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BIGmagiclV Veteran user 375 Posts |
Something happened to me yesterday that hasn't happened before. I was hired to do a birthday magic show for a very affluent family. Big house, 35 kids and their parents.
They chose my middle package which includes balloon animals after the show. I have it as purely an up sell and do most of the basic balloons. The kids ranged from 3-7 years old. they were lined up for the balloons. I do the twisting for the first 3 kids. the 4th kid, after getting his balloon hands me a folded dollar bill. another kid down the line is given a couple of bucks by his dad to give me. Most didn't tip but several did. My question is...should I accept it? Normally, since I was already paid by the Birthday boy's parents, I would say no but the kids looked at me with such glee when they gave me the money. I ended up taking the money so as not to hurt their feelings. Was I wrong? |
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makeupguy Inner circle 1411 Posts |
Nope.. take what you're given.
I've been tipped for shows where the tip was bigger than the bill... and once it was by someone who wasn't the person paying me. the first time it happened I was like "what the f?" but now. I take it.. smile and say "thank you very much" |
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revlovejoy Special user Pennsylvania 765 Posts |
I would only worry if someone got the impression they needed to have a tip ready to get a balloon.
I did a music festival gig where I was a free attraction for kids, and never even considered tips as a possibility. A couple of kids gave me little geological treasures that were popular there. The best tip was the massage from a professional massage therapist who thought I looked fatigued. |
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funnyclown Elite user Burlingame, CA 494 Posts |
In my opinion, if someone hands you a tip for a balloon you should always discreet accept it and say thank you. Not accepting the tip would be insulting. I never encourage tipping but always politely accept it.
Mike Ianneo
Funnybone Magic "Defender of the Defenseless One Balloon Dog" https://www.funnybonemagic.com |
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Ken Northridge Inner circle Atlantic City, NJ 2392 Posts |
I'm all for tips but..... In this situation I would not have accepted it. I liken this to being hired for a corporate gig. You have an agreement with the client. They’ve agreed to pay your fee in exchange for entertaining their guests. If your client handed you the tip, then by all means accept it.
I understand you accepted it because you didn’t want to hurt the boy’s feelings. But I would have said something like, “Oh no, you keep that, Billy’s mom and dad have paid for everything so you could have a good time today.” Just my humble opinion.
"Love is the real magic." -Doug Henning
www.KenNorthridge.com |
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Wes Holly Special user Cincinnati, OH, USA 644 Posts |
Random thoughts ... situation, situation, situation!
I'm paid by the restaurant to twist but people want to give me a tip. I've learned it's faster to politely accept and hide the tip rather than go into a prepared line about not accepting tips because yadda yadda yadda. And as was mentioned, not accepting a gift will be seen as rude by the gift giver. I'm paid to twist balloons at a festival ... same as above. I'm paid to be at a private function (bday party, company picnic, gala receptions, etc) sometimes people will want to give me a tip but I will say "No, thank you. The host has provided me for your entertainment." The difference in the above situations is seemingly the relationship between you and the host(client). I would be embarrassed if the bday mom saw me accepting a tip and I imagine she would be infuriated. The difference is also between public and private functions. There are different levels of acceptable and expected behavior depending on the situation. I was once twisting at an outdoor fundraising festival. I was paid my usual fee and so didn't have any tip buttons or jars out. People still wanted to tip me, so for every tip I made it clear that they were donating to the cause. At the end I took a big wad of cash over to the smiling client! |
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Michael Messing Inner circle Knoxville, TN 1817 Posts |
I accept tips for balloons at my restaurant gigs but I would not accept them at a birthday party. I would simply explain that balloons were part of the package.
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Stevethomas Inner circle Southern U.S.A. 3728 Posts |
Have to agree about not accepting the tips at a birthday party. The only other time I'm hesitant to accept is from close friends who visit a restaurant while I'm twisting.
Steve |
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funnyclown Elite user Burlingame, CA 494 Posts |
I believe in accepting tips in all situations including from a person at a birthday party that is not your client. I believe the person handing you the tip already knows your being paid to be at the birthday party. It's always an insult not at accept a gift from someone. Saying this of course, I would never encourage getting a tip (even when working at a restaurant). I always make sure I'm being paid a fair wage that I never need a tip ( even working at restaurants). A tip is like someone giving you a compliment. Always thank them dircreetly and accept your compliments (tips). Anything else is insulting.
