Should band members split tips equally?

[svorass]

I felt like I had to post this because it was really bothering me. I just got off of a two week tour with a trio and at the end of the night we would pass out a tip jar. On all occasions except for one the bandleader took all tips. Note that me working as the drummer and the bass player were paid a small fee and the band leader made the majority of the money. The audience was told that the tips was for the band so I would presume that the tips should be split but maybe I assumed wrong? The only time we did get a tip was when somebody gave each of the band members $100 which was really nice. And that happened to be the same amount I was paid for the gig. I’m just wondering what others experiences are? I know that the band leader booked the gigs as well as paid for our shared hotel and gas for the van but that money comes off of the top of the payment from the club. Tips should be treated differently don’t you think? Maybe I think so but I’m interested to see what you all think as well. Thanks!

 

[Ptrick]

Most bands I’ve been in the tips are shared either equally, or slightly more for the band leader. But always shared one way or the other.

 

[bassanddrum84]

In our band I do 99% of the booking and I book all shows 50$ over so our guitar player gets 50 extra for gas. Even if it’s local. If a tire blows out he covers it etc. tip wise it depends on the tips value at the end of the night. If it’s large 100+ we split it even if not we usually will give extra to our light guy. We supply the lights he just pushes buttons and helps load in.

While on the subject our sound guy if something needs replaced (speaker, cords, lights etc) he covers half and the rest of us which is 5 cover the other half. He only runs sound for us so this way no one can quit and say hey I own part of that for paying to replace. He makes up the majority of the repair cost. We are a very tight family and operate smoothly like a well Oiled machine.

 

[DrumPhil]

In my experience tips are usually split evenly, but sometimes a little extra is given to a member who had to drive farther or put in significantly extra effort to make the gig. If it’s an issue, the better time to discuss it is before the show, rather than after when the cash is in the leader’s hand.

 

[JimmyM]

Our BL books us, brings PA, lights and sometimes a second guitar amp. I’m cool with him making a little extra from the tip jar.

 

[Sinclair]

On all occasions except for one the bandleader took all tips.

This guy is an idiot. I see it as a slap in the face for doing a great job, and it only creates bad blood.
Tips are shared equally no exceptions. If he wants to make more (which is fine as he booked the gig) it should be handled by taking it off the top before he tells you what the gig pays.
He'd go directly to my poopie list and I wouldn't work for him again.

 

[JazzDrumGuy]

Never been lucky enough to be in a band that got monetarily tipped! But I would think it would and should be based on what is fair.

What does band leader mean? It's Joe Blow and his trio? Or is it the XYZ trio and he does the heavy lifting - eg: find gigs, book the tour, paperwork, etc? Are you the new guy? Have you both been with the band leader long? I need more info to say whether your deal is fair to all. My gut feeling is that a band leader that takes all tips is unfair and I agree with Sinclair's view!

 

[Whitten]

Expenses should be paid for out of the band fee. Tips are tips, and should be shared equally.
But this is another negative aspect of the ailing music scene. Musicians shouldn't be subject to the whim of a tip, it should be properly paid. I have never worked in a tip jar situation and probably wouldn't.

 

[owr]

When I was first coming up I got asked to play a local benefit gig with some older friends who were better and more accomplished musicians that I looked up to. It was a big deal for me, a chance to play with the "big boys". Since it was a benefit we were playing for free and the door charge went to the cause. There were probably between 50-100 people there, it was a good showing. At the end of the night someone passed around a tip jar for the band, we collected $8 (there were 5 of us). Just to make it easy (no breaking $1 bills for coins!) I quickly said "I'm good, it was a thrill just to play with you guys". The band leader sat me down and gave me a lecture - he said I worked just as hard as the rest of them, I was getting my equal share just on principal. I learned a lot of lessons that night.

When I got home I found out my wife (girl friend at the time) put in $5...

 

[dale w miller]

Expenses should be paid for out of the band fee. Tips are tips, and should be shared equally.
But this is another negative aspect of the ailing music scene. Musicians shouldn't be subject to the whim of a tip, it should be properly paid. I have never worked in a tip jar situation and probably wouldn't.

