Tattoo problems in culinary school?

[chef.ESG.73]

Rules are rules, period.......I have many tatoos also, I literely had them measured to my chef coats so that they can't be seen......

Suit for a interview $2,00.00

Briefcase and leather planner $400.00

The look on a owners face when he walks in my office for the first time and sees me in a t-shirt.....PRICELESS

Mind you I have tatoos up and down my arms, shoulders, and legs. I will not hire any one with expossed tatoos........

[OregonYeti]

Hah hah

Way to go, ESG.73

I'm not into ink but you gave me a good laugh.

[bughut]

Originally Posted by chef.ESG.73

Rules are rules, period.......I have many tatoos also, I literely had them measured to my chef coats so that they can't be seen......

Suit for a interview $2,00.00

Briefcase and leather planner $400.00

The look on a owners face when he walks in my office for the first time and sees me in a t-shirt.....PRICELESS

Mind you I have tatoos up and down my arms, shoulders, and legs. I will not hire any one with expossed tatoos........

Why would you not?

[chef.ESG.73]

It is nothing personal, again I have several covered up tattoos...When your guest are paying $100.00 to $3,000.00 a head for service..It is my experience and opinion only, not a fact..Most people do not get that tatoos are an expresion of yourself thru art(tattoos) They look at people with tattoos as negative people...people think just because you have ink you either have been to prison or on drugs or a biker....They dont understand the food we just served them is as much art, as the tatoos on our bodies.....People first judge you on what they see, because thats all they have to go by...Then once they know you, the tattoos mean nothing to them...right or wrong its human nature....

The most important thing that everyone in our bussiness depends on is that the guest will return again, as much as I do what I do because I love it, I also love money, and tattoos frighten most people...Myself i do alot of high end catering for alot of people who think their that important, and they are shuned by tattoos....And I want them to feel as comfortable as I can make them, its my job, period...I may be in the bussiness of hospitality but im also in the bussiness of making money.....

It may be A BAD JUDGEMENT CALL ON MY PART, but I'm sticking with my policy...No exposed tattoos that can be seen by guest.. Cover your whole body. I'll probally like you more, but your not helpping pay for my kids, the guest is..Were in customeer service not the carpenters union...AND THATS MY FINAL ANSWER, RIGHT OR WRONG I'M STAYING WITH IT.....I really hope this does not offend you, may you have many blessings in your life.....

[OregonYeti]

In my trade you dress professionally. Tatoos and piercings are part (or actually not part) of the professional appearance. I could blame the customers but where would that leave me??? There is no law saying that customers are required to come back.

I wear my work clothes for work, and I dress as I want when off work. Tatoos are permanent dress if they are visible, and in a lot of cases I think it's inappropriate.

My opinion . . tatoos can be a personal or a public thing. There is a difference between the two.

[chef.ESG.73]

Again Just My Opinion:

I'm going to assume your not in the food bussiness by that statement you just provided....

In my field it is the law that guest return, I mean only if you want to keep your job....

Again Just My Opinion, take it or leave it...

If it don't apply, let it fly...

[OregonYeti]

LMAO

[chef.ESG.73]

LOL...I'm glad you cook for fun hope you enjoy it..

I wish you good blessings and great dishes

[RSteve]

chef.ESG.73 and I are totally on the same page.

If your attire and demeanor; including tattoos and piercings, influence prospective customers to spend their money elsewhere, you are history.

Any way you shake the maracha, the food business/hospitality industry is hard labor. To bust your butt producing fine cuisine, only to have customers decline to return to your establishment because they perceive a negative/hostile attitude by staffs' tattoos is both emotionally and financially defeating.

[bughut]

I own a successful catering business, Both ***tion work and business hospitality. I've just had a tribal tattoo done on the side of my left wrist 3 inches long that i absolutely love. (been putting it off for years) I'm getting comments and interested looks. I'm a reasonably well turned out, professional 50 year old and i dont much care what folk think, although i'm not out to shock. No way. I've no doubt some folk dissaprove but business is good, so no problem. Just because one is into body art surely doesnt mean they are a bad employee/caterer/employer.

[chef.ESG.73]

Ofcouse I'm not sayn people with tattoos are bad employees...I have a bunch of tattoos...That would be like sayn I s-ck....What I'm sayn is, its the general publics view...

Plus, you can do what ever you want, you own the company. I don't...

I have people to answer to.....I was told years ago, as important as it is to make great food for your guest to enjoy, if you can't make your boss money, don't expect next weeks paycheck......

[kzoo1]

It's a sad fact that you WILL be judged for the way you look. I don't agree with it, but it's something that we all face. As to the school, you have to remember that when you wear their logo, you're advertising for them. You have to represent the school at it's best and most professional and, unfortunately, many people don't think that tattoos send a good message. It's nothing personal, and there's a very good chance that you're instructors have tattoos themselves, it's just that they have to enforce the standards set by the school. I've known some amazing chefs that were covered in tattoos, and some of them worked for very conservative restaurants. They rolled their sleeves on the line, but when they had to go table side or if they were at an event, you could bet that their sleeves were rolled down and they had taken every step to look professional.
It's a real kick in the butt that we have to worry about someone else's silly misconceptions, but it's a fact. No matter how talented you are, how fast and clean you work, how dependable you are; the guests don't care. They don't know anything about you except what they see and if they don't like what they see (and that's all up to them) well, there you go.
I hope everything works out for you in Sydney, and that you don't let this little set back get you down. Good Luck!

[RAS1187]

Well the problem is not with being able to cover up tattoos, if nobody can see them, nobody can judge. I think the problem lies in that in that he has tattoos in areas that he cannot cover.

[Jim]

If your attire and demeanor; including tattoos and piercings, influence prospective customers to spend their money elsewhere, you are history.

You said it all. Have ink or not; show them off, or not; flaunt your piercings or not. Whatever you decide, just realize going into it, that your actions may trigger a series of events that are may not neccesarily go in your favor. I have 6 tattoos and you would never guess it. They are well hidden and belong to me. If we met, you would never guess. However, I keep them to myself and that works for me. (My avatar is actually my most recent piece!)

[Blueicus]

If a university doesn't offer admittance based on whether or not one has tattoos I don't see why culinary school should. Hiring is a different matter entirely, of course.