Why Do Texas Roadhouse Employees Line Dance?
To keep the energy up, entertain the tables and make the wait for food feel shorter. The dances replaced the live country bands the founder gave up on after his first restaurant, and they have been part of the show since 1998.
It is one of the chain’s best known traditions, along with the free rolls and cinnamon butter and the birthday shout from a saddle.
It started with a band that did not work
Founder Kent Taylor wanted his first restaurant, opened in Clarksville, Indiana in 1993, to feel like a lively country roadhouse, so it had a stage and live country bands. It did not last. Taylor later said bands showed up late, played too loud and would not stop, and you cannot turn tables while a band keeps jamming. From the second restaurant onward there was no stage.
The country bar feel stayed, though, and in 1998 the staff at the Ashland, Kentucky restaurant started performing line dances. It was cheaper and more reliable than a band, the staff enjoyed it, and customers loved it. Other restaurants picked it up.
How the dances work
| Question | What happens |
|---|---|
| How often? | Usually about once an hour, though some locations dance every 30 or 45 minutes |
| How long? | Each routine lasts about 90 seconds |
| Which songs? | Country hits such as Boot Scootin’ Boogie by Brooks and Dunn and Good Time by Alan Jackson |
| Who dances? | Mostly servers and front of house staff at participating restaurants |
| Is it required? | At restaurants that do it, staff are usually expected to take part, and some attend practice classes |
| Does every location dance? | No. It is up to each restaurant, and busy nights often skip it |
There is a line dancing competition
Texas Roadhouse holds an annual line dancing contest at its company conference, where teams from different restaurants perform for prizes and titles. Some teams build their own routines and song mashups and practice for hours a week to get ready. The company says it is about rewarding staff and celebrating its culture.
It fits a wider habit of friendly competitions at Texas Roadhouse, which also runs contests for its bartenders and for the meat cutters who hand cut every steak.
Can customers join in?
Yes, and some do. Nobody will stop you from getting up and dancing along, and on birthdays the staff may bring you to the dining room saddle for a loud celebration instead. If you would rather eat in peace, it is short, and it is over before your rolls go cold.
Who runs the company today, and how its managing partners share in the profits, is covered in who owns Texas Roadhouse. Prices, Early Dine times and steak sizes are on the Texas Roadhouse menu.
Related Questions
Why do Texas Roadhouse employees line dance?
To keep the energy high and entertain guests. The dances give the restaurant a lively country roadhouse feel and help the wait for food pass faster. The tradition began in 1998 at the Ashland, Kentucky restaurant.
How often do they dance at Texas Roadhouse?
Usually about once an hour at restaurants that do it, though some dance every 30 or 45 minutes. Each routine lasts about 90 seconds.
Do all Texas Roadhouse locations line dance?
No. It is up to each restaurant, and some never do it. Managers also skip dances when the restaurant is very busy.
Do Texas Roadhouse employees have to line dance?
At restaurants that take part, staff are generally expected to join in, and some locations hold practice classes. Rules vary by restaurant.
What songs does Texas Roadhouse line dance to?
Country songs, with routines to tracks such as Boot Scootin’ Boogie by Brooks and Dunn and Good Time by Alan Jackson. The exact list varies by location.
Did Texas Roadhouse ever have live music?
Yes, at the very first restaurant in 1993. Founder Kent Taylor dropped live bands after that because they disrupted service, and line dancing later took their place.
More on Texas Roadhouse
About this guide. USA Food Menu is an independent reference site and is not affiliated with Texas Roadhouse, Inc. Details come from the founder’s published account, company statements and reporting from current and former staff, and practices vary by restaurant. Current prices are on the Texas Roadhouse menu.
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