Tip jars/buckets

[Freddy G]

I would never dream of putting out a tip bucket at a paying gig. In fact, if I were a club owner I would forbid a band from doing that.

 

[Chango Malo]

Three of our "regular gigs" match our tips. Of course, we're donating our tips to charity every single time. We never keep tips.

 

[freebyrd 69]

Three of our "regular gigs" match our tips. Of course, we're donating our tips to charity every single time. We never keep tips.

That's different.

 

[NotScott]

The last couple bands I have been in would not even think of putting out a tip bucket. It just feels like begging to me.

That being said, one particular club my last band played at had a rather "colorful" owner who loved us. One night, she not only put out a tip jar for us but she went around the bar actively soliciting tips for us! It was so embarrassing. I never heard the end of it from my friends and band followers after that.

 

[freebyrd 69]

The last couple bands I have been in would not even think of putting out a tip bucket. It just feels like begging to me.

That being said, one particular club my last band played at had a rather "colorful" owner who loved us. One night, she not only put out a tip jar for us but she went around the bar actively soliciting tips for us! It was so embarrassing. I never heard the end of it from my friends and band followers after that.

Agreed, and as much as I love local bands and music, I would instantly put a band with a tip jar on my "won't go see again" list.

 

[NotScott]

Agreed, and as much as I love local bands and music, I would instantly put a band with a tip jar on my "won't go see again" list.

It's just tacky. I feel like a panhandler on the side of the road with one of those things in front of the stage.

 

[Chango Malo]

That's different.

yup. It's a thing I hope catches on. You wouldn't believe what a couple of hundred bucks means to a local charity.

We did an Irish festival last fall down in southern Washington and raised over a grand with CD sales. Didn't cost us anything since we just did a quick mix of 10 tunes from a show we did a couple months before at the pub that sponsored the festival. The festival fronted the $$ for the CD production costs and matched the proceeds. We walked into the local food bank with a check for over 2 large and we thought the tears would never end.

 

[freebyrd 69]

It's just tacky. I feel like a panhandler on the side of the road with one of those things in front of the stage.

Exactly. I (like a lot of us here who gig, I'm sure) am fortunate enough to not be in a position to be gigging for the money. Don't get me wrong...it's nice, but if I feel like a place doesn't pay enough then I will just politely decline the gig. We deserve to get paid for what we do, but that's between us and the employer, and has zero to do with the patrons.

 

[freebyrd 69]

yup. It's a thing I hope catches on. You wouldn't believe what a couple of hundred bucks means to a local charity.

We did an Irish festival last fall down in southern Washington and raised over a grand with CD sales. Didn't cost us anything since we just did a quick mix of 10 tunes from a show we did a couple months before at the pub that sponsored the festival. The festival fronted the $$ for the CD production costs and matched the proceeds. We walked into the local food bank with a check for over 2 large and we thought the tears would never end.

I've done some charity gigs...they are very rewarding and gratifying. That's a cool thing you are doing!

 

[edro]

Nothing wrong with a tip bucket. If you see it as tacky or begging, then don't do it...
You are not begging folks to tip. It is merely a mention that it is there if they are so inclined.
If one makes a big deal out of it, THEN it is tacky.

Had folks walk up to the stage with a request and drop a twenty in the bucket....sometimes smaller, sometimes larger. They seem to like doing it. We never ask for tips. Just happens.


If you don't like it, don't do it.... It's a bar, not a production of Faust....