Or an oil change. Complete sentences never hurt. There are no student waiters, no actors moonlighting by waiting tables until they land that big part. Young waiters are actually apprentices, learning the ropes, the techniques, from veterans. They are allowed to play small roles, bringing wine glasses, carrying fresh fish to the kitchen, bringing parmesan to grate.
Hand gestures are graceful, walks are purposeful, banter is poised.
They are all Ginger Rogers preparing to meet Fred Astaire. If waiting tables were a destination career in this country, more servers would be likely to have respect for their jobs, not to mention a respectable paycheck. We spend a lot of money on training and education. Burke believes that a good waiter should be able to answer questions. They are forced to bow obsequiously toward the patron when taking orders.