Is a Tip Jar the Same as Begging? - The Great Tip Jar Experiment

Got this comment to my Top 10 Ways to Get More Money from a Gig post...

"I don't like a tip jar. It feels like begging. Although I am a broke-ass musician, it hasn't come to that quite yet."

My response...

First of all, if you don't feel comfortable with a tip jar, that's ok.  This technique isn't for everybody.  But I've dealt with many people who once felt like you do and changed their minds to find the tip jar a very good income stream.

My very first "real" job, when I was 15, was scooping ice cream at a Baskin-Robbins.  Every other store in the city had a tip jar.  The store I worked in didn't.

I asked my boss for the reason why.  She said she didn't feel customers would be comfortable with it.

That's a pretty good reason not to do something, but where she got that perception, I'm not sure.  Like I said, every other store in the city had a tip jar and none of the customers seemed to care.  And the employees, who were the beneficiaries of the extra money, loved it.

Maybe her customers were different.  But I doubt she asked them to find out.  And by not doing that to at least find out, she lost good employees who could make more money by doing the exact same work elsewhere.

My point is this...  Don't let your perception of a tip jar and what it stands for keep you from trying it out.  The only opinion which really matters here is that of the customer...and believe it or not, some people like giving tips.  In fact, we live in a culture where it's expected.

When I get a smoothie, I tip the guy who made it.  When I get my hair cut, I tip the stylist.  When I get a massage, I tip the therapist.

And I think nothing more of it...

There are certainly venues where tip jars work better than others.  But you're probably playing one.  Most venues have a coat check or, at the very least, a bar with a tip jar (or similar setup).  If you're a Christian band playing a church, you're in a building that is funded by tips.  And the list goes on and on...  Coffee houses, restaurants, etc...

A lot of acts write off the tip jar, but this isn't just chump change we're talking about.  I've worked with acts which make over $100,000/year in tips...or "love offerings" as the Christians call them.  There is money to be made. 

So I encourage you to give the tip jar a shot.  If it doesn't work, that's cool, but at least you'll know.  And it it does work, you may just have a really great income stream to help you continue on your musical path.

A final though...

I've seen "virtual tip jars" on sites for the last few years, but never considered one.  Why?  Like you, I think they're cheap.  But I'm not the one reading this blog...you are.

So, in the interest of finding out an answer to your question, I'm adding my own "tip jar" to this post.  If you like MusicMarketing.com and have gotten something out of it, please leave a donation.  All the money will go to help fellow entrepreneurs via Kiva.org.

Think it's tacky?  That's cool.

Either way, I'd love to have you have thoughts on this issue.  Please post them in the comment section below.

NOTE: I'll post the results next week, so subscribe to the feed to keep updated on how this goes.

Comments

[Matt @ Kurb]

It's all within the framing you're trying to create as a musician.

A teenage folk singer who plays acoustic numbers is going to probably get more tips than a blinged out MC who's come up from the streets, done time and been shot.

Particularly in a paradigm now where fans may not initially buy into the framing of "I'm a working artist and I should get paid."

[Scott Bramley]

I'm based in the UK which isn't such a tip oriented society but when I was performing onboard cruise ships for the US market as a singer/pianist in the piano bar I was able to live completely from my tips (which allowed me save everything else that I earned). I've not had a tip jar since being in the UK but I've got a gig tonight so I'll give a try!

As for the virtual tip jar, I like it! I've got a new site coming out in a matter of weeks and I've now decided to have one on there myself!

[Vikki Flawith]

I see nothing wrong with a tip jar. Even the swankiest jazz lounges in 5-star hotels have a tip jar.

[Adrian Carr]

I tried one gig where I didn't use a tip jar at the gig but sent an email afterward with a link to donate - I didn't do great but one person sent $20 via paypal. It's something. I think the tip jar at the scene is a why not situation. I'm having a launch dinner/show party and charging $40 (tips drink and tax extra) But I'm consdering putting out a donate Jar.....I'll make it look fun and pretty!

Thanks for the post

[Tom]

Churches are run by tips? You clearly don't understand anything about the Christian church.

Tip is generally understood to mean "To insure promptness". In other words, a tip is given as a means of encouraging good service. Do you really think offerings are given at church to encourage God to be nice to you? Do you think God is motivated by, or even needs, your money?

[Anthony Burbidge]

I know of one indie duo in Florida who have made more than $8000 from their on line tip jar. It has gone a long way towards funding their new CD. If you don't try it, you'll never know.

