Bellboy Career

Bellboy Career

The Real Poop

No, you're not a dog walker, but they tip you $50 to take her out for a poop...are you really going to say no? (Source)

You're the inside man in the hotel biz with big dreams and humble beginnings. You know the ins and outs of this place. You could probably even run it if you wanted.

But for now, you're stuck schlepping bags and walking Winnie the dog for the next Eloise at the Plaza.

Tomorrow, you could be sitting pretty as a hotel manager-slash-mentor (source), giving etiquette lessons to Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman.

You might even end up owning the joint one day (source).

You gotta start somewhere—why not as a lobby boy? You'll be paid the glamorous wage of ten bucks an hour (source) to be the go-to person for transporting people's bags from the lobby to their hotel rooms and back again.

The bulk of your money will come from tips, and if you work in a busy hotel, that will make up for your low salary. The rule of thumb is that people should tip $1 dollar per bag, with a $2 minimum (source).

In New York City, the tip range goes up to between $1 and $5 a bag (source). And if you're delivering bags for a Kardashian in the Big Apple, you're sitting pretty.

A bellboy doesn't have to be a boy. Bellboys can obviously be girls. The name "bellboy" is often swapped out for "bell hop," "valet," or "baggage porter."

So why do people say "bellboy?" The term comes from the times when the concierge or hotel manager would summon the "boy" to come pick up a customer's bags by tapping a desk bell. Nowadays, the front-desk manager can simply text or use a walkie-talkie to let the "boy" know when there are bags to move.

"A good lobby boy anticipates people's needs before they know they need it," says M. Gustave in The Grand Budapest Hotel. A bellboy pretty much follows the same rules. Don't draw too much attention to yourself, and don't just sit around when you're not working. Make yourself useful (or at least make yourself look like you're being useful). You might even have to pick up the slack and cover for the front desk, though it's unlikely at the entry level.

A bellboy is considered part of both the transportation and tourism industries (source). Decent customer service skills and knowledge of local culture and attractions will help you on the job. In addition to bringing up and down a guest's bags on those pull carts, you'll often be asked to offer advice on the best place to grab a burger or directions to the art museum.

So many bags, so little time. (Source)

You make late night and early morning deliveries, fetching everything from tuna subs and pizza while doling out replacement strings for orchestra members who have a concert in town.

Your main gig, though, is moving heavy bags on and off the push cart and on and off the bed, so you'd better get those biceps ready for the gun show. Be prepared to be on your feet for at least eight hours every day. No need to join a gym—your job will give you a great workout.