Day 69 - That damn fat lady sang

I hate every moment of sitting here writing this post.
Not because I hate to blog...but it's over...She sang....
That damn fat lady sang and it's over...for now.

I wish I could have bottled up the feelings and vibes that I encountered as I walked to the stadium from the parking garage.

The atmosphere was amazing! Everything felt like it was as big, if not bigger than it was during the All-Star Game festivities.

Enough of this blah, blah, blah....STORIES!

Now you'd think that with the final game, there'd be some amazing stories...well, you're right...sort of...there was at least one amazing moment during this final game of the '09 season.

-I walked to the top of a section and a lady in the top row asked for a beer. She looked like she was in her mid-to-late-40's and (who I can only assume to be her husband) was standing behind her. I gave her her beer and then she realized she needed to pay me. She seemed to act a little funny after I handed her the beer. She started to fumble through her pocket and pull out everything but money. She began to talk about how she thought she had some money in her pockets...She emptied out of her pockets a half-dozen receipts, some car keys, chapstick, fingernail clippers and a few quarters. Finally she found a few $1's and then her husband (who I could tell was frustrated/embarrassed by this woman) stretched out his hand with a $10 in it. I gave him back his change while the woman continued to search for money...she was talking to herself...as if she was encouraging herself to find money.

A few innings later I was walking back up to the top of that same section when I noticed this same woman start to walk back to her seat. As she started to sit down, she wobbled back and forth a bit...then gravity decided to her...she fell straight to the floor. She snapped back up and sat back into her seat. As her husband helped her sit upright, he just shook his head ashamed of what just took place. I was right there in front of her and immediately asked her if she was alright. She kept saying over and over again, "I'm Fine!" as if she needed to remind herself.

I followed protocol...alerted the closest usher and other beer men about the intoxicated cougar at the top of section 248.

**********************************

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that unneeded reinforcements were brought in for the game. About 8 beer men from Chicago were brought into our commissary. These guys from Chicago were beer men at Soldier Field. About 50 more people were brought in from the military base in Ft. Leonard Wood to work throughout the stadium. I guess they were expecting a big crowd or something.

***********************************

After completing a sale, I tell the beer-drinking fan, "thank & enjoy the game." I had several instances when the fans would return with a, "yeah...well, we're trying to" or a "if we had a few more runs we will." Then towards the end of the game, fans would realize that this was it. The season was over after this game if we were to lose. Then they'd realize that this was potentially my last day of working too. A few fans asked what was next for me. "Are you going to work Blues or Rams games?" I laughed when they asked about Rams games. Then I'd tell them how I just accepted a temp job. I'll be in charge of an email marketing campaign and will be doing that till the end of '09. They would usually just say the usual, 'good luck with that' or 'see you next season'.

Hmmmm....next season...return as a beer man?...well that will be covered in a blog in the near future.

As for the end of this game, this season...it has been an amazing time.

I will post a few more blogs over the next 2 weeks...reflecting on different things that I never talked about during the season...as well as a special Cards/Cubs tribute blog.

So, until later on again this week, thank you faithful readers. It's been an amazing time!...just wish that fat lady could have waited to sing on another day.

Totals for 2009 season:
73 Bags of Cracker Jacks (at $3.50/bag = $255.50)
167 Bottles of Water (at $5/bottle = $835)
293 Bags of Peanuts (at $4/bag = $1172)
4564 Bottles of Beer (at $7.75/bottle = $35,371)
Grand Total for 2009 sales: $37633.50
(no, I did not make that much money, just a small commission of it)

...When the Fat Lady Sings.

Well I'm at a loss of words after last night's nail-biter of a finish between the Cards and Dodgers. ...not to mention the rough night for any St. Louis sports fan or Mizzou fan....but hey, we still have the Rams to keep our spirits high right???...

Sitting here and realizing that tomorrow night very well could be my last night as a beer man....for this season....and potentially forever.

Do I see myself returning next season?...

Timeout...last time I checked, this series is best out of 5. Although, I feel like the Cardinal-Nation has already tossed in the white towel...Perhaps the same white towel that caused Holiday to take a punch in the crotch from that fly ball instead of allowing for it to land in his glove. (If you missed Waino's interview (go to 1:45 mark to catch his remarks about Holiday)...you need to watch it to know what I mean).

Plenty of people have already closed the door on the chance of the Cards of coming back to win this series. Only 4 teams have ever come back from an 0-2 deficit. A little optimistic view on it all...the Cardinals have never been swept in any divisional playoff series.

Maybe the Cardinals are just trying to keep the 2008 tradition of when the Cubs were NLCD champs...and get swept by the Dodgers in the playoffs?

This beer man has some high hopes still. Being my only source of income at the moment...I'd like for the Cardinals to go all of the way to take the World Series...just hoping. Here is to tomorrow night. Saturday night playoff game. Beer sales should be amazing!

Day 68 - A Beerman's Last Stand

Well I wasn't able to work Friday or Saturday night's games due to being in a wedding...So I worked on Sunday. The last day of the regular season.

The chill in the air reminded me of my first week of being a beerman at Busch Stadium. I'm just it wasn't snowing like it did on opening day. It feels like yesterday that I was only able to carry half of a case of beer at a time and only sell a case and a half per game. Well...I can carry well over a case of beer at a time, it's just too bad I couldn't sell more than that yesterday.

I don't know what the deal was...

You'd think that with it being the last game of the regular season that there would be a sold-out crowd right?...ha! so they said it was a standing-room-only crowd...I don't think they were looking at any of my sections...several rows of seats were empty.

I understand it's a Sunday game...but it's also the last game of the season where most people can afford tickets...playoff tickets are rather steep in price...

So even with the 'sold-out' crowd you'd think that this game would have the perfect conditions for a big day of sales for a beerman....HA!

People were wrapped up in coats and blankets on this 60 degree sunny day. I was only able to sell a 1 1/2 cases. No one wanted to drink beer...or if so, they were buying it from the Red Bird Club and not from the vendors in the stands.

It was rough for all of beermen in my commissary...guess we'll have to wait till this Saturday for the playoffs to come to Busch Stadium to make some money.

As for stories from Sunday's game...I didn't have anything crazy happen to me. It was so hard to believe...I went through the game without anything happening worth mentioning on here....I'm sure the playoffs will bring in some crazy people and crazy stories!

It was bittersweet leaving the stadium...knowing that I could only have one more game left to work...honestly, I'm hoping we sweep the Dodgers in 3 games so I don't have to work on Sunday...Rams have a home game at noon and the Card's game could be at 5:07 or 8:37....either way, it'll be crazy downtown on Sunday and potentially a really late night!

Totals thus far:
73 Bags of Cracker Jacks
167 Bottles of Water
283 Bags of Peanuts
4465 Bottles of Beer

Day 67 - Final '09 Cards/Cubs Series #3

I haven't worked on a Sunday at the Stadium since the middle of May.

Since this was the finale of the Cards/Cubs series for the 2009 season, I figured I could bring in a decent amount of sales.

I had a feeling...that tonight's gonna be a good night...tonight's gonna be a good good night...ok, so maybe I have Black Eyed Peas to thank for getting that song stuck in my head when it's now been played before every game of this series during a video montage of the Cardinals clinching.

So I have the rainy morning and plenty of fog for the slow to start with beer sales on Sunday night. But the rain and fog didn't bother to slow down the drama and stories.

Story time! -

-I just finished handing a beer down a row to someone who just purchased a beer and they didn't give me anything as a tip. The lady on the end of the row kept looking back at the guy buying the beer and then back at me...she realized there wasn't any tip coming and asked me if that usually happens. I just shrugged my shoulders and said, "sometimes I do get something, sometimes I don't. I'm thankful for the times I do." She looked back at the guy who just bought the beer and then back to me and rolled her eyes in disgust.

I turned to sell a beer to someone in the next row over and then I felt a tap on my shoulder. That lady had her arm stretched out with $2 in her hand. She said, "take it. You guys work too hard for that jackass to go and not tip you." I told her that it was ok, rejecting the $2 in her hand and that she didn't need to tip for that guy. That only pissed her off more I guess cause she said, "If you knew what was good for you, you would take this money." I took it, thanked her for her generosity and got out of there.


-I made my way down a section and had two older gentlemen motion for beers. I walk up the steps to them and they needed 4 beers total for them and their wives. I give them their beers and tell them it's $31. The one gentleman who was paying handed me $24 (a $20 and 4 $1's) I looked back up to him and said, "sir it's $31. You only handed me $24" (holding the $24 up to show him I hadn't done anything to it). He handed me another $20 and told me to just give him back $10.

Now I've screwed up before. I know, I know...you're thinking, "how could the stlbeerman have a flaw?" Ha! I'm far from perfect.

I've told customers one dollar amount and would give them back the correct change (even if it didn't match up with what I said)...basically the words coming out of my mouth and what I do with my hands when giving change back haven't always matched up...but my hands hadn't been wrong before...only the dollar amounts coming out of my mouth have been wrong...

I look back up at this gentleman and give him the $4 that he originally handed me and $6 out of my 'bank' of change...totaling $10. In my head I thought I took the $10 out of the $40 which would make his payment a $1 short. I asked him to hold on a second. I still needed a $1 from him. (As I type this I am reminded of how stupid I was for thinking I was right and how he was wrong).

