As a recent mover myself, I suggest becoming a regular. Somewhere. Anywhere.
If you drink, a bar is perfect. Bartenders are much more apt to talk than waitresses.
The key is to go on an off night. Or at an off time. Tuesdays are usually good. And the more Mom and Pop's-y the place, the better. Not that I have anything against chains. I have just found that turnover is usually lower. So your investment is more likely to pay off.
Oh, yeah. I should mention that there is a literal investment here. You MUST tip well at this place. Extrodinarily well. Even if you are usually a big tipper. Just remember that you are not only paying for the service; you also want to be recognized when you return next Tuesday.
Big tips and regular attendance on an off night means your drinks start arriving before you do. And you will start to feel more at home in your new city
...now just invite some folks from work/school/etc to join in at your new establishment and you are good to go!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
2 comments:
Will you be making it to the TT Reynolds Dinner then? Is it a good place to become a "regular" at?
How much better is it for a group to become a set of regulars than for an individual to become a regular? Is the potential for free-riding by some a cost which might eliminate any gains from becoming a regular for others? Is it better to become a regular at the Mom-and-Pop because of the thinness of the market there already, so transactions costs are lowered through social connectedness? If so, what is the potential for getting a lower price at the M&P in the long run?
I'm sorry, the prelims are still 10 months away...
Nathan
Well, I think you are overlooking the most important point: the necessity to become a regular is driven by the fact that you are in a new city with few (approaching zero...) friends!
Being a regular helps offset the loneliness by giving one a sense of belonging.
It also helps with locking in friends when you can take them to a place where other people already like you. They will think, "Geez. People like this guy. He must not be too bad."
But the thinness of the market at Mom-and-Pop shops is a big factor. In Ohio there was a very popular local restaurant, Hickie's. It would be difficult to become a regular there in a short period of time. Mainly because there were never any off hours. The place was always packed and the waitresses too busy to chat.
Post a Comment