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Tipping Bar Tender

NillaWafer10NillaWafer10 member
1000 Comments 5 Love Its
in Arizona-Phoenix
I'm hiring a bar tender from Pour Masters to serve our alcohol.  They charge $25 an hour with a five hour minimum.  I realize that Pour Masters probably takes quite a portion of their pay, so I'm not sure how much I should tip them.  Also, should I let them put out a tip jar?  What should I do?
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Re: Tipping Bar Tender

  • alschmidalschmid member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    This is a really good question.  I'm not really sure what is proper - I know that on some of the bartender services I looked up, I think they said they would add 20% for tip, or put out a tip jar (one or the other).  I just voted for putting out a tip jar since I know I've been to weddings in the past where there wasnt' a jar out - and we tipped anyway.  So seems that if the couple already tipped - the bartender was pretty much getting double tipped...
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  • jabecknerjabeckner member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Being that the bar tender doesn't own the company, I have heard only tip when they are not the owners, I would tip them. I would maybe give them $25 (about 20%). And then if people tip them on top of this, cool, but at least you won't feel guilty about them not getting tipped, and it will add $5 an hour to their salary.
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  • sms274sms274 member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    tip 20% - that's what we are doing, I think. Most contract require a tip of a certain percent if you do not allow them to put out a tip jar. It's really up to you - I have seen it both ways and neither seem necessairly better, but I voted for the tip because that's what we are doing :)
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  • mgummsmgumms
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Are you having an open bar? If so, I think a tip jar seems less like a big deal. If people don't have to pay for their drinks, they can put a dollar or two in the jar. :)
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  • BeckityBeckity
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I voted for letting them put out a tip jar- but that is only if it's open bar.  I have been to open bar weddings and the majority of them had tip jars out.  I know that me, personally, as a guest- if I'm not paying for my drink, I would like to tip the bartender.  Seems pretty standard to me.
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  • NillaWafer10NillaWafer10 member
    1000 Comments 5 Love Its
    edited December 2011
    Well shoot!  It's just about tied now haha!  It's open to beer, wine and sangrias only.  Does that change anything?
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  • mgummsmgumms
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    No, I don't think it changes a thing. That's three perfectly delicious options and if people want something other than that, they can deal. Most people will probably go for the free thing and put some money in the tip jar. I just think if you're paying for all that booze, you should get a break on the tipping.
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  • BeckityBeckity
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I'm inclined to agree with mgumms.  I have found that people really don't mind tipping- esp when they are getting their drink for free.  If I were a guest at your wedding and there was no tip jar out- I'd be looking for one and would probably just leave money on the bar anyway.  So if you tip the bartender yourself, there's a really good chance he'll get double tips for the night.
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  • Marissa0717Marissa0717 member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011

    I don't know if this helps at all, but my fiance and I bartended a friends wedding free of charge (we wanted to help her budget and I am sure she will return the favor for ours in some way). We just put a tip jar out and after 6 hours we had over $400. I am sure that a tip jar will amount to PLENTY of tips for your bartenders.

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