He tried explaining to me that I gave him $10 and that was the correct change and he gave me $44 already. I had already closed up my ears though and had it in my mind that I was right. He owed me a $1 still. I would explain numerous times over the next few minutes that I made the mistake of giving him more than I should have. After half of an inning of both of us trying to explain to the other how each of us were right...he threw a $5 at me and said don't worry about it.

I can't believe how stupid I must have sounded. I walked up to the top of the section, sat my tub down and thought the whole thing through again. It was as if someone just turned on a light switch. It hit me. A load of bricks just landed on me. I realized how I was in the wrong the whole time and he just gave me $5 extra on top of the $3 tip for 4 beers. A knot of guilt formed in my stomach that felt like a 300lb. weight. I wasn't going to walk away and keep this $5...knowing that it wasn't even mine to begin with.

I put a death-grip on that $5 bill in my hand, picked up my beer tub and took what felt like the longest row of stairs I've ever walked down. I sat my tub down on the steps, looked over towards him with a look of despair on my face and apologized. "It was my fault sir and I am sorry." I handed the $5 back to him and he had a look of forgiveness across his face. He told me to come back later on in the game. I nodded my head in acceptance of his request and went back up the steps.

I just made myself look like an ass. I know the people around him in that section saw the whole thing unfold. That isn't something that would be great for business...to have a disagreement over a $1...looking back on it, all I can think is, 'what was I thinking?!?!?!' In any situation while working in a restaurant or food/beverage service area I have always been trained that the customer is always right. So, why in the hell did I fight this guy over a single $1?

I eventually made my way back down to his section later in the game. He motioned for me to come up to him and waved up 4 fingers. I took his order and quickly apologized again while handing him the beers. He just shot a quick laugh back at it and said it was okay. What he did next, humbled me more than anything else ever has while working at Busch Stadium. He handed me $40 and motioned with his hand to keep the change.

I just screwed up. Fought with this man over a $1. Now he is giving me a $9 tip?!?!?!

I looked up at him and I told him, 'thank you!' I pray that he could see the expression of thankfulness on my face showed and how genuinely thankful I truly felt towards him.

Humble pie has never tasted so sweet.

*************************************

With 2 weeks until the last home stand of the regular season, it's really starting to sink in. I'm not wanting this job to end. I'm enjoying it way too much. Then playoffs are around the corner. I have so much I still want to share over the next two weeks before that last home stand...so be sure to check back frequently!

Totals thus far:
73 Bags of Cracker Jacks
167 Bottles of Water
279 Bags of Peanuts
4428 Bottles of Beer

Day 66 - Final '09 Cards/Cubs Series #2

*** So I forgot two stories from Friday night. here it is: ***

I was selling a beer to this guy who looked like he had been drinking all day long, but was handling himself well and just needed about 8 beers to meet his quota for the day...I handed him the beer and told him $7.75. He looked at me and handed me a $20. He said, just give me a $10 back. I said okay and started to get a $10 out of my roll of cash and then he just said, "wait." I looked back up at him. He continued, "you know what, just keep it. It's Friday night. Keep all of it." I couldn't believe it...I just made a $12.25 tip!

*********

TBS had a thing setup outside of Busch to promote the postseason. There was a 10ft bobble-head next to their display...why didn't I take a photo of this thing, I don't know...I wish I would have. It was a giant bobble-head!

*********************************

Now for Saturday's game.

If it weren't for me checking the scores of Friday's games, I would have not realized that Saturday's game was at 3:10 and not at 7:15...I would have missed the game cause I thought it was a night game....very happy I made it on time and showed up to sell some beer!

I would walk down the aisle of one section and sell an entire case of beer. Life as a beer man on this Saturday afternoon was going very very well!

I remember being at the end of one section as the game started and noticed a girl who had an ace bandage around her elbow. I thought it looked odd to see an ace bandage wrapped around there...maybe she had surgery recently or a tattoo or something....as she walked down the aisle a bit further, I noticed that her arm looked like she had half of a flesh-colored sleeve covering from her wrist to her elbow. She got a bit closer and then I realized what was going one. She had a prosthetic arm. The prosthetic arm was attached at the elbow, thus the ace bandage...it looked real from about 20 ft away!

We also had the issue of warm beer in our beer fridge. I guess they didn't realize they needed to get extra beer up to our commissary since we sold so much the night before! I wasn't about to sell warm beer to people....Fans won't remember you for a cold beer...but they won't forget you for bringing them a warm beer! So I put a case of beer on ice in the fridge each time i took out a case, so I knew I'd have cold beer each time I came back in... That's me thinking ahead, one step at a time...like a carpenter building stairs.

Total sales for the day nearly tied my all-time best for commission and # of beer sales in a day!

Tomorrow I will feature Sunday's game! (preview: I had a fight that lasted half an inning with a fan over how much change I owed him...check back to see who was right and who got the money)

Totals thus far:
73 Bags of Cracker Jacks
163 Bottles of Water
278 Bags of Peanuts
4355 Bottles of Beer

Day 65 - Final '09 Cards/Cubs Series #1

I was excited for numerous reasons for tonight's game.
-Friday night game
-Cards/Cubs series
-Sell lots of beer
-Jack Dorsey throwing out first pitch

Now, some of you probably have no idea who Jack Dorsey is...but if you have ever heard of Twitter, you can now make a connection. Jack Dorsey is responsible for Twitter.

Jack, an STL native, was in town to accept the award of "Person of the Year" from Webster University. He was also in town to cheer on the Cards and throw out the first pitch.



But let me back up a bit...something that happened before the first pitch...



Paratroopers....yes, Army Paratroopers dropped into the stadium. It was pretty cool. Not everyday you get to see people skydive into a stadium.

Honestly, nothing too exciting happened during Friday night's game. Just an average night. No crazy stories. No crazy people giving me a hard time...just a plain old night of selling beer....which kind of sucked...was expecting great stories w/ it being a Cards/Cubs series...but I still had Saturday and Sunday to go yet....


Totals thus far:
73 Bags of Cracker Jacks
159 Bottles of Water
270 Bags of Peanuts
4238 Bottles of Beer

Day 63 & 64 - A Cheerleader & A Paparazzi

Well, this is about it...only 6 more home games for the regular season, then at them absolute most...I could work another 10 games after that...IF the Cardinals have home field advantage through the NLCS and take every series to the 5th or 7th game and make it to the World Series. At the very least, I could have only 2 more games, if they don't have home field advantage and lose in the first round. This season of my job as a beer man is coming to a close. The more they keep on winning, the longer I have a job...so let's pray they get their act together and give me an extension on my job! So many stories yet to share...So many blogs I've waited to talk about till the end of the season...(*sigh*)...but for now, here are the past 2 days of work:

Tuesday's stories:

I have numerous stories of things that I overhear while changing in the locker room...but this one might just top them all.

I was changing into my uniform when this older guy walks in and says, "Hey, aren't you that cheerleader?"

I look up with a confused look on my face and ask, "what?" (even if I did hear him, I needed him to repeat the question) I just thought to myself, 'does it look like i have a skirt on? do i have pom-poms in my hands? HELL NO! what's this guy talking about?'

He looked back at me and realized I wasn't who he was talking to/about.

He said, "Oh I thought you were that cheerleader." He read the look of confusion on my face as I shook my head and replied, "no."

"Oh, are you a beer vendor?" he asked. I said "yeah." He said, "oh. wow you look young and I thought you were him at first. That high school food vendor who is a cheerleader for his high school...he comes here and does cheers while he is selling food to get people pumped up and involved with the game....but you aren't him, so nevermind."

**************************

Wednesday stories:

Another day game = business time. That's right...tons of people in their business attire at the game. Maybe I should switch the title to "retired business time"...I witnessed something I'll hopefully never see again in my life.

I saw 3 different locations that had been turned into temporary parking lots for rascal scooters...not sure what I'm talking about? www.rascalscooters.com I'm not joking...saw about 8 or 9 of them parked next to each other inside the Red Bird Club at one point during the game.

Quite possibly the funniest and scariest sight at the same time!

Retirement homes and high schools were the main crowd at the game...scattered around were the business-folk. So many elderly people throughout the crowd falling asleep by the end of the 5th inning. Tons of high schoolers in the upper upper deck...would have hated to be working up there as a beer man...it's not like any teachers/sponsors would be buying anything....

While being assigned to commissary 441 during the day game, I decided to make my way down to the area I normally work (240-255) since there wouldn't be many beer men there at all...

It was slow to start off with...people were late to get into their seats and hardly anyone wanted to drink beer till around the 3rd inning...

While selling a few beers to these guys in one section, I noticed out of the corner of my eye a lady behind them slowly bring her camera up and snapping a few pictures of me...I was caught off guard. I had a paparazzi?

At first I was thinking, 'who wouldn't want a picture of the beer man?'...then I was like...What the heck!?!? Should I have carded those guys and is this a secret shopper catching me not carding someone? they looked like they were over 30...why is she still taking pictures of me?

I quickly got out of that section not knowing if I was caught screwing up? or what was going on?

When I got up to the commissary, I asked a supervisor if their secret shoppers snap photos of us? He said no, they would just talk to us...they don't have people taking photos...

That was comforting to know. So during last call, I decided to try my luck down that section where the paparazzi was. I sold a few beers and noticed her starting to bring her camera up...the lady next to her spoke up. We are gonna blow your picture up and put it in our scrapbook as our beer-man we had during this game. I was relieved to know she wasn't some secret shopper or some news station trying to catch beer men in the act of breaking rules....not that I had broke any, just comforting to know she was just an avid photographer. She kept taking shots of me...not putting the camera down or pulling her finger off of the button....I could hear the camera clicking non-stop! I wasn't about to just leave, I was making plenty of sales in that section at the time!

