Of Tips and Turnips
Halloween is upon us, and I thought it would be fun to give you something to read while you’re waiting for your shift to start! After a brief history of Halloween I’ll share some ideas I had to hopefully increase your tips. Enjoy!
A Short History of Halloween
Halloween didn’t start as we celebrate it today. No candy and costumes, trick-or-treating, and not even..bobbing for apples! Does anyone bob for apples anymore? I feel that was a thing when I was 8, and then it was apples on strings, and then Covid happened, and wow did that absolutely put an end to any social traditions. No one wants to bob for Covid. See I start writing, I have bourbon, I get distracted..OK let’s focus.
Halloween was originally known as Samhain, an ancient Celtic festival where the veil between worlds got thin, ghosts wandered around, and people lit fires to keep the creepy stuff away.
This tradition persisted for centuries, and as we fast-forward to the time when Irish immigrants came to America, the idea came with them. Coupled with Christian holidays, and America’s love for snacks and marketing, and boom. Modern Halloween was born.
The Jack-o-WHAT?
Before pumpkins, people carved turnips into tiny nightmare lanterns with terrifying faces. Don’t believe me? Go Google what a jack-o-turnip looks like. What the actual F??? Irish folklore tells the story of Stingy Jack, a guy who tricked the devil and got cursed to wander the earth with only a burning coal inside a hollowed-out turnip. He used it as a lantern to light the dark path he walked. Random shout out to anyone who plays Valheim (basically Adult Viking-themed Minecraft – And yes, you can carve a jack-o-turnip in the game).
During Samhain, it was believed ghosts wandered along paths, followed people on roads, and could even visit homes. This included good ol’ Jack himself. By carving a grotesque turnip (they were plentiful in Ireland) the ideas was it served as protection to scare the spirits away.
Jack-o-Lanterns
When Immigrants came to America, they saw pumpkins-a-plenty. Compared to the turnip, these were bigger, cuter, easier to carve, and less root-vegetable-trauma. From here, the rest is history. Now we jack-o’-lantern like champs, carving elaborate things like Baby Yoda drinking a pumpkin spice boba on a Vespa while wearing Crocs and a tiny flannel vest. What would the Druids think?!
Costumes and Candy
Costumes started long before Spirit Halloween moved into every abandoned Sears in America. In ancient Celtic Samhain tradition, I said people believed there were wandering spirits. Well, If the dead were roaming around looking for trouble, you didn’t want to be recognized, so people didn’t just run away and light jack-o-turnips. They dressed in disguises to confuse these spirits. Folks put on animal hides, face paint, and creepy masks. Centuries later, we had medieval “mumming” (door-to-door costumed performances) and guising (kids dressing up and asking for food or coins). This was the vestiges of trick-or-treating. Candy joined the party much later because high-fructose corn syrup wasn’t invented yet. Kids originally got fruits, nuts, or little cakes. They were healthier and did not contain ultra-processed ingredients. But once the 1950s came in American candy companies realized people were too healthy and their teeth were too white, and decided this nonsense needs to stop. Sugar replaced apples and raisins, and Halloween became like the Candy Super Bowl and kids everywhere discovered they could dress like a vampire and get paid in chocolate for it. I guess you can make an exception on Halloween and have 29 Butterfingers.
Increasing your Tips on Halloween
Let’s move on, now, to talk about how you can increase your tips and hopefully have some fun if you’re too busy working to go trick-or-treating and/or dodge ancient Celtic ghosts.
Wearing Costumes
Wearing a costume on Halloween is a big question for workers. First things first: check with your workplace. Some restaurants and salons go all-in on spooky vibes, others pretend Halloween doesn’t exist, and a blessed few mandate costumes (usually the same places that play the Monster Mash on loop). The last thing you want is to show up as the only one dressed up. Nothing says “I misread the assignment” like being a lone vampire among plain black polos. Worse, management might not be thrilled, because some places treat joy like it’s a health code violation. At least they did where I worked.
That said, dressing up can be a blast and it really enhances the guest experience. It breaks the ice, gives customers something to smile about, and It can loosen wallets faster than a seasonal cocktail menu. People tip happy energy and Halloween gives you an excuse to serve it up.
Once you’ve read the room (and the staff memo), here are some go-to costume routes for tipped workers at restaurants, bars, salons, or anywhere you’re serving up vibes with your service:
- Themed Ideas: Work at a German beer hall? Lederhosen or dirndl! Sushi bar? Cute sushi roll headband or a minimalistic wasabi/soy sauce duo. You get the idea! This keeps branding tight while still letting you have fun and guests love when staff plays along with the theme.
- Easy and Cheap: Not trying to spend a shift’s worth of tips on your costume? I get it. You can go with fangs and eyeliner for a Vampire, cat ears and drawn whiskers for something feline, a simple witch or pirate hat. Maybe an eye patch is a bad idea, you don’t want to bump into something! But basic props like a pumpkin and bat LED necklace doesn’t cost much and can help with the tips!
- Complex: Sometimes, having a really unique idea can make all the difference. Think about where you work, the kinds of people you serve, and what might make them laugh. So many ideas abound on the usual social media sites, maybe you can peruse and come up with something non-traditional that’s going to get people talking.
Things to Avoid
While there are lots of easy, cheap, and fun costumes to pick on Halloween, there are also some obvious (and not-so-obvious) things you should avoid. Ultimately, anything inflatable is a bad idea as it can pop or knock something over. Restricting movement is another issue, so even if it’s not filled with air, having some props or something excessive like wings can get in the way, prevent you from walking around, and ultimately create an accident. And THAT won’t be helping your tips. Avoid masks that cover your face, and do NOT pick shoes that are going to be a problem when you’re working a double and walking all over the place.
Candy Time
If you’re in a neighborhood restaurant, café, salon, or bar where kids might wander through during daylight hours, having a small stash of candy can be a good move. It’s not mandatory. No one needs to go broke passing out extra large Kit Kats..But it is one of those tiny gestures that says “I’m festive, approachable, and bring good vibes. P.S. LEAVE ME A GENEROUS TIP!” Parents love when you hand kids a fun-sized treat, and remember, happy parents = better tips. It’s just a universal rule.
Candy Reminders:
- Individually wrapped candy only.
- Keep it behind the bar/host stand/station (don’t become the trick-or-treat table)
If your workplace doesn’t allow outside food, ask first - Hair folks — no sticky chocolate near blowouts
- Go with common things you’d see at Costco. As much as someone would LOVE a pickle-flavored Swedish fish, maybe you should just stick to gummy bears and mini chocolate bars.
- If you work night shifts, bars, or 21+ only.. Maybe swap candy for Halloween-themed garnishes or stickers. This could be mini bats on receipts, glow-in-the-dark swizzle sticks, little spider rings. Small touches count.
Suggested Bonus Tip
Hand out a couple candies to guests if the vibe fits, not random strangers walking in. Crack a joke, make them laugh, but make sure you read the person first. If it makes people laugh, chance are that’s going to help, because laughing people tip more. But once you play your hand, don’t keep doing it please. It’s easy to go from funny to annoying.
Wrapping Up
Shaking cocktails, slinging coffees, styling hair, or saving the 4 top of drunk cougars from themselves, remember that you bring the magic to the shift. A smile, a tiny bit of spooky charm, and a dash of patience can turn a long night into a legendary one. May your sections be full, your costumes comfy, and your tips scary-good.
While you’re working, remember to always stay hydrated, stay positive, and STAY CLASSY! Happy Halloween everyone, and watch out for Stingy Jack!