Journal article: Do sexy servers get better tips?

[Robin Garr]

This sounds like one of those studies that make you go "Duh," but a team of scientists has apparently put substantial research into this burning question.

Here's part of the abstract of Cornell University Prof. Michael Lynn's study "Determinants and Consequences of Female Attractiveness and Sexiness: Realistic Tests with Restaurant Waitresses," published in "Archives of Sexual Behavior." I am not making this up.

Waitresses completed an on-line survey about their physical characteristics, self-perceived attractiveness and sexiness, and average tips. The waitresses’ self-rated physical attractiveness increased with their breast sizes and decreased with their ages, waist-to-hip ratios, and body sizes. Similar effects were observed on self-rated sexiness, with the exception of age, which varied with self-rated sexiness in a negative, quadratic relationship rather than a linear one. Moreover, the waitresses’ tips varied with age in a negative, quadratic relationship, increased with breast size, increased with having blond hair, and decreased with body size. These findings, which are discussed from an evolutionary perspective, make several contributions to the literature on female physical attractiveness.
...

Link for more. You'll have to pay to read the full article, though.

http://www.springerlink.com/content/d5w770x766q28444/

Not from me they don't. Plus, if they go overboard in showing off their attributes, it turns us both off. Some things are just nicer with a little mystery!

[Jenise]

I can't wait to read Covert's response.

Karen, let's meet for lunch at Hooters and discuss the matter!

Karen, let's meet for lunch at Hooters and discuss the matter!

Nah, Hooter's is not my style.... but we could still discuss it.

Not from me they don't. Plus, if they go overboard in showing off their attributes, it turns us both off. Some things are just nicer with a little mystery!

This doesn't refute the main point, only the particularly crude measure of womens' breast sizes. If you don't give larger tips to servers that meet your own personal definition of sexy, then you are probably doing some active self-control to circumvent your instincts. Which supports the argument of the article anyway.

The point is that attraction has its benefits. Across multiple fields. We know this.

Unless of course you're the man driven to give large tips and perform high-risk activities when confronted with attractive women...

I already knew myself to be a weak and shallow bearer of Y chromosomes. Of COURSE I bump a tip up a little if I perceive the server as sexy. (Then again, a sexy attitude will work just as well as a sexy body.)

Since I can't recall the last time I found a server at a restaurant sexy, I can't comment on the personal aspect of this study, but it certainly fails to surprise me. Regarding the larger issue of sexy servers, I think that my lack of experience with them stems from my belief that such behavior is antithetical with professional service: if the server is putting effort into being sexy (as opposed to just being generally attractive, which often requires little effort) I would be concerned about whether they are putting equivalent effort into their job. In the event, the servers I encounter are usually quite professional, but not sexy. Maybe I should join Jeff at Hooters to familiarize myself with the phenomenon.

Mark Lipton

Karen, let's meet for lunch at Hooters and discuss the matter!

Nah, Hooter's is not my style.... but we could still discuss it.

Not mine, either, but it seems like the right venue for the discussion. Maybe Lips?: http://www.lipsusa.com/

Maybe Lips?: http://www.lipsusa.com/

Have to remember that one for the next conference we go to in San Diego. I'm sure the gang at work will enjoy it, and it would add immeasurably to my reputation for coming up with interesting dining spots.

Maybe Lips?: http://www.lipsusa.com/

Have to remember that one for the next conference we go to in San Diego. I'm sure the gang at work will enjoy it, and it would add immeasurably to my reputation for coming up with interesting dining spots.

I've been to the one in NYC. I'd say it's more interesting than it is good.

I actually care more about service and attitude than I do looks when it comes to tips. I can remember my best servers which got the largest tips and none of the three would fit into the sexy description. However, in broader terms this is definetly true. Many years ago, my wife worked at a bar that had a sand volleyball court in back. If one worked inside the wardrobe was black skirt and white blouse. Out back it was bikini. The differnece in tips from inside to outside was tremendous.

I've been to the one in NYC. I'd say it's more interesting than it is good.

I think that's what my co-workers usually say about the places I come up with...

Karen, let's meet for lunch at Hooters and discuss the matter!

Nah, Hooter's is not my style.... but we could still discuss it.

Not mine, either, but it seems like the right venue for the discussion. Maybe Lips?: http://www.lipsusa.com/

Now that is another place that would have no interest to me. I'd much prefer a picnic on a green, grassy hillside, over looking a river on a beautiful sunny day, with big fluffy clouds floating by. We'd eat fried chicken and potato salad, fresh veggies with dip, and a great wine which we would kill the entire bottle and maybe open a second!

Now that is another place that would have no interest to me. I'd much prefer a picnic on a green, grassy hillside, over looking a river on a beautiful sunny day, with big fluffy clouds floating by. We'd eat fried chicken and potato salad, fresh veggies with dip, and a great wine which we would kill the entire bottle and maybe open a second!

The only thing I would change in that scene Karen is a flat granite rock by a woodsy stream.

[Jenise]

I'd much prefer a picnic on a green, grassy hillside, over looking a river on a beautiful sunny day, with big fluffy clouds floating by. We'd eat fried chicken and potato salad, fresh veggies with dip, and a great wine which we would kill the entire bottle and maybe open a second!

Sounds romantic. Can Jeff bring his husband?

I'd much prefer a picnic on a green, grassy hillside, over looking a river on a beautiful sunny day, with big fluffy clouds floating by. We'd eat fried chicken and potato salad, fresh veggies with dip, and a great wine which we would kill the entire bottle and maybe open a second!

Sounds romantic. Can Jeff bring his husband?

Sure Jeff can bring his busband, and I'll bring mine.

How about here?

IMG_0246.jpg

Humm...never been to Central France. I'd love to see the water mills and sample the goat cheese! I'll check my daytimer. Yep, I still use a daytimer.

I'm sure some do.

This is from Jenise's back yard:

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090924/NEWS01/709249864

[Jenise]

I'm sure some do.

This is from Jenise's back yard:

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090924/NEWS01/709249864

That's too funny. The article's rather detailed about all the different acts the girls performed, isn't it? But this isn't quite my backyard, rather 90 miles south. Where YOU go for "rhododendron conferences". Uh huh. Yeah sure.

In my case attentive service, listening and actually thinking cause me to give larger tips. Probably having been in the business and having trained both wait staff and managers to train wait staff I am more critical than most. In the front of the house one of my biggest concerns was having a very attractive wait person that was not average or better at the position. The customers seemed to forgive them any screw ups and transfer any blame onto the food preparation or the food standards of the restaurant rather then on the server. That being said as an owner/manager just like a baseball manager or football coach you always tried to place the best "player" in situations where they would thrive. For example, One or two wait people on the staff might really enjoy and be able to thrive with the elderly "garden or card club set". One hostess could cry at the drop of a hat. We used to send her out to tables, especially men, that were really being unreasonable. We would say, "Emily go out and cry for them". She would blush, laugh and say "shut up, George" and then go deal with them. She could make a nasty mean male customer feel like the biggest heel! The whole staff really appreciated her!

I will never understand men's fasicnation with breasts. 52% of the human population has them, as do all femal mammals -- and all men have nipples. Just what is the big whoop?! And, what is sexy anyway?

And, what is sexy anyway?

A chacun son gout.