The lady that had spoken up finally told the paparazzi, "ok, that's enough. put that thing down."

They just smiled to me and told me thanks for being around in their section for the day. They were definitely a different breed of cougars that I had not encountered before...I appreciated their sincerity, but it was fricken creepy to see someone taking pictures of me like that.


Totals thus far:
73 Bags of Cracker Jacks
155 Bottles of Water
270 Bags of Peanuts
4132 Bottles of Beer

Day 62 - A Realist & A Scam Artist

Monday night games usually aren't the best nights for a beer man. Fewer people come to the games and those who are there drinking stop after a few beers because they either have to drive themselves home or are working the next day and don't want to go into work with a hangover.

Well, last night was a great night for this beer man.

With Wellemeyer on the mound, I figured it would have been an easy 'W' for the Marlins...guess the Marlins decided to show up and have their pitcher allow the Cards have some batting practice too. I mean I think the first inning took nearly an hour! I wasn't going to complain.

I was able to sell nearly 4 cases on a Monday night...which is pretty good!

*******************************

Before my night even started, I was hanging out at in the commissary talking to some of the guys. One of the food vendors (usually high school kids or anyone under 21 or anyone not selling beer) walks up to me and says, "you're the only realist here in this commissary."

I tried to understand what he was trying to say, "What do you mean?"

He just looked back at me and said, "you're the only guy that's actually real in here...these other guys are just wacked out....so you're a realist...you need to teach some of these other guys how to be chill."

I just thanked him as I was somewhat laughing at his statement, remembering back a few days ago when I had a conversation with this kid about why I wasn't married yet if I have a girlfriend. He didn't quite understand my reasoning of needing/wanting to have a full-time job before thinking about taking on the responsibility of supporting someone else besides myself. He just kept going in circles in his adolescent mind thinking of how that didn't make a bit of sense to him. So young. So naive.

*******************************

During the very first part of the game, I had just made my way down a section and was selling a couple of guys some beers when something bizarre occurred.

I carded these two guys who looked like they were in their mid-20's and they were.
I handed these guys each a beer.
I remembered as I write this that they wanted a Bud Select and a Bud Light.
I turn around to the other side of the aisle to sell a beer.
As I was finishing that sale, I hear these two guys I just sold beers to yell to get my attention.

One of them said, "is there something wrong with your case of beer? I think something is wrong with your case of beer."

I just looked back at him confused cause I hadn't had any complaints or anything...

He just held up an empty Bud Select bottle and said, "I don't know how to explain it, but I sat this down and after I put my change away, I picked it up and it was empty. There isn't anywhere that I spilled the beer or anything. It's weird man, you gave me an empty beer."

I look back at him, look down into my tub of beer, back up to him holding the empty bottle...knowing that I handed him a full beer and that I would notice handing an empty bottle to someone. I looked down at his feet and there wasn't any place that looked like there was beer spilled on the ground. I didn't see a cup that he could have poured it into or anything....there was no way he could have just chugged that bottle in that short span of time that I just made another sale.

I replied to him, "I'm sorry about that. But I know I gave you a full beer and would notice handing an empty bottle to you sir."

Then the guy in front of him spoke up to say, "ya know what, I'll just buy him a beer. I heard him saying something was weird about his beer just a second ago...I'll buy him one so no one loses here."

The original guy started to say, "no, no, no, it's okay, i'll buy it."

I wasn't about to give this tool a free beer. I could see it on his face, he was trying to score himself a free beer by confusing the little young beer man...

He bought another beer from me and I decided to stay out of that section...they've taught us that if we every have conflict or problem with a fan to simply stay out of that section...I guess they figure it's best that way so that fan doesn't try to start something the next time you come around. Avoiding someone to avoid confrontation and conflict is the best solution right? HA!

I imagine that he probably had a cup that he was hiding under something or handed a cup to someone else around him...the elderly couple sitting next to them did seem to act like something odd was going on...hmmmm...yes, maybe the 80 year old woman next to him took it....ha!

After I got back to the commissary, I explained the situation and they said it definitely sounded like a scam and that I did the right thing and to just alert other beer men so they don't get scammed.

I just laugh thinking of what he said "...there is something wrong with that case of beer..." ....ha! yeah, i should have said, "so guess won't be wanting another one then will you"... damn idiot!

*******************************

...also someone caught the stlbeerman in action.



Oh yeah, forgot to mention that I saw a kid get hit by a bat. I know it was towards the 6th or 7th inning when on of the Marlin's swung at a ball and his bat went flying over the top of the visitors dugout and hit a kid. He was alright from what I could tell. He walked it off. Medical personnel were on the scene immediately.

Totals thus far:
73 Bags of Cracker Jacks
149 Bottles of Water
264 Bags of Peanuts
3969 Bottles of Beer

Day 61 - One Happy Couple

Yesterday (Saturday) was a decent day as a beer man. Nothing too special about it with sales...but the energy of the crowd was amazing.

It felt like it was a playoff game the way the crowd was getting into it so much.

It's too bad for the outcome of this past series...really Cardinals? swept by the Braves?!?!?!

Anyways...yesterday, I think it was during the 3rd inning, I walked down to the end of a section and sat my tub down as I was about to yell out my beer call when this happened:

The couple sitting on the end of the row looked over at me with surprised looks on their faces. They just looked at me, smiled (and smiled the way you smile when you see a friend you haven't seen in awhile) and the woman asked me, "where have you been? we've been waiting for you."

Now I've had people say that to me in reference to me being 'their' beer man...but this lady just said this to me as if her and her husband were waiting for me specifically...She continued, "we waited for awhile and never saw you so we had to get up and get our beer from up there."

I just looked at them, trying to hide the confused thoughts going through my head...as I tried to think if I had ever met this couple before...and then I quickly replied, 'well, i'm here now.'

After asking me how my day had been going, as if catching up with a friend, they eventually told me to come back in a few innings and they'd buy some beer off of me.

So I did just that. Throughout the game I made 4 stops back by there to the couple...each time I came back they were happy to see me and carried on a conversation for another couple of minutes...you'd think it was the alcohol getting to them? nope...they just asked random questions about working at the stadium and if I have enjoyed it...blah blah blah...

The second to last time I went back to them, I sold them some beers and I told them that I'd be back before 'last call' was over...the woman looked at me and did a whisper towards me and in a kind of school-girlish kind of way and said, 'oh i don't think we'll need anymore, we'll be drunk by then.' Her husband just looked at me and said, 'she might be, but I'll be fine...come back before the end of the 7th.'

I did make it back to them...they were both alright to have another...they tipped pretty well throughout the game...I just found it odd that they were looking specifically for me. Each time I was selling them beer, they kept on talking to me as if they had known me for several years...it was kind of weird. They weren't drunk. I didn't recognize them as season ticket holders...so it's not like I had served them beer before...I dunno, they were happy i showed up though...

******************************

I also witnessed a guy wearing a neon-road-side-worker-green/yellow-colored shirt with a matching hat at the game.

******************************

As I was walking to the parking garage from the stadium...I witnessed this guy standing on the window ledge of the passenger side door of his vehicle.




Totals thus far:
73 Bags of Cracker Jacks
142 Bottles of Water
257 Bags of Peanuts
3881 Bottles of Beer

Day 60 - Disrespectful Rat

I've worked in several restaurants and a fast food establishment over my time...and I'll share a secret...no matter how much you clean and spray for bugs/rodents...I remember working at a McDonald's throughout my high school career and how there would be mice and roaches in the building throughout the 4 years of my time there. Several of the restaurants I worked at had mice too. No matter how many traps would be set, mice would find a way in and find food.

Busch stadium is an open building...there are several parts of the stadium that are enclosed....but for the most part, a mouse could make his way throughout the stadium and feast on spilled cracker jacks and peanuts.

While in my commissary, they noticed a box that had a hole on the bottom side of it, which looked like it was created by the edge of the box being dropped on the edge of a counter. The further it was inspected, it was noticed that there were "shavings" of the box on the ground around it. Yes. A mouse made his home in a box of cracker jacks. Guess who was standing there when the box was discovered and was asked to move the box away from the wall...yeah, this guy.

After moving the box, it was opened up and come to find out, the suspect had only chewed into one bag of cracker jacks. The entire box was still thrown out and everyone had to inspect their peanuts and cracker jacks. Everything was wiped down and sanitized before leaving our commissary, so don't worry about finding a bonus prize in your cracker jacks...everything is inspected before leaving our commissary. The suspect was still at large at the time of this blog and no mice were harmed during the creation of this blog.

*****************************

After being surprised by the few amount of tv stations covering the 8th anniversary of the attacks of 9/11, I figured that there would at least be a moment of silence observed at the stadium tonight. There was a moment of silence observed and it was the quietest I've ever heard Busch Stadium. It was very eerie feeling.

*****************************

As an employee of Sports Services, we are required to stop what we are doing, remove our hats and observe the singing of 'God Bless America' and the National Anthem. Some of the guys in the commissary have vocalized how they don't think they need to sing 'God Bless America' at every game, but still follow the rules and out of respect observe the song. There is one guy who won't even go out into the stands till both songs are completed because of his feelings against them being sung.

Last night, while I was standing behind section 251, the singing of 'God Bless America' was about to start. I took my hat off and stood there. As the song started, I could hear a beer man ask people move out of the way so he could get through. For starters, he wasn't following the rules and he was being disrespectful to the fans. I made his way up the steps to the area he usually sells in and was out of site while 'God Bless America' was finishing up...never once stopping.

