Hiring is Casting
Many are uncomfortable with the notion that we are in the theater business. It smacks of 'fluff over substance' or mindless pizzazz. It suggests the need for elaborate sets and clever 'show-biz' schtick. It reminds us of the disturbing episodes with peppy servers on one knee declaring with florid smiles and frozen eyes, "Hi, I'm Randy and I'll be your server tonight".

Acting is not faking. Acting recognizes that the experience between your 'cast' and your guest is a structured event. This experience can be heightened to the status of glorious memory (think 'word-of-mouth'), or ratcheted down to the vanilla level of same-old, same-old, or God forbid, relegated to the dumpster of the truly awful.

Effective acting requires effective preparation. That starts with whom you hire and how you do it. A fine fellow named Larry Witcher developed a unique and wildly successful method for hiring that recognizes the need to create a team or 'cast' of characters. Witcher, besides playing a mean pair of spoons and having a passion for a red Corvette, staffed a series of casual steak houses with some of the most entertaining, bright and effective servers, bartenders, bus people and kitchen staff using a technique called the Group Interview. With the active encouragement of owner Dave Poore, Larry used his own offbeat sense of humor and serious sense of responsibility to accomplish the task.

The Group Interview
Imagine, if you will, a group of twenty people gathered in a circle. They think they have arrived to partake of the traditional one-on-one interview in which a management type reviews their resume and application. Nope. Larry starts off the meeting with the following statement
LARRY: "This is not a networking deal, or a pyramid scheme or an Amway meeting. This is really an interview for a steak house chain. We're a bit different that other restaurants.

• You saw the weirdo help wanted ad in the paper resembling a David Letterman Top Ten List.
• Instead of a resume, we asked you to send us a note telling us about yourself
• Now you find yourself in this group interview. You gotta be wondering 'What have I gotten myself into?'

"Well, let me tell you. Some of you are on the verge of hooking up with a very successful restaurant company, which knows how to have a lot of fun while seriously taking care of business."

He goes on to state, plain and square, that the company is its people. He explains the group interview represents the value that "because we work as a team, we interview as a team".

Larry and Dave create an environment and use a process which goes beyond the canned "waitron" approach. They find out which applicants are engaging, energetic, can follow instructions, think on their feet and have a little personality. The forum gives Larry a stage to tell the concept's story. He spends time seeking those individuals who respond to the promise, "To have a lot of fun while seriously taking care of business" It also happens to save time because it is done in groups. And it works. Dave's restaurants continue to enjoy the highest average volume and increased same store sales in his system over the last eight years. Casting does not require a song and a dance, just the understanding that we are in the theater business.

Next issue, we'll examine "The Rehearsal Process" also known as training. --> GO