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Tip jar at private party?

#41
jmattbassplaya said:
.... Maybe the idea will get around to venue owners that they aren't paying enough if this starts happening on a grand scale.
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hmm.. These days I think it may actually have the opposite effect. Some club owners might think, "Oh they're gettin all that money from the tipjar, so I don't have to pay as much"..then they start lowering what they willing to pay bands, then good bands stop playing those places, then cheesy sucky bands take the spot for even less money + tipjar.. The never ending spiral of lowering live band wages..becomes the stuff many a heated TB thread started from..
:hiding:


Well, that's just one angle to see it from... Hey, it's my imagination, I can do what I want with it.

Just a little good natured ribbing I guess. ;)
 
#42
jmattbassplaya said:
I don't understand this mentality.
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If you were throwing a party for your friends that included a hired bartender and band, and even one of them felt uncomfortable asking the bartender for a special drink, or asking the band to play a request, because a tip jar was staring them in the face and they did not bring any cash (since they were going to a place were they assumed they would not need cash), then you would understand. Your guests should not have to feel obligated...putting out a tip jar will make at least some people feel obligated.

The issue here is as plenty have already said...the tip jar at an upscale party should even be a topic of conversation...you should be getting paid well enough up front. If not, that's the OP's fault for agreeing to the gig.....

Being here in Miami, I've played my share of very upscale events, parties, and country clubs. At these gigs, it is HIGHLY unusual to see a tip jar at the bar for the benefit of the bartenders, why should the band be any different?
 
#43
jmattbassplaya said:
I don't understand this mentality. At least on TB, it seems unanimously agreed upon that musicians are undervalued and underpaid. If anything, I think, unless it's agreed upon beforehand that no tip jar would be used, every band should put one out. Maybe the idea will get around to venue owners that they aren't paying enough if this starts happening on a grand scale.
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Re -read the original post this was a Private party not a bar gig. Where I live the only people who use a tip jar are solo guys and knit cap wearing slackers making noise on main street because they can't get a real job or join a real band.:D
 
#44
Let me see if I have this straight: Based on BM forum "protocol", bands must never work for free, yet they may only make certain kinds of income?

Unless I'm specifically told that I may not place a tip jar in front of the stage, I will be doing so. Then again, I play in all original bands, so it is VERY RARE for a venue to pay you anything other than a portion of the door or a bar tab. The venues that do pay wont give you any more than $300 IN THIS AREA.
 
#45
Factor88 said:
If you were throwing a party for your friends that included a hired bartender and band, and even one of them felt uncomfortable asking the bartender for a special drink, or asking the band to play a request, because a tip jar was staring them in the face and they did not bring any cash (since they were going to a place were they assumed they would not need cash), then you would understand. Your guests should not have to feel obligated...putting out a tip jar will make at least some people feel obligated.

The issue here is as plenty have already said...the tip jar at an upscale party should even be a topic of conversation...you should be getting paid well enough up front. If not, that's the OP's fault for agreeing to the gig.....

Being here in Miami, I've played my share of very upscale events, parties, and country clubs. At these gigs, it is HIGHLY unusual to see a tip jar at the bar for the benefit of the bartenders, why should the band be any different?
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Tips aren't obligations. They're there for exceptional service. As a patron, I've never seen a tip jar as anything to be afraid of. Like I said, if it's agreed upon beforehand that no tip jar will be put out then cool, but I see no reason to shoot yourself in the foot from gaining additional money because it might make one or two people feel slightly awkward. That's not your responsibility unless, again, it's agreed upon beforehand.
 
#47
kesslari said:
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.
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We are an established (7 years) play for pay band we always have a tip jar out. Even for gigs that pay above the $1,000.00.

When it gets to a certain amount we divide it up evenly.

I don't mind coming to a rehearsal and ocasionally seeing 40.00 sitting on top of my amp.

At the bar band level, C'mon guys this is a hustle.

Blue
 
#48
jmattbassplaya said:
Tips aren't obligations. They're there for exceptional service.
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But at a truly upscale private party or exclusive Country Club you are almost guaranteed to be getting exceptional service from the car park guys, the waitstaff, the bartenders, and the entertainers, every time. It's what you pay for when you pay your club dues, or when you accept the invitation to attend the millionaire's party. You don't expect to have to pay more for it.

As a patron, I've never seen a tip jar as anything to be afraid of.
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Understood. But as a patron, I wouldn't be put off by a band that wears shorts and tee shirts, as long as they are good. Yet as a musician playing the party I wouldn't wear shorts and a tee shirt to an upscale private party.