As the songs were completed, myself and another beer man had numerous complaints from fans in that section, saying how it was very disrespectful and weren't happy with that beer man. Not trying to be a tattle-tail, but also being very pissed at this, I reported what happened to our supervisor and decided to let the beer man be dealt with by them.

*****************************

I had a guy who was sitting in one section that seemed like he was from a part of the U.S. that didn't have running water, electricity or know what baseball was...he was about as a backwards redneck as I've ever seen. He had a few random teeth missing in his smile, smelled like a rotten egg and had a twang in his voice that had to of been made up.

During the play at the plate when Holliday was called out...this man must have thought that he was an umpire....he stood up and was screaming at the top of his lungs. He was letting the umpire know that he made a bad call and they needed to update their benefits that covered vision because he needed glasses. The group of college students in front of him were encouraging him...so it just kept going on for a bit. The man went on for about the next 5 minutes. I don't think I've really witnessed a fan at Busch go that crazy.

For the record...watched the replay on SportsCenter...he was safe.

*****************************

I was carding a guy in one section, saw he was 26, sold him the beer and then looked around to see if anyone else wanted to buy one when the guy sitting across the aisle from him got my attention. He leaned over and said in a quiet voice, "that ID you just checked was fake. You want to know how I know? Because I just sold it to him." Now usually everyone is a comedian at Busch and likes to tell me how everyone's ID is fake. This guy kept a serious look on his face and I just laughed a bit and said I checked it and it was real. He didn't laugh back...I thought, 'well, damn, i'm gonna get fired if that was a fake, but that met all of the requirements of a real ID..." Finally this tool decided to slowly smile back at me. He then went on to ask me how my night was going...but he said it in a way as if he has known me for a few years or something. He carried on a conversation for a few minutes...and then didn't buy a beer from me...bad move dude...you just wasted my time.

*****************************

Totals thus far:
73 Bags of Cracker Jacks
141 Bottles of Water
250 Bags of Peanuts
3799 Bottles of Beer

Day 59 - God bless you beer man!

Another day game. I didn't really know what to expect today. I knew that commissary 240 would probably be closed since our supervisor is a teacher during the day...so the beer men from there would be spread out through the stadium at other commissaries.

I quickly changed in the locker room and checked the list for today's game. I was in commissary 441. 441! I was always told that if you were ever punished for something, beer men were sent to commissary 441. I started to think through my strategic plan of how/where I would make my way down to sections 240-255....

I made my way up to 441, knowing that getting up to the commissary to get more beer wouldn't be a problem since there are escalators near by, but getting down to the 240 are would involve carrying that full tub of beer down a few sets of stairs.

I check in. I realize that Billy, the guy who works in the cooler for commissary 240 was working in 441 as well. Billy is deaf and partially mute. He is the President of an organization in Illinois for the deaf and mute. He is so funny though with the way he talks with his facial expressions and hand gestures (no, not sign language). He is like an old grandpa that you just want to hang out with cause he'd be full of great stories. I was glad to see him there because he works so hard and is such an awesome guy.

Side note: commissary 441 has a pretty crazy setup with their ice coolers. They are operated by a foot switch. There are these large coolers and they have a trap door at the bottom with a giant 'drill bit' looking thing with an electric motor on it. You have to press this foot pedal to turn on the motor and ice comes out through the trap door. Oh and if the ice gets clogged, you have to open the door that is at the top of this cooler and poke a metal rod in there to loosen up the ice. I've seen ice dispensers on refrigerators before, but this one was on steroids. Usually there is just a giant ice machine we get our ice for the beer tubs.

I think there was about 4 or 5 of us beer men from commissary 240 that I saw around that day that had made our way back to our home-turf. Compared the usual 12-15 beer men covering those sections, it was looking to be a great day of sales!

I often wonder if it is "nursing home day" or "senior citizen day" at the ball park during day games...about 40% of the fans I saw were very elderly people...most in wheel chairs sitting in the wheel-chair accessible areas. Maybe it's because by the time the night games start, they have already had their dinner and are in bed...but if that's how day games are..."senior citizen day"?...I wish every game was like this!

I bring this to attention for this reason: I had an elderly lady (probably in her 70's or 80's motioned her little hand in the air for me to come over to her. She asked for a beer. I was sort of shocked...It's not everyday that you have an elderly lady in her wheel chair motion for you to come over so she can purchase a beer. I mean, couldn't she a ticket for wheeling around in her chair under the influence?!?!

I sold her a beer and after she had her beer in hand she just looked up at me intently. It was like having a moment with Rose from Titanic at the part in the movie when she was old and telling a story about running around with Jack...anyways...she just looked back up at me with her eyes full of wisdom and said, "God bless you beer man." I wish I made this up, but it's so true. I'm pretty sure her and God had a connection going on at that time, because God did bless the beer man through this game.

I tied with my personal best in beer sales for the day. I honestly couldn't keep up with going back and forth from the commissary to the people with as fast as they were drinking the beer....actually it wasn't that they were drinking that fast, just being one of the few beer men around, made me a bit more wanted than usual as a beer man.

I had several people giving me a hard time because I wasn't around 5 minutes sooner because they had to get up out of their seat to go get a beer. Overall, an amazing day game!

Oh yeah, and that guy from last week's day game that bought an entire case from me through out the game for the group he was with...he was there at the game. He asked me if I was going to be around next Friday because he would have a huge group with him and he would be happy to have me around to buy beer from me. Oh yeah, I'll be there.

It feels awesome to have a job where everyone knows your name (beer man) and everyone's glad you came.

Totals thus far:
73 Bags of Cracker Jacks
141 Bottles of Water
247 Bags of Peanuts
3706 Bottles of Beer

Day 56, 57 & 58 - Territorial - Bottle Top

So I didn't have any stories worth sharing the past few games...but last night...I had a few dandy ones.

Last night I had a beer man that has been known to do very well in our commissary, come down into a section that I was already in. Now the rules set by our employer states that only 2 vendors per aisle. It has been an unspoken rule between all beer men that if another beer man is down that aisle, he's got that section...it's okay if a food vendor and a beer man are in the same aisle though...just never two beer men....(that's for the sections our commissary covers)...(down lower in the 100's sections, you almost need 2 in an aisle to cover that many people)

I just look up and he was already half way down the steps into my section. I shot him a look and he "then" realized I was down there and walked back up. He's been known to do this before and "take" sales from the top half of a section from the beer man that is already at the bottom of the steps. Not cool. Not cool.

Then, during 'last call' he follows right behind me down one section...not joking, only 4 or 5 steps behind me...Beer man foul! ...I just turn around (not wanting to make a scene) and ask 'what are you doing?' as he is asking a group of guys in the top row if they needed another one and if they were alright'. At that exact moment, the last out was caught, end of the 7th, end of sales.

*****************

Last night, during the bottom of the 6th, I was walking down a section when a guy motioned for a beer. I sold him a beer and he gave me a $8 at first...then handed me another $1. As I was about to head down towards the rest of the section, he asked me something. I couldn't hear what he said because of the roar of the crowd. He leaned in and asked in a mumbling voice, "where is the bottle top for this beer?"

I grabbed into my beer tub and showed him the bottle top. He grabbed it out of my hand and I grabbed it back saying, "I'm sorry sir, we can't give the caps out with the beer." (It's a rule we have to follow by our employer...rarely do I ever have anyone ask for the cap) He looked at me with a funny face and said, "then how about you give me that dollar back." So I gave it back to him.

I walked all of the way down to the end of that section and as I was walking up, the game went into the 7th inning...'last call'. I started to announce this and that same guy who just asked for his dollar back, wanted another beer.

I debated on just walking past him, but thought to myself, it's another sale, even if he doesn't tip me, i'll still be getting commission from that beer. I wait for people to pass by because everyone seemed to need to go to the bathroom or buy beer from the bar at the same time...I finally make it over to that guy. He asks for one beer and say, "here. here is $9 since you got all mad at me earlier." I responded, "sir there is nothing I could have done. We are not allowed to give the bottle cap out with the beer. I'm sorry." He just looked at me with a dumb look on his face...then he said, "you need to just relax man. stop taking your job so seriously." I told him, "thank you and enjoy the rest of the game."

*****************

That's it from last night. Today is another day game. Oh yeah, you know it's business time again!

Totals thus far:
73 Bags of Cracker Jacks
141 Bottles of Water
245 Bags of Peanuts
3586 Bottles of Beer

Day 55 - Worst Best Day Ever!

I wish I could tell you that I make half of this crap up...but it's all true...it's honestly way to crazy to make up....the reason I titled this blog "Worst Best Day Ever!" is because of the events that took place. I had an amazing day in sales, but felt awful for an incident that occurred...read on and you'll understand what I mean.

Yesterday's day game was by far one of the most eventful games I've had in a long time.

I was running late...Since it was a day game, parking was going to be more expensive in the garage I normally park in...have to pay the "day rate" of $10 instead of the $4 for the night price during games....So after trying to figure out where I was going to park and make it into the stadium in time...I parked in the "special" parking lot that employees of Sports Services can park in for a discounted price of something around $6. It is the lot to the southwest of the stadium. We have been told before that if we park there, we can enter the stadium on that street side entrance for employees near gate 3 and walk through the stadium to change/clock-in in the Sports Services lobby.

