I've been driving executives around as a chauffeur for a few years now, and let me tell you, it's a fascinating side hustle. It's a far cry from my days in the film industry in Tampa, where jobs were scarce and the pay was meager. But when the film industry slowed down, I fell back on my chauffeur skills, which I honed in New York. And let me tell you, the difference in income is staggering.
In New York, I was making a pretty penny, between $1,000 and $2,000 on a weekend, driving stretch limos. But here in Tampa, things are a bit different. I work part-time, making around $10,000 a year, driving a luxury SUV or sedan and providing chauffeur service in professional black-tie attire. The company I work for provides the cars and coordinates the rides, but I'm a gig worker, and the pay is a bit more straightforward.
The hourly wage is around $40, and that's it. I don't get a breakdown showing how much of my pay came from tips and how much came from the company. And while I occasionally get a cash tip from a rider when we arrive at the destination, most of the time, the company pays me, and that's all I make. It's a bit of a letdown, to be honest.
But here's the interesting part: I recently got a new job with a different chauffeur service, and the owner used to be a driver. He's adamant that chauffeurs there get all of their gratuities, and I'm optimistic that I will make more money overall. It's a refreshing change from the typical black-car service, where executives often think that when they give a tip, it's going to their driver. But that's not always the case.
In my opinion, a lot of executives and others who take black-car services are under the impression that when they give a tip, it's going to their driver. But that's not always the case. I wish more of them understood that. It's a bit of a misunderstanding, and it's important to clarify. As a driver, you have to deal with people from all walks of life, and it's crucial to understand the dynamics of the gig economy.
My goal is to find a way to do this gig where my skill set is valued. It's a bit of a challenge, but I'm determined to make it work. And who knows, maybe I'll even make more money than I did in New York. It's a bit of a gamble, but it's worth it for the experience and the opportunity to work with people from all walks of life.
