Dude, tip your server/bartender.

Aaron · #1 02-12-2008, 03:12 AM

If you're getting comped free drinks/meals at a gig, don't piss off the staff by leaving a lousy tip or no tip at all. Unless you don't want to get hired again. It will probably piss off your band, too.

insomniac2295 · #2 02-12-2008, 03:20 AM

i accidently made the mistake of not leaving a tip at a place my band played called pizza luce. its like a gormet pizza joint/music venue/bar. i felt pretty bad afterwards because we didnt do it on purpose, we totally didnt even think of it! we were so caught up in getting awesome free pizza that we totally spaced

Fishbrain · #3 02-12-2008, 04:23 AM

we used to play a place in my old band where we'd get a free bowl of chilli con carne and rice and sometimes a crate of beer. when i recently played with my new band i found out everyone else gets £80...

Disco_Gee · #4 02-12-2008, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fishbrain

we used to play a place in my old band where we'd get a free bowl of chilli con carne and rice and sometimes a crate of beer. when i recently played with my new band i found out everyone else gets £80...

LOL. That's gold.

Bruce Lindfield · #5 02-12-2008, 05:07 AM

Depends whether that's each or for the whole band - if the latter then I'd take the free food and beer!!

neurotictim · #6 02-12-2008, 05:29 AM

I always tip my bartenders/servers... They have the ear of the owner, moreso than pretty much anyone else, and they're the ones (IME) who decide if you play again. Band prices are great and everything, but I tip $1 for every $2 spent. With band prices usually being 1/2 off, I break even, so it works. Keep them happy, I figure, and they'll keep me playing.

invader3k · #7 02-12-2008, 06:42 AM

Yep, always leave a tip. When you're getting free drinks all night, leaving even like 5 to 10 bucks or so can go a long way with people. It shows that you're not oblivious to the fact that the bartenders are working hard.

makaky · #8 02-12-2008, 06:52 AM

Im realy surprised by the reaction here.

I play original stuff in some clubs and we ususaly have a couple of free beers and consider myself very lucky if i get 100$ in my pocket after paying the expenses.

Will a waiter give a tip to another waiter during that night ??? i dont think so. When i play in a venue, i consider myself as part of the staff and theres is no way im giving a tip.

As a matter of fact, it pisses me off when a waitress says tips is no included when i hand one of my beer ticket. I mean, that bitch is gonna make half a grand that night with the people that are comming to see MY band, thats 5 times what im gonna make. Asking for a tip from someone who brings clients and will make alot lesss money then you, will probably go to sleep long after you ( band gear is a p.i.t.a sometimes) is beyond me

When i go see a concert i always give a very good tip because im a client that night.

Saetia · #9 02-12-2008, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by insomniac2295

i accidently made the mistake of not leaving a tip at a place my band played called pizza luce. its like a gormet pizza joint/music venue/bar. i felt pretty bad afterwards because we didnt do it on purpose, we totally didnt even think of it! we were so caught up in getting awesome free pizza that we totally spaced

Wow, Haven't heard the name Pizza Luce in awhile. I moved home this spring from College in Superior.

I had a great time up there, but eventually came home to live as Superior/ Duluth is far to conservative when compared to where I grew up (Madison).

I actually used Pizza Luce in a project for one of my marketing classes lol!

I always tip there

Peace

-Benny

Phalex · #10 02-12-2008, 07:57 AM

Great thread!!

I went around and around with my drummer about this a month or so ago. I'll tip a buck for a complimentary beer. Usually anyhow. We were playing a club we've played at before. The crowd was really good. Tons of people at the bar on Saturday night. I get 15 minutes between sets to go use the restroom, get a cocktail, and maybe sit down for a minute if I can find a free seat. Every set I'd go to the end of the bar, and I'd stand there for 10 to 12 minutes waiting for a cocktail. In fact the whole band ran into this situation. You know what?? if I have to spend my entire break waiting on a friggin draft beer, NO TIP! Tips are based on service. Especially if I'm working. I'm on a friggin schedule and I get the same freaking thing every time I go to the bar. It aint rocket surgery!

So after we get done playing to a capacity crowd, the owner of the club tells the drummer (Who deals with club owners and money and such.) that the wait staff are pissed because the band doesn't tip. (This is true for myself on Saturday night, but Friday they got a buck a beer from me.) So the drummer just having gotten paid by the owner for the gig, coughs up $40.00 of the bands pay to cover stiffing the bar staff.

It's not like it was an oversite. I didn't give them squat on purpose. The service was worse than bad.

So anyway, I ended up tipping them because the drummer gave the owner some of my money.

Next time we play there, I'm drinking water. Screw em. Lets see how much they think I owe them for that.

makaky · #11 02-12-2008, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phalex

Great thread!!