I know another indie artist who simply came up with a good business plan and secured $50,000 in funding (not loans - "gift" money with no strings attached) from a couple well to do investors. They never even heard his music - it just looked good on paper AND they wanted to be able to say they had helped him achieve the pop star dream.

Part of what audiences want from indie artists is honesty. If we (as indie artists) try to pretend that we have got Mariah Carey kind of cash flowing through our pockets, that's not authentic and audiences will smell the lie. Being honest and asking for assistance (whether financial or otherwise) when you need it could make the difference as to whether you make it as a musician or not.

Anthony

[John Stanton]

Hey, Tom. I feel what David meant here is that churches are funded by a similar system of DONATIONS. Lighten up, dude.

[Flavor Flav]

Yeah boyiee!!! Show me dat money!

[Ashely Austin]

As an indie artist, I think you do what you feel your comfortable with, but, the tips I received at each gig are appreciated and they do help out a lot. I don't feel bad about taking them....some gigs my band works the tips more than others, but, it all adds up to an indie artist.

Thanks!!!

[Rob Blaney]

For me the tip jar is just another way for fans to support my music like buying a cd or t-shirt. Maybe they alreay have a cd but want to say "hey, I like what you're doing" so they leave $5 or $10 in the jar. That's fine with me. I leave the jar on the piano if I'm doing an acoustic show (and people will use it as a way to request songs)or on the merch table if I'm with a band. You don't have to use a "jar". Use a hat, broken snare drum or whatever else and call it something creative "Gas Money", "Equipment Fund", "Help fund the new cd".

[Ruth]

A tip jar isn't begging, unless you put a pitiful solicitation on it. Ditto on humor. If people want to fund you, more power to them!

(Of course, you have to be appropriate to the venue. At the Ryman or Carnegie Hall it might seem a bit over the top...)

[david]

I always wonder why people get bugged by tip jars. I don't usually tip non-table service people, but I don't give a second thought to tip jars, either.

[tracy]

Tipping is a bizarre holdover from the ancien regime. In the one job (cab driver) that I ever held where I could get tipped, I found the whole experience degrading. Personally, I would just as soon forgo tips altogether. Which was a good thing, because my tips were nothing to shout about.

[John Edwards]

Tipping is a bizarre activity.As per it is like degrading oneself to a low of which you yourself will ashamed of.Though it might not be the case for all but in general it is.
There may be an exception to this like a owner giving tip to his servant as a mark of an appreciation towards his work.So i can't really say that tipping is like begging but in most cases it seems like.

[Carl]

One big advantage of the tipping system in restaurants is that it allows students and other between-serious-jobs people to make significantly more money than they could in almost any other way. If you're a college student and work as a restaurant server two or three nights a week you might easily make $250 or $300 a week.
So in a way it is helping poor students especially those doing MS to meet their needs.In a way it is helping them to complete their study.
That's the reason why i don't feel any thing wrong about this system.

[Shaun]

I saw a tip jar on the ledge of a drive-up window at one of my favorite breakfast burrito haunts. I was put off by it. Tip you for handing me a bag through a window? I think tipping etiquette has gotten way out of hand.

[Trole]

I don't like the tip jar but we get a lot of tips at the merchandise table. I've done a lot of busking and still do but when we play I think it looks rather unprofessional at a gig. If you've not got the experience to make money then you should be able to make money without it. If you don't have that experience then you have to pay your dues and play for peanuts. It's just the way.
Learn to play on the street and still be effective performers. It's fun, good practice and we've made up to $25 an hour each.

[Hayden]

Sometimes people appreciate the music performance of the band and leave a tip of 5usd or 10usd.If it is a celebrity like Johnny depp then he might leave as much as 6000usd for a tip like he recently did in a restaurant.
It's a source of living for those working people but if you were to take my opinion i consider it as a mean activity.It's like degrading our dignity,pride in hands of few rich poor.

[adam]

Tip jar is excellent means of making any system run effectively.All most all religions adopt this system."Survival is the key to success" be it any thing.Now if a person takes a tip in his dire circumstances then what's wrong in it?

[adam]

Tip jar is excellent means of making any system run effectively.All most all religions adopt this system."Survival is the key to success" be it any thing.Now if a person takes a tip in his dire circumstances then what's wrong in it?

[adam]

Tip jar is excellent means of making any system run effectively.All most all religions adopt this system."Survival is the key to success" be it any thing.Now if a person takes a tip in his dire circumstances then what's wrong in it?

[ricky]

I don't completely agree with what adam has said or even understand all of it.

