Tip Jar

[fretlessman71]

Does your band have a tip jar?

I'm always curious about how different bands go through the process of "trolling for tips" without being tacky. I find it makes me want to crawl out of my skin personally, but some bands do it well. I know that in Nashville many players make more from tips than they do from the club. So how do you get people to pay attention to the fact that there's a place to "show their thanks" in a financial way without being tacky about it?

I play regularly at a really nice club near Denver, and my piano player found a really nice blue glass globe-shaped bowl - the opening is just barely big enough to get your hand in. She sticks a few 5's and a 1 out of the top and lets that do the talking. But I always wondered if there was another way to get people's attention.

Please share your experiences/stories/what have you.

[fdeck]

Put in some money at the start of the night to prime the pump. If you have a friend in the audience, have him or her pass the jar around. Another subtle tactic is to remind the audience to tip the bartenders. A few of them will also remember to tip the band.

[ryco]

My summer jazz trio has a tip jar that we put on top pf the piano.
More times than not we'll make more in tips than what we make from the club.
Of course the pay isn't all that great. $120 split 3 ways for 3 hour gig. Two nights a week; Fri-Sat 7 - 10.

What really helps is to have an attractive woman take the tip jar around the club to all the tables! Rarely happens, but man-o-man is it lucrative!!

Another guy in town made a stand out of a music stand and places it right by the exit with a BIG a$$ sign reading "TIP THE MUSICIAN!".
Kinda tacky to me, but he does quite well.

[CapnSev]

Depends on the gig.

If it's some kind of party or special event that a price was agreed in, I generally find that a tip jar isn't really appropriate.

At a regular club or festival-type gig, I always have the guitar case open for tips. A lot of times I'll make more in tips than the regular pay.

[fretlessman71]

What are the standard things to say to alert people to the tip jar without sounding like a jerk? You know, like the phrases the waitresses use to get people out the door: "You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here" kind of thing...?

[standupright]

the 2 different groups i play in, we never have a tip jar......i think for the most part is because we aren't really doing it for money....yeah we get paid from the house, and if it's enough to pay for gas and drinks then i am more than happy. i have a full time job that i do really well with, so.....i don't know....i guess if i was earning my living at it, then i would prob have a tip jar.....i'm not, so i don't. i see no problem though with having one. i guess it depends on the venue also. i do make sure that if i am out where i am enjoying live music and there is a tip jar to throw dinero in there, at the very least a 20.

[willyrep]

Down here in New Orleans the tip jar is a way of life. If it's not a club that guarantees, has a door charge, or a private event, the standard pay is usually 20% from the bar plus tips. Usually we make more on tips and cd sales than money from the bar.
Hopefully you get a nice looking female musician/friend/audience member to do all the dirty work for you; down here people usually get the idea that not you're working for much scratch and it just takes some friendly "prodding". This is standard fare on Frenchman street, home to about a dozen free or cheap admission clubs that get really packed when the gettin's good.

[nsmar4211]

If we're playing a private party or a paid fundraising event, no tip jar (that's kinda tacky).
Bar gig or other gig? Tip jar..... But, we never point it out, we do keep our business cards next to it and that seems to help. So far we've never asked anyone to "prime the pump" (i.e. get a friend to throw something in), but there's definetly and increase to the tip jar once the first person tosses something in. Around here a lot of people tip as they leave or when the band is on break.....

[CapnSev]

Originally Posted by fretlessman71

What are the standard things to say to alert people to the tip jar without sounding like a jerk? You know, like the phrases the waitresses use to get people out the door: "You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here" kind of thing...?

We have a big white cardboard sign that sits in the open guitar case that says "Jesus loves tippers."

[pbagley]

A couple of bands ago we played a party for free. We were getting free practice space from the venue, so when they asked for a favor in return we had to say Yes.

The night of the event (Retirement party) the guest of honor's wife learned that we were playing for free. She picked up an empty beer glass during our second set and worked the room. Not something you'd expect, but very much appreciated.

[Passinwind]

Originally Posted by fretlessman71

Does your band have a tip jar?

Please share your experiences/stories/what have you.

If you play for geezers like we mostly do, don't make 'em bend over to tip you. I've noticed that we make a lot less when the jar's on the floor.

[Spinal Tapper]

We don't leave a tip jar on the stage during gigs, but afterwords at the merch table, we ask for any donations and whoever gives whatever amount gets a CD - even if it's only $1. The cool thing is most people give $5-$10, one guy even gave $20 and said keep the change. Another guy gave us a half-pint of Whiskey and a joint he had in his pocket. That was also well worth the trade for a CD

[mrpackerguy]

At a wedding we played at 10/18, we didn't ask, but they added a $300 tip the the band check. But no, we don't put out a tip jar and don't ask for tips. We're not playing a gig unless what we're getting in cash or check for the gig makes us happy, or at least content.

[agreatheight]

Paid gigs = no tip jar
Unpaid gigs (except charity) = tip jar