How to Prevent the Waitstaff From Singing "Happy Birthday...

[ursulajoni15]

this is why i never go to resturants on my irthday

o am in elementarty school my best friend casualy mentions tha it was my birthday to the lunch lady and the entire school began singing happy birthy,(most of the kids hated me) , i was ready to strangle her

[BrightNeonColourz]

leaving when they start singing? That's just plain rude.

[612Matthew]

Step 1: Don't mention it's your birthday! Annoyance spared.

[CrapperPacker]

Step 1 - DONT TELL THEM ITS YOUR BIRTHDAY

done

[vietduong128]

just punch em in the face.

[KiraAdzior]

at this one restaurant called Texas Roadhouse, nice place to eat and on someone's b-day someone would call the waiters and they announce HEY EVERYONE IT'S THIS B-DAY LETS GIVE THIS PERSON A BIG YEEEHAAA, AND EVERYONE SHOUTS YEEEEEEEHAAAAAAW

[GabbyChan101]

OMG HOWCAST REASPONDS!!!!! :O 

[GabbyChan101]

OMG HOWCAST REASPONDS!!!!! :O

[wertel1]

It is funny those fat bitches shouldnt have friends.

[kb41086]

It's funny... I've been waiting tables for almost a decade, And I've never met a waiter/ess that liked singing happy Birthday. We all hate it, and if the server does insist, they are probably trying to get on the tipper's good side. Which is usually the person that asks us to sing in the first place. $2.13 an hour is enough to make you suck up all day...

[MsDreamscape]

HOWCAST REPLIED!! ZOMGGGG

[JoyeuseXI]

That's one wobbly table.

[WNxRadeon]

nice tips :D

[Routanne]

I always just tell them, how cast all ways makes things seem harder than they actually are.

[pokelover66544]

i hate it when they sing to me

[p6a9u1l42]

this video better be a joke seriously who bribes a waiter.... just say dont fucking sing to me or i wont tip you

[StarleePie47]

Or you can just suck it up and let them sing. It's actaually not THAT bad.

[GeekLuv1]

Or just say to your friends or whoever your with that you don't do that sorta thing, and if it happens anyway, smile and bare and then tell your friend after you leave the restaurant how you feel about them ignoring your request. Or just lose it after you leave. Both are good. ^_^

[Hatsworth101]

Why tip? They surely don't want to fall on the floor ...

[RoadRageRocker]

How about trying to lose some weight instead of eating. Then you won't have to worry about singing.

[ashleymarieanneclark]

if you just stand up and leave you look like an asshole. That's kind of overreacting if you can't get them to not sing you happy birthday your going to have to just put up with it.

[sanjikitty]

If you want to be sure that no one will sing to you, make sure you're not going to a place that has nachos or deep-fried anything on the menu. My friends took me to a delightful steakhouse for my birthday and while the staff did bring me a free slice of most delicious cake, there was no singing, and no stupid candle in the cake :)

[skyephoneix]

I actually like having them sing happy birthday to me. Problem, the happy birthday song is not in the public domain, so it's actually illegal for them to sing you the happy birthday song to begin with. What sucked was I found this out in a restaurant on my birthday.

[MrJackanthony]

How did you find out and why's it illegal? xD

[skyephoneix]

@MrJackanthony I found out when I went out to eat on my birthday and they didn't sing happy birthday (they did when I went there for my birthday a couple years prior). Apparently the song is not in the public domain yet meaning that, unless they pay a TON of royalties they can't do a "public performance" of the song

[MrJackanthony]

@skyephoneix wow hehe. I wonder who composed the song??

[skyephoneix]

@MrJackanthony the song first appeared in print in 1912, but wasn't copyrighted until 1935 at which time Preston Ware Orem and Mrs. R.R. Forman were credited.

[crimsonheroX7]

Happy Birthd--- "KEEP IT UP AND THE CAKES GONNA GET CUT SECOND!"

[Zacky44445]

lol in the beginning the table looked like it was gonna collapse

[ilovefall08]

i wanna go to a restaurant with a waiter robot!

[AdamDeLaMer]

Just tell your friends that you don't play that. Save your $.