I went around and around with my drummer about this a month or so ago. I'll tip a buck for a complimentary beer. Usually anyhow. We were playing a club we've played at before. The crowd was really good. Tons of people at the bar on Saturday night. I get 15 minutes between sets to go use the restroom, get a cocktail, and maybe sit down for a minute if I can find a free seat. Every set I'd go to the end of the bar, and I'd stand there for 10 to 12 minutes waiting for a cocktail. In fact the whole band ran into this situation. You know what?? if I have to spend my entire break waiting on a friggin draft beer, NO TIP! Tips are based on service. Especially if I'm working. I'm on a friggin schedule and I get the same freaking thing every time I go to the bar. It aint rocket surgery!

So after we get done playing to a capacity crowd, the owner of the club tells the drummer (Who deals with club owners and money and such.) that the wait staff are pissed because the band doesn't tip. (This is true for myself on Saturday night, but Friday they got a buck a beer from me.) So the drummer just having gotten paid by the owner for the gig, coughs up $40.00 of the bands pay to cover stiffing the bar staff.

It's not like it was an oversite. I didn't give them squat on purpose. The service was worse than bad.

So anyway, I ended up tipping them because the drummer gave the owner some of my money.

Next time we play there, I'm drinking water. Screw em. Lets see how much they think I owe them for that.

Wow just wow...

I once gave a tip to a waitress because she was friendly and cute. She gave it back to me and said, your on the staff tonight. In fact, you guys should get a cut of tips.

Phalex · #12 02-12-2008, 08:45 AM

Yeah, I'm still a little miffed by the whole thing. At one club we play, Mike the bartender is johnny on the spot with band drinks no matter how busy it is. If you can fight your way to the bar, he's got your drink waiting for you by the time you get there. Mike usually gets ten bucks a night from me because he rocks!

derrico1 · #13 02-12-2008, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

Depends whether that's each or for the whole band

Yeah, a bowl of chili for the whole band is a raw deal. There's no way I'm sharing a spoon with the singer.

need4mospd · #14 02-12-2008, 09:16 AM

I usually like to make friends with the bar staff because then they'll ask the manager to hire you back! $5-10 a night out of my pocket is worth another 5-10 $100 gigs.

jweiss · #15 02-12-2008, 09:40 AM

Interesting thread. We usually get paid cash plus dinner and tap beer. We are last priority for the servers/bartenders. I have not made a habit of tipping either of them. Perhaps we should rethink that.

Diggler · #16 02-12-2008, 11:25 AM

I always try to tip them.

Usually, I only manage to knock them a little off-balance, though.

scottice · #17 02-12-2008, 11:32 AM

The way I see it... IF your band has the placed filled with people you don't owe the staff anything besides a good tight set list. In fact, they should be working their asses off for you because... if it wasn't for you packing that joint to capacity they would be making NOTHING!

Their are always exceptions to this... and I understand BOTH sides of the coin... but the tips your band would be shelling out would be less than one half of one percent the total of the tips brought in by a packed house. Keep the BAND happy I say! Bring them their drinks pronto missy!

nortonrider · #18 02-12-2008, 11:38 AM

Of course, you Tip!

Phalex: Maybe the reason you got crappy service is because you DON'T tip.

My ol' lady tends bar, and she gets to a customer as soon as she can. Unless they are some prima donna asses, then, she'll let you stand there and die of thirst.

It's never a good idea to get on the bad side of the staff.
Catch more flys with honey, etc..

makaky · #19 02-12-2008, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nortonrider

Of course, you Tip!

Phalex: Maybe the reason you got crappy service is because you DON'T tip.

My ol' lady tends bar, and she gets to a customer as soon as she can. Unless they are some prima donna asses, then, she'll let you stand there and die of thirst.

It's never a good idea to get on the bad side of the staff.
Catch more flys with honey, etc..

Thats the thing, musiciens are not customers they are part of the staff for the night

Guiseppe · #20 02-12-2008, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by makaky

Will a waiter give a tip to another waiter during that night ??? i dont think so. When i play in a venue, i consider myself as part of the staff and theres is no way im giving a tip.

I think you'll probably find yourself in the minority point of view. Despite the fact that many of us consider we're "part of the staff" while gigging, we're not. I think, more accurately, we can say we're "part of the TEAM" with the mutual goal of making the hosts as much profit as possible. If, as you say, you're part of the staff, are you serving drinks during your breaks, grabbing orders from tables? Not!

I understand that the bar keeps are a valuable tool that can work to my advantage, and treat them as such by making a point to learn their names, remind the crowd to tip 'em, and tip them myself. By keeping them happy, they in turn proffer their opinion to their bosses (who are the ones that hire me). I think making sure I show my appreciation of thier help is simply an investment into my own vocation.

PS. my gig is VERY much centered on being the best PARTY band around - we play good, get-down music that we purposely chose BECAUSE of the "party" atmosphere that goes with it. The club/bar/venue makes good money, the bartenders get tipped well, the crowd has a good time (#1 priority), and we get asked back.