Entre fábrica y teatro. La subjetividad tensionada de los camareros/as contemporáneos/as

This article analyzes the subjectivities of waitstaff in the Spanish hospitality industry, examining the tension between two conceptions of the workplace: the bar as a factory and the bar as a theatre. Using a qualitative methodology based on interviews and content analysis, it explores how productive and emotional demands shape workers’ experiences. Drawing on fieldwork conducted between 2020 and 2022, the study also highlights how the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified these tensions, revealing the implications of emotional labor and current management practices. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of service sector labor subjectivities, offering theoretical tools and strategies to balance these demands and improve working conditions.