I walk up to the entrance way and the Busch Stadium employee tells me I can't enter through this door. I explain that I was told at the beginning of the year that we were able to and he just replied back with saying, "yeah, well there's been a problem with that, you need to walk up to that green awning area past gate 3."

So I walk to that entrance he pointed to and the older gentleman behind the door that was shut just looked at me. I showed him my badge and he just motioned for me to keep walking. I tried to tell him through the glass door that I was an employee, showing him my badge again and he just shook his head 'no' and told me to keep walking.

I finally make it around to the other side of the stadium where we I normally enter the stadium...I was a bit ticked at the fact that I was told one thing and was now being told another thing by a different person...it was my own fault for running late...but it wouldn't have been my fault if I wasn't able to clock in because I was late when I was at an entrance I was told I could enter through...frustrating way to start my day off..... I still made it there in time...just a bit frustrated...

With it being a day game, my commissary was closed due to our supervisor having to work at her other job as a school teacher. So the guys that did show up from commissary 240 were split up between commissary 168 & 134. I was assigned to 134 with 2 other guys from 240. We had discussed that since our commissary (240) was closed, there wouldn't be any beer men up on that level in the sections we normally sell in. So we decided that the 3 of us would go up there and rake in the sales!

Before I even got out of the commissary, some of the regular beer men down there were harassing us (240 beer men) as if they were superior beer men for working down there. They were telling us that if we were going to stick around in their sections they would cut down into our sections and take as many sales away from us as possible...most of those guys were just a bunch of barbaric fools if you ask me...I'll explain more later...

Thank God for escalators...this made the trip up to the second level of the stadium much easier...going down, well, we had to take the steps since the escalators closest to us don't go down till the 7th inning.

I had already sold about half of my first case before the game started...I told myself that this was going to be a great day of making some sales since there were only a few of us guys working 25 sections compared to nearly 20 guys working in the 25 sections...

***Before I share this next story...do this: yell the word "peanuts" really loud! If you can't do that right now, do it in your head. Do you hear what that sounded like?***

I was making my way down into a section as people were still coming into the stadium...trying to make a few more sales before the games started...I was yelling out my beer man hawk, "ICE COLD BEER! ICE COLD BUD, BUD LIGHT, BUD SELECT! ICE COLD BEER! PEANUTS!" I had a guy motion for me to come down to him and his buddies...all of them wearing business attire...I thought the guy was asked me for peanuts. He kept looking at me and back to the guy sitting next to him, then back at me with a childish grin...He said, "penis! this guys a penis. you said you have penis? this guy needs one.... I didn't want to buy anything, just wanted to share that with you." I shook my head and walked away. I realized that I need to be sure I enunciate a bit more...or else full grown business men will act like a jr. highers...

*I really struggled with deciding if I was going to share this next story...but here it goes...
Have you ever been so thirsty that you choke when you take a drink of something? Have you had your throat so dry, you want to chug any liquid as fast as you can and as soon as that liquid comes into contact with your throat, you instantly choke or cough?

I was busting my butt off during the heat of the day game when I sat my tub down behind section 251 to quench my thirst. My throat and mouth was so dry from being so hot as well as yelling out my beer call. I twisted off the cap of my Gatorade bottle filled with ice cold water. I noticed that Holliday was up to bat. I paused to watch him hit. I then lifted my Gatorade bottle to my lips and got a huge mouthful of water when at the exact same moment as Holliday hit his homerun, I choked on that ice cold water the moment it came into contact with my throat. I tried to turn my head towards my arm to cover the cough that was coming on. That big gulp of water just became a projectile.

The sold out crowd was on their feet cheering for the solo shot out into left field while I gave the couple sitting in the last row of section 251 a shower. I can only describe it as what it would be like to take a ride on the Maid of The Mist at Niagara Falls. I have never in my entire life felt so bad for what had just happened. I just spit water onto these 2 fans. I immediately apologized. The could see that I was embarrassed, but I don't think they knew how bad I truly felt. The fans were still on their feet and this couple who just had a quick cool-down were still half unsure of what to do. I apologized again and they just said it was okay and then the guy walked off...I didn't know what was gonna happen, I didn't know where he went to...I saw that he came back with some napkins to clean him and his wife off a bit. I apologized again and the lady said it was okay.

Again, I have never felt so bad in my entire life. I could have just caused this couple to never want to come back to a baseball game at Busch Stadium their entire life in fear of getting spit on! I had already made my way into a few sections over, still feeling awful when I decided that I would go back and give them a free beer (even though, I'd be paying for it, it was the least I could do in hopes of kindling our relationship). They were gone. I don't know if they left, if they moved into another section or what, but they weren't back there for the remainder of the game...

*While walking through the amazing air-conditioned Red Bird Club to get to the next section over, I hear someone yell my name. Not just my first name, cause it's not like I don't share a common name or anything...but first and last name. A girl I graduated high school, Jane, with was there with a few of her coworkers. She came over and gave me what was like a semi-side hug...which I personally was thinking to myself, 'I'm fricken drenched in sweat and smelly and she's huggin me?...who wants to hug a beer man?' Then it hit me...'WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO HUG THE BEER MAN!??!?!'

*I was in a section making a few sales when I had a guy in a business suite motion for one beer. He was sitting on the end of the row. He asked for a Bud and then leaned forward to get his wallet out of his pocket. Then there was a loud 'snap'! It sounded like a gun went off right under his seat.... Nope...not a gun, but the sound did come from his seat. He broke his seat. The bottom of the seat catches on the back so it wont' fold down any farther...well this guy (yeah he was an easy 300+ lbs.) snapped the chair past the part that keeps the seat level. He couldn't sit back, cause the bottom of the seat was sloped down and I did everything inside of me from not bursting into laughter from this site. He stood up and snapped the seat back down. He sat back down and looked at me and said, 'let's make that a Bud Light'. I wonder if him switching from Bud to Bud Light will create a flow of events that will inevitably lead him to become the "Jared" of Budweiser?

I've witnessed some amazing things in my days while working at Busch Stadium, but this day game really just topped it off. Sales were amazing! The crowd of business folk were amazing...and some were childish.

As I was going through check-out in 134, the other beer men were acting a bit more childish than that businessman did while asking for a penis for his friend. The beer men were cutting ahead of each other in line, yelling at each other, complaining about how hot it was, trying to cut in front of each other again in the line...they were acting barbaric in the ways they were treating each other. Myself and the other 2 beer men from 240 just kept to ourselves and ended up at the end of the line...I didn't care where I ended up, I had a crazy day.

After waiting in the long line to check-out and after clocking out, I was able to make my way back to my car and head home (hopefully before rush hour traffic hit). Then about half-way back towards the usual parking garage I park in, I realize I parked next to the stadium. Awesome! Well, it wasn't awesome till sitting in traffic for nearly 45 minutes just to get onto the interstate, which took another 45 minutes just to get home...who cares...I witnessed a man break a seat and accidentally gave a couple a shower (which even as I type this, I still feel bad).

Totals thus far:
73 Bags of Cracker Jacks
135 Bottles of Water
227 Bags of Peanuts
3365 Bottles of Beer

Day 53 & 54 - Double Vision?

Double Vision...not just a hit song by Foreigner, but it's what I felt like I had between Tuesday's & Wednesday's games.

Sold nearly the same both nights...actually, I sold the same number of bottles of beer both nights...commission was the same (ok, so there was an $0.08 difference between the 2 nights)....and I only have a few stories from each night...so there ya go...

Tuesday night:

-Thanks to a few people in section 254, I didn't put my knee down into a pile of puke on the end of a row. I guess someone had a bit too much fun and puked. I didn't realize it and noticed people were missing from a row...and when the people in the row behind them asked for a few beers, I started to go into the row with puke and about a half step later and I would have had to buy knee pads...

-It felt like all of the weirdos decided to show up to the game on Tuesday night. I've never seen so many odd people at a ball game before. I had a few groups of people that would fit in the 'goth' category, a large number of elderly people who I found to be sleeping during most of the game (not that a lot happened other than in the first inning), I had a group of kids that decided to have their face be used as a pin-cushion and had more facial piercings than anyone I've ever seen in my life, there was a group of college aged people that kept getting ticked for being carded (if you're just turning 21 or 22 what the hell do you expect?!?!?! i card for anyone 39-1/2 and under suckas!!) Just lots of odd groups of people in my sections tonight.

Wednesday night:

-I busted a knuckle open tonight. At the top row of section 250, there is a counter-top with bar stools that people sit in...with about 4 ft between them and the brick wall. Well, when people stand up, their chair goes back, thus the smaller walk-way to get around them...well, as I was walking through there, I had to squeeze around someone and busted my knuckle open as the brick wall acted like a cheese grater on my skin. AWESOME! I was hoping my gloves would have covered the first knuckle up on my ring finger enough, but it was just at the right spot to catch it...oh the price I pay to get people their beer.

-Ironically enough, in that same section I busted my knuckle...before the game even started, I sold a bag of peanuts to a couple and they started to carry on a conversation with me. They asked if I was ever tired of working there or got tired of baseball...I replied with a "no" I don't think I could ever get tired of it...The more I thought about it, I don't ever see that happening....I mean, I'm getting paid to be at the fricken ballgame! The lady asked if I was exhausted from carrying my beer tub around...I responded with just saying that some games it feels heavier than others and the heat doesn't help some nights. She responded with, "well, you are more of a man than I am." I thought to myself, God I hope so...or you and your husband need to talk!

