The band played a gig for a friend of the guitar player. They paid us peanuts so I brought a tip jar to help supplement our measly pittance. The guitar man refused to let me put it out front, said it was tacky. The party goers are affluent and I see nothing wrong with the tip jar. Some folks saw the tip jar behind the band and they brought it out front, threw $30 and there we go. This was the last set. I imagine had the tip jar been out there the entire gig we would have done much better. Thoughts on tip jars? I am right wrong?
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Tip jar at private party?
- Thread starter aprod
- Start date
- Dec 21, 2007
- 15,233
- 45,131
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- Lark in the Morning Instructional Videos; Audix Microphones
I agree that if you're being paid, a tip jar is tacky. With that said, if you're playing for affluent folks, negotiate a fair payment for the band.
We played a freebie for a couple of the members reunion,
Someone decieded to pass the hat (childrens sand bucket) and made us $331.00. For 2 hours work.
Someone decieded to pass the hat (childrens sand bucket) and made us $331.00. For 2 hours work.
I don't think it's a huge deal, but i would not use a jar and go with the open guitar case. A little more discreet that way.
I don't see anything wrong with it.
You expect to tip a bartender or a waitress and they're getting paid to be there already, so why should hired entertainment be any different?
The only risk I see is if you put something out and end the night with nothing in it. That might be kind of discouraging. But that's why you discreetly "seed" it with a 5 or 10-spot out of your own pocket at the start of the night (a trick I learned from one of my current bandleaders).
You expect to tip a bartender or a waitress and they're getting paid to be there already, so why should hired entertainment be any different?
The only risk I see is if you put something out and end the night with nothing in it. That might be kind of discouraging. But that's why you discreetly "seed" it with a 5 or 10-spot out of your own pocket at the start of the night (a trick I learned from one of my current bandleaders).
I guess at the end of the day it might be respectful to ask the person that booked you if putting a tip jar out is OK or not. Some might object and you should probably respect that wish.
It really bothers me when musicians think so little of their own value that they willingly leave money on the table.
because bartender and waitstaff get paid based on the fact that there will be tipping (shld be tipping).
Most professional bands dont. if the band gets extra..its usually from a happy owner/mgr./person who hired them..not patrons.
Maybe im wrong, but..i dont think so on this one.
because bartender and waitstaff get paid based on the fact that there will be tipping (shld be tipping).
Most professional bands dont. if the band gets extra..its usually from a happy owner/mgr./person who hired them..not patrons.
Maybe im wrong, but..i dont think so on this one.
I've played in numeous bands and situations over the years. In some scenarios a tip jar went out, and in others it didn't. I've never been a bandleader so I defer to that BL of the moment's judgment on that and don't raise a stink either way.
FWIW, as a rule, around here anyway, a tip jar for the band seems to be a "no" at things like bar gigs, high-dollar private jobs (weddings, corporate parties) and "headline" events like a street dance or the main slot on a festival. OTOH it is extremely common to find tip jars at "wallpaper" restaurant gigs, "fools on stools" solo/duo acts at smaller lounges and, yes, small private parties.
If the person that hired you says "no tip jar", they're the boss. As others said, negotiate the pay you are willing to play for.
I've worked many high end gigs where it would be totally out of place to even have a tip jar at the bar.
No. But the jazz quartet I play in does at our standing restaurant gig.
Now keep in mind (and in reference to my prior post), these are completely different gigs. My main band is doing street dances and wedding/corporate jobs primarily, with a fill-in bar gig here and there. We roll a full P.A. and light show and won't pack the trailer for less than $1,500 a night. My jazz quartet OTOH plays wallpaper music at a high-end steakhouse where our nightly pay wouldn't even buy dinner there for us and our wives.
So I've seen the issue from both sides.
1. You shouldn't have agreed to do the gig for $300 to begin with. If these folks have dough then they probably wouldn't have even minded paying full price for the band. (My wife and I do fine money wise. I recently had one of my best friend's bands play for me. I wouldn't even think of taking a discount because I knew I was getting the full product, and not a reduced form of the product.)
2. Being that you DID take the gig, in my view, it was pretty much a freebie anyway. You were doing them a favor. So put out the jar and go for it. I have been to private parties where there was a jar and tipped myself. I wasn't offended at all.
3. Next time, stick with #1 and don't take a $300 private party. That isn't a discount. That is an insult. I wouldn't play a club gig for that, much less a private party for a rich group. Tell your guitar player the next time he wants to do a favor he can pony up the difference in what you would have been payed otherwise.
By the way, before any of you jump, a fund raiser is a totally different story. I play them all the time and really enjoy donating my time. Everybody else pays full price.... no exceptions.
2. Being that you DID take the gig, in my view, it was pretty much a freebie anyway. You were doing them a favor. So put out the jar and go for it. I have been to private parties where there was a jar and tipped myself. I wasn't offended at all.
3. Next time, stick with #1 and don't take a $300 private party. That isn't a discount. That is an insult. I wouldn't play a club gig for that, much less a private party for a rich group. Tell your guitar player the next time he wants to do a favor he can pony up the difference in what you would have been payed otherwise.
By the way, before any of you jump, a fund raiser is a totally different story. I play them all the time and really enjoy donating my time. Everybody else pays full price.... no exceptions.
