Do you tip the Karaoke host or not? Why?

As a Karaoke host, I am paid a fee by the bar and typically it is a minimum fee that will get me through, however like the servers and bartenders, I too consider myself a service industry employee. My job is to insure that the patrons (customers) have a good time while they are at the venue and I treat them with respect since I realize, without them I am out of a job. If the bar ain't making money and I don't help to make that happen then I will be replaced just like a bad bartender or server.
So, here is the question, when you come in and sit down and order your drinks and food and at the end of the night your service was acceptable or better, you tip your server and bartenders, right? What about the Karaoke host that made sure you had the song up when it was your turn and as the night progressed, instead of looking through the books provided for your viewing pleasure, you just came up to me and asked if I had a specific song in my computer. Now, don't get me wrong, I love the interaction and the conversation that might follow. It is just that sometimes it compounds my possibly already workload as I am queing up a singer and loading other singers request slips into the system, but as you walk away you glance at the large tip bucket (yep, I use a beer bucket without the beer label attached) and continue back to your seat and then later you come back up to ask me how long before you get to sing and then also ask me to look up another song for you, then walking away. Oh, yes you do usually say than you. I have had singers offer to tip me bigggg to move them up in the rotation and I will refuse but what about a tip from the ones that I make sure don't get skipped and make sure you get to sing as many times as possible. Tip jar still empty, hmmmmm.

Something to consider:

Many of us that host karaoke, are working in this industry full-time and have no other source of income just like the servers you encounter. We consider this (tips) to be a part of our income and usually provide a passive (tip jar) system for recieving tips. Next time you are talking to your karoake host and he/she is polite and doing everything to help you have a fun time, drop a few bucks into his/her tip jar as a thanks for a job well done.

When we went to karaoke I never saw a tip jar and never thought to tip the host. But now that we are hosts.....

When we do a show at the small bar where the pay is till-based, we do put out the tip jar just to help out if it is a slow night. But at the place that pays more money and up front no matter what, we don't put it out as we figure we have been adequately paid. But the one thing we keep hearing happens elsewhere that we have yet to experience is on a really good night, the servers will send some of their tips to the entertainment. There have been nights where we have stayed late just as a matter of public relations and the servers get more tips because we did that yet don't share and we aren't getting paid extra for staying (so we don't do it often, anymore). What they don't realize is our pay isn't really our pay, once you take out taxes and equipment maintenance/replacement and buying new songs, etc. I think at the end of the night, with less investment, they may come out ahead of us.

But we have gotten tips other ways--one singer works for a sign company and he surprised us with a really nice sign. We have also been given trays of Christmas cookies with an envelope of money hidden in the tin. But no, I didn't have an awareness of tipping the host. Didn't know you should tip the AAA Tow Truck driver, either, until I knew one personally. But I do jokingly promote us as "Full Service Karaoke" just to emphasize the little extras that we do.

I refuse to accept tips because it looks too much like a bribe. I try to run my rotations as fair as you can possibly can. I don't need someone thinking they can get preferential treatment because they greased my palms with money. Perception is everything.

My point is that I work hard for my singers and they don't know how (flat fee or till based) I am paid and it is not really their business even when I am asked. I do however make sure the singers have the best experience they can have and i sometimes even go to their tables and pick up their sign-up slips above and beyoud the average host i know and still few tips.

