Sisterhood of the plaid

I have worked in different Twin Peaks in different parts of Texas as well as a store in Missouri. Working in different stores means working with different Twin Peaks Girls. Working with all of these girls, of course, means working with drama, bitchiness, cattiness, as well as laziness. We already work in one of the easiest and laid back restaurants out there, with no side work or cleaning responsibilities, yet girls will still find a way to complain about the amount of work that is required.

Not every girl is as friendly as they appear to be, I learned this the hard way. The first store I worked at in north Texas was filled with these types of girls. It surprised me how fast word spread especially about things that were untrue. However, I continued to go about my business and learned who was real and who was fake among the group and found one particular friend that would make my work day worth while. My first Twin Peaks friend.

Once I graduated high school and moved away for college I transferred stores to a corporate store in south Austin. Soon after I started working with everyone I realized how nonjudgmental, genuine, and supportive each girl was of one another. Finally I felt like family. I have now been at this store for three years and have made friendships that will last a life time and unforgettable memories with these amazing girls and for which I am so grateful. Don’t get me wrong, there are times where tensions would rise, but unlike my previous experiences the dust soon settled and life moved on.

Every Twin Peaks has different types of girls that have different attitudes. However, we are all working towards making our own money. Many girls, including myself, don’t have a financially stable support system and work to support ourselves. There are also many girls under the age of 21 that have children to support with dead-beat-dads with no child-support. Although we may not like every girl that we work with for whatever reason, we all come together through our hardships and in the end we are all sisters in plaid.

What it takes to be a TPG

Working as a waitress for Twin Peaks is very different than working as a waitress at any other restaurant. In order to first be qualified as a Twin Peaks Girl there are certain standards the company has set in order to be hired. First thing managers look at is the girl’s look and personality. As far as looks go, no, not every girl has to be beach blonde with huge boobs. Twin Peaks likes to have a variety of girls from every nationality. As long as she is well put together, chances are she’s going to get the job even without prior experience. The main personality trait that every Twin Peaks girl has is confidence. Confidence in herself to walk around in the outfit and confidence in herself to talk to and entertain strangers.

Once hired the girls are introduced to the ranking system. The rank is used for the order of picking sections, getting cut, and getting days off. Rank is determined by multiple different things: fitness, uniform, hair, make-up, teamwork, on time, overall shift grade, merchandise sales and credit card tips. Although being ranked seems pretty personal, it is used to make sure every girl is putting their best effort forward when representing Twin Peaks.

Another part of the hiring process is going through the right training. While in training, the girls are taught by a certified trainer on the guidelines and expectations for every shift. Girls are advised to be playful, energetic, attentive, knowledgeable, and sexy, or P.E.A.K.S., while working with their tables. Part of our steps of service is to sit with all of our tables when we take their order and while they wait for their food or drink their beers. As we sit with our tables we should keep the three S’s in mind: sit, schmooze, and sell. Schmooze meaning flirt without intent, although this can be misunderstood by those girls who become overly flirty and friendly. The last S, sell, is a reminder to  mentioning the merchandise and up sell the food in order to have a higher bill with a bigger tip percentage.

This means sitting with everyone, even the creepers. And yes, there are a few. It becomes easier to deal with the creepers and laugh at the bad jokes and soon it just becomes part of the routine. Most people might find this way of working a little degrading but honestly, I love what I do. I have a great time getting to know my tables and my fellow sisters in plad and have met so many people with access to so many opportunities it is a great way to network and become known. As far as tips go, you get the good with the bad, and trust me, we remember those who tip bad. Although it usually evens out, it is still waiting tables so not every night is a $200 night. In my experience having a good attitude during every shift is what makes money. Besides, no one wants to be around a girl with a bad attitude.

My New Blog

I have never been much of a blogger or ever had my own blog. I am excited to try something different and share an important part of my life with others. Besides school, friends, and family, work takes up most of my time. I have been working since I was 15 and always been raised with the value of good work ethics. With both of my parents working full time to support me and my brother, it has always been up to me to make my own money to spend or save.

I have always had a restaurant job from working in an ice cream store, to hostess, as well as a cashier at a taco stand. However, when I started serving and waiting tables is when I really started making my money. Right before I turned 19 I was eating at this new restaurant called Twin Peaks, because my friend knew one of the waitresses, and was offered a job before I left.

Twin Peaks is known for their cold 29 degree draft beer, their craveable and comfortable foods, and of course, the good looking and friendly Twin Peaks Girls. The outfit of a Twin Peaks Girl is a winter boot with knee high socks, kaki shorts, and a red and black plad top that ties in the middle, similar to that of a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader’s. I have met so many interesting people and even my best friends while working here and everyone seems to be curious as to what it’s like. So here is what its like to be a Twin Peaks Girl, the benefits, the frustrations, and the way things work in the industry of making your money in tips.