Cultural Difference,The Tip Jar

[blue]

Do you guys in the UK put out a tip jar at your gigs. I think it's pretty common in the USA. In addition to our fee we always put out our tip jar.

On a good night it can mean an extra 20 bucks in everyone's pocket. I'm not to proud or above the tip jar. I can always use a 20.

I remember on 2 separate gigs an unknown couple gave everyone in the band $100.00 including our sound guy.

What is the protocol in the UK?

Comments or views on the "tip jar".

Blue

Edited October 10, 2014 by blue

[Tdw]

I think in the uk this is pretty rare, maybe at free gigs but its not something ive eve done or seen many times

[blue]

[quote name='Tdw' timestamp='1412981471' post='2573940']
I think in the uk this is pretty rare, maybe at free gigs but its not something ive eve done or seen many times
[/quote]

Free gigs?

Blue

[Gust0o]

Never seen it at a gig, to be honest. Just can't recall it - doesn't mean it's right or wrong, mind

[JapanAxe]

In a previous band we played two pubs where there was a basic fee, but they would also 'pass the hat around' and add that in.

[Tdw]

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1412982515' post='2573949']
Free gigs?

Blue
[/quote]
Ive seen it the odd time when the band point out that they havent been payed and that they would appreciate a contribution etc,.... but pretty rare

[peteb]

There are some gigs where a member of the bar staff will go around with a bucket a couple of times - generally smaller gigs that are not the best payers.

[discreet]

Never seen it, ever.

[blue]

Interesting, there is a definitive cultural difference here.

I would say 90% of the 4 hour bar bands use a tip jar at paid gigs.

Blue

[gadgie]

Never seen it. Got two tips once.....to stop playing and don't give up the day job lol!

[Roland Rock]

We play a pub in Bromsgrove where a bucket is always passed around. It's only another twenty or thirty pounds on top of the fee, but it's nice that that comes straight from an appreciative audience.

[discreet]

[quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1413006948' post='2574015']
We play a pub in Bromsgrove where a bucket is always passed around.
[/quote]

You can't be THAT bad, surely??

[timmo]

that reminds me of this song. You have to get to 4.40 to see the significance though.

http://youtu.be/gxEPV4kolz0

I have never tipped a band.

[Kirky]

I play two venues where the management passes round a bucket for contributions which we get on top of the comparatively small fee. It's never occurred to me to do it ourselves at other venues. Perhaps we should try it tonight at our Bikers Clubroom gig - last time they passed a bucket round for collections for one of their members who had just been sent down for a stretch at Her Majesty's pleasure, so they're familiar with the concept...

[lojo]

A few years back a few of the pubs on one circuit where suggesting a bucket be passed round , If I remember it was £150 plus bucket , it worked out as good or better than the usual £2-250

[EssentialTension]

There are a couple of pubs in Brighton where, on top of the landlord's payment, the bucket goes round. On a very good night it can double the pay.

[JTUK]

It is more a jazz thing where the fee pays the house band and the jar goes round for the 'guests' to pay for petrol or a drink.
Pubs tend to put the price on a pint to help pay for a band now so it isn't a tradition outside of jazz gigs, IMO.

[uncle psychosis]

I think tipping in general is much more common in the US than it is here.

I've never seen a tip jar at a gig here.

[MoonBassAlpha]

Used to see it years ago, in places where the audience got in for nowt. Not seen this for years, but I think it's a really nice idea, if you've had a really great time. Show a little extra appreciation, after all, it's not mandatory, like door fees.

[dannybuoy]

I've been in bars where a pint glass goes round and everyone puts a pound in, but there wasn't any live music as far as I can recall!

[Beer of the Bass]

I've seen it a couple of times here in Edinburgh, but in both cases it's been instigated by visiting Americans! One is a guitarist who comes over during the Edinburgh festival each year who I do pub gigs with. It seems to work quite well, so I'm not complaining!

Edited October 11, 2014 by Beer of the Bass

[Happy Jack]

I've played regular gigs at three pubs where a hat / jug / bucket / whatever was part of the regular arrangement, usually on top of a £150 fee (we normally go out for£250).

At one venue the jug was taken around by someone with the band, and usually returned something at least half-decent, say £50.

At the other two, the jug was taken around by a member of the bar staff and the contents "counted" behind the bar before being given to the band.

Strange to relate, the amount given to the band always seemed to be a lot less than it looked when we saw the jug going round.

We no longer play those gigs.

At all.

[leschirons]

We've only ever done that to raise a few quid for a charity, not for the band.

[peteb]

[quote name='Kirky' timestamp='1413011720' post='2574045']
I play two venues where the management passes round a bucket for contributions which we get on top of the comparatively small fee. It's never occurred to me to do it ourselves at other venues. Perhaps we should try it tonight at our Bikers Clubroom gig - last time they passed a bucket round for collections for one of their members who had just been sent down for a stretch at Her Majesty's pleasure, so they're familiar with the concept...
[/quote]
Funnily enough, I remember a very similar thing happening at a gig I did at a biker clubhouse a couple of years ago…!

[bonzodog]

Few years ago there was a couple of pubs where they would pass a hat round after you had finished to tempt you to do a couple more songs. This works well as by then most people are drunk and more generous. I remember being paid 60 quid as a solo artist about 15 years ago. Then the hat went round for me to do 2 more songs and there was nearly 100 quid in the hat!!!