.......but I see no reason to shoot yourself in the foot from gaining additional money because it might make one or two people feel slightly awkward. That's not your responsibility unless, again, it's agreed upon beforehand.
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When I am playing an upscale party, if the band makes one or two people feel awkward we are not doing our job right, which IS our responsibility

Again, I will use as evidence the usual LACK of a tip jar for service people at these types of events (at least in my area).


Of course, I am limiting this conversation to truly upscale gigs. Although the OP described the party goers as "affluent", OP's definition of that word vs mine might be way different.

And in this situation anyway, things are slightly different anyway. Guitarist books a gig at a friend's party for a rediculously low amount (mistake number 1). In doing so, at least in my mind he becomes the BL for this gig (if the band has no clear BL). OP agrees to do the gig for said rediculous amount (mistake number 2) but decides to show up at the gig with a tip jar before giving the BL the chance to discuss it with him and owner in advance (mistake number 3: during gig set up is not the time to hit the house owner or the BL with that). Seems like people are focusing on what is to them a fourth mistake: BL not wanting to put the tip jar out. But I'm saying the mistakes leading up to that are the real story.
 
#49
bluewine said:
We are an established (7 years) play for pay band we always have a tip jar out. Even for gigs that pay above the $1,000.00.

When it gets to a certain amount we divide it up evenly.

I don't mind coming to a rehearsal and ocasionally seeing 40.00 sitting on top of my amp.

At the bar band level, C'mon guys this is a hustle.

Blue
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Where I live it is lame.
 
#55
bluewine said:
It's unusual not to see something set out for tips for bar bands in WI. It's completely acceptable.
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Same here in South Florida, tip jars for bands in bars, blue collar parties, fishing tournaments, etc. are also common and accepted; the band I am in now puts one out routinely for these gigs. My comments in my other posts in this thread were specific to more upscale private events...I'm not "anti tip jar" in general....:D
 
#56
A tip jar at a bar gig is fine ... you play a request and get rewarded for it. But a private function (eg, wedding, shower, house concert, house party) you are paid by the host to entertain his/her guests. Whatever that takes. And you don't get to dun for tips. I'll even graciously refuse tips offered to me in such a situation.
 
#57
Hustle vs. Class.........

bluewine said:
We are an established (7 years) play for pay band we always have a tip jar out. Even for gigs that pay above the $1,000.00.

When it gets to a certain amount we divide it up evenly.

I don't mind coming to a rehearsal and ocasionally seeing 40.00 sitting on top of my amp.

At the bar band level, C'mon guys this is a hustle.

Blue
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Hi Blue

TIP: If you ever get a good paying classy private party gig - DO NOT setup a tip jar in front of the band, because it makes the host look like a cheapskate and that’s a total insult to the host.

If guess or the host want to tip, or if the host wants to pass the hat or setup a tip jar somewhere that’s ok - but personally I wouldn’t allow it to be setup in front of the band because that makes the band look cheesy and cheap.

NOTE: I’m referring to classy private party gigs and not dive bar gigs, beer parties, or busking.
 
#58
Joe Louvar said:
Hustle vs. Class.........



Hi Blue

TIP: If you ever get a good paying classy private party gig - DO NOT setup a tip jar in front of the band, because it makes the host look like a cheapskate and that’s a total insult to the host.

If guess or the host want to tip, or if the host wants to pass the hat or setup a tip jar somewhere that’s ok - but personally I wouldn’t allow it to be setup in front of the band because that makes the band look cheesy and cheap.

NOTE: I’m referring to classy private party gigs and not dive bar gigs, beer parties, or busking.
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The people in the OP only paid the band $300. They are NOT classy. Period.
 
#59
Joe Louvar said:
Hustle vs. Class.........



Hi Blue

TIP: If you ever get a good paying classy private party gig - DO NOT setup a tip jar in front of the band, because it makes the host look like a cheapskate and that’s a total insult to the host.

If guess or the host want to tip, or if the host wants to pass the hat or setup a tip jar somewhere that’s ok - but personally I wouldn’t allow it to be setup in front of the band because that makes the band look cheesy and cheap.

NOTE: I’m referring to classy private party gigs and not dive bar gigs, beer parties, or busking.
Click to expand...

This^ BTW Blue did you guys put a tip jar out at summerfest? Did you notice if any of the other bands did?
 

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