My trio plays at a local restaurant bar about once a month. They have reduced our pay over the last few years, until we are playing for half or less of what we used to be paid (I won't even tell you how much, the amount is so embarrassing.) So I've begun the routine of announcing to the crowd that they are welcome to add some money to a tip jar. Usually I do so with humor, saying things like "To help our drummer go to percussion school."
During the breaks I took a lesson from a band I saw in New Orleans, and went out into the crowd with the tip jar and visited the tables, again, with humor and no pressure.
After our last gig, we got an email from the bartender/music coordinator for the restaurant. He said my habit of "bringing the jar from table to table and essentially pan-handling it is a bit tacky, and creates a situation where our customers may be uncomfortable." to add insult to injury he offered us only one gig for the next three months.
Needless to say,my first reaction was to be totally pissed, and tell my band partner I thought they were "f**ked" and felt very insulted, and was ready to not play there again.
We decided not to do anything until our tempers cooled (always a good decision.) Now my bandmate is waffling and saying he too is uncomfortable with going from table to table for tips. He also says he doubts we will find other live gigs in town to match this restaurant.
So, Dear Abby...what would you suggest I do? Am I out of line going around to the tables for tips? The bigger issue of course is how little musicians are being paid for live gigs at restaurants and bars. Should I bite my tongue and play the one gig they offered and no longer go out for tips in the audience? Should we talk with the owner? Bartender/music coordinator?
Have others had similar issues or problems with tip jars? Thanks for you ideas.
--Jeff
During the breaks I took a lesson from a band I saw in New Orleans, and went out into the crowd with the tip jar and visited the tables, again, with humor and no pressure.
After our last gig, we got an email from the bartender/music coordinator for the restaurant. He said my habit of "bringing the jar from table to table and essentially pan-handling it is a bit tacky, and creates a situation where our customers may be uncomfortable." to add insult to injury he offered us only one gig for the next three months.
Needless to say,my first reaction was to be totally pissed, and tell my band partner I thought they were "f**ked" and felt very insulted, and was ready to not play there again.
We decided not to do anything until our tempers cooled (always a good decision.) Now my bandmate is waffling and saying he too is uncomfortable with going from table to table for tips. He also says he doubts we will find other live gigs in town to match this restaurant.
So, Dear Abby...what would you suggest I do? Am I out of line going around to the tables for tips? The bigger issue of course is how little musicians are being paid for live gigs at restaurants and bars. Should I bite my tongue and play the one gig they offered and no longer go out for tips in the audience? Should we talk with the owner? Bartender/music coordinator?
Have others had similar issues or problems with tip jars? Thanks for you ideas.
--Jeff
I am infinitely grateful that we have music in this world.