Karaoke Forums

Everyone once in a while I have someone who comes up and says - we really enjoyed the music and shakes my hand and slips a big note into my hand.

Is it just me or does anyone else feel cheapened when you are tipped? I mean, I don't mind the extra money but somehow it doesn't feel 100% right to me. What do you say?

Also- is it okay to take a big tip from a slobbering drunk? Or should I refuse on account of him being not completely in his senses?

I say thank you.


If you feel bad about that one, then give the money to charity.

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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.

At private parties this is common and extra hours are $100. I have never had it happen at a regular gig at least a tip that big but depending upon the sobriety of the tipper would decline or invest it into drink rounds with everybodies knowledge of whats going on.

If it is a sober rich cat then Thank You...

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as long as you're not showing favoritism, accept it with the grace and dignity that you earned a gratuity. Some people can afford more. In the example you provide, it's the same as them tipping a bartender or waitress or host for a night out on the town.

It's rare when they happen, but yeap, I've had some pretty good tips. Not over $50 though. That kind of money is usually provided for "extra service" such as bumping them up, allowing them to sing two times in a row, etc...

If it's at the end of the night, I say thank you, with a big nod & a smile!
If it's during a show, as long as they aren't expecting to be bumped in the rotation - same thing as at the end of the night, if they are expecting to be moved around, I hand the money back say I'm sorry, you will have to wait like everyone else.

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My solution, I don't accept tips, period. Large or small doesn't matter. To me it's just too dangerous. Even if the person isn't asking for any special treatment and even though you may not give them any special treatment, if someone sees them handing you money the possibility of them getting the impression that you're accepting bribes is just too high. At that point it doesn't matter what reality is, it's their perception that matters because that's what's going to have them telling everyone else they can find how you accept bribes at your shows. So I choose to avoid the whole possibility by simply refusing tips.

In some rare cases I've had people insist that I take it. Rather than be rude at that point, I'll leave it somewhere on my table and then on my next trip to get a soda at the bar, I'll give it to the bar tender as a tip. They deserve it more than me in my book.

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

If someone feels grateful to me for having provided them with an extra high level of entertainment then I smile and accept it graciously.

I am with Karen. I have a lot of customers that tip me on a regular basis. It's not for any favors; they just appreciate the entertainment. I also have singers who encourage people to tip me and the bartender. Their favorite saying is,"If it wasn't for them you'd be sober and bored." I never ask them to in any way or pass a tip jar around. I do have a jar on my table, simply because all other KJs in our area do it. I have forgotten to put it out before, and someone would ask me if I had a tip jar.

Sometimes I get tips when I sing a song someone wanted to hear or I may play a dance song they wanted to hear. Every show is unique in it's own way. I make great tips on some nights, and none on others, and it's fine. I find that my regulars want to tip me, I suppose just because I've built relationships with them over the years, but when the bar is full of tourists, I make very little in tips. My show is at the beach, so we get non-locals on a regular basis. I've never felt bad about the tips. If someone wants to tip you, accept it. I have had instances when someone was just giving me a tip that I didn't feel comfortable accepting, but most of the time when I try to give it back they refuse, saying they are enjoying the music and they like me...blah blah. Just take it and move on. When a person gives you a large tip, if it's not for a favor, then they really want you to have it for some reason.

Thank you. Smile. And absolutely not.

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Good music, good friends, howling good times!

This goes back to a post that was done a while back. I will never have a tip jar in front of me. I know there are alot of kj's that do but I refuse to have one. I've been asked "where is my tip jar" and when I say I don't have one, money is thrown on the table. I too give tips to the bar tender or servers. When a kj sends someone around with a tip jar, especially a kj's daughter or son at a restaurant, that doesn't sit too well with me.

P.S. I will never accept a bribe just so some one can get ahead of the line at a show. I believe that is uncooth(however you spell it). I've seen that too. I wanted to go over and punch the kj's lights out, but being the person that I am I maintained my coolness and kept my mouth shut.

If someone wants to tip me for my services, then so be it.
I also do not care for kj's that have people solicit tips by having someone 'pass the hat'. I have had people try taking my jar & I politely grab it back from them and tell them no.

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I can understand why some people wouldn't feel great about tip jars, if they don't like accepting tips at all. When I first started attending karaoke, my in-laws were the hosts and she would ask me to take their jar around. I never did it. If felt like begging for money. I NEVER do that at my show. Nor do I ask others to. But when someone gives you tip, and they want you to have it, why do you give it to the bartender? I know they serve you drinks, but your being there is bringing business into the bar, and that business is already tipping them immensely. At least that's how it is where I work. I do tip our bartender for serving me, but she never tips me for entertaining her customers so they will stay. It doesn't matter how the night is, she is still walking out with way more money than me, so I don't feel bad. And even if I think someone gave me a tip that was too much and I don't feel comfortable accepting it, I still never feel like I should give it to her. I'm like mckyj57, give it to charity if you feel that bad. The bartender deserves it no more than you do.

I have no problem with someone stating that they survive on tips and the show wouldn't be there without them. Then people can decide whether they want to contribute. I don't know of many people who could survive on that, though.....

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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.

I post a sign on the tip jar that clearly states how much bump a $100.00 gets them.

Tip me? Hell yeah??????? Why not. If they ask to be moved up, I will remind them to read fun rule # 12 at the front of my book. Tips are for exceptional service, if they feel my service is exceptional, why not?

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KingBing Entertainment C'mon Up! I have a song for you!!! [font=MS Sans Serif][/font]

Most of the tips I get are from regulars at the end of the night as they are leaving. I think that is mainly because I don't take bribes. I usually know the people tipping me, so I basically just say thank you.

It's rare someone tries to bribe me because I don't run that kind of show. If it's someone new that doesn't know that I just give the money back.

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Soliciting tips is a whole different story. I think it's tacky. I get embarrassed when a patron says something over the microphone about tipping. The tip jar is on the table if someone wants to tip me they will.

I've also had people try and bring the tip jar around. I stop them immediately. I realise it's a nice jesture, but I think it is inappropriate.

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[shadow=pink][glow=deepskyblue]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

I have no jar, but if I did, I wouldn't want it passed around. I would be embarrassed.

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KingBing Entertainment C'mon Up! I have a song for you!!! [font=MS Sans Serif][/font]

Put yourself in the shoes of the tipper. They enjoyed your service in whatever way pleased them.
I love to leave tips to anyone who does a great job or entertains me, and I would be offended, or dissapointed at the very least if my tip was rejected.
A tip jar is a little tacky, but if widely used in other local places, then it would seem normal.
When I'm a KJ, I will accept tips with grace, because it pleases the tipper to give the tip, and it would also please my bank account.
Works good for both parties.