Host

Hooky Entertainment; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 17,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Hooky Entertainment is seeking a Host to create an inviting first impression and maintain a smooth guest flow. You will welcome guests, manage reservations, and coordinate seating between the door, bar, servers, and management to uphold the speakeasy atmosphere.

The role emphasizes polished, guest-first arrival experiences, with responsibilities spanning wait times, seating, and collaboration with staff to ensure a flawless guest journey.

Qualifications

• Prior host or guest-service experience preferred.
• Strong guest-service skills and professional presence.
• Clear, calm, warm communication with guests and team.
• Organized, composed in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to manage reservations, walk-ins, wait times, and guest needs.
• Able to work late nights, weekends, holidays, and a flexible schedule; must meet Tennessee employment requirements.

Responsibilities

• Greet guests warmly and professionally upon arrival.
• Manage reservations, walk-ins, waitlists, seating, and guest flow.
• Communicate accurate wait times and seating availability.
• Support room pacing to ensure a smooth service and guest experience.
• Coordinate with servers, bartenders, Bar Lead, and GM regarding table availability and guest needs.
• Maintain awareness of venue capacity and communicate concerns to management.
• Answer guest questions about concept, menu, hours, reservations, and service expectations.
• Assist with guest recovery by escalating concerns to the GM when needed.
• Maintain a clean, organized host stand and entrance area.
• Support opening, side work, and closing duties as assigned.
• Follow company policies, appearance standards, and attendance expectations.
• Support teammates during peak volume to maintain a polished guest experience.

Skills

Guest-service

Communication

Organization

Multitasking

Flexibility

Late-night work

Tools

Reservation systems

Waitlist platforms

POS systems

Guest management tools

Job description

Position Summary

The Host is responsible for creating the first and last impression of the guest experience. This role welcomes guests, manages reservations, supports seating and pacing, communicates wait times, and helps maintain a smooth flow between the door, bar, servers, and management. The Host plays an important role in protecting the atmosphere of the speakeasy by creating a warm, polished, organized, and guest-first arrival experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Greet guests warmly and professionally upon arrival.
• Manage reservations, walk-ins, waitlists, seating, and guest flow.
• Communicate accurate wait times and seating availability.
• Support room pacing to ensure smooth service and a strong guest experience.
• Coordinate with servers, bartenders, the Bar Lead, and General Manager regarding table availability and guest needs.
• Maintain awareness of venue capacity and communicate concerns to management.
• Answer guest questions about the concept, menu, hours, reservations, and service expectations.
• Assist with guest recovery by escalating concerns to the General Manager when needed.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and welcoming host stand and entrance area.
• Support opening, running side work, and closing duties as assigned.
• Follow company policies, appearance standards, attendance expectations, and tip-pool procedures.
• Support teammates during peak volume to maintain a polished and organized guest experience.

Required Qualifications

• Prior host, restaurant, bar, hospitality, entertainment, or guest-service experience preferred.
• Strong guest-service skills and professional presence.
• Ability to communicate clearly, calmly, and warmly with guests and team members.
• Ability to stay organized and composed in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, including reservations, walk-ins, wait times, and guest needs.
• Ability to work late nights, weekends, holidays, and a flexible schedule.Must meet all legal requirements for employment in Tennessee.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in an upscale cocktail bar, speakeasy, hotel bar, lounge, restaurant, private club, or nightlife environment.
• Experience with reservation systems, waitlist platforms, POS systems, or guest management tools.
• Knowledge of guest pacing, seating flow, and high-touch hospitality standards.

Physical Requirements

• This role requires the ability to:
• Stand and walk for extended periods.
• Lift, carry, push, or pull up to 25 pounds as needed.
• Reach, bend, stoop, and move throughout the entrance area and venue.
• Use reservation, waitlist, POS, or guest management systems as needed.
• Work around alcohol, food, cleaning products, sound, lighting, and guest traffic.
• Work in a fast-paced, late-night environment.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Company is an equal opportunity employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Duties may change based on business needs.