What to Do When DoorDash Is Slow? Make Videos While You Wait

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Disclosure: Some links in this post are my referral links. If you join through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

When DoorDash, Uber Eats or Grubhub go slow, most drivers sit in the parking lot scrolling their phones and waiting for a ping. A better use of that dead time is to make short videos on your phone and post them on YouTube, because a video keeps working for you after you log off, and an empty order screen never does.

I'm Sammy, and I'm a gig worker too. I do Uber Eats, DoorDash, Grubhub and Walmart Spark. I filmed the video above sitting in my car on a slow afternoon, in a lot full of other drivers who weren't getting orders either.

Why gig apps go slow (and why waiting doesn't fix it)

Every driver knows the pattern. Lunch rush ends, the dinner rush hasn't started, and the app goes quiet. Rainy days, holidays and too many drivers in one zone make it worse. You can't control any of that.

What you can control is what you do with the time. An hour of waiting is still an hour of your life. If you spend it watching other people's videos, that hour is gone. If you spend it making one of your own, you have something to show for it.

What most drivers try when it's slow

Here's what I see people do, and it's all fair:

• Multi-apping. Running two or three apps at once. It helps, but when the whole area is dead, all the apps are dead.
• Chasing hot spots. Driving to a busier zone. Sometimes it works, sometimes you just burn gas.
• Going home. Honest, and sometimes the right call.
• Scrolling. The most common one. It passes the time, but it doesn't build anything.

None of these are wrong. They just all depend on the apps. If you want something that doesn't, you have to build it in the gaps.

Why making videos is a smart use of downtime

You already have everything you need: a phone, a car that's quiet when it's parked, and real stories from the road. A few reasons videos make sense for drivers:

• It fits in small pockets of time. A one to three minute video can be filmed between orders.
• Your experience is the content. Slow nights, tips, the apps, life on the road. Other drivers search for exactly this.
• Videos keep getting found. A post on Facebook fades in a day. A YouTube video can be found in search for months.
• It's a skill. Filming, editing and talking to a camera get easier every time, and that skill is yours no matter what the apps do.

If you're not sure your videos will get seen, read my post on why YouTube videos get no views and how to fix it.

Where I learned to make videos like this one

I didn't know how to make videos either. I learned with Content Marketing Pros, a training company that teaches you how to plan, film and edit content on your phone, with done-for-you content and lots of ready-made prompts to help you get started.

It also has an affiliate side. You can share your own referral link in your videos, and when someone joins through it, you earn a commission. When the people you refer make sales, there's a 100% matching bonus on their commissions too. You choose how you get paid: Cash App, Zelle, Venmo, PayPal, card or Bitcoin.

I'll be straight with you: making videos is work, and plenty of people who try this earn nothing. The point isn't overnight money. The point is to turn time you'd waste anyway into a skill and a library of videos that belong to you. If you're new to how commissions work, my plain-English guide on how affiliate marketing works is a good place to start.

Who this fits (and who should skip it)

This fits you if:

• You drive for DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub, Spark or Instacart and sit through slow stretches.
• You're willing to talk to a camera, even if it feels awkward at first.
• You want something that's yours, not tied to an app's algorithm.

Skip it if you need guaranteed money this week. Videos take time to get found, and nothing here replaces a paycheck.

Quick facts

• What it is: Content Marketing Pros, training on making content and videos, with an affiliate program.
• Cost: four levels, starting at $100 as listed when this was written.
• What you get: video and content training, done-for-you content and ready-made AI prompts.
• Pay plan: commissions on your direct sales plus a 100% matching bonus, paid directly to you.
• Who it's for: gig workers and beginners who want to learn content on their phone.
• Always check the current details on the official page before you buy.

Frequently asked questions

What should I do when DoorDash is slow?

You can switch apps, move to a busier zone or call it a night. If you want something that builds over time, use the wait to film a short video on your phone and post it. It turns dead time into something you keep.

Can I really make videos in my car?

Yes. A parked car is quiet, the light through the windshield is usually good, and a phone is all you need. The video at the top of this post was filmed that way.

Do I need to show my face?

No, but it helps people trust you. If you'd rather not, you can film your screen, your hands or the road and talk over it.

Is it free to get help from you?

Yes. I don't charge for my help. When you join through my link, follow the steps on my website and in the emails you get, and reach out if you get stuck.

Will I make money?

Maybe, maybe not. Results depend on your effort, your consistency and your situation, and many people earn nothing. Treat it as building a skill first.

Your next step

Next time the app goes quiet, don't just scroll. Film one short video about your day. If you want training on how to do it well, take a look at Content Marketing Pros through my link and I'll help you for free.

What's the longest you've ever sat waiting for an order? Tell me in the comments.

Results vary. Your results depend on your own effort, skills and situation, and many people earn nothing.