Members SeniorBlues Posted July 25, 2011 Members Share Posted July 25, 2011 Good to read a couple responses that actually consider that equal distribution of the contents of the tip jar isn't necessarily obvious. It's part of the bigger picture of compensation based on work, investment in equipment, commitment as a leader, sideman, or co-op member . . . or even talent. Are tips different from pay, and if so, why? The majority view seems to be dividing it equally regardless, and I think that's how servers' tips are divided at the end of the evening, even though it's obvious that the amount of the tip is often influenced by the quality of the service by the individual. How do you all feel about applying this practice to your day gig? After all, isn't the guy who takes the initiative and implements it himself entitled to some form of compensation. Most leaders/bosses get paid more than those who work to support his enterprise. So what are the limits of your socialistic leanings here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members New Trail Posted July 25, 2011 Members Share Posted July 25, 2011 I don't think all waiters/waitresses add all their tips together and split them. I think that depends on the particular restaurant. Personally I think band tips should be shared/split. There might be some rare exception but I think sharing of tips, which hardly ever happens to us anyway, is worth more to the longevity/comaraderie of a band than a few extra dollars does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kmart Posted July 25, 2011 Members Share Posted July 25, 2011 I don't think all waiters/waitresses add all their tips together and split them. I think that depends on the particular restaurant. Maybe not all, but most bartenders/waitresses do. They split with the barbacks/servers, too. That is, the ones who want to occasionally have someone cover a shift for them do... I'll tell you from experience: only thing worse than waiting around for the venue to pay the band leader and get my split... Is waiting around for the tips to be counted/split after the band finally leaves! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lsits Posted July 25, 2011 Members Share Posted July 25, 2011 I think tips should be split among the band members. My reasoning is that a person tips the band, not an individual member. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RupertB Posted July 25, 2011 Members Share Posted July 25, 2011 Hmm, odd call on that one. I'm not sure a tip jar is appropriate at a private function, but IN GENERAL if you had a sub and HE put out a tip jar, but the band didn't have one, is he obligated to share. That's a conundrum right there!I guess there's two sides to every story:A drummer friend was subbing with a band at a local house gig. They had never set up a tip jar. My friend fixed up a tip jar and set it in a conspicuous place. At the end of the night the band leader took all the money and didn't split it with the band. That band always had a tip jar after that night. My friend was always busy when that band leader called him about gigs from then on. Hardly seems like a conundrum to me. I've tipped performers probably hundreds of times and never once intended it for just one of several people on stage. It wouldn't even occur to me to do that. Seriously, how many times have you seen a tip jar on stage and wondered "is that for the whole band or just the bass player?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Steverino Posted July 25, 2011 Members Share Posted July 25, 2011 As a performer, I appreciate a tip jar. As a spectator (if I'm really enjoying the show) I look for a tip jar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TIMKEYS Posted July 25, 2011 Members Share Posted July 25, 2011 bar gigs = tip jar. wedding, corp, pvt party = Tip for the band along with the check by the customer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vito Corleone Posted July 25, 2011 Members Share Posted July 25, 2011 I've tipped performers probably hundreds of times and never once intended it for just one of several people on stage. It wouldn't even occur to me to do that. If I do, I make sure to put it specifically in HER g-string. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RupertB Posted July 25, 2011 Members Share Posted July 25, 2011 If I do, I make sure to put it specifically in HER g-string.Touche. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members New Trail Posted July 25, 2011 Members Share Posted July 25, 2011 ...I'll tell you from experience: only thing worse than waiting around for the venue to pay the band leader and get my split...... Okay, but how about this: we played a private party last Friday night at a guys house in the suburbs. Nice party, hot chicks, dancing, drink, food beer. Good time was had by all. The guy who hired us told the band leader to "come by next Monday or Tuesday to get the check!" We were playing at his freakin' house!!! Was his checkbook not there or what? What kind of BS is that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kmart Posted July 25, 2011 Members Share Posted July 25, 2011 Okay, but how about this: we played a private party last Friday night at a guys house in the suburbs. Nice party, hot chicks, dancing, drink, food beer. Good time was had by all. The guy who hired us told the band leader to "come by next Monday or Tuesday to get the check!" We were playing at his freakin' house!!! Was his checkbook not there or what? What kind of BS is that? Yeah, at that point, I'd have let Mr. Host know that he should roll out the hide-a-bed or/futon, and he'd better make sure he had plenty of pancakes & bacon ready for us late the next morning when he sobered up enough to remember where the checkbook was... