What is the most effective way to ecourage tips, when officially I am not permitted to directly ask?

Question

I just got a new job as an event booth operator, where I travel to weddings and parties. The work is not easy, I dress up, troubleshoot the booth, and try to seamlessly blend into the event. My boss says that I am not able to put up a tip jar, or directly ask the client for a tip...however, we are able to receive them if they are offered. Can anyone think of creative, tactful, pro-active ways of encouraging clients to tip without a tip jar/container OR directly asking for it from the client? I'll contact the person with the best answer to make it worth their while!

Answer 1

Sorry, but your job description does not qualify for "tips." You are getting paid a salary of some kind. If you are unhappy with your pay, find another job. There is no reason to tip a coordinator at an event....that is what you are being paid to do. The service you give is expected. I have been an Event Coordinator (not now, moved on) for huge events....in that career (10 years), I recieved only one tip, and that was a surprise...I turned it down, explaining they had paid for my services, and further remuneration was not expected. Guess what, I got their next 4 jobs! Good luck

Answer 2

Some ideas....

Have two colleagues drop by the booth every now and then and say things like, "Here's a little extra for you good service" or "Keep the change" or whatever would indicate to others that such tips are available.

Add an extra service that is not regularly part of your job, and charge a certain amount for that. If anyone buys it, that cash is yours. (You know, just as stores offer gift wrapping, etc., find a way to enhance the regular services.)

Best bet is to be vivacious and charming, without making women upset. In fact, your charm should EQUALLY extend to husband and wife (if appropriate): "Wow, what a great-looking couple you make!" "I love your outfit, Mrs. Johnson!"

Also, if you learn of some particular thing a person prefers, see to it that they get it. Example: A person prefers champagne to wine...see to it that they get just what they prefer...and that they know you facilitated it.

Best of luck!

Answer 3

Smile & be friendly. Make sure you use good manners & ettiquite at each event. Always compliment the client, but be sincere in whatever it is your complimenting. Don't be phony, be Yourself. Not only will you get tips but you will get verbal praise on what a good job you have done, and sometimes this is much better than $$$. Best wishes. P.S. Just think of all the nice people you will have the opportunity to meet.

Answer 4

Booths at weddings? AND you expect a tip? WOW! That's pretty unlikely.

Unless you work at a renaissance faire...I've tipped at faires for the best wit, dialogue and character. If you do work at such an event, embrace it fully. Flatter your customers and call them your patron. Come to think of it, if you have the opportunity, refer to your customers as patrons. Patrons supported artists, even jesters, clowns, etc...There's a certain amount of flattery that goes with public work, a sparkle in the eye, just don't overdo it. Mercenary tactics just look like a used car salesman - desperate and tawdry.

Subtlety is actually appreciated by the ones who tip well, anyway.

Answer 5

Remember that tipping is discretionary. If people don't think tipping is necessary in a particular circumstance, then they don't tip. Tip jars are showing up everywhere. Most people hate them.

If you are not making enough money, you might encourage your boss for a raise.

Here is also a tip etiquette website. Maybe you can get ideas from it.

http://www.findalink.net/tippingetiquette.php

Good Luck

Answer 6

Don't. You shouldn't expect tips in your line of work; they're just something extra. The best thing you can do to encourage tips is to be kind, helpful, and give the best service possible to your clients.

Answer 7

the best way to ask for tips indirectly? treat the customer extra nice and right about the time they are noticing, say tips are not mandatory but appreciated.
For the record, everyone i know works hard at their job and most of us do not get tips. I live paycheck to paycheck and i consider myself poor or at least middle class so i find it very annoying when people in the tipping industries think that i owe them a tip for doing their job. No i don't. I know you get crappy pay but so do i. So my tipping is ALWAYS optional and i tip only if i have th money and i feel like it. No one ever tips me and i work my butt off. Why should i be obligated to tip anyone for working their butt off and being nice to me.
There, i just went and gave away my best answer 10 points. Oh well consider that my tip to you

Answer 8

I've been trying for years. I have worked a number of jobs were tips are permitted and yet can't be solicited. Your problem is compounded by the fact that even Emily Post wouldn't suspect your in a tipping situation. And frankly, most people don't understand how tipping works anymore.

the one way I've gotten around it in the past is to tell customers that other employees get tips. Wnen there is a crowd around, and your co-workers do something nice, smiles at the client and in a joking fashion say "And he take tips..." It might actually catch on. Don't expect a flood of mfrom this. People will have no idea what to tip you and rather then insult you, most will give you nothing. Maybe you could say "He takes tips, give him a buck!" As long as you are jovial, people don't mind as much - except for that one custoemr we all have and he's a jerk anyway - right?

Answer 9

Anything you do to "encourage" tipping will be trashy, tacky, and classless. Don't act like that, show some self-respect. The world isn't about getting as much money as you can from people. If you have enough to survive, see the rest as a bonus. Those people are not obligated to give you money for doing your job, you're already getting paid.

Answer 10

Maybe spent more time and energy getting your job done well and not worry about tips. If someone wants to give you a tip then they will do it based on how hard you work. It does not sound like you are really in a normal tipping type situation. Your pay does not sound like it depends on tips like a waitress does. I am sure you would like to get them but trying to find ways to get people to tip you is not good for business. People don't like to be treated like that.