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Tipping and Drink Tickets

If paid in drink tickets for a performance, is tipping expected?

  • Yes, barstaff always deserves a tip for service.

    Votes: 36 52.2%

  • No, I'm not giving 20% of my "pay" back to the venue.

    Votes: 19 27.5%

  • Maybe/Depends/None of the Above (please post)

    Votes: 14 20.3%
  • Total voters
    69
#27
Da LadY In Red said:
Just wondering, how many drink tickets do you get? 10+ beers per person wouldn't seem unreasonable.
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I believe we get around a dozen or so for the band, which had been a power trio throughout most of our playing history, although we have just picked up a lead g****rist so I'm not sure if they dole 'em out per musician or as a "flat rate" for the band. Should find out in a couple weeks at our next show at this particular establishment.

I try and avoid drinking too much at gigs, so I rarely if ever use all I'm allotted. I much prefer to stay sharper on stage and DUI-free on my drive home afterwards.
 
#29
I know this is a bit OT, but as a non-American reading this thread I'm very curious. How did the whole tipping thing start in the US, and why don't people in the service industry get paid decent wages to begin with?

Here is Aus we pretty much don't tip ever. Sometimes we might leave a dollar or two change from a larger note (like a 20 or 50), but we don't go out of our way to tip staff. They get paid decent wages so they aren't relying on tips.
 
#31
Disco_Gee said:
I know this is a bit OT, but as a non-American reading this thread I'm very curious. How did the whole tipping thing start in the US, and why don't people in the service industry get paid decent wages to begin with?

Here is Aus we pretty much don't tip ever. Sometimes we might leave a dollar or two change from a larger note (like a 20 or 50), but we don't go out of our way to tip staff. They get paid decent wages so they aren't relying on tips.
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Every country is different.
 
#33
Disco_Gee said:
I know this is a bit OT, but as a non-American reading this thread I'm very curious. How did the whole tipping thing start in the US, and why don't people in the service industry get paid decent wages to begin with?

Here is Aus we pretty much don't tip ever. Sometimes we might leave a dollar or two change from a larger note (like a 20 or 50), but we don't go out of our way to tip staff. They get paid decent wages so they aren't relying on tips.
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Without knowing the answer, I'd say it's (obviously :D ) a great question. Seriously. It's supposed to ensure that you get better service since the worker knows they'll only get a good tip for good service, but I'm a skeptic. It's probably more like cheap bosses putting off paying fair wages and placing the onus on the consumer because they're, well, too cheap to pay fair wages and expect American workers to just to a good job all the time.

For the record, if the service is good I have no problem leaving a fair 15% tip (yeah, where did that % come from?), but pi$$ me off and :spit:

I guess when you're born into this system you just do as the Romans do. I like the Aussie style actually.
 
#34
I ALWAYS tip the bartender.

Ok, so the club owner is screwing you. You shouldn't take it out on the waitstaff. What if the bartnender said, 'my boss is screwing me, so I'm not going to serve drinks to anyone. I'm just going to stand here.'

If you don't think it's fair, you can always turn down the gig.

Also, you don't HAVE to use the tickets. BUt, it's a few bucks. $3-$5. Unless you drink alot.
 
#35
Disco_Gee said:
I know this is a bit OT, but as a non-American reading this thread I'm very curious. How did the whole tipping thing start in the US, and why don't people in the service industry get paid decent wages to begin with?

Here is Aus we pretty much don't tip ever. Sometimes we might leave a dollar or two change from a larger note (like a 20 or 50), but we don't go out of our way to tip staff. They get paid decent wages so they aren't relying on tips.
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because it gives people incentive to give you good service. I've been in Europe plenty and because service fees are added on automatically, I've noticed the indifference with which one is frequently treated.
 
#36
buy them a drink? Your paid in beer, so tipping in kind seems reasonable? Tipping bar staff in the UK is pretty rare - if you're sat at the bar all night you might offer to get them a drink.

Occasionally we get a gig which pays a LITTLE less, and has a round of drinks thrown in, but on the very rare occasion we've had an free bar all night it's been a waste of time - One guitarist doesn't drink, I'll only have one, the rest of the band MAYBE two - 7 drinks max. Normally we all drink coke. We've all got a gig to play, and have to drive home. Now if they'd let us play one night, and have free drinks the NEXT night, we could get our moneys worth.

Ian
 
#37
Unrepresented said:
Question is fairly straightforward:

You're getting paid strictly in drink tickets for playing originals at the local bar.

Do you tip?
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Are all the other people getting free drinks expected to tip? Friends? Off-Duty Staff? Managers? Good Looking Girls (or Guys)? Family etc

No.

If you didn't get paid for the show expect in drink tickets (from the bar management...) then you are kind of paying the bar staff to play there. Sort of. Not really.

No.
 
#38
IanStephenson said:
buy them a drink? Your paid in beer, so tipping in kind seems reasonable? Tipping bar staff in the UK is pretty rare - if you're sat at the bar all night you might offer to get them a drink.

Occasionally we get a gig which pays a LITTLE less, and has a round of drinks thrown in, but on the very rare occasion we've had an free bar all night it's been a waste of time - One guitarist doesn't drink, I'll only have one, the rest of the band MAYBE two - 7 drinks max. Normally we all drink coke. We've all got a gig to play, and have to drive home. Now if they'd let us play one night, and have free drinks the NEXT night, we could get our moneys worth.

Ian
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Actually this is a good idea - maybe use one of your free drink tickets to buy them a beer at the start of the night and get godo service all night.
 
#39
jazzbo58 said:
Yeah I tip. Most of the people make their living off of the tips. Never upset the people handling your food or drink!

Cheers,
Jim
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Best quote I've heard in a long time.

Way off topic, but I work drive thru in a fast food establishment to help pay my way through college and to alleviate my GAS problems. Needless to say, people who give me tips of any size after they pay for their orders get treated better.
 
#40
Yeah, I always tip with drink tickets. Whether or not I am getting paid for the gig has nothing to do with it. For many of the gigs I do, my pay comes out of the bandleader's pocket who hired me to play.

Anyway I don't do gigs for drinks. If there's no $$ pay, then I'm doing it for some other reason, such as a benefit or a good exposure gig for my band. I never think of drink tickets as "pay". :cool:
 

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