Waiters singing Happy Birthday are an embarrassment.

My big brother celebrated a birthday last week. He went out to dinner with friends and family to mark the occasion. Before dinner, he called me on my cell and he was a little frantic.

Big Bro: “Dude, what if the servers come out and start singing Happy Birthday? I hate that shit.”
JJ: “It’s definitely gonna happen.”
Big Bro: “Is there any way I can stop it? Like if they start singing, maybe I can distract them or something.”
JJ: “Like how?”
Big Bro: “I don’t know. Maybe I could start singing another song right over top of them.”
JJ: “Yeah! Like the National Anthem or something! Then they’d have to stop, because they’d have to put their hand over their heart or whatever.”
Big Bro: “Yes! I mean, it would still be embarrassing, but I’d least I’d be in control of my own embarrassment.”

I also suggested that he could identify the leader of the singing waitresses and try to strike up a conversation in the middle of the birthday song.

Waitresses: “Happy birthday to…”
Big Bro: “So, how long have you worked here?”
Waitresses: “..you. Happy birthday…”
Big Bro: “What’s your name? You’re a good singer. Do you take singing lessons?”

But Big Bro didn’t like that idea. He’s married and he figured his wife might think he was trying to hit on the waitress if he pulled that stunt.

Are there any other tricks for getting out of the whole restaurant birthday song thing?

(Happy birthday, Big Bro!)

Share/Save/Bookmark