"How to carry Wine Glasses..."
...I always cover dirty glasses on my tray with a used napkin. The napkin does add stability to the load of glasses.
 

HOW TO CARRY CLEAN GLASSES
WITHOUT A TRAY ?
    Many years back a waiter who used to work as a steward on smaller and bigger ships showed me, what he called, the one and only way to carry stemware. Depending on the size of the glasses, five to seven wine glasses can be carried tugged between upper and the lower left arm and the body. In the open left hand between the fingers I can carry ten glasses. And if I use the right hand too, it is easy to carry twenty glasses this way. Held between the arm and the body and between the fingers of both hands these glasses are not going any place where I do not go.
    Contrary to a tray which follows the laws of gravity, with an armful of glasses I can stop and turn on a dime.  With a tray full of glasses I have to allow a couple of feet at least to stop. A sudden halt on my part would definitely wipe any glass-ware off my tray.

 
updated 03/27/07

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