Tipping has made people many people work-shy and they don't better themselves because they make too much money on tips. Like the Vegas blackjack dealer who makes $100,000 per year..

[andrew]

As a bass player i don't find any thing wrong with this system.I confess that i take tips and even i don't hesitate in receiving tips
People come here to listen to my music and if they like it they give me tips.If an employee receives "bonus" for his successful completion of a project then why can't we.Is this world meant for them only?Aren't we good enough to get extra amount for the kind of work we do?

[michael]

Tipping has become a mean activity for the wealthy.There is saying that "those who live in palaces of glass what they can understand the grief of destitute".World has become a toy in the hands of few rich like-minded people.Whatever be it good or evil they make propaganda as if it's the only alternative which everyone should oblige to.
If they consider it as a begging be it be, why should we bother about it.We should form our own community and continue the good work.

[hussey]

You see, I don't hit the tip jar at Starbucks.There is more than one side to this issue.One perspective is that Starbucks baristas are underpaid and, usually, friendly and helpful so they ought to earn tips just as waiters and waitresses in restaurants do.My perspective is that the baristas working for me earn money for their effort they keep in

[clarke]

Tip jars are a good way of getting rid of loose change.

[brett]

I've noticed a lot of gender bias involved with tipping.

[nathan banks]

service industry staff have to get at least minimum wage and tips have to be declared as income. So tips should be made mandatory.

[hodge]

The moral of this tale is that these companies seem to assume that nobody -- except for me! -- will notice or care if an additional buck or two is appended to an order. Considering the large customer bases involved, this can add up to a lot of money. I think this is precisely what has spilled over into the ad hoc tipping jar phenomenon we're now experiencing.

[steve]

Hodge,i think you are being a curmudgeon about this -- or even worse, a cheapskate. But although I don't contribute to these ubiquitous, beckoning Mason jars, I think there is an insidious effect on the young.

[tait]

I feel it's an excellent way to make money!

[Meredith Banks]

Am a teacher by profession. I decided to conduct an experiment. The next day, when I entered the classroom, I casually pulled a small jelly jar from my bag and placed it on my desk. On the front was a neat label, "Tips." I didn't do anything else to draw my students' attention to it and ignored the low mumble that the act incited.

At the end of my class they filled it up. I gave it back, but it did lend me a small thrill, a sense that my teaching efforts were worth more than my salary alone.

[martyn]

It provides a sense of pride that we are worth more than we earn.

[Bill Cox]

A charming women receives more tip than her counterpart. Admit it.

[hussey]

A word about tips: The Idea of tip jar in blogs and forums is to bring in few extra dollars. Sometimes it is used for good but in most cases it is used for their personal benefits.

[edge]

if a tip jar at starbucks causes you this kind of anxiety, you need a little more self confidence.

[cena]

Edge,You sound like an asshole. Are you suggesting we don’t tip anyone because “its their job”?

[bradman]

I can see this being useful as a tool for donations to help sites which don’t rake in money from advertising, or non-profits - that’s all good

[jeff]

Suppose I leave you a $50 tip now, then because nobody comes after me, I don’t pay it. Can you still donate that to charity/amazon gift voucher it up?

[Andrew]

i feel that the 'tip jar experiment' is a good idea, it doesn't hurt anyone to make a few extra bucks. be it a restaurant or a bar or any other place for that matter, making money is always a good idea.

[Ted Jones]

i can't believe someone can stoop down to such a level and start begging. what i mean is .. if someone wants to tip you .. they will, what is the point of having a tip jar. this just shows how desperate you are for the money.

[Briana]

tipping jars are just one bad idea. they clearly expose the mindset of the person and his greedy intentions. if a person is worthy enough, he will be tipped anyways. what is the whole point of the jar then ??

[Ten Adams]

i m a musician myself .. and i feel that someone tipping me .. it is because of my abilities. they feel that i am good and this is how they are letting me know.

[Jim Parker]

i feel that a tipping jar .. is a good way to encourage the employees in a work environment. the fuller the jar .. the happier the customers and this encourages the employees to perform much better.

[Ryan]

i'm an owner of a coffee shop myself. we have a tipping jar at the corner and it is a great way to make a few extra bucks. there are enough generous people to donate some extra cash. our annual collection sums up to around $50,000

[John Smith]

i think .. tipping has gotten out of hand. these days everywhere you go .. you see a tipping jar at the corner of the room, be it a restaurant or a bar or a coffee shop. even at the entrance of a night club where you keep your coats .. there is a tipping jar.

