Go to a restaurant once and make sure you get the manager's name.
The next time you go to that restaurant call in before and say "Can I speak to 'manager'?"
If they are in that day then say "the last time we were there a few months back the service was terrible and I spoke to you and you told me IF we came back you'd comp our meal 50% off. How do I go about this?"
Or if the manager isn't in say the same thing but say "manager said...how do I get this tonight if they aren't in?"
They will usually bend over backwards and thank you for coming back. They will ask your name and put you down and you will get the 5 star treatment.
Las time I did this I only paid the gratuity and got two glasses of wine on the house
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Open an LLC. I've needed graphic design work in the past and I've gone to craigslist and found TONS of free labor from students in exchange for a letter of recommendation. You can also write off a ton of your expenses (internet, gas, miles on your car, electricity % if you have a dedicated office space in your house) if you own a "consulting" company (for the first three years you don't even have to make any money).