Tipping Habits

Just out of curiosity, could somebody tell me how much extra US painters expect to receive as tips on a job?

Its just the whole tipping culture is different in the UK, in that apart from bar/restaurant staff nobody expects to receive a tip and then only for good service, not for just doing their job. I have received tips but normally only for the odd party, and if its a corporate event I normally put it in the charity collections.

What I would say is that ppf is a relatively rare, so a lot of painters do not handle cash at events.

Tips are rare here for me... it is nice, but not usual.

We tip restuarant staff, hairdressers, and taxi drivers - but only if they deserve it (and maybe the postie and newpaper delivery person at Christmas.)

It is a reward - NOT an expectation. That is the general rule in Canada... although for large groups at restaurants and banquet bookings it is typical for the bill to have 15-10% added on as "gratuity." But I've never seen it done in any other sector/service.

I get tips even for regularly paid gigs. Usually $10-$30.

I get tipped for most of my paid jobs and if I have my tip jar out will most likely get an extra $1-2 dollars per face for a tip(plus the $5 cost) for ppf. Americans just tip, it is expected here.

We know that here most wait staff only make about $2 an hour and live by there tips. I think this just spills over onto anyone providing a service.

I don't ever expect it, but I am going to do all I can to encourage it.

Tipping for wait staff is expected here, and sometimes restaurants even add the tip into your bill. I hate that. I would much rather wait staff be paid what they earn hourly and not have to rely on tips.

Lots of other professions are tipped as well. Taxi cab drivers, bell hops, even hair dressers. I'm not exactly sure if anyone knows the "rules" on who should get tipped and who shouldn't, or how much to tip each professional. It's very confusing.

But I digress. I hardly ever get tips on hourly paid jobs. Maybe one in five jobs or so. (Though when I do get a tip it's a great one, like $50 or something.) I have a tip jar on my cart for PPF and depending on the crowd the tips can be good. If one person tips and others see it, everyone will start tipping. If no one tips, no one sees, and hence, no one tips. LOL. I love tips but definitely don't expect them. I figure what I charge per face is enough payment for what I do.

Up here we have a legislated minimum wage... it's not great, but in Alberta it is $8.80/hour. In Grande Prairie they have to pay more to get workers so most places start at $12/hour (like at McD's...)

I find that if you put a few of your own dollars into the tip bucket to start the job greases the tipping wheel a lot. I usually put two $1s and one $5. And I do get other $5s. Sometimes people just aren't sure what to do and this helps them decide.

I don't think there is ANYTHING to feel guilty about solicting tips in this way. Especially PPF. People think nothing of spending their money on useless stuff and junk food. There tips help me buy more face paint which is a much better investment for their money.

Oh and always have change to give them with $1s in it. I always have change precounted and paperclipped. If they give a $10, I unclipped a wad of 5 ones and give it to them. This way they know they have change for tipping. For a $20, I usually give 5 ones and two $5s.

To be honest if I put out a tip jar, all I would get would be sweet wrappers

I think that tipping in the UK tends to be for the same reasons as Canada. The only other collections that happen in public are for charities or buskers.

It just is not considered for face painting, and also the majority of work is done for corporate events, who would probably not be impressed......

We left a tub out for 'donations' whilst painting at the local zoo. We were getting hourly rate from the council. People mostly put in really small coins but a few to make it look good. It was for the zoo's conservation project so I felt a bit bad about it but they were happy enough. People don't like to give anything if they think they can get it free or a bargain in the UK it seems.

Glenda

It is so true. I get more tips when I am working for a wage, or chargine for face painting, then if I am painting for free and just hoping for tips or donations for a charity.

There is something about the Free mindset. Once other things are free or the face painting is free, people get so tightfisted. This is why I refuse to do these "family nights" at resturants where they are giving all the kids meals for free. The mindset it already there and unfortunately the people coming out are trying to save a buck, not pay out for face painting.

For ppf, I usually get a $1 or $2 tip... not always...

for birthday parties, I'll get tips, anywhere from $10 to $50... depending.. and that really depends.. I don't always get them.. I'd say about 40% of the time I get a tip.

for corporate, I almost never get tips...

I work at a restaurant. Yes many of the people are there for free things, free kid's meal and free face painting/balloons and don't tip. I find that if there is a line of kids and the kids have a dollar in their hand, then it prompts others to stand in line with a dollar. When you get a group of kids with no dollars, then others join the line with no dollars. I get more tips for balloons. Maybe because balloons are more visual.

As I have said before.....intoxicated college students on the "stadium strip" are the best tippers yet. Other than that, I've never got many tips. People just don't give it up around here. Not real sure what's up with that.

Yeah, getting tipped for corporate events = totally rare, but occasionally, it happens! Slightly more frequently (but still rare-ish), they ask/tell/demand that I eat, which I consider a tip of sorts - any event where I get food and a tip is a great one!

Birthdays I get tipped maybe 40% of the time...I'm playing arount with adding a "gratuities appreciated" or something to my invoice, but think that might be weird as it's MY business and I already charge what I want...

PPF/PPB = tips 40-60% of the time - although it amazes me sometimes how people will wait for their dollar or two back, after raving about how great their kid's painting/balloon is.

Since we don't have $1 bills...Think the clients would find it funny if I had pre-baggied sets of loonies?!

I think alot of people in my area are use to seeing high prices for face painting at like the SD Zoo or LegoLand and such.. So when I do get a tip its a good one.

The amusement parks start at $10 for a simple cheek design on up to around $25 for full faces....which I feel is a tad too much.