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jmarcus2 Posted July 25, 2011 Members Share Posted July 25, 2011 Love free money...but we're a 80's hard rock cover band, I guess I feel like it clashes with the "attitude" of what we're doing on stage. Maybe that's a dumb thought, I don't know, we're new . This was actually our first public gig. What attitude? Being broke? Giving your art away? You're cover band. Make your money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members netwerx1 Posted July 27, 2011 Author Members Share Posted July 27, 2011 What attitude? Being broke? Giving your art away? You're cover band. Make your money. We ain't broke, and it definitely ain't art...it's rock n' roll baby But lots of good insight here, much appreciated...never even considered the fact that a lot of crowds expect a tip jar...maybe I'll come up with a somewhat less conspicuous receptacle than the sign they have and preemptively place it on stage when we play there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bnelly428 Posted July 27, 2011 Members Share Posted July 27, 2011 I'd like to ask if anyone has put out a tip jar and been asked to remove it by staff or venue? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wardjames Posted July 27, 2011 Members Share Posted July 27, 2011 I'd like to ask if anyone has put out a tip jar and been asked to remove it by staff or venue?Nope.One good thing about a tip jar is that usually people requesting songs will take the hint and drop $5 in. Last show we played we had three such requests...all songs that were already on the setlist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cherri Posted July 27, 2011 Members Share Posted July 27, 2011 My thoughts on tip jars in a typical bar setting with a cover band: no. Why? Because you are already getting paid, and the wait staff depends on tips for their living. When you start competing with the staff for tips, you might be pissing off people who influence the decision to book you for a return engagement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TrickyBoy Posted July 27, 2011 Members Share Posted July 27, 2011 OT, but we had a weird situation at a show last month where I ended up having to get a little loud with a patron. It was towards the end of the night, we're playing to about 100 people - 85 in the 20-30 demographic which we cater to and 15 or so older people in cowboy hats. Well one cowboy had dude puts a dollar down on the stage with a napkin with a bunch of songs we don't do written on it and yelled out "Play something for the older people". At first I ignored him... well the dick got mad and yelled "Play what I requested, I gave you a dollar!". So... I responded... And provided him a $1 refund for services not rendered. Like his freakin' dollar all of a sudden gives him some kind of clout... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TIMKEYS Posted July 27, 2011 Members Share Posted July 27, 2011 OT, but we had a weird situation at a show last month where I ended up having to get a little loud with a patron. It was towards the end of the night, we're playing to about 100 people - 85 in the 20-30 demographic which we cater to and 15 or so older people in cowboy hats. Well one cowboy had dude puts a dollar down on the stage with a napkin with a bunch of songs we don't do written on it and yelled out "Play something for the older people". At first I ignored him... well the dick got mad and yelled "Play what I requested, I gave you a dollar!". So... I responded... And provided him a $1 refund for services not rendered. Like his freakin' dollar all of a sudden gives him some kind of clout... Thats pretty funny ,, but in all reality, you should have been able to play at least one song to honor his request just to help out the wait staff. A group of 15 is a big deal to a waiter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members moogerfooger Posted July 27, 2011 Members Share Posted July 27, 2011 Love free money...but we're a 80's hard rock cover band, I guess I feel like it clashes with the "attitude" of what we're doing on stage. Maybe that's a dumb thought, I don't know, we're new . This was actually our first public gig. leave the tip jar -- they will give you cash, which is the same as money Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TrickyBoy Posted July 27, 2011 Members Share Posted July 27, 2011 Thats pretty funny ,, but in all reality, you should have been able to play at least one song to honor his request just to help out the wait staff. A group of 15 is a big deal to a waiter. Dude, we're not a variety band. We are very purposely a niche band and becoming more "nichey" by the day. One thing I should add is that the bar owner is very strategically targeting the younger demographic. It's an area that has plenty of places for the older demographics to go but nothing for younger kids to dance to. One thing to note is that he did hang out for our entire third set drinking, so he wasn't THAT upset Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TIMKEYS Posted July 27, 2011 Members Share Posted July 27, 2011 Dude, we're not a variety band. We are very purposely a niche band and becoming more "nichey" by the day. One thing I should add is that the bar owner is very strategically targeting the younger demographic. It's an area that has plenty of places for the older demographics to go but nothing for younger kids to dance to. One thing to note is that he did hang out for our entire third set drinking, so he wasn't THAT upset Nitchy rhymes with bitchy ,, the dudehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EGwDEbTzoE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vito Corleone Posted July 27, 2011 Members Share Posted July 27, 2011 "Play something for the older people". Sweet Caroline? Proud Mary? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TIMKEYS Posted July 27, 2011 Members Share Posted July 27, 2011 Sweet Caroline? Proud Mary? cowboy hats = friends in low places Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TrickyBoy Posted July 27, 2011 Members Share Posted July 27, 2011 Sweet Caroline? Proud Mary? We did those in the second set. By the time set 3 comes around, those songs are generally used... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TrickyBoy Posted July 27, 2011 Members Share Posted July 27, 2011 cowboy hats = friends in low places Which reminds me, I just worked up a mashup of Friends in Low Places and F*** You. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.