Mike Ianneo
Funnybone Magic "Defender of the Defenseless One Balloon Dog" https://www.funnybonemagic.com |
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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
I don't do balloons, but I have had the grand parents of the birthday boy slip a bill into my pocket.
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
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themagiciansapprentice Inner circle Essex, UK 1381 Posts |
Most people don't tip, but when they do I say a polite thank you. If I get too much, then I donate the tip to the RNLI Charity (Lifeboats).
Have wand will travel! Performing children's magic in the UK for Winter 2014 and Spring 2015.
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TomBoleware Inner circle Hattiesburg, Ms 3163 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-03-01 00:38, BIGmagiclV wrote: Yep, in my opinion, you were wrong. They hired you take care of the kids, not come and collect extra money from them. The kids were invited guests in a home and shouldn't have to pay for anything. (Unless warned ahead of time.) Kids don't see it as tipping, they see it as buying the balloon. Did they pay for the cake too? lol Tom
The Daycare Magician Book
https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/amazekids/the-daycare-magician/ My Blog - https://boleware.blogspot.com/ |
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BIGmagiclV Veteran user 375 Posts |
Quote:
Yep, in my opinion, you were wrong. Wow, this response came off as really harsh. what is strange is I was just reading the thread where your preschool book was mentioned. I was about to buy it when I saw this. Instead of offering an opinion, you gave a snarky and particularly bitter response. And the cake remark was just overkill. Not cool. But at least I just saved $30. |
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BIGmagiclV Veteran user 375 Posts |
To the rest of you that offered a more evenhanded response, thank you. I am always open to positive criticism and will take your words of wisdom to heart.
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TomBoleware Inner circle Hattiesburg, Ms 3163 Posts |
BIGmagiclV,
I didn't mean for it to sound so harsh. Thought that the lol at the end would explain that it was all said with a smile. I do apologize for expressing my honest opinion in a poor way. Now, let me add to my post above, that there is nothing wrong with being wrong. We all do things and then look back and say why did I do that. So I wasn't saying that I wouldn't have taken the boy's money myself, if put in the same situation. Just that I think I would have been wrong in doing it. No problem with the book, I'm pretty plain in it too in saying that the daycare business is not for everybody. Maybe you did save $29.00. LOL--Smiling Again, and I do say it seriously, I apologize to you and anyone else I have offended. Tom
The Daycare Magician Book
https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/amazekids/the-daycare-magician/ My Blog - https://boleware.blogspot.com/ |
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Once at a birthday party, a birthday child tipped me a loonie (Canadian $1 coin) after my show. It might have been during the balloon twisting portion, I'm not sure.
I didn't think the parents were aware of it. So, when I had a chance to talk to the parents (customer), I told them what happened and offered the money back (in case the child wasn't supposed to give it away). I didn't want to offend them, and I also wanted them to be aware of their child's generous actions. They didn't know that their child had done that, but they were fine with me keeping the tip from their child. - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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dearwiseone Inner circle Portland, OR 1143 Posts |
BigMagic,
I think you took Tom's post a bit too harshly. I just starting reading this thread from top to bottom. I read right through Tom's post, and then to yours. You came off as "snark" and "bitter," Tom did not. You need to take a deep breath. He simply said he thought you were wrong. (I think you were too!) There's nothing wrong with him expressing his thoughts. If you got offended, you should have addressed him privately through the PM or "Private Message" function of the website. By the way, I have Tom's Daycare book, I hope you don't get it! It's full of great advice on the daycare market! Best Wishes! |
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wbzwolinski Loyal user 232 Posts |
BIGmagiclV,
I'm sure that Tom did not intend his post in the way that it was taken. I would also reconsider buying his book. If you don't I believe that you would be missing out on some great insight on the daycare market (unless you are working the Michigan area, then definitely do not buy it...I don't need the competition). Regarding your intial post, I usually do not solicit tips in any situation though, if offered, I definitely would have accepted a tip from the client, but not from the kids. Wolly
Keep it Simple...Play it BIG!!!
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Leland Inner circle St Louis 1180 Posts |
I don't ask for tips but when they give it I say "thank you" and take it. If they have offered me the tip it's thier way of saying "you've done an outstanding job!"
Life of Magic!
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Yes, when the customer themself offers a tip, I'll take it.
It's when other people at a private event (like a children's birthday party) try to give a tip, that it becomes a different issue. That's what is being discussed here. - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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