Birthday Gone Bad

There are sometimes in life, no matter how long, or how well things are planned. It just doesn't go well. That is the case here.  We have a group of players that come and play almost every night. Well one them had a birthday on Saturday. In a joint effort they planned a birthday party at the bingo hall. All of the employees knew about it, as well as other customers. They came in early decorated the bingo table with balloons, streamers, plates, napkins, lots of food, and of course a birthday cake. At this point all is going well, right on schedule. Then the doors open for the night. So customers started coming in for the evening sessions. This is when everything went bad. This lady that knew the birthday group, thought the party was for her but it was for the other lady with the same name. She started screaming at them "I can't believe you would give her a party and forget my birthday" She was so mad she turned around while standing at the table in such a rush. She got her bingo bag caught up in the table cloth......off the table came everything!!! Cake and food on the floor. About the same time, here walks in birthday girl. Needless to say it was a big throw down.......... and they all were asked to leave. Just another day at bingo.

Can Man

Every bingo hall I have ever worked or played at has had their very own Can Man. This is a customer that will go through the trash and dig out empty coke cans every night after the sessions are over. Everyone knows that he collects cans, and most customers will leave their empty coke cans out on the tables for him to pick up once they leave. Well, tonight there was almost a fist fight between our Can Man and a self-proclaimed new Can Man. The new Can Man had been picking up the cans on the weekends, when our Can Man wasn't there. We were very busy tonight and ironically, they were both there. After bingo was over, they both started to go through the trash cans. At first, they didn't see each other because of the general commotion of people leaving and talking after the session. Once they spotted what each other and figured out they were doing the same thing, our Can Man started yelling at the new one!! They proceeded to argue with a conversation going something like this:
"Hey man what are you doing? Those are my cans...I get the cans every night!" - Our Can Man
"No you don't, I do!!!!" - The other Can Man

They started yelling at each other louder and louder and eventually began walking towards each other... we all knew that it wouldn't end well. The New Can Man tried to grab the sack of crushed up cans out of our Can Man's hands and demanded that he give it to him. Our Can Man refused to give them up and they immediately began pushing each other - needless to say, it got really ugly, really quick. Luckily, security was there to intercede, so no one got seriously hurt. So, tonight's message is... maybe it is the little things in life that really matter (for instance, aluminum cans). Just another day at bingo.

Bad Weather

We had to close bingo tonight due to the extreme weather. Some of the employees went into work, including myself because I live very close to the bingo hall. Soon after I went in, the owner was contemplating whether or not to shut down the bingo hall. The roads were totally iced and covered in snow; it was below 20 degrees outside. As we were sitting there waiting on the manager to make the call the phone did not stop ringing! People were coming in two hours earlier than usual just to be there in time for bingo. For our customers, just the thought of the possibility that the bingo hall might close, had all of the players in a complete panic. It's really funny the trouble that players will go to in order to play bingo (see prior post titled Candle Lit Bingo). After we told everyone that no bingo would happen tonight, you would have thought that we committed a felony crime!!! These people WERE NOT happy. However, there were not enough of the crazy ones to play bingo. We will see them all tomorrow night, I'm sure. They love their bingo!! Just another day at bingo.

Employee Drama 1

There is always something going on with the employees at a bingo hall. It is such a soap opera. Recently, the owner's brother had been messing around with an employee that is half of his age. None of us ever saw this one coming. The employee's boyfriend found out about it tonight, so of course he came into the bingo hall, and all **** broke lose. He started yelling at his cheating girlfriend, calling her names and causing a huge scene. Then the owner's brother went over to the rescue and that certainly didn't go as I'm sure, he planned it to. It turned into a huge fist fight that even security couldn't break up. Police were called out, but by the time they got there it was all over. Keep in mind that this all happened in the middle of the bingo session, with customers sitting there watching the whole thing unfold. When the drama was finally over, we got back to bingo like nothing had ever happened. That's just how bingo goes. Just another day at bingo.

Thrown Out

Tonight at bingo, a lady got thrown out over twenty dollars. She told a worker that she didn't get her change... but she did. The worker counted down all of his money and was twenty dollars short, so he told the manager about it, and she had to go ask for it back. The customer refused to give it back, so the manager told her she could not play there anymore. This is really unfortunate for her, because now she has to drive at least 45 minutes to go play at another bingo hall. I would like to say that this surprises me, but it doesn't. Sometimes I just cannot comprehend the way some people think. Instead of giving the money back, apologizing for the incident, and everything being okay, she stuck with her story and got indefinitely kicked out. So todays lesson is just be an honest person in life. Everyone makes mistakes, but it a lot easier to say I'm sorry than to stick with a lie that will backfire on you. Just another day at bingo.

