Benefits of tipping well as a regular
rickdugan
Verified and Certifiable Super-Reviewer
I've always believed that a little tipping goes a long way, especially if I visit a club regularly. I know the general views around here about taking care of what many think of as "non essential" staff, but I've found that it's cheap insurance in case I need anything.
Door girls/guys: I always throw them a few bucks on the way in. What that often earns me is free re-admittance later in the evening, even when I came in before the cover applied and then left for a few hours. One door guy/bouncer even told me that too many guys don't tip him and that I should tap him if I ever had a problem. When I thanked him but told him that I handle my own problems, he said "Well then I'll be on your side."
Bathroom trolls: I don't need favors from these guys that often, but building a little goodwill doesn't cost much. That goodwill paid off once when a young silly twat got glitter all over me and the guy went to great lengths to help me remove all traces of it. I also like clean bathroom stalls in case of unexpected need, so I don't begrudge throwing a buck or two each bathroom trip.
Bartenders: This should be a no-brainer for most, but it's amazing how often I hear my local club bartenders bitch about cheap guys. Padding the tip with a little extra has made my club experiences much more efficient in many places, including quick service, more generous pours and sometimes even intel about the lay of the land. My favorite club bartender even makes sure to back me up with an extra happy hour priced drink before the cutoff so that I'm still drinking an hour later at the happy hour price. And in those extremely rare instances where there is a dispute between myself and a dancer, the bartenders who I routinely take care of are always on my side, which I have benefited from a time or two over the years.
Anyway, I'm sure many tusclers have similar views, but it never ceases to amaze me how many club hounds I see who are penny conscious and pound foolish.
Door girls/guys: I always throw them a few bucks on the way in. What that often earns me is free re-admittance later in the evening, even when I came in before the cover applied and then left for a few hours. One door guy/bouncer even told me that too many guys don't tip him and that I should tap him if I ever had a problem. When I thanked him but told him that I handle my own problems, he said "Well then I'll be on your side."
Bathroom trolls: I don't need favors from these guys that often, but building a little goodwill doesn't cost much. That goodwill paid off once when a young silly twat got glitter all over me and the guy went to great lengths to help me remove all traces of it. I also like clean bathroom stalls in case of unexpected need, so I don't begrudge throwing a buck or two each bathroom trip.
Bartenders: This should be a no-brainer for most, but it's amazing how often I hear my local club bartenders bitch about cheap guys. Padding the tip with a little extra has made my club experiences much more efficient in many places, including quick service, more generous pours and sometimes even intel about the lay of the land. My favorite club bartender even makes sure to back me up with an extra happy hour priced drink before the cutoff so that I'm still drinking an hour later at the happy hour price. And in those extremely rare instances where there is a dispute between myself and a dancer, the bartenders who I routinely take care of are always on my side, which I have benefited from a time or two over the years.
Anyway, I'm sure many tusclers have similar views, but it never ceases to amaze me how many club hounds I see who are penny conscious and pound foolish.
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32 comments
Bathroom trolls just get a buck or two because I have never needed a favor from one and feel like the club should cover their pay for keeping the bathroom clean.
Bartenders/waitresses are the best source of info in most clubs. My rule of thumb is I always pay for the first drink with a $20 and tell her to keep the change. From then on I tip at least $5 per drink. This is usually enough to keep the drinks and info flowing at a good pace.
Bouncers it depends on their roll in the club. If it is the type of club where they are just hanging out on the main floor making sure some drunk guy doesn't do anything stupid I generally don't tip unless I am asking them about the girls. If it is the type of place where they are watching over the dances for excessive mileage I generally ask the dancer if tipping the bouncer helps them look the other way or not.
I have only tipped a couple of DJs and that was at smaller clubs where they were in charge of overseeing the dances and then I ask the dancer just like I would for a bouncer.
Bartenders I tip the same as any other bartender except if she's my regular bartender. Her, I'll tip more or if she's hot and cool to talk to. Not much of a drinker so my interactions are on the limited and I'll let them know if I need something side.
Bathroom trolls. Sure if I use some of their shit. I'm still friendly and small talk no problem. I've had some hook me up w/ free entry passes.
Bouncers. Invisible. I don't see them. I handle my own shit.
NAAAASTY
This was just my way of saying I appreciated what they probably went through and was good to see them back. This is a place I go to frequently.
