The Wall Street Journal has undergone a well-documented and (sometime humorous) transition from being merely a businessman's first read to a newspaper targeting a younger, hipper, and more urban audience. The latest pang of growing pains for the nation's largest circulation daily appear in a curious article by writer Jo Piazza, who profiles jello-shot waitresses (who are, of course, managed by former J.P. Morgan and Bear Stearns analysts), as they attempt to wring as much cash as possible out of drunk early-twenty-somethings over the course of a long evening.

Giovanna Coluccio, one of the waitresses interviewed, explains her strategy:

"Personality is key. Physical looks alone will only get someone so far. Be as friendly, personable, upbeat as possible. Customers will feed off your energy." These are the first rules in a list of best practices, or the shot-girl bible each girl memorizes before she picks up her tray.

And Jo Piazza explains why other Businessmen might want to bankroll their own "Jello-shot" ventures:

Their product is recession proof. It's all about micro-sales, selling something extremely cheap in mass volume. This is best practice number six: "Do not spend too much time with a patron or group of patrons. The foundation of our strategy relies on high-volume sale propositions. We must walk the fine line of being quantity salesman, while giving respect to those who purchase our items."

[Hat Tip: Gawker]

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Erik Hayden