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Is A Tip Jar At A Gig OK? - With Poll

Is A Tip Jar At A Gig OK?

  • It's always OK.

    Votes: 165 51.4%

  • It's OK as long as the band/artist is NOT being paid.

    Votes: 52 16.2%

  • It's OK if the band/artist IS being paid, as long as there is no cover charge.

    Votes: 58 18.1%

  • It's never OK.

    Votes: 24 7.5%

  • It's OK, but only if it can be filled with carrots.

    Votes: 22 6.9%
  • Total voters
    321
#101
Does the band GLADLY accept requests?

Back in the 1980s I played in a country band for a couple of years. It was a 6 piece, and 5 of us were in our 30s. Experienced, but not "country to the core". The bandleader was closing on 70, had been playing all his life, and I swear, knew every country song ever written! We had a house gig at a dinner/dance club, 6 sets from 7pm-1am. He'd put out a "tip" jar labeled "REQUESTS". People would put money in the jar, he'd call the key and say "follow me!" The owner loved it, because while our regular setlists were "Modern" country and brought in the younger crowd later in the evening, the club was always packed for dinner with the older crowd. Good times!
 
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#103
Of course it's ok. Stick that jar out there and don't badger people. Have a website or a means for the guy without cash to hook you up later if he comes by and says he loved your set.

The t-shirts, CD's, and stickers are fig leaf over the whole idea of a tip jar. Being able to take digital tips is an awesome idea. I've been to plenty of shows where I'd have loved to toss a couple of bucks to the band but I didn't have cash on hand. Was it stupid of me to not have cash on hand? Yes. Did that change the fact that I didn't? NOPE. I'd swipe the card for a good bunch of people that gave me some enjoyment.
 
#108
Nashrakh said:
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.
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Not cool.
 
#112
Nashrakh said:
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.
Click to expand...

Death - by short, sharp implements - to that manager!!!! That is TOTALLY effed up!

Voted that tip jar is cool if no cover charge, but that's not entirely right - no tip jar at private parties where band is paid, particularly on the wedding/bar mitzvah/corporate scene, to the extent live bands have not been pre-empted by DJs..
 
#113
alaskaleftybass said:
Before you put the jar out center stage, put a dollar in the jar. It's odd but that helps start the tipping.
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We call that greasing the bucket!!

Imo tip jars are always fine unless you're on a gig where it's not fine. If you can't tell the difference you'll probly be playing tipped gigs most of your career.

Edit: did not vote in poll for lack of accurate choice.
 
#119
Toolmybass said:
Generally, it is here too. Just not in bars/clubs
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Depends here. For cover bands, solo acts and acoustic “fools on stools”, it’s expected. For original acts, they rarely use them, but beg their money other ways (Merch, Kickstarter, go fund me). Almost never see a tip jar a corporate and wedding events, but the old “$20 handshake” happens often.

Band pay here hasn’t changed much in 30 years. On average, a bar will pay a 4-5 piece band $3-400. That’s for the whole band. Tips help account for the difference.
 
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