[jinnwarior]

wow that sounds cool i wanna go to that german place

[AngelaShiyanagami]

i fucking stand up and swing my untensicals insanely

though one time on my birthday my mom got me fried icecream it was fucking delioucues

even though i had to hear happy birthday sung by fake chinese people speaking english

[GayForJC]

did u mean engrish?

[Ozzy0sbourne]

lo fucking l!!!!!!!!!!!111111

[kaoristu]

happy birthday song is copy-righted by Time Warner, so make sure your restaurant is buying the copy rights before singing it! lol

[davemuscato]

Bribes? Are they kidding? Just say, "Don't sing to me." Waiters work on tips; they have no interest in pissing you off.

[Weerzer]

@davemuscato yes dumbo. they are kidding.

[dahotea]

@davemuscato yes they do ...this waitress asked if if i want the birthday song. i said no that ok i don't want a song. 2 min later guess who got a birthday song.

[supermouse720]

something gives me a feeling that the people who make this are waiters that REALLY want bribe money lol

[maamaablacksheep]

just say it's your friend's birthday before they can say it's yours

[Princessabbyi]

can't you just say no thanks, please don't sing. I have a headache

[EasterEgg159]

lol, bribe money....

[Wiz00177]

Why don't you tell them to -Blam!- off? Bribe? That's crazy, pay to make someone go away?

[ieatfood4lunch]

Just walk up and leave? How rude! I would love for someone to give me a cupcake :(

[Nicko93]

That's dumb, why reject someone that wants to be nice to you??? It's like spitting in the hand that wants to help you (metaphorically)

[SchmedleyDoRight]

Furthermore, if it's the establishments' policy that the Staff sing to you, you can get out all of your frustrations about being generally powerless in your dead-end job (or non-existent job) by sadistically 'encouraging' the imprisoned 'performers' with rousing taunts like, "DANCE FOR ME, MONKEY!! DANCE!!!", or "Want a tip? You'd better sing falsetto, Server Rick!" Also, declaring (with great concern and mock seriousness) that you don't eat anything that came from something with a face is good

[SchmedleyDoRight]

I worked as a Waiter once.. for 3 months. Having never done it before, a Fine Dining Restaurant finally opened in my city, a mountain resort community, and I bullshitted my way into a position because I knew I'd get great tips. I did. But I made the mistake of barreling-out a rendition of Happy Birthday to another member of the waitstaff, as a joke. From then on, I was THE person that was tapped to sing for EVERY birthday person that came through the place. It was humiliating for everyone.

[superobin1]

get them to sing for you. they are probably more embarrassed then you or ticked off lol

[MEGAFATBOY]

LoL If you leave while they are singing....

[LongshotLozUK]

wow how self concious do you have to be for you to walk out on people on your birthday

[pipalac]

im a sad panda =.= no one sings to me Q.Q...

btw GO! GO! germany :D

[muchachaloca921]

I Love when they sing to me. Not to sound concited but i like the attention lmao. does  that sound weird??

[ciaran2929]

just take de fukin cake nd punch dem right in de face

[ChicoRitter936]

I Like the fact that they sing to you!!!

!!

[nomercyrules10]

what social retard hates it that much? especially leaving during the singing. that's embarrassing and pathetic for all parties.

[Howcast]

I personally am not a big fan of having Happy Birthday sung to me. To each his own. I also don't like coffee....

[nomercyrules10]

it's just one of those silly embarrassing things where you blush and cover your face a bit and groan/giggle. it lasts a few seconds, then you get free dessert.

[ChicoRitter936]

Neither Do I!!

[svthebomb]

um............................­..who are you

[furoshus]

I fully agree

[pwnagedisher]

UGH....

I hate when they sing to me. One, they really don't want to. Two, no singing is better than half-assed singing.

I probably ouldn't go as far as leaving the restaurant, but I would bribe the waiter (tress).

[killerdodo1234]

@Howcast i hate it.. theses are good ideas.

[teodan511]

@Howcast hahahaa yeah i know how it fells to have happy birthday sung to you

[cherryblossomsakusas]

@Howcast OH MY GOD! HOWCAST ACTUALLY REPLIED!!!!

