was at the host stand and saw the host manager doing host manager things. On a side note, the host area is like an informal office. Not many servers go up there and during the slow times, he’s pretty much by himself. So I find it a good time to chat with him a bit.

I asked him, “Have you noticed that the patrons are growing in hostility when you ask them to wear a mask?” He emphatically said yes. Yes they are getting more hostile.

I don’t know where everyone stands with masks. Frankly, I’ve never have liked the masks. It’s the host’s job to initially enforce the mask rule. If the owner of the place demands all wear masks with no exceptions, that’s the rule. I’m wearing the mask as well as everyone else. No exceptions.

There’s no need to be verbally abusive to the host. That has happened where I work. The host manager has experienced this. There’s no need to threaten to physically harm the host. Another manager has experienced this. There’s no need to constantly complain about the mask rule and yell at the server. Yes, I have experienced this hostility too. I nip that crap in the bud very quickly but yes, I’ve experienced the patron’s hostility.

Servers like to communicate with facial expressions. That’s tough to do that with a mask but we make due. We want all to have a great time. What we don’t like is being a whipping post for your frustrations.

The host manager has to enforce the rule. He has no choice. It’s his job. If he doesn’t enforce the rule, he’ll join the millions of Americans who are unemployed. He doesn’t want that.

So be kind. Just be kind.