[Jack]

it all depends on the society you stay in. People of UK for example, don't have a tipping tendency. so the 'tipping jar' experiment won't work. in more open societies .. where people are ready to shell out an extra buck .. this practice is more than welcome.

[Tracy]

i don't understand, that why do people oppose the idea of a tipping jar. at the end of the day, nobody is forcing you to donate. it is your wish, if you want to give or not.

[Maggy Spencer]

these days people have taken the 'tipping jar' to a whole new level. the jar that used to be located at the corner of a coffee shop .. is now all over the internet. bloggers and many websites are now using it to make cash.

[Wendy]

'tipping jars' are a wonderful way to make more money. i 've put it on my website, and every once in a while, someone donates.

[Robin]

i know it may sound stupid, but some people tip for charity. in today's busy world,people hardly have any time to do charity. tipping jars is something they come across quite often. so to feel good about themselves, they tip some money in the jar.

[Romie]

i feel obligated to leave a tip at the jar. i mean, its right in front of you. there are people watching, it wont look nice if you leave without tipping.

[Julie]

sometimes these tipping jars are kept at hideous places. i went to this supermarket, picked up a trolley .. looked around, picked up few things and headed to the cashier. at the cashier's table was kept a medium sized jar .. labeled 'TIPS'. i mean what for ??? i did everything .. what should you be tipped for !!

[Joey]

with the inflation hitting our economy and the prices going so high. tipping is totally out of question. if we our already paying more than what it is actually worth, tipping is not an option.

[Collin]

i am a college student working as a part time waiter in a coffee shop. tipping jars is an awesome way of making extra money. i have earned from a nickel to $20 extra per day.

[Dari]

A tip jar means you are desperate? Or degrading yourself? Or begging? I'm glad these replies are simply *opinions* and not absolutes!! I agree with those stating it's an opportunity for the audience to show their appreciation...and that it should be venue appropriate. If you're not comfortable with it, don't use one! If you are, may it fill to overflowing!!! I'm curious...if you do use a tip jar do you "seed" it with a few bills before setting it out?

[Jacob Oram]

these days restaurants already include the service tax additional to the other taxes. if they are already charging for the service provided, what is the point of tipping then.

[Samantha]

Putting a tip before being serviced is a bribe, It's like you're telling them, 'Here's 50 cents, please make my drink good.' They should make it good anyway. It costs five bucks.

[Doug Alcock]

The tip jar gives people an opportunity to support what you are doing. I'd rather they bought a CD --- but if they already have one --- or just liked the show and want to throw in a few bucks I'm not going to say no; and I'll give then the opportunity to do so. I came to this way of thinking after years of playing various living rooms and campfires and bars. Most of the time I can't get my own drink --- someone will buy it or if I go to get one of my own will say --- 'here have one of mine'. If people are liking your music they tend to want to express their appreciation. It may be a simple verbal thank you when they leave or I leave --- but (and it took me years to get used to this) people are often very grateful to have good live music in their midst. The tip jar is way to express it. Any dollar I come by from making music goes straight back into music --- and now that I think of it, maybe I should be telling more people that.

[Kim]

tipping is a way of encouraging good service, its letting the person know that if they work hard enough it will not go unrewarded. it always feels good to get something extra.

[Steve Austin]

tipping is not accepted everywhere. in the asian countries like japan, china or india - tips are not
accepted. there is something very american about tips. with metropolisation, tipping is becoming a part of all cultures everywhere.

[Britney]

i really don't understand what to tip. it is so confusing. should it be a percentage of my bill or should it be a fixed amount. is there a need for me to tip everytime i go to there. i don't understand, what all is expected out of me

[Keith Shudder]

internet tipping jars are the latest rave. almost all blogs today, like this one have a link at the bottom, saying 'donate'. this is the new way of getting that extra buck, inspiring you to write better and keeps you going that extra mile.

[Shaun]

the people keeping the 'tipping jars' at the counters expect something extra from us, if they provide good service. but what do we do, if they provide bad service. shouldn't this be a two way street ?

[Fred]

tipping is a way of expressing customer satisfaction. it shows that the customer was so pleased with the product and the service that he is willing to pay more than the quoted price.

[Rachel Sedacca]

As a working musician over 8 years, doing everything from booking to bus driving, I feel like I should pipe in.

A tip jar doesn't have to be tacky or unprofessional. As a solo artist, I have a neat looking little tip jar set up by my merch. That way, if folks wanna buy a CD while I'm playing or while I'm not there in front of them, they can put their money there in my jar. Also, I think in venues where the audience did not pay a door charge, this is the way they can show appreciation of your talents.

