Karaoke Forums

Ok, It's very very rare that I become speechless and dont know what to say (just ask my wife) but I am at a loss here. I have put a tip jar out as a test at my last couple of gigs and it hasn't gone over real well. What I mean is it's empty except for the 5 bucks I throw in at the beginning of the night.
My question to everyone is a two-parter. #1. Is it appropriate to have a tip jar out even though I'm being paid by the venue owner? 2. If it is, Should I say something about it over the mic during a show??? 2a. What would I say without sounding like a panhandler???

Tip jar is a personal choice. Some refuse to use one, others find no problem at all with it - like me. I have one out, there is nothing wrong with it.
Second part of your question, no do not make ONE comment about it especially over the mic - if people WANT to tip you, then they will, any other way will make you sound like something else you don't want to be. There may be nights the only money that is in it is your 'seed' money - this may be the norm, other nights may become quite lucrative. Just make sure you thank anyone that does tip & if they ask you to move them up while diong so, then pull the money back out of the jar & hand it back to them stating that is not what that is & we do not take bribes - well I assume you don't anyway.
Oddly enough I make more tips on slow nights than I do on busy nights.

I used to have mine marked 401K Plan, would always get comments on it like don't look like you are retiring soon we'd both laugh & then they would drop something in, but with the fall of the economy, I renamed it my Economic Stimulous - many more comments with this one!

_________________
LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

spotlightjr said:



We charge a fee, we don't work for tips and therefore we don't solicit tips. Plus, we don't want drunk singers thinking that if they toss a couple bucks in a tip jar we'll move them up in the rotation.

If someone walks up and hands the KJ a tip for a job well done, then that's a different story, but there is a big difference between accepting a gratuity and taking a bribe.

I find different KJ's do different things. One bar I frequent our host has TIPS for PORN AND BOTOX. - That always gets a laugh.

Others have just TIPS on it.

I think it doesn't hurt to have one out but don't count on making a killing from it. I personally am more likely to buy the host a drink, only because I don't carry cash and just add it to my tab.

_________________
"Baby, Just Because I Rock, Doesn't Mean I'm Made Of Stone."

I started a post like this before. The establishment pays me to do a show and therefore I refuse to have a tip jar. I found that if someone asks me where my tip jar is, I get more tips than if I had one. It doesn't always happen that way. When it comes to a kj having someone walk the establishment begging for tips is where I have a problem. I won't put anything in there.

I found over the years that the only TIPS I received were from NON regulars who happened upon KARAOKE night at the bar. They more than likely came from a PARTY or WEDDING and thought tipping a KJ was customary. The only other times were for playing REGULAR DJ music that someone had requested.

Personal choice -- I don't like tip jars ... I'll take a tip just won't solicit them TIPS or BRIBES

I've said before and I'll say it again. A KJ with a tip jar is just plain tacky. I see nothing wrong with accepting a tip but jar just shows a lack of class on the KJs part. Flame me if you wish but that just my opinion.

Mojo

again,jamkaraoke. I don't like them either.

Your flamed!
Again, nothing wrong with it, personal choice. As long as one don't make any big deal about it, point or direct anyone to it. I also do not allow anyone to grab to try to 'pass the hat' in the audience. THAT is tacky.

_________________
LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

You go, Mojo. I agree with you also.

I view a tip jar as a KJ who is begging his singers for help and an insult to the people paying him. There are KJ's making anywhere from 30 - 50 dollars per hour or more at a private party and they are asking for tips on top of that??? Tacky indeed.

Spotlightjr you don't need to be concerned about putting out a tip jar. A lot of guys do it. But a lot of singers feel that they are the show and don't tip either, so don't be surprised if it doesn't get used much.

I've been to shows where the KJ reminded singers to tip, and our entire table thought it was very tacky. And I didn't notice anyone dropping anything in his jar afterwards either, so I don't think that approach works anyway. Other than maybe alienating the room against you.

I personally don't put one out. I was building the room from scratch and I didn't want anyone to think they had to tip in order to sing, and that was the right decision for me at the time because it got the room off the ground. But now I'm stuck with that decision.

But that's OK. I'm working if you know what I mean.

Around these parts I sometimes see them out but mostly see them fairly empty, but I have no idea what Florida is like.

I personally don't use one but fail to see why folks find it so incendiary. When I get paid valet service or luggage service at the airport I tip. Seems like just good form to appreciate the folks.

If I get tipped it's usually pressed into my hand. If it's accompanied by a "What does it take to move me up the rotation" I tell them I take tips, not bribes. I'll happily take tips for a job well done.

Yeah, your mileage may vary.

The jar can always be labeled:

"Tips Only! (Bribes not accepted )"

I love Lonnies... it says 401K fund.

Look, some people get upset if I DON'T have a tip jar. They want to put their tips somewhere, and NOT in my hands or on the table with the request slips, nor do they want people taking it.

I don't think of them as tacky at all.

I think someone TELLING people to tip him, or the ol' "pass the tip jar around" routine always hit me as wrong.

But I tip my kjs, my servers, my barkeep... anybody that leads to my having fun out!

Not anymore with 401K funds losing money, now it's my econmic stimulous.

_________________
LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

no, my 401k is making MONEY during this economic problem.

I just have my money in BONDS! !

Well put everyone and I'll heed some advice. While I think its appropriate to put out a tip jar I dont think it should be announced over the air waves. My actual tip jar is very inconspicuous and that could be part of the problem. Mine says "singing lessons" on it and I think maybe its time for a change.

I actually saw one that was a beer pitcher that was all flourescent colored and was hung on the tv monitor stand on stage and I wreckon I'll follow that modus operati.

Thank again

I put out my tip jar at the prompting of my patrons. "You should put out a tip jar" they would say... Ok, what the heck. Its good for an extra $20 a night. ... four times a week....

_________________
Good music, good friends, howling good times!

Anybody providing a public service is entitled to tips and there is nothing disgraceful about them. I have never had a tip jar out other than for a benefit but for one of my hosts I could do it.


Tip somebody that normally doesnt get tips and they dont forget it.

_________________
Join The Karaokle Singers Social Network. Upload Your Music!!