Night Audit: Ghosts, Glitches, and the Graveyard Shift – My First Overnight at the Front Desk
Ever wondered what it’s like to work the infamous “graveyard shift” at a hotel? Picture this: the world is asleep, shadows stretch across empty hallways, and you’re the lone sentry at the front desk, armed with nothing but a mug of tea and your wits. For one Redditor, u/Big_Air3392, their initiation into the world of night audit was a surreal cocktail of ghostly glitches, awkward guests, and, thankfully, a sunrise that made it all (almost) worthwhile.
But what really happens when the clock strikes midnight and you’re left alone with both the living and… maybe not-so-living? Is the job all about crunching numbers and sipping bad coffee, or is there a secret society of night auditors trading tales of tech hauntings and nocturnal weirdos? Let’s dive into one rookie’s unforgettable night, and sprinkle in the hilarious, wise, and downright spooky community reactions from r/TalesFromTheFrontDesk.
Welcome to the Graveyard: Where the Living Aren’t the Only Worry
u/Big_Air3392’s first-ever night audit started innocently enough. Everyone checked in, the lobby was silent, and the only company was a cup of tea. But the graveyard shift earned its name for a reason. As OP soon discovered, things get weird after dark—fast.
Right as the night seemed to settle, the system popped up with a last-minute reservation. Since the doors were locked, OP was forced to wait at the desk, every sound amplified in the empty hotel. Cue the first real scare: the restaurant lights suddenly flicked on, unbidden, as if summoned by a mischievous spirit. “I nearly died on the spot,” OP wrote, convinced for a moment they were about to meet a hotel ghost—or intruder.
Turns out, it was just a system glitch, triggered by the building’s confused automation, which mistook midnight for noon. As u/technos chimed in, these “hauntings” by faulty tech are all too real: “There's a bar I did some work in where… the room lights would dim, the stage lights would come up slowly, and any closed register drawers would open… It was creepy when it did.” Sometimes, it’s not the ghosts you have to worry about—it’s Java bugs and overzealous automation.
Veteran night auditors in the comments agreed: the supernatural is less terrifying than the unpredictable living. As u/Lorward185 put it, “I'm more worried about the living than the dead.”
Night People, Night Problems: Creepy Guests and Hotel Survival
While tech ghosts are bad enough, it’s the 2 a.m. guests that really keep night auditors on edge. After checking in the latecomer, OP faced an even more unsettling visitor: a guest who emerged from the darkness to deliver the world’s most uncomfortable attempt at small talk—“Wow… it’s hot. Keep talking.”
If you’ve ever worked late nights, you know the type. u/emperorthrowaway summed it up: “Skeevy guests are the worst.” The community had OP’s back, with u/ShadowDragon8685 dryly observing, “The dead aren't likely to decide your face indicates you're spoiling for a rumble and attempt to swap your nose with your ears.” When the guest then tried to lure OP into the elevator, the answer was a swift “Absolutely not, sir.” Night audit rule #1: never get in the elevator with someone giving you serial killer vibes.
Many commenters, like u/petshopB1986 (a 10-year night audit veteran), advised that hotels should always have security on property—just in case the “guests” get out of line. “Nothing good happens in the middle of the night,” they warned, “scammers out in full, drunks all around.” As the veterans agreed, it’s better to send security to handle issues, and never try to sneak a nap—because you might not wake up on time, and that’s how night auditors get “lost to the lure of falling asleep.”
From Spooked to Sunrise: Earning the Night Auditor Badge
Despite the night’s scares, OP made it through. Sleep was a distant dream (those front desk chairs aren’t exactly La-Z-Boys), so they dove into early-morning tasks, assigning rooms and prepping arrivals. Finally, at the edge of exhaustion, they climbed to the rooftop just in time to catch a magical sunrise—a moment of peace and beauty that made the whole ordeal almost worth it.
The community, a blend of seasoned night owls and supportive bystanders, rallied around OP. Many agreed that while the first night is always the hardest, you get used to the rhythm—ghosts, glitches, and all. “You become desensitized after about a year,” u/carnalcouple5280 assured. Others, like u/ShadowMel (26 years on audit), even prefer the night: “It’s so noisy during the day, and people always WANT shit. Like, I just like having my laptop, doing my art and working on my game...”
And as u/InsightfulAuditor hilariously summarized, OP’s trial by fire included “paranormal activity, creepy elevator guy, sleep deprivation, and a bonus episode of ‘Hotel IT Glitches at Midnight.’” In other words: “That’s basically night audit hard mode… and you unlocked the ‘Rooftop Sunrise’ achievement.”
Would You Survive the Graveyard Shift?
So, is night audit a job for the faint of heart? Not according to the r/TalesFromTheFrontDesk crowd. “Good on you for getting through the night,” wrote u/Beneficial_Guess201, “It can be stressful… I’ve had NAs calling me crying, panicking, and sometimes just wanting to leave in the middle of the shift…” But with a little grit—and a lot of caffeine—you just might find your own rooftop sunrise at the end of a long, strange night.
If you’ve got your own graveyard shift tale, or just want to thank the unsung heroes of hospitality, drop your story or appreciation below. Would you brave the ghosts, the creeps, and the endless hours for that one moment of sunrise peace? Or would you rather leave the night to the professionals (and the poltergeists)? Let’s hear your thoughts!
Original Reddit Post: My first time doing night audit – ghosts in restaurant, creepy guest… and sunrise