Gay Life – The Paulinator: Flirting or Securing His Tip?
Whether you are gay or straight there comes a point when one must ask this question: Is this waiter/bartender/stripper flirting with me for real, or are they simply looking for a better tip? I will not say I am an expert at spotting the difference, because I have crashed and burned on occasion, but to me there seems to be something exciting about the art of the flirt within the service field.
I was in Houston earlier this year and discovered this interesting bar on the outside of downtown. I walked into Tony’s Corner Pocket one night to discover it was amateur stripper night, a weekly showcase of Spanish boys who don’t necessarily speak much English so they rely on their chiseled bodies to make some money. Following their dancing, they would then work the room attempting to make some more tips. To an unseasoned gay, one might think “Joe the Stripper” likes him because he allowed him to feel up his manhood. When in reality, “Joe the Stripper” is probably straight and knows this will make him extra cash!
I, of course, like to flirt with the big boys, meaning, strippers are good for a one night and that’s it, but bartenders (while also good for one night stands) come with additional perks. Case in point, still at T.C.P in Houston, I met C the Bartender. This bartender served me and we started talking about this and that, and what brought me to Houston, etc… As the night continued we discovered not only did we live in the same region of the Northeast, but we have the same birthday! Stranger still, our birthday was that Saturday, so of course I knew where I would be spending it.
As a New Yorker, one comes to expect certain things out of life, even though it simply isn’t permitted in other areas. I have grown accustomed to staying out until 4/4:30AM because bars stay open for business much later here, well in Houston I believe it was either 1 or 2AM that closing occurred. I asked C the Bartender early on in the night what time the bar closed and his response caught me off guard. He told me, with it a wink, it didn’t matter! This was no flirt to get more tips!! Well, I definitely didn’t know exactly how to take it, but I was thrilled to find out he would drive me back to my hotel following our after hours drinks. Even after three consecutive nights there (including our birthday night), I knew C the Bartender‘s flirting was more than him fishing for tips, and while we never hooked up (even after I handed him a NYC condom to remember me), I made a good friend and I can’t wait to return to Houston and my gay-Cheers-like bar in 2009!
It has been intersting to scout this city for men in the service industry that aren’t looking simply to increase their bank accounts. I’m on the cusp of what I hope will be something pretty great, the problem being, we met while he was working at a bar. I’m trying this time to take it slow and see what happens. I’m guessing from the semi-regular text message responses I get from Hot Bartender, he’s clearly interested. The upcoming holidays have sort of made it impossible to plan anything outside of the bar until 2009, so for once, The Paulinator must be patient! I’ll let you know how it goes!
Tags:gay, joe the stripper, nyc, NYC condom, tony's corner pocket
24. December 2008 at 6:48 am :
Ooh, very well done! Although from someone who is currently carrying a tray for a living, I would say most of the flirting that I do is for a tip. Most, but not all….