How much should I tip you???

One time I had a groom ask me what my biggest tip ever was...I told hime $300 (This was in 1993) he handed me $600 . Never have I've been asked upfront good for you!

People ask all the time. It's such a hard question. I tell them I have gotten Hugs, Thank you letters, bottles of wine, gifts and money. Each circumstance is different.

trafficgoo said:

My wife and I met with a couple yesterday...both from New York and are getting married next year. We went through all of our info with them, answered their questions etc. Toward the end, they let it be known that they're booking with us.

Then the groom asks me "How much should we tip you?" He mentioned that no matter what we will be tipped at the end of the evening. I've never had a client ask me up front before and it left me speechless. I proceeded to tell him that it's not necessary but once again he said "You're getting tipped no matter what." I said that he should base it on our performance that night. He was satisfied with the answer.

Have you ever had this happen?

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yes i just give them the standard 10-20% song and dance. Ive had some off the wall tips.

We did a charity event for Ronald McDonald house through a group of students at Duke University, they put out a Gas Fund jar in front of the dj booth and it yielded $400 dollars which we immediately turned around and handed back to the charity.

The drivers daughters wedding we recently did tipped us $200

havent hit a $600 tip straight from one person though. But can definitely see that happening. Ive noticed if its truly the brides parents taking care of the bill if the bride seems very happy and pleased, daddy is even more pleased.

We did a wedding a couple of months ago where the Brides father had died a year earlier and she wanted a video slideshow set to music with just slides of her and her daddy. We did 65 pics and she didnt care what music i picked she said she knew i would do a good job.

Since most of her music request list was country i used "Go rest high" by vince gill.

halfway through showing the slide show and it was a tearjerker the uncle of the bride handed me a $100 dollar bill and said that the slide show was unbelievable.

The family wanted 20 dvds burnt and we have a multi burner 5 in 1.. so i told the uncle give me $50 for decent dvds and its done. The DVDs arrived with a check for $200 more dollars

Damn New Yorkers -- no wonder everybody has their hands out up here :sqerr:


Best tip I ever got...

"Don't pick up a burning cat..."

I did a Charity Event for a car group and they gave me a picture of Dale Earnhart Sr. It was the last picture taken of him racing. He died on the next turn. It was framed and had 1 of 150 on the bottom with the photographers signature, Who I am todl is very big. I brought it to the nascar store and the guy offered me 5oo.oo for it. I decided to hold on to it.

The schools and charity events give the most interesting tips. I have fotten movie tickets, video games, and other gifts.

I've been asked. My answer is always something like, "You're not obligated. That's why I charge you the big bucks: to cover my effort. If you think that I deserve a tip, then that's up to you."

I know for a fact that it pisses many people off when there are mandatory gratuities (especially for, say, restaurants). I wonder if at least some people ask just to find out what kind of person you are (?)--ie: a jerk who thinks that you should get a tip because you are a stiff in a tux and want some extra "under the table" cash.

trafficgoo said:

My wife and I met with a couple yesterday...both from New York and are getting married next year. We went through all of our info with them, answered their questions etc. Toward the end, they let it be known that they're booking with us.

Then the groom asks me "How much should we tip you?" He mentioned that no matter what we will be tipped at the end of the evening. I've never had a client ask me up front before and it left me speechless. I proceeded to tell him that it's not necessary but once again he said "You're getting tipped no matter what." I said that he should base it on our performance that night. He was satisfied with the answer.

Have you ever had this happen?

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"Thank you so much. I'm so pleased to hear that you were happy with my services. 10 to 15 percent is customary for an excellent performance and it's entirely up to you. I'll be right over there packing up my equipment."

Walk away.

My answer? "Nothing, thank you. I'm the owner. However if you choose to give me a gratuity, I'll accept it, knowing that you thought I was worth more than I charged."... or something similar.

SoftJock Rick said:

Damn New Yorkers -- no wonder everybody has their hands out up here :sqerr:


Best tip I ever got...

"Don't pick up a burning cat..."

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Damn Good tip too!

If people want to tip me and just ask them to pass my business cards around to their friends and family.

A lot of people have responded on what they say AT an event when offered a tip. The original post was referring to a situation at the time of booking. This happens all the time here I usually say something like: "$20-50 says 'thanks for coming her is some gas money', $50-100 says 'you did a great job', over $100 says 'you did an amazing job, it wouldn't have been the same without you'". This usually goes over well. Keep in mind that I run a multi-op this is what I say when they have not reserved me personally.

I have an Amazon Wishlist for tips and (off the books jobs) It's amazing sometimes I did a 5 minute XML Sitemap and get a iPod Hi Fi then I do a few hours and get a CD......

Say you email your Amazon Wishlist if requested

DanBenoit said:

A lot of people have responded on what they say AT an event when offered a tip. The original post was referring to a situation at the time of booking. ...

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Time of booking, at the show, all the same to me... my answer is roughly the same.

I agree, I wasn't referring to your post.

DanBenoit said:

I agree, I wasn't referring to your post.

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It's cool Dan... I also got your point.

My second F.A.Q. is regarding tips:

Are gratuities or tips expected?

No.

Gratuities are nice way to show your gratitude, and TIPS stands for "To Insure Proper Service". Of course, these days it has gotten to the point where tips are almost automatically paid to low salaried service people regardless of your level of satisfaction, because these people would otherwise not be able to make a living.

But I am a professional. As such, I create my own prices. When I update them I consider several factors, including what it costs to operate the business, and the value of my time away from my family, and what a professional of my caliber should be paid.

If you feel the need to show your gratitude, put it in writing. Give me something I can put on my referrals page. Tell people about the service I provided.

Take the cash you were thinking about tipping me, and buy yourself a nice dinner.

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This is what most etiquette books/ websites say:

DJ - If your DJ owns the company then the tip is optional but if the DJ is an employee $50-100.00. If you have 2 DJs (DJ & MC), give each person $50.00 in separate envelopes. When your guests rave about your reception later, it's the DJ that had everything to do with the fun.

I am talking to a New York couple now, that will be coming to Huntsville, AL to get married, I guess they are saving tons on the Venue, catering , probably the DJ too. But all their family and friends are having to come down too, about 200 guests are expected.

Anyway, they ask me that exact question. I told them that it is not required, but it is definitely appreciated, and they should base it on how happy they are at the end of the evening.