[MyPinky2003]

@Howcast hey howcast in the video how to ask someone to be quiet in a movie theater what if they dont allow re funds at alll no matter what?

[BrittanyGillisVEVO]

@Howcast OMG HOWCAST REPLIED!!

[RustyEraser]

@nomercyrules10 I hate it when they do, and so does my mum. But we just don't tell the people it's our birthday. Problem solved!

[cooldudethegreatspy]

lmfao

[ChoChoquota]

Well I LOVE it!  Birthday are just once a year right?

[RunescapeProffesor]

"Happy Birthday to yo-..."

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!"

[ducksmasher09]

LMFAO!!!!!

[RunescapeProffesor]

8~D

[yogos87]

8========D

[Cherry845]

um i'd rather keep my money than have someone sing to me for oh, 30 seconds...

[lolgiggetyroflomg]

but what if your at a mexican restaraunt?

[videoshare123]

say it in spanish?

[lolgiggetyroflomg]

lol

[Megster20007sRPS]

I KNOW WHAT TO DO ITS WAY SIMPLER!!

just ask them not to sing to you :)

[Man5man6]

ive done that..... didnt work lol

[srbrand04]

I am a waiter at a steakhouse...and we have to sing to our guests when it is their birthday. We don't have a choice, we hate it as much as the guest does. It's not our passive aggressive way to get back at the guests...our managers simply make us do it.

[Gibsonites]

I hope I'm not the only one that thinks that this is completely ridiculous... Slipping people bribe money and lying is a way to make it big in the MAFIA, not in a restaraunt that has a birthday song..

[augreydragon]

The restaurant that my family and I usually go to on my birthday pull out a saddle and make you sit on it while they wail happy birthday to you. O.o

So I usually forbid any of my family members to mention that it is my birthday. Its worth sacrificing the free desert.

[Dakrockson]

Thanks for posting this 2 days after my birthday Howcast. My parents always try to get me to a restaurant for the embarressing singing. I fell for Montanas Twice in a row, and 3 times in all. That moose hat smells. D'=

[DairyQu33n]

Exactly the same for me XD

Besides the last two line :]

[TehEddy]

this is a guide of how to be an asshole. when ppl bring u a cake and sing for u they are trying to do something nice for you..

[MySegaSaturn]

It's not necessarily being an asshole; some people are just embarrased by the attention. Haven't you ever noticed how everyone in a given restaurant seems to stare at whoever's being sung to? Some people love that kind of thing, but others don't. I wouldn't like that at all.

[sakinehbs]

just tell them very firmly that you don't want them to sings. if they did just leave.

[zimzorz]

exactly. i told them one time i didnt want them to sing. they laughed (jokingly) and I told them if they did, I wouldn't be back. I think some like to sing but the majority dont. I find it extremely annoying when I go to a restaurant and they sing to teens / adults. Kids are ok as birthdays are a big thing for them :)

[sakinehbs]

you are right, it is only for kids, they need to respect your wishes

[rockpaperdolls]

what? ok this one is really stupid. if you dont want someone to sing to you, just tell them ahead of time.

Your server doesnt want to make you uncomfortable especially on your bday. a servers main goal is to make sure that their guests have a great time and come back again. not make you regret coming in.

[gbmack2000]

howcast ur making third-rate rockshit vids now.. wtf??? besides, who doesn't want a happy birthday.

[zimzorz]

me? i dont mind family / friends but people I dont know, no thanks.

[Chilenita74]

Why should I bribe them...and twice?! yikes!!

[SeikoPsycho]

How about just not mentioning it's your birthday?

If you mention it, they will obviously think that you are expecting them to sing to you to earn your tip.

And if you walk away and not tip because they sung to you after you mentioned it's your birthday, then you're a real douchebag and you would be the ones looking foolish for walking out!!

[elchamber]

Ah they totally forgot one step.

Step 6: A gun will stop everything.

[vlsanhue]

Lol

totally agree xD

[AsianPinoyPride]

that should be step 1 if the others dont work, or only have 1 step xD

[Cooltreivus]

lol pull out a shotgun

[scottbob3fur]

LOL

[adogg619]

My mom used to say she was going to the restroom, but what she really did was go tell the waiter it was my birthday. Then when they come singing, she plays dumb like she didn't say anything.

