Hostess in the club: what is this profession and what are the responsibilities?

The work of a hostess, especially in a nightclub, is often perceived ambiguously. The reasons lie in the novelty of this profession, lack of popularity and some prejudices associated with working in nightclubs in particular and the entertainment industry in general. To understand the essence of hostess work, it is necessary to consider all aspects of this activity.

The definition of the profession of a hostess differs slightly depending on the field of business, but in a general sense, it refers to a person who represents an institution or organization. Moreover, the hostess performs this role not only in front of the guests of the establishment, but also at other events - exhibitions, conferences.

Officially, such a position appeared relatively recently. Moreover, until now they are only found in large nightclubs that carefully take care of their reputation and the comfort of their visitors. Since such institutions are not available to everyone, there are several erroneous opinions about this profession among the broad masses.

The most harmless is the identification of a hostess and an administrator. In practice, the hostess can perform the duties of other employees - including solving some administrative issues and even replacing waiters, if such a need arises.... This is actively used by employers, attaching all sorts of related tasks to the employee. Hostesses are often compared to girls who provide services from the “crazy menu”. Really, in low-class clubs, workers who are not constrained by moral principles can use this method to earn additional income. But in respectable establishments, this is unacceptable.

In accordance with Russian legislation applying for the position hostesses should not be denied on the basis of gender, but only young women are secretly hired. In other countries, you can find men who do this job just as well.

When choosing any job, its advantages and disadvantages should be weighed. Among the advantages of the profession of a hostess are the following.

• Ease of employment. Usually, in order to get this position, you do not need a lot of experience or special education. They are easily compensated for by a set of suitable personality traits and available skills.
• Prospects for improvement and development. By conscientiously performing work as a hostess, a person can count on career advancement, especially since large organizations usually have opportunities for growth (up to an administrator, art director, promoter, etc.). Moreover, versatile activity allows you to decide in which direction to move on.
• Development of communications... It gives you the opportunity to meet people who are able to provide patronage, make the necessary connections.
• Experience gain. Any knowledge can help start an independent business in the service sector or completely abandon this idea.
• Additional bonuses. This includes tips, the opportunity to use the services of the club for free, etc. The larger the organization - the more developed the system of incentives in it.

Although at first glance there are no obvious shortcomings, people who worked on this site can note many problems. No tip, hostess salary remains low while girls have to spend a lot of money on their appearance. Most of the visitors to nightclubs are disrespectful to the staff, they often have to deal with conflict situations. Low-paid staff are rarely employed in accordance with the law. The lack of a social package and other disadvantages explain the fact that people do not stay here for a long time.

Usually, the workload for a hostess differs in different establishments, and it is not always proportional to the size of the salary. It is much better if all responsibilities are spelled out in the job description, since the oral version plays into the hands of only the employer. Typically, this position has to perform a number of tasks:

• greeting, meeting, escorting visitors and seeing off;
• table reservation and subsequent accommodation of guests;
• consulting on all types of services provided;
• informing about discounts and other offers that are valid now and are also planned in the future;
• partial coordination of service personnel and assistance when there is a lack of it;
• providing or resolving conflict situations with other employees and guests;
• feasible help if the guest has difficulties;
• compliance with internal regulations and safety rules.

In fact, the hostess deals with the atmosphere in the establishment and the comfort of the guests. To be able to acquaint visitors with the club, a girl must be well versed in the menu, price lists, and working hours. In addition, you need to be aware of all the orders of the management, get to know the staff and know their schedule. Sometimes additional obligations are added to this list - from being responsible for the safety of property and controlling order in the hall to creating activity on the dance floor and informal communication with guests in order to increase the number of orders.

The best indicator of a job seeker's suitability for a hostess position is his skills. For this area, the following are important:

• the ability to easily memorize a large amount of information, names, faces;
• knowledge of foreign languages ​​(at least spoken English, and in large clubs - Italian, French, etc.);
• knowledge of the principles of nightclubs or other entertainment establishments;
• skills of work organization and self-organization;
• the ability to arrange a person from the first minutes of communication;
• the ability to establish communication with different guests of the nightclub (listen, understand their needs, find an approach);
• knowledge of the basic skills of presenting information and creating interest (including by phone);
• the ability to analyze emerging problem situations and quickly find ways to resolve them.

All of the above abilities cannot be realized if a person does not have the necessary personal qualities. First, it is communicativeness, since all hostess activities are based on communication with customers, staff and administration. Second, the employee must be stress-resistant, flexible and ready for anything - from banal discontent to rudeness.

Thirdly, attentiveness is important. Often, in order for the guest to be satisfied, you need to pay attention to the little things. This is especially true for regular visitors or famous personalities - they can be attracted if you use already familiar information.

All nightclub employees must have endurance. Working conditions in such an institution cannot be called easy, but you can adapt to them, having good physical and psychological health. Regardless of the time of day or mood, the hostess should look friendly and smile.

Finally, the face of the nightclub is definitely must be attractive. This includes requirements for appearance - not necessarily ideal, but without repulsive features. A well-groomed appearance, makeup appropriate to the occasion and a neat hairstyle are encouraged. Much attention is paid to speech - it must be clear, competent, without defects.

There is no special training in this profession. On the contrary, it can be a good start for gaining experience. Usually, young people are hired for this job immediately after graduation, and sometimes the schedule allows you to combine both types of activities. To begin with, it is enough to make sure that the profession matches in appearance, type of character and communication skills, as well as improve English. Usually, after the interview, all newly arrived employees are given a probationary period during which they make choices and gain the necessary experience.

Very often, a change of profession occurs after the move. Despite the high turnover and competition, it is easier to find a place in large cities with a well-developed network of nightclubs and restaurants. Such positions are often employed by people abroad, although these activities are usually seasonal.