Karaoke Forums

I like to remind the crowd to tip their bartenders/servers, but I'm getting tired of repeating the same old thing.
I usually say
"Please remember to tip your bartenders and servers. Without them, you're thirsty".
Or
"Please remember to tip your bartenders and servers. They work hard for you."

It's starting to get lame over and over again.
Can anyone help me with a little variety?
What do you tell the crowd?

Diafel

What I'm about to post may seem lame to you, but here it goes

- I've worked on tips and I know how that goes. In fact, my daughter is now working on tips! If folks don't already know they're suppose to tip, they're probably from another world.

- Your announcements are unlikely to make any difference to those who have no intention of tipping.

- As someone who tips and tips well, I am insulted by some "wiseass" who thinks they need to remind me how to appropriately conduct myself!

- It does sound lame (to me) when the KJ announces "not to forget......". I laugh to myself whenever I hear such announcements. They are lame, no matter what innovative ways you may have to express your remarks. To me, it reveals a KJ who has "studied" the business and would never consider stepping "out of the box" and ignoring the opportunity to insert whatever "trite" expressions they have learned including the use of "liquid courage".

I assure you that I have never reminded any crowd to tip the servers and no server has complained to me that the tips were light because of my neglecting the matter

I further assure you that I can get folks up to sing without having to suggest that they have some "liquid courage" before doing so!

Diafel,

I've actually taken a close look at this, and I've found that the servers/bartender don't get tipped any more or less when I take the time to announce it. Instead, I'll have the room give them a round of applause for their hard work. The tip is suggested, and it doesn't seem pushy that way.

With the economy the way it is, tipping in general has taken a downturn. I feel lucky enough to keep the room full and have a job. Most of the servers feel the same.

HEY!! We got Paul (mngr) behind the bar tonight and all these good looking waitresses serving the tables. Take care of them.

This is usually only once a night during intro. Or when announcing the kitchen is closing.

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I agree with Eric and Pirate. No amount of reminding will make a skinflint tip. People who go to bars and restaurants already or will shortly know the etiquette of tipping.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

I state several times throughout the night to take care of the staff. They have told me their tips do go up shortly after the announcements, then level off a bit until the next one. Sorry, announcements do work, and it isn't for those who should know better, it's for those who may forget - and yes there are some that do.
I know when people get on the mic & announce to take care of their karaoke host (no I do not solicit nor coax people into it), my tips start flowing in. Then I in turn tip some of that back to the staff as well.

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We have a gig in a place that is now requiring a two-drink minimum for singers and consequently I'm thinking that tips are the last thing on these singers' minds if they haven't been spending an adequate amount on alcohol and/or food. This surely does not include ALL singers because I do know that there are people who leave hefty tips, and these hefty tips often come from the singers who themselves depend on tips for their survival as well - servers coming from other places, hair stylists, etc.

(Aside, and different topic for sure, but I am TOTALLY supporting this place on this 2-drink policy because people taking up chairs without spending money should either pay up or move on - they are reaping the benefits of entertainment that is not FREE.)

On the other hand, I will often announce that people may want to take especially good care of (insert name) because (insert name)'s baby needs new shoes...or something else a bit comedic - a little comedic levity when I'm suggesting that tipping is important. I will often state that they work hard so you can have an especially good time. I don't belabor the point, but most people understand when gently reminded. Doesn't always work.

We're in the Boeing strike area and it has really had a negative financial impact on a lot of people who might normally wander out on a Monday night to sing. It is a known fact that people who are experiencing tough times will find a little change to go out and have a beer and forget their miseries for an evening. Can't begrudge them this for sure. Things will only get tighter toward Christmas season as these strikers have been out for over 50 days. Takes a big chunk out of a Christmas budget for sure.

I also know if the servers demonstrate an extraordinary desire to serve well that they are picking up good tips - as is the case with our 'two-drink minimum' gig location.

Two drink - as in alcohol drink - minimum? Just playing devils advocate because I know a few that do not drink, either recovering alcoholics that still like to go out with their friends & sing. Or can they buy a couple Cokes for their 2 drinks?



They did it to themselves & screwing everybody else up in the process! Don't get me started on this issue - well at least here.

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No, doesn't have to be alcohol - but they can't just come in and drink water I guess is the point. Nobody is forcing anyone to drink etoh.

As far as Boeing, I'm not trying to bring that whole boondoggle into it, was just remarking that we're suffering the results of that strike in the entertainment industry and the outfall of it is likely to be felt by a lot of places for a good long while now.

I most certainly do NOT consider myself a "wiseass", as you put it.
And the main subject aside, a lot of patrons these days do unfortunately need reminders on how to conducts themselves. You may not be one of them, but the majority of them are new to the scene and DO need to be told how they should act since it's obvious that Mama never taught them....


I am in complete agreement with this.
In my area, tips DO go up when the custies are reminded in a gentle and/ or humorous way, which is why I was asking the question in the first place.
Bar staff have told me that consistently their tips do indeed go up considerably.
I, for one, can tend to forget, and I appreciate the reminder if I am in the crowd.
So, back to the original question: What do you tell the crowd, word for word?

I am confused, I always thought tipping was something one did when one received exemplary service...since when did it become mandatory?
excuse my ignorance but I am from a country where tipping is a rare occurrance and often bars etc have a policy that all tips go in a communial jar to be shared by all. Last time I did a restaurant gig some nice man tipped me $20 for singing. The maitre 'd brought it to me and I handed it back told him to share it with the girls...they had run around all night, I had sat on my chuff doing what I loved to do and was being paid to do...what would be fair about me taking the tip and the girls getting nothing?