Cake Lady

Every bingo hall that I have ever worked in has had a cake lady or a candy lady. This is typically a lady in her 60's that brings in candy or cakes for the employees. Our cake lady brings a cake in every single night. She is very proud of the cakes she brings in; they are always very decorated and look like they came right out of the bakery. Well, here's the truth about her cakes: there is a grocery store right across the street. The cakes she brings in are always in containers from the Bakery in the grocery store across the street. She says she buys them from the store to put her homemade cakes in (the containers always have their price tags torn off). We all know that she just buys the day old cakes on sale and brings them into us, but we would never say so. Well tonight she brought in a Christmas cake.... She said she just felt like practicing her Christmas decorating skills for the next Christmas Holiday. We figured she found it somewhere in her freezer, but we took it and gratefully said thank you. So to all of the cake and candy ladies out there, we truly do appreciate the HOME MADE goodies you bring. But on the other hand... we know when they are not. Just another day at bingo.

Many Losses

Over the years, I have had the opportunity to know so many different people.. many of them on a personal level. When you work in this environment, you get to know the players and you get to know about their lives, their families, their work, their interests, etc... I see some on a nightly basis. Regular costumers are committed to their game and will come in every single night. I have to say that we become really close to the players. After years of seeing these players each and every night, when one of them passes away, it's hard not to miss them. This was the case tonight. We found out that one of our favorite customers had passed over the weekend.. a little old man that has played with us for years. He was there every night, without fail. No one ever knew his real name until now... we all just called him Doc. Just wanted to pass this along. It's not always crazy, funny things that happen at bingo. There are real life experiences we also deal with. Doc you will truly be missed, and I know your favorite seat is waiting on you. God Bless.  Just another day at bingo. 

Valentine's Day at Bingo

Tonight at bingo was a busy night. It's funny how bingo players will celebrate every holiday at a bingo hall. For instance, Christmas is our busiest night of the year. Tonight was pretty interesting... we gave all of the players Valentine's candy. We also had several different groups of people drinking.... Now, drinking in a bingo hall usually never goes well. This is because there are two kinds of bingo players: those who like to have fun and those who are very serious about the game. We had an incident at work today due to the drinkers. The drunks were being too loud and the other customers DID NOT appreciate this. So there was a huge argument between the sober customers and the drunk ones that involved yelling, cursing, and almost went to blows. We had to call in security to calm everyone down. What made it worse was that the drunk group won a lot tonight... We also had a man walk in with a rose in his mouth and a big box of candy. He went up to his wife and gave her a big kiss... and everyone clapped. So you never know what the night will bring when you work at a bingo hall... Just another day at bingo.

Bingo Season

Bingo season has officially started this week. You've heard of the holiday season, the four seasons of the year... winter, spring, summer and fall, and maybe you've heard of hunting season.  But this is Bingo season, this is when all of the bingo players have a lot of extra money. It comes every year about this time. Players you haven't seen in awhile are there. Players that come all the time are there, spending money like crazy! It's the busiest time of the year for bingo. Being a bingo worker, we all really enjoy Bingo season....  the night flies by and everyone is happy and in a good mood. It's kind of like Christmas in February. So on behalf of all bingo workers and myself, I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Bingo. Just another day at bingo. 

Floor Workers Down

Tonight at bingo, a woman employee in her mid 30's who is pretty fit, had been bragging that she was in great shape to another employee. With the other employees hand held up to about his chest, he asked, "I bet you cant kick this high?" Well... she did. Then he moved his hand up to around his shoulder, and asked the same question. About that time, another employee (a man) was walking through the doorway... The employees pants were so tight that when she went to kick his hand with her foot she instantly pulled her other leg up and fell down on the floor! As she was falling, her hands went back up in the air, and the male worker walking through the doorway got nailed right in the crotch and he went down to the floor at the same time! So they were both on the floor, one was laughing and one was crying. Two floor workers down. Both are okay.  Just another day at bingo.

Employees Night out at Bingo

Tonight we all went to play bingo at another hall not associated with the one we work at. My friend was mad because she had the losing number and didn't win a bingo. This was our texts from her to me:

Her-  "Just the atmosphere of the employees in here sucks. It's a real downer..."
Me-  "Yes it is... Just think positive and say something nice to someone. Good karma lol......"
Her- "You're right. I told John to suck it up... I'm always nice :) "
Me- "Lol ya that was nice lol..."

John was an employee at the Bingo Hall who was mad at his boss tonight. Just another night at bingo

Infamous Red Sucker Story

Years ago, I was at a bingo hall that had a promotion where they would ask the players to bring odd items. It was like  the "Let's Make A Deal" game show. If they had the right item they would win a little prize, but all of the items were nothing bigger than what would fit inside a bingo bag. At a certain time everyday, the caller would ask for random things, such as lucky charms, a rubber chicken, postcards or even a paperclip. The craziest things would be asked for. Well, one day the manager and caller played a joke on one of the regular customers (same lady that came straight from the hospital in a previous post). The caller waited until she was completely done with what she was eating... and then asked does anyone have a red sucker?  She stood up and yelled "I just ate the M**** F*****!!!"  The entire bingo hall just roared in laughter!! The caller could hardly get his composure to continue calling bingo. Just another day at bingo.

