Goal: Internalize the cadence of service. The greeting in 30 seconds. The first beverage in 2 minutes. The water glass at 1/3. Read the room.
The trainee arrives 30 min before family meal in full uniform. Coach is assigned today (see coach protocol). Pre-shift attendance is mandatory.
The atomic handbook rules. Read all of these:
The trainee shadows the lead server (or lead bartender, if going to the well). Watches the greeting. Watches the first-beverage timing. Watches the table-maintenance pass. Practices the greeting on slow incoming tables — the trainee says "welcome to Lancey" and walks away. Coach observes.
By the end of the shift, the trainee has greeted at least 5 guests.
The trainee carries water and refills as glasses drop to 1/3. That's their job today: water. Watch and refill. Read the room.
15-minute debrief with coach. What did the trainee notice about timing? What did they notice about language?
Coach sign-off: Trainee can recite the 30-second greeting standard, the 2-minute beverage standard, and the water cadence. Trainee delivered at least 5 greetings without prompting.