How to get more TIPS at Gigs
Here are a few “Do’s” and “Don’ts” in the subject of adding a few more tips to your pockets at the end of the night of doing your next Close-up Gig. Let start out first with the “Don’ts” -
- Know When To Accept Tips - If you are working at a Gig and getting a good wage in my opinion the only tip you should take is from the client at the end of the performance. This tip is of course up to the discretion of the client. If he or she really liked what you did a tip is the perfect way to show it.
- Don’t Be Tacky - wearing a “Tip” button (even if you think it is funny) only cheapens your value as a Professional Entertainer. Don’t borrow money for tricks with the idea it is going to somehow end up being your tip. A tip is a way of someone showing appreciation for what you have done not you “begging” or “hustling” for money.
- No When To Refuse A Tip - if someone feels obligated to tip me I always give it back to them and either say that the I am being paid to entertain at the venue or that their performance is “on the house”.
Now that we got the “Don’ts” out of the way let get on the “Do’s”. By using these very simple techniques you will make extra income at your next Restaurant, Bar, etc…, Gig.
- GIVE SOMETHING AWAY! - this is probably the strongest way to get a tip. You may say that this sounds expensive to be giving items away to all these people. It does not have to be. I noticed that when I was working with Balloon Twisters and I was doing my Strolling Magic the Balloon Twister would make huge tips and would end with next to nothing. I then realized it was the give-away (in this case the Balloon Sculpture) that was really generating the tip. Give something away just like a Balloon Artist does. Balloon Sculptures cost very little as far as cost go with the most being around 35 cents to make. The return on what is spent and the tip received is huge. The same can be true for the Magic Giveaway. By simply adding an extra cheap sponge rabbit giveaway to your Multiplying Bunny routine or handing out a souvenir Double-Face Playing Card after the end of your Anniversary Waltz routine. These giveaways which cost you pennies will turn into great potential tip income from your audience.
- Connect On A Personal Level - Learn the first names of those at the table that you are entertaining at and call them by that name in your performance. Find out where they are from if they are on vacation. Make a nice comment if they have on their favorite sport team shirt. Find something that you may have in common. Keep it friendly BUT professional at the same time.
- Tips Tend To Go In Flows - Sometimes you can be doing the same routines table after table with no real success in receiving tips and then all of a sudden one table will tip and then it will “snowball” to one table after another tipping you out at the end of your performance. I noticed that when a surrounding table see me getting tip the that table is ready to follow suit. I do recommend that you “show” that you are receiving the tips for your Magic Performance so that other tables can see it. But the manner in which you do so should not be too obvious or too over the top. Also PLEASE do not display money on your attire (no bill peaking out of a vest pocket) just say “thank you” and put it out of sight. This only again cheapens your net worth as a Professional Entertainer if you display money on your person in any way.
Just by following these simple guidelines you can add extra income to your performance pay. With this extra money you can use it to purchase new Magic effects, keep your Performance attire fresh, and for whatever else that you could re-invest in to continue with your Magic Success.
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