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[peppermeek]

If there is anyone who has experience being a maid at a maid cafe, Please give me some advice on how to be a maid for an upcoming audition in september~

[Mangochutney]

Calm the hell down and remember that you're there to entertain and give good service, not to play out your own fantasy. It's nice if they overlap, but err on the side of being less ADOWABOW and playing to what the customer wants.

Self-absorbed maids, man. There's nothing less fun.

[Noize]

I don't know many maid cafes since we don't have any in Illinois. Just do what every other non-maid workers do. Welcome - take your seat - order - serve - check - good bye.

This is what Google is for

[SkywardSong]

If you're looking to make a good impression I suggest being kind and sweet so your costumers will feel welcomed, and try to make small talk with your customers but not to much or it's called slacking off. x3 Oh and don't try to completely change your personality just be yourself, but don't forget to be polite! Oh and some Cafes the maids will preform dances ( Such as Love & Joy, or PonPonPon. P.S when learning dances find the Mirrored versions!) So learning a few dances could be helpful! ^ w ^ Anyway I hope this helped!

[Mangochutney]

Originally Posted by Noiz DRAMAtical

This is what Google is for

Sure is, brah.

[Jia Jem]

I was a maid in a maid cafe at Youmacon for 2 years.

1. The better your people skills, the more fun it is for everybody. They don't really want your crappy tea and snacks that they can probably find better versions of in their own hotel room - they want to talk to the maids.

2. You don't have to talk in a silly high voice, which some girls did.... why? ....maybe they thought it was cute or they thought they had to? This is not required so if you feel silly mimicking ~KaWaiiDeSuuuU~ voices, then don't. However, if you think that's fun, go for it.

3. Don't expect tips. I know, sad.

I was also a waitress IRL for about 2 years, so here are the differences between waitresses and maid cafe girls:

IRL, speedy service and accuracy is important. You aren't expected to chit chat, you aren't expected to look good, you give them their order as quick as possible, are polite, and stay out of the way.

At the maid cafe, looks and personality are important. You are expected to be engaging, bubbly, and chatty. Speed can come secondary to that.

My first year at Youmacon I spent the first shift rushing around like a usual waitress trying to get everyone everything on time like I normally would, not chatting much. Once I realized NO ONE TIPPED ANYWAY, I became much more relaxed with my speed and just quizzed my tables on what panels they liked, what guests they were excited about, etc.

All in all, they don't want food and drinks, they want interaction with the maids. You can be a crappy "waitress" but still be a great cafe maid.

[Arc_The_Lad]

I thought maids do nothing but clean the place and cause sexual tension.

[Kildread]

Originally Posted by Arc_The_Lad

I thought maids do nothing but clean the place and cause sexual tension.

At cons, they serve costy, low-end tea in addition to that.

I can guarantee you nobody at cons is going to the maid cafes for the food and drinks. At all. Anyone goes there to chat with pretty maids.

[Arc_The_Lad]

So a strip club minus the strippers.

Which you could say about almost any restaurant these days, you should see the short skirts they wear at this one place I get food...

[Lithium Flower]

The gals at our local Sonic wear booty shorts.


Re:Maid stuff

For the love of all that is sane please do not act like a mega kawaii animu girl. At A-Con I watch girls way too old to be doing this making high pitched Paris Hilton voices at passerby's trying to get them to come in to the cafe and acting simply stupid.

Being cheerful, personable, and charming does not mean pretending to be an anime girl.

[Oniigiri_Basket]

Originally Posted by Mangochutney

Calm the hell down

I really didn't get the impression that she was hyped up in any way. She was just wondering what to do.

Anyway, just act courteous and friendly, just like you would in a normal work setting.

[Kildread]

Originally Posted by Oniigiri_Basket

I really didn't get the impression that she was hyped up in any way. She was just wondering what to do.

I don't think Mango meant the initial query, but just to do the maid cafe thing in a laid back way --- not treat it as a fast-service actual waitress job and not push the animu maid act too far.

[peppermeek]

wow, I like all the advice everyone gave me :3
(and of course, I will not, and never will, act like a weeaboo. I'm too much of a tom-boy for that~)

[Lithium Flower]

'Tom-Boys' can be weeaboos too my darling Maid-To-Be.

Really what we're all trying to get at is you don't have to act like Paris Hilton to be an interesting person. Let's just be completely honest here, the people going to Maid Cafe's are there to see YOU the maid. Unless your cafe is serving something unique (IE:Authentic cuisine) the people coming in are there to be charmed by cute girls in maid outfits. No beating around the bush here, they want to see attractive ladies with nice personalities serving them tea in cute little loli-maid outfits.

Be welcoming, authentic, and personable. Unless the cafe you're working at prefers a formal atmosphere (which is rare at conventions) you don't need to treat guests like they're patrons at a 5 star New York restaurant. Be relaxed and just nice.

Remember to keep in mind, you supply your own outfit. Very few maid cafe's have specific uniforms (I think I only saw one a few years back) so you will want a high quality outfit to wear. A cheap frayed lace Halloween bagged costume does not a Lolita make.

[RicanPlatano]

I'm also gonna say please don't act all anime-cutesy. When I attended Katsu this year I went to the maid cafe and The maid we got was the best. I was irritated with all the "KAWAIIDESU" high pitched screaming going on in the backround but my maid didn't do that. She started by explaining it was her first time and she didn't know how to be "cutesy" She sat down and played games with us and asked us about the con and we even colored in a my little pony book >< but she was awesome and if i could have tipped I would have!

What i'm trying to say is... be yourself and more people will like you!