Drunken Chaos

Tonight at bingo, big ordeal. Our caller likes to have a few cocktails... usually after bingo. But hey! It is Friday. He came in so drunk that we had to call in the other caller. Unfortunately, the other caller was an hour away. So the drunk caller had to start the session. He was so drunk he slurred all of the numbers, could barely sit on the chair, missed players yelling bingo, and couldn't even see. It was complete chaos. EVERYONE was so mad by the time the other caller showed up. I felt sorry for him. What's funny, is that once again bingo players are a different breed... the players thought it was all funny when the drunk caller got down and left; they were all clapping and laughing. Just another day at bingo.

New Snack Bar Lady

Tonight at bingo, we had a new lady in the snack bar. It's a pretty simple job. When you work in the snack bar, you have to go in early and set up food for that day. Setting up consists of putting cold hot dogs on the hot dog warmer, heating up chili and cheese in the crock pots, making popcorn, and making coffee and tea... That's pretty much it. Well, I didn't know it was that difficult until tonight... the new lady totally lost it. The new snack bar lady put the chili and the cheese in the same crock pot. I couldn't believe it. I wondered why on earth she would put the chili and the cheese in the same crock pot? There are very clearly two crock pots... one for the chili and one for the cheese. Yet for some reason, she put both the chili and the cheese in the same pot and mixed them together. Sometimes I have to ask myself, "did that really just happen?" Needless to say, she doesn't work in the snack bar anymore. Just another day at bingo.

Candle Lit Bingo

This post is to further understand the personality of bingo players, as mentioned in the previous post. One time at bingo, we had a storm come through and lost all of the power in the building. When we gave the players the option to return their cards and get their money back, you would think World War III was just announced!! The players were outraged! What ended up happening is that instead of getting their money back and coming some other time, the customers went home and got candles, flash lights, and lanterns. The building had a plate glass front on it, and the players pulled theirs cars up to front of the building and left their headlights on so we could see to play bingo. I have been in this business for sometime, and I still get amazed at the people that play bingo. I have to say we have the most loyal and best customers in the entertainment industry. This is what makes them a completely other breed. Just another day at bingo.

Awkward Intro

A customer at bingo last night introduced herself to a worker that she thought was new. He wasn't new, she just had not been there when he worked. Well, she called him over and asked, "Are you new here?" He said, "no," but thought she didn't hear her. She called him over again and said she wanted to show him something. So he came over to her and she pulled out her phone and showed him a naked picture! He was like "wow" and looked away, thinking she opened the wrong page up, but she said "no, look!" and then commenced to show him an entire slideshow of naked pictures. He was in complete shock. Not only because the pictures were of a naked woman, but because the pictures were of herself. What an introduction... Needless to say, she was not a small framed woman. Just another night at bingo.

Bingo Players

Bingo players are a completely different breed. They range from old, young, wealthy, low income, men, woman, and everything else. The one they all have in common is they love to play bingo. There seems to be a misconception that Bingo consists of a bunch of blue haired little old ladies, but it doesn't. Bingo players are generally very loyal to the hall they play at. Bingo becomes their little coffee shop, and a place that they can gather with old friends, make new friends, and have bingo buddies.

Bingo is somewhere you can go by yourself and be comfortable. I have been in bingo so long, and I have seen so much working with the public. I have seen pregnant woman in labor that knew they had enough time to play before going into the hospital to deliver. I have seen players come straight from the hospital; one time, a lady came in to play with her hospital gown, robe, and house shoes. I have seen children grow up because their mom's have brought them to bingo their entire lives. I have seen people get in arguments over bingo because a player is "on a roll" and wins a lot. What's funny, is that it's all good when its them. I have seen players get mad and throw fits when someone has their seat, because after awhile of someone coming in and sitting in a particular chair that becomes their seat and everyone should know this, in their mind.

Bingo players are very superstitious. It is never their fault that they do not win, but instead it's the callers not calling the right numbers, the cashiers or floor workers not selling them the right cards. It is never the fact that they just are not very lucky. I believe you are born lucky. Some people are, but most are not... but if you play enough you will win. I just wanted to give an insight on all of the characters in future stories.

Just another day at bingo.

Twerkster

With all of my years in bingo, I thought I had seen it all. I was so wrong. Tonight at bingo a woman hit a $599.00 game and ran clear across the bingo hall, jumped up on the callers stand, and started twerking. When she was twerking she put a hole in the wall. Needless to say, she was not a small framed woman. Now I can maybe say I have seen it all at bingo. Just another day at bingo

Toilet Trauma

Tonight we lost all access to all of the restrooms. They were all running completely over and were out of order. Oh well... everyone just grinned and did not bare it. Just another day at bingo.

Drunk guy at bingo

Tonight at bingo we had to call in security to throw out a drunk guy that showed up out of nowhere and started yelling at the caller... it turned out to be a customers uncle. Just another day at bingo.

Bingo Boss

One time I had a boss who was very proud of his bodily functions and loved to play air golf. He always shot a hole in one. Just another day at bingo.