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"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

Seems that you are easily confused.
Certainly, tipping should be done for good service and is not "mandatory".
Where was it said that it was?

However, having said that, in this part of the country, bartenders and servers are paid minimum wage and basically survive on tips.

The younger crowd these days tend to "forget" to tip. Their mamas never taught them their good manners. And yes, here is IS considered good manners to tip for good service.

And the older crowd can forget as well if they get a little "tipsy" (pun intended).

All the venues I work at have great servers/bartenders who DESERVE to be tipped.

By the way, I wasn't referring to tips for ME(KJ). I was referring to tips for BAR STAFF.

Very true. In the UK, nobody would consider tipping a KJ. We may get a pint bought every now and then...

Tipping is 100% discretionary, and if anyone ever tried to suggest that I should tip, then that tip would be lost. I tip when I feel that the person has done more than what they are already being paid to do.

I also find the idea that "these people earn minimum wage - they need tips" to be a lame excuse. I worked on low wages before, so what did I go? Got another job.

Let's face it, I work 9-5 for my main job, and KJ in the evenings. I do it ebcause I wanted the money, not for my health.

And finally who decides who you tip and who you don't? Do you tip the guy stacking shelves in the supermarket? He earns about the same as a waitress.

This is certainly not true in the U.S. Waitri earn *less* than minimum wage in some cases, with tips making up the difference. In fact, if you don't tip you are taking money out of their pocket as they pay income tax, Social Security, and Medicare on the equivalent of 8% tipping.

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Tipping varies from country to country and culture to culture.

There are some cultures in the US who seem to think that the poor service they receive is racial. I believe it simply is not. I mostly receive great service, at least if the waiter has half a brain. Middle-aged white males are about the best tippers there are. Some will get grouchy because I don't drink, but if I ever come back to the place their face lights up because I tip based on the bill I would have had if I had had a couple. Heck, if I come in with a group they buy my table!

We had a bunch of Austrians who came to the town where my daughter works. They might have gotten the impression American service is lousy, but it was a lot due to the fact that Austrian tipping is minimal at best!

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Vicki, in the US it seems that tipping is expected for all service whether it be good or lousy. The second weekend I was in the US, I had a bartender refuse to serve me because she perceived that I had not tipped at all the previous week I was at the bar. Fact was that there was a jar labled "tips" on the bar and at the end of that first night, I just deposited 20% of what I had spent in that jar, without said bartender noticing... needless to say I never returned to that bar, and neither has any of the yacht's crew.

I heard once there was a restaurant where the wait staff actually paid to be employed there... because the tips were always expected to be high!

Here's an etiquette question for those of US abode... when a bartender pours you a drink and says "I got this one" when you go to pay for it, is it customary to tip for that drink? This seems to happen to me quite often and I'm not sure if the bartender would consider it a little offensive to be given a tip in return for the gratis drink.

Diafel:

I put "wiseass" in quotes because doing so denotes my PERSONAL reaction to being informed by a KJ as to what is expected of me.

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And while there are those who believe tips go up when KJ's make such an announcement, I offer the following:

- I don't believe it

- If it were true, the wait people would be constantly reminding KJ's or DJ's or Bands to repeatedly make announcements about "tipping the wait staff"

- I, and I believe this is true of most people, tip once - when I leave. So, maybe it would be nice to follow both Pirate Mike's and Ollie's advice about the wording of an announcement that could be included when announcing "last call" or "the kitchen is closing".

As to a singer announcing that the KJ would appreciate tips, many KJ's don't have tip jars out and surely we don't rely upon tips. I agree, that when a singer makes such an announcement I starting getting tips! Tipping an entertainer is not a societal standard in our culture, as is tipping servers. And note the reaction of our non-US members to our societal norm of tipping servers.

Also see BillH's post (see "Tipping Poll" thread). It seems he's another ex-server who also doesn't like the idea of KJ's "pitching" for server tips!
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Murlynn

The following is an example of how, I believe, tipping is handled when food and or drink received "gratis". I recently compained about my experience at an Olive Garden. The manager realized how everything about my experience had been botched and gave me a gift certificate for $50.

When I returned to the Olive garden, my bill was $65. I tipped on the entire bill, it would be unfair to the server to get tipped on the $15 I ended up paying.

Now, specifically to the case of the gratis drink. Why wouldn't you want to tip someone, say $1, after being served a $5 drink, gratis?

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I am not the one who charges them this, nor am I the one who sets the level. If they want to earn a tip, then so be it, but it is not the customers responsibility that they are in this job and not earning much more.

For the record, I tip when a job is done well. I do not tip as a matter of course.

Nlouch

You can't compare one culture to another. Tipping has, unfortunately, come to be expected here in the States. It has gotten completely out of hand, because it is the customer who is expected/required to PAY the restaurant's serving staff.

As noted, the Internal Revenue Service expects a certain level of tips have been earned and taxes the server accordingly.

Meanwhile, there are those who don't realize how the system works and think nothing of "stiffing" the server. On the other hand, tipping was originally meant to be a device "To Insure Promptness" or some say "To Insure Professionalism". I rarely leave nothing, but when really annoyed I have left a $1 per person.

Regularly I tip 20% for decent service and more for good to excellent service. You're lucky these days to get better than "decent" service. Servers have come to believe they are entitled to tips regardless of their performance.

Actually Eric I was recalling how it struck me when I was a patron. No matter how you sugar-coat it, reminding customers to tip is a pitch that often can sound like brow-beating or scolding.

My singers are my friends and I'm not going to do that to them. And in my room it's unnecessary anyway.