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I'm always thankful for the gifts my patrons give me. It's always flattering to think they'd go out of their way to think of me. I'm not sure why it happens so often. I'm thinking some people do it because they are regulars who don't tip. My problem lies in the few that have been doing it to much.

In the last week I've been given 3 monkeys, a necklace, a bracelet and a purse. Yeah a purse.

Now don't get me wrong I like gifts as much as the next person and show my appreciation. But I have so many monkeys I need another house to keep them all in. I don't know how to tell these people no more monkeys nicely or should I just keep collecting them and say nothing?

The purse really through me. It isn't my style and now I feel like I have to use it regardless or they'll think I didn't appreciate the gift. It is leopard print. Aaarg ! Jewelry is easier because I can wear it once in a while even if it isn't to my liking. I'd be a cad not too.

A crazy thing to have a problem with I know, but I would never want to hurt anyones feelings.

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Hmm That's a real toughy. I know, because it's starting to happen to me too. Of course I don't have the monkeys on my back, but I do know about the gift problem.
I think honsety in regards to the monkeys may be the best policy. Perhaps just make an announcement. Keep it light-hearted but tell them that while you appreciate their thoughtfulness, the monkeys on your back are truly taking over and you need to slow it down.
Or, if you don't want to go that route, take some of the older ones to the local women's shelter (for their kids) or the children's ward of your local hospital and donate them. Check with the hospital first if you decide to go there, just to check that there aren't any restricted materials they don't want entering the hospital.
That way, you can still graciously accept the new monkeys but don't have them taking over. If anyone asks where the older monkeys are, let them know that you donate them to needy children in order to make room for the new.
As for the other gifts, I would do exactly what you're doing. Us the gift a few times to show you appreciate it, then perhaps give to someone who either actually likes it or perhaps another local charity.
I am always uncomfortable receiving gifts from patrons and it makes it even more uncomfortable for me when my hubby asks about it. "where did THIS come from?" He doesn't understand that women get actual gifts from regular bar patrons. I just remind him that he gets boobs waved in his face and drinks bought for him. Since I'm not into boobs and I'm not a heavy drinker, I get other "junk".
I do wish I had a way to nicely say no thanks, though. Any other ideas out there?

Donation drive: New, wrapped stuffed animals to the pediatrics ward of a hospital or clinic, and there are a lot of homeless families now with children who would love to have a new "snuggle pal" - set up a drive, let people do all the giving they want but direct it away from you Babs -- tell them you feel strongly about donating to these causes. Maybe this will work? Keep us up to date, okay? "Babs in Monkeyland" -- Time to call animal control about the crazy woman up the street who has 1000 monkeys!

Our VFW collected stuffed animals and delivered them to kids at orphanage type centers. I smiled and handed a big teddy bear to a little guy. He hugged me and took my hand and said "I want to go home with you!". I fled the room blinded by tears and went outside and cried my heart out. I couldnt deliver teddy bears anymore.

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Thanks guys - I like the donation idea. Some of the monkeys I get are already hand-me-dones though. I have had people tell me they saw the monkey at a garage sale and just had to get it for me.

I did decide to use the purse for awhile. It will have it's first outing tonight.

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Appears it is differant for blokes.
I have got "If you ever want any one taking out"
Scarey or what...

I never get purses..

Flower, yes a few times.

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I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott

Is cash a gift?

I would think think the "gift" idea is a "ladies" thing ( no insult intended)

If A GUY gives a gift to a woman KJ .....TROUBLE
If A GUY gives a gift to a MAN KJ ..unless one of them is gay....TROUBLE
Just does not happen !!

When my son was born I had a regular singer (woman) who brought me in BABY FORMULA she got from work for free ..REALLY HELPED OUT$$$$$$

All I ever get is boobie rubs!

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Buffets are nice. It's about the only time I get a home cooked meal...

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Can I sub for you?

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I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott

Come on up!

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

I do think it is more a ladies thing to get gifts. I'd think male KJs would mainly have drinks offered to them or body parts (from what I'm hearing)

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Other than an occasional beer put on my table (i don't drink) or an order of extremely hot buffalo wings which a regular gives me weekly (not knowing i won't risk eating them and coughing or stinking up the mics), all i ever get is hugs and tips, which ain't bad.

I usually have the waitress reroute the wings back to the singer who ordered them after taking out a couple to give to my weekly-rotating co host for that week, or i wait until he takes a smoke break whereas i offer them to other regulars.

....I have yet to receive a purse, but we do have lots of monkeys there!

We have people that come in selling flowers, so I do get flowers once in a while. I usually give them to another patron at the end of the night. Of course doing it so the person who gave them to me doesn't know. I don't think my fiancee would like me bringing home flowers. Plus my cats get into them.

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Funny thing.
I've never been given a purse before, either.
That is, until Thursday night when a patron came in and gave ME a purse!
He said he found it outside, but it looked way too clean and was completely empty. I think it actually looked rather new.
I suspect he may not have wanted me to know that it was ,in fact, he that was giving it to me.

I get flowers often. We, too, have a flower lady that comes in, so I get them too. The other night, my mother was running the show for me, and she got an interesting gift. A young couple came in the bar, and my mother has the sweetest nature about her, so it was no surprise that the girl took a liking to her. She said that she was having such a good time and my mother had been so sweet to her that she wanted her to have her ring. It was a gold nugget ring with some stones in it. Of course, my mother didn't want to take it, so she tried several times to give it back. The girl refused, so my mother, in her notorious creativity, suggested that she and the girl do a ring exchange. They agreed that every time they see each other at karaoke, they would swap the ring back and forth. The girl loved the idea, and mom thought it was cool too. It was sweet.

You can't keep swapping all those monkeys, but the good will idea is a great one. It would be cool if you had some way to display them in the area where you work. The customers who gave them to you would think that was special.

When customers give us things, it is how they show their appreciation for what we do or their admiration for us. It's nice to know someone in the world thinks of us outside karaoke, and that somehow, we have had some sort of impact on others.

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Ring swap - I love it !

I did always display all the monkeys until the bar owner put a stop to it. There were so many it was out of control.

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