Message 1756 of 22774 in Behind the Bar

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> 
> This is Kditty's rommie.  I hear he has had some severe critisicm 
> about teachers and tipping.  Well, I must say, honestly, it probably 
> doesn't go for everyone, but for most.  My Father is a high school 
> principal and my mother is a teacher and I was very surprised when I 
> saw what they were going to leave our waitress for a tip.  $5.00 on a 
> $75.00 tab!!!!!!!!!  My parents are older and grew up when tipping 
> wasn't such a big deal, and they probably still have that crib sheet 
> in their heads from 1969!!  I told him that they need to at LEAST tip 
> 15%, and 20% is better.  Now obviously, there may be a case or two 
> where you would tip more or less depending on your service, but it 
> really doesn't matter, 15% MINIMUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!  If your service was 
> good, which mine is most of the time, and I AT LEAST tip 20%.  So, if 
> your bill is $50.00, 20% is $10.00, and then I would leave MORE than 
> that if I had good service.
>     Anyway, I have taught my parents a lesson in tipping and the 
> reasons behind it.  They understand now, and I don't feel embarrased 
> to go out with them or feel the need to pad the tip.  They are not 
> millionaires, but mere teachers, but they don't live like headens 
> either.  They can afford to go out and spend a few extra bucks.  If 
> you are not prepared to spend a few extra bucks on the people who 
> take care of you, GO TO MACDONALDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Hey kid. This made me laugh. I check up on other people's tips when I'm out 
with a group, for the very reason that many folks have that ancient "crib 
sheet" in their heads. The stupid flipside of this, is that if I have bad 
service, I feel compelled to leave only 15%, which the server probably won't 
interpret as being related to his/her srvice. If I have average service, I 
leave exactly 20%. If I have excellent service, I leave maybe 30%. That's in 
restaurants. At bars where friends work, I tip at least two bucks or more per 
drink. Dan the Melon Man couldn't believe something I once posted about 
leaving this girl only a dollar per drink, because I didn't like her. Yes, 
tips are not obligatory. But where friends and coworkers are involved, they 
can feel obligatory.

Having just worked Mardi Gras, I have to say that students from the midwest, 
by and large, have not yet learned how to tip. They can be forgiven, as can my 
81-year-old regular customer who leaves whatever spare change he's got in his 
pocket. Tourists usually tip okay, and at least they make the bar money and 
provide some change of face, as Miss Charming pointed out. Keep 'em drinking, 
you may only be getting a dollar a round, but think of how many more rounds 
you can get them to buy. What's good for the boss is good for the peon. I only 
made 25% of the ring in tips the other day, but golly, what a ring for the 
Thursday day shift! Profuse thanks to the beer-drinkin Midwestern bikers, who 
tipped for crap, but who kept me entertained and kept coming back for more. 
Their new bar buddy from Tennessee more than made up for their lack of tipping 
prowess.

As for discussing tips in front of customers, I agree this is in poor taste. 
Having done it myself (Thursday in fact), I saw the looks on some customers' 
faces who overheard  me. I don't want people to tip me just because they're 
afraid I'm going to talk shit about them later. I want them to tip me because 
I am awesome. 

Hmm. I wasn't going to add to this thread, but I must have had some 
observations I couldn't let Webtender live without. 
IMHO, the reason for worldwide bickering this week must have been the sun's 
entry into Aries, the fire sign and the Greek name for the God of War. My 
theory is that Mars was in retrograde until today. Please don't correct me if 
I'm wrong; I need to believe in something, and that will do for now.
Peace out.