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Acting like a baller, tipping singles

#41
Rayjay said:
....I'd never turn down the money and try to be gracious for the tip,......
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Rayjay said:
....I'm not complaining about people leaving tips. And I'm not complaining about people leaving singles...
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Rayjay said:
Not even bothersome....just funny to watch. Hence the humor thread, friendly reminder to all :roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:
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Joedog said:
Wow. I never even considered looking down my nose at someone walking up and kicking in a buck or 2. I always figured my pay was what the negotiated fee was, and tips were frosting on the cake. Never once did I complain about putting an extra 10-50 dollar bills in my pocket at the end of the night! I never picked up on anyone copping an attitude while tipping either. Guess I'm just oblivious? Life is short.....don't sweat the little poopie!
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Just wanted to quickly summarize, in case anyone needs a refresher, I appreciate people tipping. In case I haven't mentioned it yet :thumbsup:
 
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#42
Rayjay said:
LOL!! Yeah, right! It's not free money! I'm working my ass off, playing 4 hours, killing my feet and my back, driving an hour both ways, lugging my heavy equipment around, and dealing with drunks all night. And someone is usually so drunk that they try to provoke a fight. And we are playing specific requests. After I worked a whole day at my "other" job too. Thanks for the generous offer but I think I'll decline. :D

And, lest we forget, it's also taxable income!
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Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.

Rayjay said:
I tip bartenders $1 per round, I don't make a big deal of it, and I certainly don't act like I'm doing them a big favor. It's expected.
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I tended bar working my way through college, and if you left a tip of $1 per round, you'd have been hunting down a cocktail waitress for your next round. One dollar per round isn't expected, it's an insult.
 
#43
Rayjay said:
Just curious, from a cover band perspective, do bands make more money in the UK from the venue, due to the whole no-tipping culture? For instance, if I was in the UK could I ride the band for requests all night and be expected to give nothing in return, but pay more for my drinks and a bigger cover charge so in the end the bar and the band get the same relative payout?

All I know is, I work as a contractor during the day, and frequent kitchens, where it very common to hear the wait staff complaining about international guests. Some of these people spend $200 at a table and leave little, and often no, tip at all, expecting to be waited on hand and foot.

Just curious!
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Generally here in Europe, and particularly in the UK, we simply do not have a tipping culture. Here, people get paid by their employer to do their job and if a customer gives a tip it will usually be because they have had exceptional service (oh and, by the way, exceptional service over here does not mean refilling your water or wine glass every time you take a sip or clearing the table and presenting you with the bill as soon as you put your fork down; it's more about being attentive and making you feel at ease without being overbearing ). Playing in bars in a covers band is no different, you get paid a flat rate by the landlord (bar owner or Manager) and you do your thing. You play what you hope will be an entertaining set list and that the audience will appreciate what you do...but you don't have to play any requests either. One similarity between the US and UK bar band scene is that bands get paid no more these days than they did 20 years ago; but then, if you play covers in a bar band, like I do, you're not doing it for the money - it's just a channel to rock out, show off a bit and have your expenses covered.
 
#49
Rayjay said:
LOL!! Yeah, right! It's not free money! I'm working my ass off, playing 4 hours, killing my feet and my back, driving an hour both ways, lugging my heavy equipment around, and dealing with drunks all night. And someone is usually so drunk that they try to provoke a fight. And we are playing specific requests. After I worked a whole day at my "other" job too. Thanks for the generous offer but I think I'll decline. :D

And, lest we forget, it's also taxable income!
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I feel a general rage quit coming.
 
#53
Slightly OT comment here... one local place we play often is a pretty nice restaurant. (think; reservations suggested, flowers and candles on the tables...) In lieu of a tip jar, which I was told they consider tacky, they have the waitress/waiter place an envelope on each table marked "Band". It works pretty well. Sometimes we get $10's or $20's. Not saying that would work everywhere of course, but maybe worth a shot if the establishment doesn't care.
 
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#55
steamthief said:
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.


I tended bar working my way through college, and if you left a tip of $1 per round, you'd have been hunting down a cocktail waitress for your next round. One dollar per round isn't expected, it's an insult.
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I buy a beer for say $5 and I tip $1. I get a water, I tip $1.

Curious how much you tip
 
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#58
Bass212 said:
U should be getting a percentage of the door and not expecting much in the way of tips. And yeah, it is kind of tacky when people make a show out of tipping.
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At this particular venue, no cover just a percentage of the bar. We play a big role in bringing people in and keeping them there. Therefore no guarantee but we usually get paid OK.

We commonly get a lot of tips, and most of the people who tip the big bills - $20s, $50s, $100s, - they tend to be the people who just give you a quick "wassup" nod as they tip. The "yo, yo, yo" rapper types are the ones who tend to really show off when they tip, and that's the "singles" crowd.

Once again, not complaining about people leaving tips. Just observing funny human behavior.

I am learning something in this thread - seems not a lot of bands actually are putting out a tip jar at all, and I find that extremely interesting. I've done all sorts of gigs, and aside from theater jobs and recitals and memorial services, there has been an omni-present tip jar.
 
#59
EdwardofHuncote said:
Slightly OT comment here... one local place we play often is a pretty nice restaurant. (think; reservations suggested, flowers and candles on the tables...) In lieu of a tip jar, which I was told they consider tacky, they have the waitress/waiter place an envelope on each table marked "Band". It works pretty well. Sometimes we get $10's or $20's. Not saying that would work everywhere of course, but maybe worth a shot if the establishment doesn't care.
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I wish more places had a musician tip line on the credit card receipts. Certain places we play are fancy restaurants and drunk tourists charging their tabs on CCs would surely leave generous tips. We would slay.

Unfortunately can't talk any businesses into it.
 

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