Tipping Question

[EMHDad]

Last night was our date night. It was also my birthday date and we went to a comedy club. Had a lot of fun, but the club had a 2 order minimum per person. We had just had dinner so we only ordered drinks. I tipped what I thought was appropriate, but in the moment it made me think about the policy on tipping. I dont drink too often, and almost never outside of a meal order.

So, how do you tip when it comes to drinks? We had 4 drinks. The drinks were CLEARLY overpriced. There was not food or anything. I understand the waiters make little, and like to err on the side of a little more in the tip because of it. Still, I felt a little foolish not being certain on my decision?

Oh yeah. Let me tell you what I did do to get a reference. 4 mixed drinks with tax came to $34. I added $5 in a tip.

Thoughts?

 

[happygirl]

Last night was our date night. It was also my birthday date and we went to a comedy club. Had a lot of fun, but the club had a 2 order minimum per person. We had just had dinner so we only ordered drinks. I tipped what I thought was appropriate, but in the moment it made me think about the policy on tipping. I dont drink too often, and almost never outside of a meal order.

So, how do you tip when it comes to drinks? We had 4 drinks. The drinks were CLEARLY overpriced. There was not food or anything. I understand the waiters make little, and like to err on the side of a little more in the tip because of it. Still, I felt a little foolish not being certain on my decision?

Oh yeah. Let me tell you what I did do to get a reference. 4 mixed drinks with tax came to $34. I added $5 in a tip.

Thoughts?

I would do the between 18-20% depending on the level of service

 

[LilyWDW]

I would do the between 18-20% depending on the level of service

Same here. Cost of the drinks would not change the percentage. The only thing that would is the service itself.

And I can understand 100% for the club to have a minimum order. A party at a comedy club is taking up a table for an extended period of time. More then a normal bar or restaurant most likely.

 

[EMHDad]

Same here. Cost of the drinks would not change the percentage. The only thing that would is the service itself.

And I can understand 100% for the club to have a minimum order. A party at a comedy club is taking up a table for an extended period of time. More then a normal bar or restaurant most likely.

no, i completely understand. i am not a fan of it much. It would be different if I am not paying for the comedy club tickets. however, buying tickets to the show and the minimum order is a bit much to me. but, i am cool with it, because it was my decision to go. Still, i appreciate other opinions since my experience on it is limited and i wish to be respectful to my server.

does it matter between if it is a mixed drink, a glass of wine, a bottle of beer, etc.? just curious. thanx

 

[DebbieB]

I would have tipped $6, round the total to $40. Assuming service was good, it tends to be slow in places like that.

 

[happygirl]

no, i completely understand. i am not a fan of it much. It would be different if I am not paying for the comedy club tickets. however, buying tickets to the show and the minimum order is a bit much to me. but, i am cool with it, because it was my decision to go. Still, i appreciate other opinions since my experience on it is limited and i wish to be respectful to my server.

does it matter between if it is a mixed drink, a glass of wine, a bottle of beer, etc.? just curious. thanx

Nope not all

 

[okeydokey]

I would have tipped $6, round the total to $40. Assuming service was good, it tends to be slow in places like that.

Me too. I like a nice even number.

 

[BillSears]

I would have tipped more. What you didn't mention was how long you sat at the table. Assuming you were there for under an hour I'd tip 20%. The longer you stay after that the more you tip even though you didn't order more.

For a $34.00 check I would have gone at least $7.00 and more if I stayed at the table for a while without ordering more drinks.

 

[ohiomom28]

Last night was our date night. It was also my birthday date and we went to a comedy club. Had a lot of fun, but the club had a 2 order minimum per person. We had just had dinner so we only ordered drinks. I tipped what I thought was appropriate, but in the moment it made me think about the policy on tipping. I dont drink too often, and almost never outside of a meal order.

So, how do you tip when it comes to drinks? We had 4 drinks. The drinks were CLEARLY overpriced. There was not food or anything. I understand the waiters make little, and like to err on the side of a little more in the tip because of it. Still, I felt a little foolish not being certain on my decision?

Oh yeah. Let me tell you what I did do to get a reference. 4 mixed drinks with tax came to $34. I added $5 in a tip.

Thoughts?

I don't think how long you sat there matters how much to tip. Its not like they could have sat someone else there as it was during the show, right? I probably would have tipped at least $6 but I agree the 2 item minimum is a joke especially after buying tickets. I usually don't go to comedy clubs unless I get free tickets, then I don't care about the minimum order. I order a bucket of beer (5) or 2 pops each and that covers both of our minimums for $20ish plus tip.

