Working -- Bruce Rath

Story by Deepa Bharath; photo by [tk]

HE IS

“A valet on the job”

SHOWING THEM A GOOD TIME

That’s what limousine driver Bruce Rath, 49, likes to call himself.

According to Rath, who has been a chauffeur at Newport Beach-based

Back Bay Limousine for three years, the job is all about courtesy,

compassion and contacts.

“I can take a customer to Los Angeles for a concert, and once they’re

done, I can show them the sights and I can get them into some of the best

clubs, bars or restaurants without having to wait in line,” Rath says

with confidence.

How does he make magic for his passengers?

It takes a good chauffeur, he said.

“And I’m a darned good one,” Rath added with a laugh. He knows his way

around, knows the hot spots and knows a lot of people -- from managers to

doormen.

HE LOVES THE JOB

Driving limousines is only Rath’s second job, but he loves it, he

said. When he’s not driving celebrities to award ceremonies or hotshot

business executives to the opera, the Huntington Beach resident works as

a training technician for theArmy.

“I like the service-oriented aspect of my job,” he said. “And more

than anything else, I love the interaction part.”

He also knows when to shut up.

“Some people may not like to talk that much,” he said. “Others do. You

have to how know to read people and read them well.”

A PERSONAL TOUCH

Rath also likes to add his own personal touch to the service with a

little help from his pocket organizer. He files away names of people,

their likes and dislikes, where they go or don’t like to go.

“I even know what brands of drinks they like and have them ready when

they get off the plane,” he said.

The job is not without its challenges.

“The biggest one is to anticipate your client’s needs,” said Rath.

He’s had his share of interesting experiences, he said, but added that

he would follow the chauffeur’s code of silence when it came to

celebrities.

“But I remember this one time when I drove a client all the way to

Vegas and back because they were afraid of flying,” he said. “That was

interesting and kind of funny.”