Like Dan I typically turn down tips and tonight is a good example as to why. Had a guy come up and say man great show here is a tip for you and dropped a twenty on the table, I told him I do not accept tips and tried to give it back to him he insisted I keep it and I told him that I can't be bribed to move someone up the list. The guy was being loud and obnoxious most of the time he was there and being very touchy with most of the girls in the bar (90% lesbian) later on he came up and put his name on the list, within a very short time (and I knew it was coming) he started suggesting that the $20 he laid on me should count for something. I told him it did, it was very much appreciated, but it still wouldn't move him up the list. His turn came and he got up to sing, dropped another $20 on my table smiled and said thank you! Shortly afterwards the bartender asked him to pay up his tab and leave because people (the girls) were complaining about his aggressive nature. He was pissed but paid his tab and left. Ryan told me at the end of the night that even though he was being kicked out he still left a $40 tip on a $40 tab.

we do not have a tip jar but have had the customers pass the hat to keep us playing overtime.....when we are at another KJ's show and see a tip jar I will tip a few dollars if the show was good in addition to tipping the bartender

I also do not have a tip jar and I also don't have one because I don't want folks thinking that tipping influences the rotation. I will accept tips but only after letting them know it absolutely does not impact rotation. I have also had patrons "pass a hat" to collect a few bucks to have me stay over, but I will generally stay over for free because I do really enjoy being a host.

Like I do for food service at a restaurant, I will tip other KJ's based upon how good they are and how they lead their shows.

Chris

chrisavis wrote:I also do not have a tip jar and I also don't have one because I don't want folks thinking that tipping influences the rotation. I will accept tips but only after letting them know it absolutely does not impact rotation. I have also had patrons "pass a hat" to collect a few bucks to have me stay over, but I will generally stay over for free because I do really enjoy being a host.

Like I do for food service at a restaurant, I will tip other KJ's based upon how good they are and how they lead their shows.

Chris

I keep a tip jar available and most of my singers know I cannot be bribed, (although $1000 would move even the worst singer to the top) and I have been referred to by several "pain in the ass" singers as the "rotation nazi". I gusee that is a good thing, dunno?

Rumbolt wrote:

chrisavis wrote:I also do not have a tip jar and I also don't have one because I don't want folks thinking that tipping influences the rotation. I will accept tips but only after letting them know it absolutely does not impact rotation. I have also had patrons "pass a hat" to collect a few bucks to have me stay over, but I will generally stay over for free because I do really enjoy being a host.

Like I do for food service at a restaurant, I will tip other KJ's based upon how good they are and how they lead their shows.

Chris

I keep a tip jar available and most of my singers know I cannot be bribed, (although $1000 would move even the worst singer to the top) and I have been referred to by several "pain in the ass" singers as the "rotation nazi". I gusee that is a good thing, dunno?

The integrity of the show is the fairness of the rotation. That is why I get a following of singers to my shows because they know everyone gets a fair shot at performing. I have a Green Irish Hat that they put tips in because I will look up songs for them and have ready the songs I know they sing. I have made as much as $100.00 a night and as little as $20.00 it varies. One night an older German lady put $20.00 in the hat. She then pinched my backside, I guess I shouldn't be offended, I'm just glad my French wife didn't see that. We could of had WWII all over again.

HEY I like that Rotation Natzi...may have to steal it...LOL

The rotation Nazi: "End of the line! No skipping for you!"

Edit: Also, on topic, I will probably keep a tip jar at my shows with the caveat that tipping does not influence the rotation. I can see myself definitely being a rotation Nazi. It's just common sense. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. I hate when the rotation isn't strictly adhered to, and I'm sure others do, as well. A karaoke show should be kept as fair as possible.

Sometimes I see tip jars and sometimes there is'nt one. Different strokes I guess. If there is a tip jar, and I see the KJ is working at his show, I will certainly tip. There is so much difference between someone who just sits behind the machine spinning songs, and someone who "put's on a show". Like Steve O down in florida. He has about 100 hats, wigs, props etc and puts on one hell of a show. He works at you having a good time and enjoying your time there. He also knows his song list good enough to just pull the disc without looking for it when you request a song. This is what I call a good KJ and will tip my butt off. Like was said about a server. He/she does you right with your drink orders, smiles, is fast....you betcha a tip is in order.
If I do not see a jar, I will ask. Most will say no thanks, the others will have a jar out. Just like every thing else, if I am having a good time, I will let it be shown in the jar or on the tab.