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Is A Tip Jar At A Gig OK? - With Poll
- Thread starter mrjim123
- Start date
Depends on the gig.
- Acoustic solo/duo/trio - OK
- Cover Band, Classic Rock - Not OK
- Metal/Punk Show - Will be stolen
My improv/jam band uses one, but we only want people to give us "hot tips", which my singer then uses as the basis for his lyrics.
One time some girls put actual money in our hot tips jar. Our singer stopped the song and gave them back their money. Anybody who didn't know our band was super confused. Good times.
One time some girls put actual money in our hot tips jar. Our singer stopped the song and gave them back their money. Anybody who didn't know our band was super confused. Good times.
IMHO, the only time it would be inappropriate would be for a Wedding or Corporate gig.
I've actually had people come up and ask why there was no jar. Once even had someone put one on stage for us.
I've actually had people come up and ask why there was no jar. Once even had someone put one on stage for us.
Tip jars are A-OK as long as the contents go to the band.
I know the story of a band, which I may or may not be part of, that has a regular annual gig at an outdoor restaurant. Pays okay, free food and drink for all twenty band members. They play during a certain festival week each year, and the house is PACKED each time. Last year, the restaurant manager pulled a fast one: unbeknownst to the band, the manager had his little daughter go from table to table with a tip jar. "For the band". As the band is a crowd favorite, donations were plentiful and sizeable. It was only after the gig that the band got wind of the tip jar.
The band got absolutely nothing. The manager kept the jar for himself.
I know the story of a band, which I may or may not be part of, that has a regular annual gig at an outdoor restaurant. Pays okay, free food and drink for all twenty band members. They play during a certain festival week each year, and the house is PACKED each time. Last year, the restaurant manager pulled a fast one: unbeknownst to the band, the manager had his little daughter go from table to table with a tip jar. "For the band". As the band is a crowd favorite, donations were plentiful and sizeable. It was only after the gig that the band got wind of the tip jar.
The band got absolutely nothing. The manager kept the jar for himself.
No valid choices, so didn't vote. There are times a tip jar is inappropriate ... weddings, private parties, house concerts, corporate gigs and others. Tip jars are usually OK at any event open to the public, regardless of cover charge or whether the band is paid or not, IMO. What's not OK is mentioning the tip jar all evening. We've only announced the tip jar when its contents will go to some charitable cause, otherwise people either notice or not ... no big deal. We don't depend on tips for our pay.
A sleazebag of the highest order! Reminds me of a something a buddy of mine used to say (and I don't necessarily advocate this), "That's what high powered rifles are for".
I dont play small bars anymore..but when I did..a tip jar was inappropriate..it just never did fit in with our image..its like asking for extra dollars..professionals dont need a few extra dollars..a good contract for big shows is always the way to go..
20 people in the band and they got nothing? Manager stole their tips? Where is he buried?
Not sure why having a tip jar as a classic rock cover band is a big deal. We never had one until we got tired of being asked why we didn't. Drunk people at bars like to tip when you play a song they request or just like. Am I missing something?
I agree with this. It's generally okay to have a tip jar for public events or bar gigs. Private gigs, no, not okay. since this wasn't a choice, I didn't vote.
Ridiculous. I'm in a classic rock cover band and have been putting a tip jar out for years... sometimes we get nothing, sometimes we get up to a couple hundred dollars. No one has ever been offended or told us it was inappropriate.
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As long as it isn’t a corporate or wedding event, why not?
Giggle. Tell the guys on Broadway in Nashville that...
The manager looked at the tips the same way he looks at tips for wait staff. Tips, in most states, can be applied as a credit to make up the difference between a very low tipped minimum wage and the state’s (or federal) minimum wage. They try to spread that around the bar, back crew, etc so that in the end he just pays $2.50 / hour for labor and the staff take home little more than minimum wage. So the band did get the tips, but they were applied as a credit towards the band’s fee that night.
I was shocked at the talent that was playing for tips only when I visited Nashville.
These seem like even better times to put out a tip bucket. People are getting hammered on free booze and that opens up the wallet. But yeah, when there is a more formal situation, the tip bucket is less kosher, unfortunately.
It’s fine if you’re busking in a park or out on the street.
Otherwise I think it sends a bad message. Especially at a gig.
What comes next? Band still pays to play, but the club now keeps the entire door, and the band just gets the tip jar - assuming they had enough people show up?
You know that day is coming
Otherwise I think it sends a bad message. Especially at a gig.
What comes next? Band still pays to play, but the club now keeps the entire door, and the band just gets the tip jar - assuming they had enough people show up?
You know that day is coming
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