It actually paid dividends fairly quickly as I told a bartender about not being able to get an Uber and she offered to drive me to my hotel if I had that same issue. I didn't need to use her offer but she showed goodwill back.
And I'm also confused by guys who bitch about a $5 or $10 increase in door fees when they area already planning on spending hundreds on dances. I'd complain about a 35% increase in VIP fees before I do about a 35% or higher increase in the door fee.
Finally, I pre-tip the parking valet if there is one. I want the guy to know I'm a good custy before he slams my car around the lot, especially if the parking are is near the self-park spaces inhabited by pre-gaming alcoholic slobs.
Or don't - be super frugal - but don't complain when you see people getting preferential treatment.
I am with you on this one. Like you, my tips to bouncers/managers are reserved for times I'm heading into a booth/private room situation.
Most people cite getting intel on the girls, but frankly, I think most of these people's intel is more based on their kickback relationship with the girls, so it's the least thing I'm after, I'm fine picking my own girls. But, my charm-by-tequila offensive scores things like: I haven't paid the cover charge in years, the bouncers are rarely in sight when I'm in the VIP (this one is actually HUGE), the DJs will skip my CF at my request, etc. I don't do it with all this in mind -- frankly, I'm perfectly happy just to have a bouncer to talk sports with when my stripper isn't around. But the side benefits can be considerable.
Caveat being you're reputation precedes you as the guy who tips everyone well. Whether your non-dancer contacts leave, you've built up enough of a network effect and reputation as a generous tipper.
NAAAASTY
It can’t hurt - and most of the time it helps a lot!
The clubs I patronize are not classy - and there are only a few hands to grease.
Hey mack, it beats another 50 "Covid is keeping me home" and "Trump is the devil" threads, no? 😃
Sometimes it does pay to tip as you go, especially on the first drink. I went to an all you can drink new years eve party at the Cosmopolitan in Vegas a few years ago when I happened to be working there. I tipped $10 on the first few round of drinks when it was early in the evening. When it got really busy, the bartender would see me at the back of a long line and take care of me right away. The admission fee was about $100 but I probably tipped out $100 during the night. It was a good investment for a fun night out with some colleagues when we were stuck working the holidays.
I used to tip the stage but not anymore.
I get dances but don’t tip anything.
I figure the staff is more apprecia
I've also found that a lot of bartenders, whether smokeshows or old and frumpy, carry on better conversations than the dancers. Being an actual human being to them helps too.
I tip the guy manning the VIP room, though I haven't quantitatively analyzed if that gets me a more generous timer.
I was saying that the staff doesn’t received as many tips as the strippers so they are more appreciative.
VIP Room Control Guy at my regular clubs:
-Tip to get room time extended (with CF, not typically with girl new to me) and almost always works.
-With guy I already know, tip around 20% of room cost, extension is economically beneficial (typically 10-15 min added to a 30 min room) and CFs either don't watch clock or if do watch clock have never said anything (perhaps because I tip CFs well enough, not sure).
-If guy I don't know, I take him aside. Most times I just hand solid tip and state expectation is extended time, and if turns out not extended he never gets tipped again. Other times there's advance conversation about tip for extended time.
-Another upside to knowing these guys is on nights CF not there, get legit intel on girls that give best dances and not BS intel pointing me to girls that in turn tip the guy.
Floor Manager/Lead Bouncer: At club I intend to be regular, I watch for who that is and be friendly and tip. After a few visits has always resulted in guy saying hey don't pay cover anymore just tell the front desk girl I said to wave you through. I haven't paid cover at my regular clubs in years, though tip each visit approximates cover anyway. And sometimes the guy sends over round of drinks.
Bartender/Cocktail Waitress: Always, can't think of reason not to. With bartender I've gotten to know, tipping well occasionally results in free drinks.
Bathroom Troll: This is the only one mildly annoying. But hell the guy is residing in the shitter all night handing out towels, that's gotta suck.
For whatever reason, it seems to be common practice around here to not tip bartenders and waitresses. I've found that a dollar tip on my drink sets me above about 50% of the customers, which to me is truly amazing.
Bartender, $2-$3 on regular price drinks, 100% on happy hour prices.
Security, only if they are the time keeper for VIP. 15 minutes often becomes a suggestion more than a rule with a decent tip.
Maybe I'll offer security a shot if they are cool.
Troll is $1 a piss if they have a set up. $0 if nothing but a towel.