Day game tomorrow (Thursday). Looking forward to plenty of business men in their business suits and business socks (you know when i'm down to just my socks it's business time that's why they call them business socks...(yeah, i have to say it...(if you don't understand, go here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j94V5u53bLA ) but not that kind of business, cause i ain't gay) buy business beer tomorrow. ...lots of business mena and women at the day games...that's mostly the day game crowd since school has started back up.

Totals thus far:
73 Bags of Cracker Jacks
135 Bottles of Water
224 Bags of Peanuts
3269 Bottles of Beer

The end is near!?!?!....

I've had a few friends ask me recently if I was ready for the season to be over?...If I was prepared for the end of being a beer man.

This took me by surprise.

Am I a beer man for the Cubs or something? If so, I would know my job as a beer man would be over the last day of the regular season...but last time I checked, I work at Busch Stadium! We're in 1st place in the NLCD and that means playoffs. Not to get ahead of myself...but we just pulled ahead of the Cubs by 7 games last night. Playoffs? Me thinks so!

I mean, I guess it is already nearing the end of September and there is just a little over a month left of the regular season...but we are sitting in an amazing spot to be in the PLAYOFFS!!!!

When I first started this season, I knew that the All-Star Game was well worth working at the stadium. Shortly after the All-Star break, I felt like something wasn't the same...I didn't feel as excited to go to work at the stadium...I lost my passion...

Wait...a beer man who has passion for his job?

You better believe it. There's something about going to the stadium and being surrounded by the smells and the sounds of the game. You know what I'm talking about. Seeing a team in a city with deep roots in the American tradition of baseball. I love it! I LOVE MY JOB!

As for being finished after this season...HA! I mean, hopefully I'll have a full-time job by the beginning of the 2010 season and have no need to work as a beer man...BUT...as long as my job schedule would allow for it, I have full intentions of at least working Friday and Saturday games through next season. Why not?!?!? It'd be easy extra money. I use the term "easy" lightly...because of the actual physical labor that is involved with the job. As long as I live in the STL area, I have full intentions of continuing this job...I love it!

The only problem I currently have is not knowing what days we'll be playing in October. Yes, they have the general dates of each playoff round, but not sure when those games will be at Busch...

Tips - "To Flirt, or Not To Flirt?"

This topic has been on my mind for quite some time now...I have asked my girlfriend to help throw in her 2 cents on the topic...I wrote my thoughts and she commented and shared her thoughts in here....I have in no way edited the sections she has written....the text that is pink-ish/purple-ish is her thoughts...

I used to wait tables while in college. It wasn't that fancy of a restaurant...just a small place at a tourist attraction back home. Seeing as how most of my tables were tourists groups of families/old woman/retired couples...it wasn't common for a group of young women that I could flirt with to try my chances... I would occasionally get a table where I would flirt to try and get a better tip.

I, personally, have never waited tables or held any job that I received tips for. I have heard friends tell many stories though. I have one female friend that would always flirt with tables of men, and said that it seemed to help her tips, especially with older men. Is this ok? My very first reaction was no. But the more I think about it, the more I realize there is so much more to it. If it is all innocent, then why not? Why not do what you can to get a larger tip? Is there a set of rules for flirting with customers somewhere out there? Like do not flirt with a male customer who looks old enough to be your grandpa. Or do not flirt with a male customer who is in the company of any female, mom or not. That would make things a bit easier…probably for bother genders.

As a beer man, although it is a different atmosphere, I'm still serving customers and will occasionally get a tip. Numerous times I've been stiffed by fans. I've had a few people that make small talk ask how much beer men get paid. That's the only time I'll share with a fan that I am paid through commission and if they ask about tips, I share that there is the occasional tip here or there.... (Since it is in our handbook that we are not to advertise in any way or try to coax fans into giving us tips.)

As a waiter, you can milk the people sitting at your tables with something that is known as 'sucking up'....no other way to put it...There are numerous things that can be done to accomplish this...always making sure their glass is full, double checking on the quality of their food, being very prompt, friendly...you get the picture...

While being a beer man, you can only do so much....I mean, the beer can only be so cold...it comes out of the fridge, into my tub and covered with ice. It's not like I can give out frosted mugs with each beer....I can't control the way the Cardinals play (not that I need to worry about that recently anyways...since they won 5 of 6 in their last homestand) I can only do so much to make sure their experience is the best ever...Yes, I can stand there and talk to them, but most of them want to watch the game and want me to serve them their ice cold beer and get out of their way.

However...there are the groups of college girls, young woman and the cougars....only way to make their night a bit better is to show them special attention...oh, they call that flirting don't they.... Fact: women like attention. Fact: most single women enjoy flirting. Fact: cougars are out for young blood...and it's scary.

Fact: Women like attention, yes…most of the time. But not necessarily from their waiter/beer man just trying to get a better tip. Personally, I don’t think being hit on by a strange man would affect the tip that I give. Unless, I reduce it due to the overly creepy vibe that some men tend to give off. Fact: Cougars are a different breed and I don’t think I have enough time to address this sort. Scary? Indeed.

You can go ahead and call me shallow, but when I've been single, I wouldn't think twice about flirting with an attractive woman. Where you at men? Let me hear you... what guy doesn't mind flirting with an attractive female?

Yeah, where are you men? Step up and admit that you shamelessly flirt with every attractive female you come in contact with just to get a better tip with no other intentions other than that! Ha! Ok, ok, all sarcasm aside, I think this is a prime example of how much the male and female minds differ. Most males probably don’t see any problem with a little flirting to increase a potential tip and fattening up their wallet a bit. However, the female customer may interpret that differently. This is where the possible problem lies. In all honesty, women look way deeper into things than what may be intended and an innocent flirtation from a man can seem like way more to the women on the receiving end. Yes, women do flirt with male customers as well, and I actually think are probably more prone to do so. Does it help their tips? In most cases, probably so.

Have I flirted in hopes of getting a better tip? Yes, but ONLY when I've been single...Now there is a minor detail I would like to mention. Smiling back at a woman and/or making eye contact with a customer is part of my job...so when I make eye contact and smile back to a woman who smiles at me with her flirtatious tactics, I'm only doing my job and have no intentions of my relationship with this female going past the sale of a beer while I'm working at the stadium.

I agree with smiling and being friendly with your customers. This is an important aspect of any job. It is something that most people should understand, and for me would impact a tip way more than the amount of flirting that is taking place. This could be because I am not an overly flirtatious person, even in the least bit. I would much rather rely on a friendly demeanor than flirting with someone to receive a good tip.

The number one group of women who flirt and initiate the flirt are the cougars.

Not surprised. However, I originally wouldn’t picture many cougars hanging out at a baseball game. I guess I imagine the Real Housewives of Orange County, Atlanta, and any other city this ridiculous show resides in that I have left out, drinking cocktails on a yacht. Yet, this baseball game idea is brilliant. What better place to prowl on young single men than a baseball game? We gotta give these cougars some credit! Well done!

Now I know I have a baby face and young looks...which is why I think that woman my age don't think that I'm old enough for them to flirt with...or not to mention, even look old enough to sell them a beer....so the cougars lay low in the grassy outfield and then attack when the little beer man doesn't expect it coming.

As a guy who has been dating an amazing girlfriend, I don't think about flirting. Do I have the occasional female initiate a flirty smile or initiate a flirty conversation with me? Yes. Do I return that flirt? No. Only way I would ever return that flirt is if my girlfriend gave me the thumbs up to flirt with other women...and in turn who am I to say she couldn't then flirt with other men? We have the upmost trust in each other. So what would be the harm in me flirting with a lady to try and get a bigger tip? The Bible doesn't cover the area of flirting. Now if I was married, I wouldn't even consider asking the question: if flirting is even okay? even if it was to bring in more money...

The ultimate question here, is whether or not it is ok to flirt in order to potentially get a larger tip. Probably so. I don’t see it as a huge issue for someone to initiate or even return flirting in hopes of increasing their tip. As long as it is truly innocent and the intention does not go beyond the sale/service, it really is harmless. I do, however, think that the situation changes if you are in a relationship/engaged/married. I think in this case, it is probably a good idea to choose not to flirt, even if it is strictly for a bigger tip. This doesn’t mean it is necessarily wrong, I just think the best choice would be to avoid it.

So in closing, I appreciate my girlfriend's thoughts and opinions on this topic and hopefully we've stirred up some thoughts in people's heads... What would you do? I want to hear your thoughts. I have opened the poll back up for a few more days and want to know why you voted the way you did.

Day 51 & 52 - Vomit, Locusts & Leather Chaps

On my way out of the stadium on Friday night, I was in a hurry to get around to the other side of the stadium to meet up with a few friends. The sidewalks were crowded and it was tough to maneuver through everyone...then I nearly stepped into a puddle of puke. Vomit was all over the ground...someone must have done a great job of projecting that...cause it had splattered around in a radius of 6-7 feet. Thank God I was looking down...I did see a few people walk right through it...which nearly made me gag. The site/sound/thought of puke makes me gag. It was tough to even write this paragraph...

The heat was harsh on Friday and Saturday night's games. I haven't felt the effects of the heat as bad as I did this weekend. I had to stop every section just about to take a drink and wipe the sweat from my face.

As I was walking out of the parking garage on Saturday, I had a sudden thought in my mind that we were about to be facing plagues of locusts.


I've lived in the country before, but I've never seen a locust as big as this one! It was still there when I got back to the garage Saturday night. I think it waved to me.