 

[DebbieB]

I would have tipped more. What you didn't mention was how long you sat at the table. Assuming you were there for under an hour I'd tip 20%. The longer you stay after that the more you tip even though you didn't order more.

For a $34.00 check I would have gone at least $7.00 and more if I stayed at the table for a while without ordering more drinks.

Isn't a comedy club usually a set time per show? You don't come and go at different times, holding a table?

 

[LilyWDW]

no, i completely understand. i am not a fan of it much. It would be different if I am not paying for the comedy club tickets. however, buying tickets to the show and the minimum order is a bit much to me. but, i am cool with it, because it was my decision to go. Still, i appreciate other opinions since my experience on it is limited and i wish to be respectful to my server.

does it matter between if it is a mixed drink, a glass of wine, a bottle of beer, etc.? just curious. thanx

Nope... wouldn't matter WHAT the drink is. The cost is the cost and the tip is a percentage of that.

Honestly, for a $34 check I would have tipped $7. 20% would have been $6.80, but I hate tipping change so I would have rounded up. That is, again, as long as the service was good.

 

[Sabeking]

I usually tip the same on beverages as I do food. Fifteen to twenty percent based on service.

 

[EMHDad]

Isn't a comedy club usually a set time per show? You don't come and go at different times, holding a table?

That is correct. It wasnt a bar or some restaurant where you come and go. It was a show. My wife and I had to buy (somewhat costly, but again our choice) tickets for the show. Part of the price was a mandatory 2 drink purchase. The time we were there was the same for every single person in the place.

Again, I appreciate everyone's opinions. Its helpful in avoiding any faux pas.

Another question...
(again, please forgive my ignorance. I dont have much experience in this area.)

Say I am at a bar. I order a drink or drinks from a bartender. Is it still the 15-20% that I give the waiter? Is is something else? What about the tip jars I sometimes see? What do you do?

 

[owl0306]

i thought you tip pretax and she says it was 34 with tax so $5 was still over 15% and fine how much was it pretax? not sure what state and the tax rate.

 

[EMHDad]

i thought you tip pretax and she says it was 34 with tax so $5 was still over 15% and fine how much was it pretax? not sure what state and the tax rate.

And just to clear up, it was $31 pretax. I tip pretax.

 

[aristocatz]

That is correct. It wasnt a bar or some restaurant where you come and go. It was a show. My wife and I had to buy (somewhat costly, but again our choice) tickets for the show. Part of the price was a mandatory 2 drink purchase. The time we were there was the same for every single person in the place.

Again, I appreciate everyone's opinions. Its helpful in avoiding any faux pas.

Another question...
(again, please forgive my ignorance. I dont have much experience in this area.)

Say I am at a bar. I order a drink or drinks from a bartender. Is it still the 15-20% that I give the waiter? Is is something else? What about the tip jars I sometimes see? What do you do?

I tip the bartender the same as I would a waiter-20%, unless I had a rude server (which has only happened to me once).

In my experience, I've only seen tip jars at take-out or non-waiter (order at the counter & bus your own food) restaurants. Admittedly, I don't always tip a tip jar at a take out place. Sometimes I do, especially if I had exceptional service, but tends to be less than 20%. Where I live though, counter service staff get paid a regular hourly wage, not like waiters or bartenders do.

 

[owl0306]

And just to clear up, it was $31 pretax. I tip pretax.

so do i, i thought that was the norm. so $31 you tipped about 16% $4.96. not great but at least over 15%. I tip anyone I encounter so if I am at a bar waiting for my table and have a drink I tip that bartender plus when I am seated and I eat, drink etc I tip the waitress. I tip 25% for awesome, went out of the way service 20% for good service, 18% for ok and if worse than ok i tip according to the situation which thankfully does not happen often

 

[dmiller64152]

I typically tip 20% of the pre-tax for most alcohol BUT ... for the record, you are not expected to tip 20% on a very expensive bottle of wine that you pour yourself. I learned this from a world-class sommelier.

 

[kirstenb1]

Nope... wouldn't matter WHAT the drink is. The cost is the cost and the tip is a percentage of that.

Honestly, for a $34 check I would have tipped $7. 20% would have been $6.80, but I hate tipping change so I would have rounded up. That is, again, as long as the service was good.

Same here. Double the check and round up to get roughly 20 percent.

 

[disneychrista]

FYI - The average tip for the Ale House (Beer Bar) I work at is $1 per beer (price $4 - $5). Some type less, some type more. But it is generally $1 per beer.