Authors: Kathryn Leigh Scott
The Bunny Years (7 page)
Bunny Stance
Bunny Dip
Bunny Perch
Throughout it all was the suave presence of Keith Hefner. A former high school teacher who also had trained at the Actor's Studio, Keith joined the fledgling Playboy Club fresh from a stint as Johnny Jellybean on a children's television show. At Playboy, he was put in charge of Bunny training. He worked with several of the original Chicago Bunnies in developing the stylized serving techniques, devising a training program to ensure that no Bunny would ever barge up to a table and slap down a drink. “What'll ya'll have” would not be in our vocabulary. Though in later years, a waiter (“server”) introducing his or her first name before launching into the specials of the day would become
de rigueur
, in the early days of the Playboy Club it was a novelty.
Keith's presentation was a sublime blend of Lee Strasberg's method acting with the Reverend Norman Vincent Peale's Positive Thinking message. Bunnies in-training were asked to contrast the person who walked down the street and saw nothing but filth in the gutters with the person who looked up and saw the beauty in the landscape. To motivate a proper state of mind before starting a shift, we were told to take a moment and think of something happy, a positive thought, then enter the room as though we were walking on stage.
STYLIZED SERVICE TABLE PROCEDURES
You are the reason that people come to the Playboy Club. Our Keyholders and their guests expect to receive the ultimate in efficient, friendly, personalized service.
The following is a step-by-step example of standard table procedures (as demonstrated by your Training Bunny):
1. The Bunny approaches the table with a warm, welcoming smile.
2. When she reaches the table, she pivots gracefully and “tails” the table. She should now be in her “Bunny Stance.”
3. She then introduces herself and places down cocktail napkins (Logo facing the guest), doing her “Bunny Dip.”
4. Then she will say “May I see the Playboy key, please?” She reads the name on the key and says “Thank you, Mr. Pochuchnik.”
5. The lady's cocktail order is taken first. (If there are no ladies presentâthe gentleman to the right of the Keyholder). The Keyholder's order is taken last. She repeats each order as given.
6. When the cocktail order has been taken, the Bunny holds up her clean, empty mug, saying “Would anyone care to have his cocktail in a souvenir mug?”
7. She then asks if they will be dining with us. (She must know what is being served.)
8. When returning with the order, the first thing she will do is hand the key to the Keyholder saying “Here is your key, Mr. Pochuchnik.”
9. The drinks are served in the order that they were takenâladies first, Keyholder lastâagain repeating each drink as she places it down, doing her best “Bunny Dip.” The drink is placed on the napkin to the side of the Logo. She serves the entire table from one spot, simply pivoting to reach each guest.
10. She makes sure to cap the ashtrays and checks to see that the table is clean and neat.
A Bunny NEVER:
Places anything on, or removes anything from a table without doing her “Dip.”
Puts her tray down anywhere except in the service area.
Eats, drinks or smokes in view of a customer.
Carries anything in her mug.
Says or does anything that is not representative of the feminine beauty and grace that is “Bunny Image.”
“Make it special!” we were exhorted.
Even the serving tray had been reduced to an exact science. It measured 12 inches in diameter and was set up in a precise fashion with nine specific items: tax chart, Playboy lighter, tip tray, ashtrays, bar sponge, matches, napkins and bar checks. All of this essential equipment had to be in place before taking a drink order. Miraculously, there was still room to carry eight or more drinks at one time.
Bunnies were also required to commit to memory a precise order in which to call in drinks to the bartender in the service area. You had to set up your tray with the proper glasses in the proper sequence (“shots before cocktails”), slide the setups in front of the bartender, call out the order, garnish the drinks and make way for the next Bunny in line. Scotch, Canadian, bourbon, rye, Irish, gin, vodka (shots that corresponded to the sequence of bottles in the bartender's well) followed by rum, brandy, liqueurs, mixed-blended-creamed cocktails, beer, wine, mugs, Irish coffee.
I was overwhelmed at the prospect of remembering it all. And I couldn't really see any reason to learn itâa big mistake on my part, as I would soon learn within hours on “the floor” the following week.
In fact, I was so busy trying to commit to memory the bunny minutiae that I didn't take my first real notice of the other traineesâincluding “Bunny Marie”âuntil Tuesday, the day of our “Final Exam.” There were eight of us, including another acting student, a slim redhead who confided that she hadn't studied for the exam. I confessed I hadn't, either. Little did I know, my lapse was about to make history. “Bunny Marie,” who had sat side by side with me in the Penthouse during training, would later describe me in her article as the Bunny who only knew the names of Scotch whiskies. This was true, since the Scotch whiskies were listed first, and I hadn't committed most of the others to memory.
THE PLAYBOY CLUB
________________________________________
BUNNY TRAINING QUIZ
1. List the dreaded “call-in sequence.”
2. List Playboy “cash” keys.
3. List Playboy “charge” keys.
4. List acceptable major credit cards.
5 When you report to the floor, what information must you find out before beginning your shift?
6. When do you use the guest's name?
7. When do you do your “Bunny Dip”?
8. Do you ever:
a) put down your tray?
b) ask a guest if he wants his check?
c) tell a guest his key is no good?
d) tell a guest that you're tired and your feet are killing you and Bunny Peaches is living with your Uncle Fred and a monkey?
e) smoke, drink or eat in view of a guest?
f) smile and be charming in spite of #8d?
9. Why do you carry the following items:
a) lighter?
b) clean ashtrays?
c) penlight?
10. When you want to take your break, what must you do?
11. If a guest remains seated for one hour after he has paid his check:
a) Are you still responsible for his table?
b) Do you remove his empty glass?
c) Do you bring him 14 glasses of water if requested?
d) Do you keep checking to see if he'd like anything?
e) If he decides to have another drink, what do you do?
12. When you are very busy, do you:
a) avoid eye contact, for fear someone will ask you for something?
b) walk by a new party in your station because you can't pick him up at that moment?
c) maintain your “stylized” service and your charm?
d) say “sorry, this isn't my station”?
14. What phrase would you use if you are given:
a) a “cash” key?
b) a cash tip?
c) a pinch?
15. What are the rules regarding your coming in to the Club?
16. Will you receive any phone calls or messages at the Club?
17. Will you ever be seen in the Club looking less than perfect?
18. Does the Bunny Mother love you?