After thinking through how having plagues would effect the world today in my head...I was walking through the parking lot next to the stadium where the old stadium used to be...that's when I saw over half of the parking lot full of Harleys. I guess there was some big promotion/sponsor by Harley Davidson for the game. Usually I'll see plenty of fans bring gloves to the games, but I've never seen so much leather in the stands as I did on Saturday night.

I saw so many leather chaps & biker chicks (not the hot ones either...the kind that could beat me up and). There were numerous women supportn' the dike spike...women that had hair much shorter than me. I saw a few dudes with pony tails that were a few feet long. It was insane.

I know I posted a new poll recently...I encourage you to vote...and be sure to check back here on Tuesday for a special blog where I'll be sharing this area with a guest blogger. Together we will tackle the topic of "Flirting: is it okay if it gets you a bigger tip?" This has been a topic that has been on my mind for awhile and with the upcoming away series for the Cards, I want to still give you something to read and ponder.

Totals thus far:
73 Bags of Cracker Jacks
130 Bottles of Water
213 Bags of Peanuts
3139 Bottles of Beer

Day 50 - I believe it

No time to waste...straight to the stories.

I had an older guy motion over at me for needing a beer. I walked up the steps to his row and he was sitting next to a younger woman. He asked me if it was okay if the girl next to him still tipped me because she just recently became unemployed...I said it was up to her if she wanted to. You could tell that he was out to embarrass her. She kept trying to keep him quiet as he kept on talking. He then went on to tell me that she was going to tip me anyways because she thought I was the best looking beer man that has come around tonight. Without even thinking, I replied back with the witty comment, "I believe it."

While I was waiting for the game to start, I stood behind section 252 surveying the stands to see where other beer men where at and where I was going to go to next. That is when I had a guy wave me over to him. He was sitting in the top row of section 250 which has a "bar" type fixture and bar stools as seats. I walked over to him and he started to ask around who wanted a beer. He was with a group of about 12 people. JACKPOT! Through the course of the night, I had sold an entire case of beer to that group of people. One guy was paying the whole night for all of them. I wasn't complaining...he was a generous tipper too.

That's it for now. Tonight is Friday...should be a sold out crowd and look for a blog full of stories tomorrow!

Totals thus far:
73 Bags of Cracker Jacks
115 Bottles of Water
207 Bags of Peanuts
2973 Bottles of Beer

Day 49 - Shaq-attack & Green Day

Yeah, the big goof on the the mound...that's Shaq. If you haven't watched any SportsCenter...then you don't know about how Shaq challenged Pujols to a homerun derby. Pujols just replied with, "good luck." I always thought Pujols was a big dude...but Shaq...well, he towered over Pujols standing next to him.

I need to say a quick thank you to Green Day. They were in concert last night at the Scott Trade Center and several of the beer men were working there instead of the Cards game. This allowed for much higher than normal sales with the few of us guys that were in our commissary. Green Day, thank you!

I honestly don't have any stories from last night. I could complain about the heat...but I'm not gonna. It's summer. It's supposed to be hot. Not to mention, we are in the mid-west...it's supposed to be humid. Ah, the joys of sweating off 5 lbs a game...(i'm not joking).

Totals thus far:
73 Bags of Cracker Jacks
114 Bottles of Water
205 Bags of Peanuts
2901 Bottles of Beer

Day 48 - Randomocity

Take a look at this photo.



Do you see why I took a quick photo with my phone? Take a second look at it. Yeah, that guy in the center of the photo has his laptop at the game. This was about 5 minutes before the game started. He was working away on it and every time I walked by this section throughout the game he was still on his laptop.

Just one of the many random things that took place at last night's game (Monday 8/10).

So I didn't blog at all last week...sorry...there is something about taking a break from this that feels good while I'm not working at the stadium.

The way this night went, I'm not going to waste any time and get right to the stories.

"What Not To Wear" - Sometimes I wonder what goes through people's minds when they are getting dressed before a baseball game. Is there even anything going on in their head? Too many girls wearing too little clothing... Usually I don't comment about this, but there were these two girls who must have thought it was a good idea to wear see-through tank-tops, shorts that were so short that the pockets stuck out past the shorts and knee-high socks...now most guys would like to see that on a girl or their wife...however, these girls weren't attractive by a long shot, it was just flat out disgusting... People, we are facing an epidemic...too many girls think it's a great idea to wear clothes 13-sizes too small! Stop the madness!

"Obama Happens" - During the 7th inning, I had a guy ask for 2 bottles of water. I looked in my tub to only see the one bottle and I didn't see another beer man in sight to possibly get this man both of the bottles of water he requested. So I let him know that I only had one bottle left, but could go find someone that had more. He looked at me and said, "no, that's okay. we'll take the one bottle." I apologized to him that I didn't have another bottle of water for him. He looked back at me and said, "well, Obama happens." I don't really know what he meant...I have interpreted it as him saying Obama (beerman) says he has things (water bottles) people (fans in the stands) want...but only gives half. I dunno...what do you think he meant by that statement?

Knee Pads - On my way downstairs to clock out, I was walking through the crowds of people when a guy yelled over to me. I looked his direction and he was just looking down at my knee pads. (I usually wear knee pads because we have to take a knee when selling during game play and concrete hurts the knees...after i'm done working, i usually pull the knee pads down and they rest around my ankles till I get home.) He said, "hey, are those knee pads?" I said, "yeah." He looked at me with the most serious face and said, "give me one of those knee pads. I need one of those." I just shook my head telling him i needed them for work and kept on walking. I think he might have had a few too many. I have been asked for many things while working at the stadium, but my knee pad is a first.

Hot & Humid - I have worked during several near 100 degree games...but tonight's humidity might have been the worst yet. The 83 degree air felt warm, but that humidity is what destroyed me and the other beer men. One veteran beer man from my commissary went home because he got sick from the heat. There were a few times I felt really dizzy walking down the steps of a section. I would take a quick break and drink some water before going down every few sections.

Totals thus far:
73 Bags of Cracker Jacks
110 Bottles of Water
198 Bags of Peanuts
2823 Bottles of Beer

Day 46 & 47 - Stupid People

I didn't blog last night because I was too pissed off to blog.

I'm not going to go into it that much and I'll start it off with one simple statement:

-I hate stupid people and wonder why we allow some people to reproduce.

I was at a stop light downtown trying to get to the parking garage when a ticket scalper started to buy tickets from a car that was at the red light in front of me. The light turned green and they continued to bargain back and forth. I laid on the horn. That didn't help. Finally the guy got the money/tickets for what he was wanting and just stood in the middle of the road...my night was starting off great.

My tickets were messed up while vending. Was it a simple mistake/simple fix...yes...I should have caught that my tickets were all under someone else name...was it frustrating to deal with when the error was caught...yes.

Sales were also very awful for me on Friday night. The worst night of the week so far...the whole week was backwards...I did better on Monday and Thursday's games than I did on Friday....oh well...Saturday night has got to be better...right?

now that I have that out of the way...Onto tonight's game...

I just kept telling myself to stay positive, last night is over and tonight's game is a new/different day.

Tonight did go well! best night of the week in commission! I was finished with my first case before the first inning was over. I probably could have got a full 5 cases sold if I didn't hit a bit of a roadblock in the commissary when the printer for our tickets ran out of paper....overall a great night!

Tonight's stories-

-I was standing at the top of a section near the Bank of America club when I kept hearing a loud snapping sound. I took a second to get a drink and wipe my face from the sweat that was running down it. I saw a policeman standing a few feet from me and he kept looking around as we kept hearing that snapping sound. I saw him look behind us and then he did a double-take. I looked back to see what he saw. It was an usher. He had a set of finger-nail clippers in his hands. He was cutting his fingernails during the middle of the game. I fully believe in keeping great hygiene habits, but to cut your fingernails while at work? His fingernails must have been made of metal...it was the loudest snapping sound I've ever heard while someone was cutting their fingernails. I just looked back at the cop and we both had the same look on our faces...the look of, "what the hell?!?! Is this guy really cutting his fingernails while working?!?!?!"

-During last call tonight, I gave a guy the wrong change. He asked for one beer and handed me a $20. I was ready to head down the steps to the rest of the section when I quickly handed him the change as if he ordered 2 beers....($4.50) He caught me as I made my way down the section and told me about it. I quickly apologized and gave him the correct change of $12.25 I had thought he looked confused when I gave him his change back, but I thought it was because he was just buzzing a bit and was in mid-conversation with the lady sitting next to him.

-I had always known about the idea of "suggestive selling" and tonight I decided to use it a bit more than usual...meaning I would suggest a bag of peanuts every time someone ordered a beer in the first 3 innings. Well, I sold 5 bags of peanuts just from suggesting it when someone bought a beer. What I don't understand is when people just ask for a bag of peanuts and don't have anything to drink and don't want to buy anything to drink...

-I had a guy complain to me about the price of the beer. He still purchased 4 beers for him and the people he was sitting with...but asked me if they were helping pay my house payment? my college tuition? and my fancy sports car?....i told him I didn't have a house, I've already graduated, and I own an '06 Toyota Matrix...I also told him that I didn't set the prices, I just sold the beer. We then got into a conversation about when I graduated from college, what I've been doing since graduating...blah blah blah, basically told him how I was laid off...temp jobs as graphic/web designer...beer man job...blah blah blah...he ended the conversation by saying..."well, the economy is turning around. best of luck to ya." he didn't tip me. It's not like I was trying to put a guilt trip on him about my sad-sob story...I mean, he kept asking me questions and I just kept on having a conversation with him...