Don't worry about the snobs, just do what works. I have a 35 ft. tourbus to gas up, so it doesn't bother me one bit to put my jar out where it can be seen. In fact, on my upcoming tour, I'm making a tip jar from a clean, empty gas can. So there!

[Jerry Yates]

It has never, ever crossed my mind that playing for tips was like begging! I thought some artists were out busking, all the time!
As a Christian artist, I play a lot of Churches, and in my region, taking up a "Love Offering" for me, when I play is the norm. I am a solo, singer/songwriter/acoustic guitarist, however the same mode of payment includes Southern Gospel groups and Contemporary Christian artists and bands.
I also play several coffeehouses, and since there are very, very few Christian coffeehouses around here, I mostly play secular ones, and they all put out a tip jar for the artist(s). I have had some really good paying nights, at both types of venues. I don't see it as begging at all! But if times get really bad, and the gas goes much higher, I ain't above begging!

Because of HIS Commission,
Jerry Yates
www.indieheaven.com/artists/jerryyates
www.jerryyatesministries.com
www.myspace.com/jerryyates
Radio promotions provided by RhonBob Promotions:
www.rhonbob.com

"Sing to HIM a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with a loud and joyful sound"(Psalm 33:3)!

[Chairman Ralph]

I've been on both sides of the debate -- I promoted shows at a coffeehouse, and while folks might balk at paying a cover, they'd never have a problem filling up the tip jar.

I can recall similar situations as a solo acoustic performer, too: one time, I played to only a couple dozen people, and came away with $45 -- and that was just for myself, on a double bill! So it goes to show, you'll never know until you try.

Keep in mind, many venues won't pay you a guarantee -- so a tip jar can make the difference between a good night, and a lousy one (just like if you're waiting tables). Remember, it's the experience of seeing you play that motivates folks to tip (or not) in the first place -- but it doesn't hurt to give them a chance to weigh in.

It's all in the approach -- my wife is an artist, so I had her decorate my tip jar. It's helped me promote her stuff, too, and made for a great icebreaker, especially in places where you're coming as a stranger.

If you say, "Woe is me," that might get a cooler response than some clever joke that you post on the tip jar. With the economy being so bad right now, people don't need much prompting to forget their problems, so a little humor goes a long way.

One last point: tip jars are only a tool, and one of many, that you can use. If you don't have any backing, then you're going to be underwriting your dream out of your own pocket, anyway. Every dollar that goes back to your pocket is one less for the middleman, so if a tip jar helps to do that, I can't see how that's bad.

[Tommy Chris]

I like tip jars. They work better in some joints than in others BUT in the joints where they do work I've made upwards of $150-200 per night extra doe with the tip jar. If it helps pay my bill then, "I Aint Too Proud To Beg."
TC

[Ashely Austin]

Musicians spend a lot of personal time preparing for shows. Sometimes they drive from 1-3 hours to gigs. They are at the venue 1-2 hrs. before the show starts to set up and do sound checks. Then they play 60-200 mins. for $50 - $150. Cover charges, merchandise, tip jars are what allows them to do over and over. It's legal & it is not degrading....tips should only be given as a show of support and appreciation for a evening of enjoyable entertainment. And everyone has a choices they can make: don't go to those venues, tip or not? And, sometimes singers & bands will play a venue just for tips....that's all they receive for their hard work. America is a great country and what makes it great is the freedom to choose & to debate insignificant subjects like tips???? The next time you shell out $35-$200 / person to go see a super star & you pay $5 for hot dogs & nachos....$5-$8 / beer.....$2 for a small bottle of water & then we leave a tip at the place we purchased all theses overpriced items....think of those indie artist out there that are very appreciative of any amount of money you drop in their tip jars??? If you like the band, show your appreciation by tipping, whatever amount you like...if you didn't like the show, don't tip...no one is going to think you are a cheap scape....?????

[DC]

Our cover band once passed a hat around to a packed club after the club "closed" at 2am - they locked the doors, everyone stayed, and our soundguy/manager said "if you want the band to keep playing, put something in the hat".

This was in West Virginia in the 80's, in a remote area even for WV - no rules, so to speak.

We played until 6am (and it was one of the more interesting gigs I've ever done - 30 minute jams and all), and ended up with an extra $400 in the hat.

[Frank]

Tip jars are tacky.
I only expect to see them with street musicians