Do you put out a tip jar?

[Telecruiser]

I mean when it is a gig where it is appropriate such as a bar or restaurant. It's poor form at a wedding I would think.

[richardmac]

I do, unless the venue owner specifically does not want me to. You can either ask the venue owner, or watch what other performers at that venue do.

[donkey 12]

Sometimes we do, sometimes we don't. It all depends on the venue.

[yanktar]

"Tipping is not a city in China"

[rodclement]

No but we should! Most of our gigs are private gigs so no jar there but for bars and restaurants I think we should!

 

Rod

[Howie22]

Oh yes! I put it out at every gig where it's appropriate.

[RupertB]

 

Oh yes! I put it out at every gig where it's appropriate.

 

 

+1

 

Appropriate = Any gig not paying the 50-100% Private Party Upcharge.

[jayare]

Yes ,if appropriate.Also,you would be AMAZED at how well it works when you put a stupid saying on the jar(in BIG letters)

 

EX: 401(K) PLAN,or REHAB FUND,etc,etc.Anything to give people a reason to smile,talk to ya,and GIVE

[RupertB]

 

Yes ,if appropriate.Also,you would be AMAZED at how well it works when you put a stupid saying on the jar(in BIG letters) EX: 401(K) PLAN,or REHAB FUND,etc,etc.Anything to give people a reason to smile,talk to ya,and GIVE

 

 

How about "Daughter at Carolina. I Need Beer Money."

[daddymack]

Yes ,if appropriate.Also,you would be AMAZED at how well it works when you put a stupid saying on the jar(in BIG letters) EX: 401(K) PLAN,or REHAB FUND,etc,etc.Anything to give people a reason to smile,talk to ya,and GIVE

 

and on the inside of ours, it says "Thank you, but this is not tax deductible"

[sventvkg]

ALWAYS...For requests..Or donations )

[Terry Allan Hall]

A useful tip that I was turned onto, back when I first started gigging: "SALT" the tip-jar!

 

See, folks generally put into the tip jar what they see is ALREADY in the tip jar, so I ALWAYS "salt" it w/ a $20 before I play Note One!

 

If you wait for someone in the audience to put in the first $$$, and all they put in is loose change, you find a lot of loose change (and not a lot else) at the end of the evening...if what they see is a $1 bill, you'll find mostly ones...but, if you put in a $20, at the end of the evening, you'll generally find some ones, quite a few fives, some tens and some twenties...once in a blue moon a fifty or even a C-note (only 5X in 37 years, but I won't complain )

 

Try it and see!

 

And use as large a jar as you reasonably can...small jars fill up and give the impression that more $$$ isn't needed...

 

 

Found a beer schooner like this one that holds a gallon...perfect!

[heath_eld]

Saw people using tip jars during a recent trip in ireland. Never seen it here in aus.

[Howie22]

 

And use as large a jar as you reasonably can...small jars fill up and give the impression that more $$$ isn't needed...

 

 

Hmmmm, I've wondered about that. I figured a tip jar stuffed full of dollaz means that the audience must think you are awesome and have tipped, so we better tip, too

 

I would think a relatively empty tip jar would make people think "this guy blows, we don't need to tip him - look, no one else has, either!"

 

????

[richardmac]

My take:

 

1. Always start with a couple of your own bucks in the jar. An empty tip jar means no one has tipped you. Someone eventually will, but I believe in priming the pump.

 

2. Don't use a small tip jar that will overflow. Plus bigger tip jars are easier to spot and read.

 

3. Put a small stack of business cards next to the tip jar. Because you never know.

[Shaster]

I usually don't unless the wait staff suggests it, or I know from previous venue expereince that it's okay. Some of the places I play (like hotel lounges) discourage tip jars. And I know of one guy that put out a tip jar, was told by staff to remove it, basically refused and was fired that night.

 

People can still tip me if they want to, they usually just throw the money down on my mixer table or whatever.

 

It's funny, I've been playing casinos with bands for years, but this is the first year I've played casinos as a single. I'm now getting casino chips for tips - new to me!

[Terry Allan Hall]

My take: 1. Always start with a couple of your own bucks in the jar. An empty tip jar means no one has tipped you. Someone eventually will, but I believe in priming the pump. 2. Don't use a small tip jar that will overflow. Plus bigger tip jars are easier to spot and read. 3. Put a small stack of business cards next to the tip jar. Because you never know .

 

Absolutely and always!