-I had about 9 or 10 different people/groups stiff me on the tip tonight...and every time, people around them noticed this and made comments to them and/or to me about it. When they would comment to me about it, I really didn't have anything to say...I just told them that that happens and I just keep rolling with the punches. I thought to myself how I usually try not visit a section if I know people are buying and not tipping. I'd much rather go to sections that I know are buying and tipping...even if it's just a little bit...that adds up! Again, people don't realize that beer man aren't on an hourly wage...

-With the NFL season quickly approaching, I have been contemplating on working at the dome to sell beer during Rams games. Sports Services are not only at Busch Stadium, but also at the dome...so I'd already have a foot in the door over there. I'm just not sure if I want to work there...I mean, the Rams have really sucked over the past several years...not to mention, I've never been to an NFL game...if the Cowboys were scheduled to come to STL this year, then that would be a no-brainer...GO COWBOYS!

-I'm looking forward to not working tomorrow. Sunday's have never been that great for beer sales...not to mention, Rock the River is going on during the day...downtown seems to just attract people who are incompetent of driving/walking through downtown...I heard if you follow the traffic signals, they help! Green light means go, red light means stop...white walking person means walk, red hand means not a good time to cross...yellow light and blinking red hand means hurry the hell up! I have seen it so many times - people almost get hit by cars because they don't pay attention to traffic signals...yes, if there aren't any cars coming EITHER WAY cross the street...but i've seen all kinds of people nearly get hit cause they only look one way and start to cross and when traffic flies by from the other direction, they nearly get hit.

Well, be sure to check back this next week, while I'm enjoying a week off from work, for a few new blogs...I'm not quite sure what I'll write about...but just be sure to check back throughout next week!

Totals thus far:
73 Bags of Cracker Jacks
98 Bottles of Water
193 Bags of Peanuts
2759 Bottles of Beer

Day 45 - The beer man has NOT left the building...

It's taken me a bit to cool down after tonight. I had an amazing night in sales and just an overall great night and then I tried to stay and watch the game.

I'll get to that later...first...the stories from the night...

-I witnessed a man in his 70's have his collar popped on his polo. He was also carrying 2 beers and a huge thing of nachos.

-Manny still got booed...it was plenty worse tonight...guess if your name gets added to the bad list for the '03 season you just get more boo's. I didn't feel bad at all when Manny was booed...he deserved every bit of it tonight. I even noticed some Dodger fans booing him!

-I ran into an old boss. Not just any old boss...but the president of the college where I was laid off from...which has inevitably allowed me to get such jobs as being a beer man at Busch Stadium. He had a sheepish grin on his face as he said hi to me...He was accompanied by 2 professors from said college. I was semi-hoping they would buy a beer from me...but they seemed to have stuck with their soda and peanuts. I'm hoping he saw me in action and felt some regret for the layoff they had to make...I won't lie though...I'm beyond blessed that I'm not still there though! I can't imagine working there with the pay cuts and such that have had to take place over the past few months...not to mention, several other reasons why I'm much happier selling beer and doing contract jobs around STL as a web/graphic designer.

-I have been told before that I have a "booming" voice. I have also had a few nights when I felt like my voice just wouldn't project very far. Well tonight I think I projected very well. I may have accidentally caused an older gentlemen to nearly have a heart attach. I was at the end of the steps in a section knelt down about to yell out my beer call. I projected, "ICE COLD BEER! ICE COLD BUD, BUD LIGHT, BUD SELECT! ICE COLD BEER HERE!" As I said the first part of my beer call, I noticed the older gentlemen next to me jump as if he was scared to death...He immediately reached his hand up to his ear and started to mess with his hearing aid. I felt awful. I could see the expression on his face that he just experienced some pain. I apologized and he said he was okay, he just needed to be sure to keep it turned down a bit when I came by...I apologized again and just made sure I either didn't go down that section the rest of the night or not be right next to him when I'd yell out my beer call.

-I decided that after last night's lengthy game in extra innings, that I wanted to witness something like that again if it'd happen tonight...So I check out and clock out and decide to stand behind the bleachers, next to a merchandise booth behind left-center field. I wasn't blocking anyone's view and I was having to watch the game through the bars of some bleachers...Not the best view, but hey, I could still see the action around the diamond. I watch about 3 or 4 plays when I get a tap on the shoulder. It was one of the supervisors for Sports Services. He motioned for me to come with him. I honestly didn't know what I was gonna hear from him. He just looked at me and said, "You aren't supposed to be in the building." I was kind of shocked but at the same time I wasn't about to fight with him on something and get in some sort of trouble or risk losing my only job. ...not that I could really have gotten fired, possibly written up...but I found out earlier in the night that they have started to let people go recently...starting with the high schoolers who are food vendors and not making much commission...and if they need to cut beer men, they said they will... So he stood there and watched me walk out of the gate...I didn't turn around to see if he guarded the gate, I just decided I'd walk over to Mike Shannon's and watch it there...by the time I got over to Shannon's I decided that I just wanted to get home. I was exhausted and hungry...and when Josh gets hungry, Josh gets cranky. I'm glad I didn't stay...glad I didn't get to stay...since they did cough up the game in the 10th. Oh well...we still won the series!

Overall as for sales, a great night! I've been very impressed and blessed with my sales this week...Looks like I've been nudging my way into the top half of most sales for the beer man of my commissary.

Totals thus far:
73 Bags of Cracker Jacks
90 Bottles of Water
177 Bags of Peanuts
2606 Bottles of Beer

Day 44 - "ID please"...."you're a hard ass!"

I really don't know what I could say that could even compare to the game that took place last night.

I am still mad at myself for leaving the stadium last night. By the time I got through checking out and clocked out, it was the middle of the 9th inning. I decided that I would get to my car in time to beat the traffic since I knew I had a busy day ahead of me. As I was walking across the parking lot next to the stadium, I hear the roar of the crowd as the Cardinals got a runner on second and had the game winning run at the plate.

I walked past Mike Shannon's and stopped to look up at one of the screens that the game was projected onto. The "bouncer" standing there told me to come on in and I could watch if I wanted to from inside...I was rather shocked I wasn't carded...but maybe I'm just used to being the "hard ass" (yes, I was called that last night) that I am carding people in the stadium.

I watched the Cards tie up the game and I decide to head on home...I couldn't go back into the stadium anyways or I would have gone back in...and I personally didn't care to just stand around at Shannon's in my sweat-soaked uniform.

It was weird. I was sitting at home watching the game I was just working at. Then I got pissed. I realized my phone just died, so I went to grab the charger from my room and when I came back and looked at the tv, the game was over. Albert's walk-off hit was amazing...seen through replays...oh well...I have a hunch I'll see him hit many homeruns at a home game this season...

Anyways...last night was pretty amazing...not just the game, but in sales. I did pretty well! I decided that I would stop selling Cracker Jacks and sell bottled water in its place since I'd make more commission off of bottled water. Not to mention, cracker jack sales haven't been the best for me lately...

Stories and such from last night's game -

-I was called a "hard ass". I had a group of 4 ask for 4 beers. The guy on the end asked for them. I only got a quick glance at him and the guy next to him and the girl in the 4th seat down, but not the 3rd person. Since they looked like they were in their late 20's, I still carded them. (Reminder: we are to ID anyone who appears to be under 31 1/2) So the guy asked if I needed all 4 of them and I said yes. Well that 3rd person I didn't get a look at, looked like it was this dude's mom. He showed me his ID and he said he was 33 and his wife was older than him. So he showed me his wife's ID and she was older than him...she was in her late 40's...nearly a 15 year age difference....Anyways the girl at the end who I did see before wasn't too happy either...she asked me if I really needed to see her ID because she was going to have trouble getting it out of her wallet with a sprained wrist...she then lifted her wrist up to show the brace she had on. I asked if one of the guys could please help her and they finally got it. She was upset to the point where she wasn't even wanting the beer and called me a hard ass for carding them when they were clearly old enough...I gave them their 4 beers and collected their money...

My job as a beer man...(my only job and only source of income)...is too important to me to keep than to get fired for not carding someone and possibly getting caught selling to a minor! It seems to be that about every night, I have just one or two groups who get all pissed off about me carding them. Most people already have their ID ready for me to check. What's the big deal? If someone has gray hair and is obviously in their 80's, no, I won't card them...9 times out of 10, people (ladies) appreciate being carded.

-I sold an entire case of beer by only walking down one row of steps into one section...awesomeness! I nearly sold another full case during the bottom of the 7th inning in a different section!

-During the play where Manny caught that ball that cause a stir in the crowd, personally, it looked like it was a homerun where Manny put a little hollywood into it to get it called fan interference...I don't know why all of the fans thought that the beer man would know everything about that play that just happened, but I was bombarded with questions from people asking me what happened and why they called back that homerun...I just replied back that it'd be on Sports Center or Baseball Tonight later tonight...and it was.

Overall, I think I did pretty well in sales compared to other beer men...I sold right at 3 1/2 cases and I was shocked to hear how some of the guys didn't even get past their 2nd case...

I've come to learn that as a beer man, it's not just about making 'regular' customers through a game, but also being in the right spot at the right time....basically having ice cold beer when everyone around you is thirsty. ...mmmmm...that just made me thirsty...

Totals thus far:
73 Bags of Cracker Jacks
86 Bottles of Water
176 Bags of Peanuts
2511 Bottles of Beer