Neither have I. Just the thought of having one makes me feel uncomfortable.

If I did have one, if all of the expenses were paid and whoever booked the show got a little more, the tips should be spread equally. The leader not doing so shows a side of his/her character that I would not want to be around let alone play with.

If I decided to play with them anyway, I would need to be paid a livable wage. It would then be their band/business and they could do whatever they pleased in all cases be it even playing the gig in the first place. They can decide whether doing the show or not is worth the risk of the profit or possible loss that may at times even lead me to making more than the leader.

 

[LarryJ]

In our trio, the bass player and I are in it more for fun than the money. This is the guitarist/
band leader 's only job and he is often struggling financially, so we have all agreed that he gets the tips. Even then, he sometimes gives us a cut on a particularly big night.

I believe agreement on the tip policy is much more important than the policy itself.

 

[Olderschool]

Depends on the situation. When I worked in a group, we split the tips. If I get asked to play a gig as a fill in...I tell them how much my fee is and expect only that.

 

[Kcmcc]

This guy is an idiot. I see it as a slap in the face for doing a great job, and it only creates bad blood.
Tips are shared equally no exceptions. If he wants to make more (which is fine as he booked the gig) it should be handled by taking it off the top before he tells you what the gig pays.
He'd go directly to my poopie list and I wouldn't work for him again.

this^^^^^!!!!

I was shocked to open the thread and see any disagreement on the subject. Tips are for the performance! Door fees and up front money might be for “the act” that was booked, but the tip is for the band that played. If you want to give yours to somebody because of particular circumstances on the day, cool, but there shouldn’t be any pressure. That’s your money.

 

[CC Cirillo]

I’m a weekend warrior, sometimes weeknight, from originals to cover band, from a venue with 1,000 people, to six people on barstoools.

I’ve never played in a band that has used a tip jar.


But I fully acknowledge it’s a viable and time-honored tradition to bring in additional income, alleviates expenses, etc. When the bucket is employed—and I respect those who do so—I believe that the proceeds should be divided equally amongst the band, and if one member decides to give their share to another, that just boosts fellowship.

On the few times I’ve had someone come up to me and want to give me a tip at a break, I’ve said “See that guy in that little box over there; he’s the sound man, please go tip him.” Once I sent the tipper to the bartender because I knew she was a single mom.

 

[shuffle]

Yes is the answer

 

[xopherhills]

Tips should be split equally in my opinion. The bands I work in don't accept tips.

 

[old_K_ride]

long ago I played with a very good blues harp/guitarist/singer...he'd take ALL the tips...I was amazed...so one night the bass player and I were talking about that practice of his and sort of made comic-light out of it...apparently he must have overheard our conversation because that night he split the tip jar and did so from that point on...

 

[multijd]

The reality is that some gigs are financed by the tips. It’s unfortunate but that’s the way it is on our local music scene. Often the tips can double the guarantee. Welcome to 2022. As a leader I always split the tips evenly and expect the same from the people whom I work with. But I did work for many years in a trio where the leader took all of the tip money. Sometimes the regulars would hand us the money individually because they realized what was happening.

 

[mzd]

imo, the band should sort out the financials before the gig. The division of responsibilities is unique to every group, but an agreement should be reached prior. Otherwise it will just cause bad blood and resentment over time. A quick way to ruin a perfectly good musical relationship is to be greedy about the few dollars in the tip jar.

 

[Tony_H]

We are are 5 piece band plus a 6th "member" that does sound/lights and helps load-in and load-out the PA and lights. We split all monies equally as there is no "leader" in any aspect. If the band needs something for sound or lights we usually all agree to save up all tip money and all throw in equally from our take to fund whatever is needed.

As far as who does the most work or has more gear to haul, that is me (drums) and guitarist PA/light trailer. We just see that as a necessary evil for the show we want to put on. I could easily strip down to the bare necessities, but I'd rather peacock when I'm on stage, and live with my choices of moving that gear