For waitressing, how do I hold my hot, heavy trays while handing the food out to the tables?

I've been working at Cracker Barrel for a month now as serving assistant. Now I'm upgrading to server and I just started training today. I was doing good up until I spilled a Coke on a customer. The only thing I have a hard time with is carrying the hot heavy trays. Even with the round trays i have a hard time handing out the food while holding the tray. So please help me. I need to know how to be a better server. My trainer just told me instead of trying to balance the tray just rap my arm under and around they tray, well that's a probl;em because my arm is not long enough to be doing that. I know I have enough strength for this job because I work out all the time, so I need to know what is wrong with me and how I can fix my problems?!
Thanx,
Jacque

If they allow you to use a tray jack ALWAYS use a tray jack!! It is so much easier and safer to set the whole tray down on the jack, put the plates and drinks on the table, and clear the dirty dishes to the tray (AFTER you have removed all the fresh food).

I also had to learn how to pick up the tray and sometimes I could not find a jack. I would lower the tray and just place the very edge of the big tray on the edge of the table and clear that way, or if I was really showing off I would lower the tray to table level and hlod it there to move the plates, but you have to be VERY strong. You can set up two trays and only carry what you are comfortable with. Explain what you are doing to your table so they won't think you've forgotten the rest of their food, or grab a friend to help you carry out the other tray. If the tray is hot take a towel and put it on your hand first. Make sure you practice when it is slow with balancing the big and the little tray with all kinds of things.

Most of all, realize you WILL drop things! On the floor... on the customers... and funniest of all, on yourself. Don't sweat it! It happens. The worst feeling is to drop something on a customer. The way I avioided that is to never let the food and drinks (especially drinks) within range. I would always hold any tray out in the asile - never over the customer, and NEVER over a child or baby carrier.

Gosh!! I guess I miss it! Good luck and make LOTS of money!!!

P.S. Get in good with the bartender. That's where all the big money is (even more than the managers!) Learn bartending!!

I've been working at catering for a year ( I feel your pain). For me it was hard too, you just have to find your right place to hold the tray. The key thing is balance, try taking the heavier food off the tray last, then it will be easier to balance, and also maybe putting your shoulder into the tray too. Balance with your hand on the far end if the tray (keep your fingers spread out), and keep the other end of the tray on your shoulder, and when you get to the table, just put your hand on 1 end of the tray and the other end of the tray on the table. It gets to be a daily routine when you get it down, Good Luck
I hope "H33H"s advice will help you. Most of the restaurants I go to use folding tray stands. They dont expect the server to do a circus balancing act. I certainly don't. And I wouldn't want a drink spilled on me.

Good luck with your career. Even if you do figure out the technique for handling heavily laden trays, you might suggest to the store's manager about looking into those trays. It may cost just a few bucks, but think of the savings in not spilling dishes full of food on patrons.