New Jersey

Tipping of the band!!!

Help help!
I'm being married Saturday !
I received a Gratuity Guideline paper from the place where I am being married, to help assist with guidelines for tipping outside vendors.
The sheet lists percentages for each vendor, if not just dollar amounts... except for the band. There is says:
"Band: Varies"
Super helpful.

I asked my attendant/coordinator and she said that we should tip the band, but bands don't really let anyone know what a respectable tip would be. She suggested tipping each member so that the leader doesn't take the whole tip for himself (which I doubt he will do... but still)
We are required to feed them at the wedding, and we have paid a hefty fee already for their performance. Being artists, I don't want to gip the musicians, but without knowing a standard I have no clue what gipping them would actually be.

What do you girls suggest I tip?  (in either a lump sum or individually) Any help woudl be appreciated!
Thanks so much!

Re: Tipping of the band!!!

  • edited December 2011
    I have heard about $25 per band member.
  • LDamianiLDamiani member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I would tip $25-50 per person.  I've read in a few places that it seems to be the standard rate.  I am having a band and plan on tipping $50 pp because I feel like their up there for 5 hours and doing alot of work.

    Good Luck!
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  • edited December 2011
    I don't think tipping the band is necessary, unless say they stayed an extra half hour on their dime.  You purchased a service per contract at a market rate.

    Also, take those other tips with a grain of salt, most of them are not necessary and the guidelines were probably created by the vendors.
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  • laurenross01laurenross01 member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Thanks everyone! We are paying for an extra half hour and it's almost 10k... We were thinking $30 per bandmember. They wll work hard, but so far my experience with them has not be $50pp worthy... we will see how their performance is! :) Thanks for advice... keep em coming!
  • edited December 2011
    which band is this?
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  • edited December 2011
    Interesting! So what do people typically tip a DJ or MC then?
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  • edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_tipping-of-band?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:90Discussion:62664ac3-6ef9-4ca3-9801-e84a21efbbe9Post:85870778-d773-4de6-a39f-28656fe24d50">Re: Tipping of the band!!!</a>:
    [QUOTE]Interesting! So what do people typically tip a DJ or MC then?
    Posted by TripleJTobe[/QUOTE]

    If the DJ owns the company it's not customary to tip (this goes with any vendor).  If they work or get booked through an agency, they are getting paid an hourly salary and it's more customary to give a tip.  Same goes for a band, although most bands book their own gigs and are splitting the cash directly and getting paid as professional musicians.  If you booked the band through an agency (which I wouldn't recommend), they tipping 20-30 a piece is more customary (but still not expected).
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  • edited December 2011
    User: thanks for the info!!! So let me ask you this... My MC is the owner and my DJ is an employee. Is it weied to just tip my DJ then? I have no clue what an appropriate amount/ range would be either lol thanks!!!
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  • edited December 2011
    Not at all....a lot of people tip a second shooter because they are a hired contracted employee but not the main photographer because they own the company.
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