My second year waiting tables I would've told you the schedule was everything, pick up shifts, cover for whoever, get that paycheck. Then a guy named Ray who came in every Wednesday for meatloaf had a stroke and didn't show for two weeks and I caught myself asking the other servers if anyone had heard anything. That $50 you got handed says it all. The people in your section see you on your worst days and still slide you cash and tell you you're doing fine. The schedule people mostly just need a body in an apron. Took me way too long to get that the regulars are the actual job.