[KIttyCat1515]

i have that skull shirt! haa thats funni

[Dayberry]

Dont tell them its your fuckin birthday THATS IT

[Crayolacreative]

I don't mind when they sing happy birthday. It lasts like what... 7 seconds?

BUT: Texas Roadhouse makes you get on a saddle and they take your table's light and point it on you like a spotlight. Now that is one restaurant i will not go to for my birthday.

[UglyMaleee]

BBW!!!

[iforgotaboutit]

HAHA It was my birthday on March 13, the day this was posted.

[MarleyMe95]

Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear iforgotaboutit, Happy Birthday to you.

Should have given me the bribe money.

[iforgotaboutit]

Lol, Thanks. No need to pay you. I don't mind the singing (typing?)

[MusicParodyParty]

Bwahaha this one was funny and pointless.

[eDotDanny311]

It seems like every girl they get to act in these Howcast videos are beyond cute!

[silverfx]

There was this time when I saw four different people being sang to in this restaurant within the span of less than twenty minutes. It was hilarious.

[thoughtplacebo]

Just tell the waitstaff that you are a Jehovah's Witness and it's against your religion to celebrate birthdays.

[SephirothBurger]

i think that what should happen is

" Materials; Gun, preferably handgun like a .357 magnum.

If the waiter getting anywhere close, yo singing birthday, just wave that baby around and thats the end of that,note that we are not responsible if you gt incarcerated

[MusicParodyParty]

Haha ;D

[rotaroota]

I love thick chicks, man I dont know why

If u lookin for a man baby I'm that guy!

[crazyCA12]

Or you could say " bitch gtfo or I will kill you!"

[aquafreshhh]

ughhh that rocky table bothered me the whole video!!!

[blobthetagger]

just gonna tell them i have to take a shit

[bingolax34]

i always cry like a baby to make them feel bad :B

[Raptinox]

why would you not want them singing to you, it's awesome.

[MrNaughtyHands]

singing sucks from a waiters point of view...we dont wanna ever do it..but its the companys policy that makes us do it or we lose our job...pretty unfair to all of us isnt it?

[carnalucious]

I agree....once one person has it done...especially on a busy night...then EVERYONE has to have it done. It not only wastes my time but can make me get behind and possibly resulting in smaller tips... Honestly, we will be ok with you telling us you'd rather not be sung to :)

[Tonyant26]

Then this is a giant circle of hate! I would like it if waiters didn't sing.

[shameusyo]

embarass the fuck out of them and CUSS THEM OUT, works too.

[SecretUser2000]

This video should be categorized under comedy rather than howto & style.

[BinkieMcFartnuggets]

Just screaming "Shut the hell up or I'll kill everyone!" works pretty well I've found. I hate it so much I'll stop it even when they're singing for another table and the person is enjoying it.

[wangpronouncedwong]

finally, a helpful video.

but i still want free dessert, so i'll just say that i'm suffering from a terminal illness, such as i-could-die-from-listening-to-­the-birthday-song-itis.

[bglad4life]

or you could just stand up and shout,"GO THE FUCK AWAY!!!!!!!!"

[DreamingUpsideDown22]

that's my kind of approach

[jax12007]

yeah I'm not bribing anyone not to sing for my birthday.

[ItsJustJasmine]

haha this is a good subject for a vid. lol

[screaming4twilight]

i punched the singer in the face for my 13th birthday.........what? he scared me and i punched him!

[DramaqueensParodies]

HAHA! I would totally do that. Nice nice.

[CastleFlameGal]

Id just let them sing happy birthday to me. I think its just sad if people are willing to be rude and walk out on someone who is wishing you a happy birthday. It might be embarrassing, but its not a horrible embarrassment. People need to stop being so stuck up. Sorry. Just had a rant feeling lol.

[poodster96]

it seems stupid to go out on your birthday if you don't want people to know its your birthday

[justme252009]

lol

[VictimOfBoredom]

Seems pretty damn stupid to pay all that money just to have them not sing to you.

[TigerSlashX]

um

but that is fun!