Bartender with No Tip Jar ...how much??

Don't budge on the tip jar. It IS super tacky.

A lot of the advice I've seen is to tip a flat rate - maybe $50?

Some guests will slip the bartender cash. too. That shouldn't lessen your tip, but bartenders know they will get tips without a jar.

I agree with you on the tip jar - super tacky and not ok. Many guests will still tip them, however, that doesn't mean that a jar should be on the bar "promting" guests to tip.

You may want to ask them the additional charge for not putting out a tip jar. I would say an extra $50 is fair based on their fee and the number of hours.

Thank you so much for your input!

$50 sounds more than fair ... that's about 35% more...

Would 20% tip be too little?

hopefully they'll agree ... we're meeting with one of them on Thursday, I'll make sure it's in the contract too i hate surprises...

Honestly your guests will still tip or ask how they can tip your bartender. I would suggest talking to the company you hired the bartender from to find out the average for the time and the amount of guests being served.

As a former bartender I agree that the full on tip jar is tacky. I would suggest negotiating a reasonable gratuity based on time, type of alcohol, and number of people. Take in to account what they could potentially make on similar night at a decent bar/restaurant. If you don't know just ask! :-)

20% is only about $30 which isn't very much and they probably make more than that with the tip jar (although it depends on how many guests you're having). But maybe start with an offer of 20% and see what they say.

Thanks for the advice!

The bartenders are independent and not affiliated with any company.... so there's no company to ask for average tips etc. And I don't really know how much ...

honestly I don't think the tips will be The same at a small 50 person wedding then at a bar in Los Angeles and I don't mind my guest tipping I just don't want to see the tip jar out .

Honestly adding 20% comes to a total of $40 per hour I think that should be plenty right? There's no full bar, no flair anything like that and they are independent meaning no overhead etc.

Should that be ok for an independent bartender 4 1/2 hrs serving only beer, wine and 2 cocktails? $40 an hr -no tip jar?

I wouldn't offer/guarantee any specific amount ahead of times unless they make you. Just say you don't want a tip jar and that you'll tip you yourselves at the end of the night. Then tip them however generously you feel is appropriate. To answer your actual question our coordinator recommended $30-50 per bartender so I think you'd be fine with $30 if you only have one bartender, but up it if they're particularly great

Following... good to know.

Tip jar is totally unacceptable. If no jar, many people will not tip, they will assume their host has taken care of everything. At many country clubs, no tipping is the norm.

What you earn is irrelevant. You can tell someone, we are willing to pay X, but no tip jar. They can negotiate or say no.

You have no idea if they normally use a tip jar, or if most people say no. They choose the photos for yelp.

Thanks everyone for your responses!

I wanted to update you all

I called the 2nd vendor ($30/hr guy) and he immediately said if the client requests no tip jar.... that's perfectly fine and the tip at the end of the night would be at our discretion.

I really liked how customer service oriented he was.

Now the question is:

How much should I tip him at the end of the night?

here's the details:

6:30 to 11pm (4:30hrs) $30 per hour

50 people

serve: beer, wine, 2 signature drinks & champagne no full bar.

independently owned (if that makes a difference for tip etc)

I am going to say closer to $100. That might sound high, but I don't think you can do a percentage of what the bartender is charging. I think you have to look at what he/she could have made in tips. They would have made more that $50 in tips most likely. That equates to $1 a person.

People will tip them anyway, jar or no. I am at more weddings a month than most people will be in a lifetime, and EVERYONE throws a couple of bucks to the bartenders.

I'd say maybe a 50.00 at the end of the night. They will make probably another 100.00 or so.

Thanks to both!

Celia, that's more along the lines I was thinking, also agree, I know my guests will tip anyways. I'm thinking a $50 will do

Let's put it this way...At a bar you are probably tipping $1-2 per drink, or 20% of your whole tab at the end of the night.

$50 is only $1 per GUEST, not even $1 per drink. They probably charge $30 per hour for events because they aren't making anywhere near as much in tips as they would at a bar!

I'd say $50 minimum if not more!

It's ridiculous that at your BACKYARD wedding your worried about a tip jar.... It's not tacky in any way. It's an extra thank you from your guests not expected. Is it tacky for you to dance for dollars? "dollar dance" tips are how bartenders make a living they don't work 40hrs a week their income is much more unstable than others. If your having a relaxed wedding it's insane for you to worry about your bartender getting extra tips.

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Bartender here this is fine. I have a threshold I like to make a night, and 40 an hour for 5 hours? That's $200. Totally fair. People will tip the bartender but they definitely shouldn't have to considering you're paying for the bar. It is super great to tip your bartender at the beginning of the night, you'll get great service all night long, and your bartender won't feel stiffed, and will be more than happy to serve all of your guests without expecting tips. You could pay them at the end of the night too, but the bartenders attitude may be a little different, if they weren't tipped all night.

The bartender just like anyone hired for a job should not expect private party guests to tip him or her. The tip jar is very tacky and should be discussed prior to and be in writing. Like any private party the caterer, the bartender, etc will be paid an agreed amount plus gratuity. I would never hire or refer the bartender that only wanted to serve guests by expecting a tip!

BTW the "dollar dance" is a custom that originated in Poland in immigrant neighborhoods in the early 1900s

View Quoted Comment A bartender at a wedding venue is typically hired by the catering company at anywhere from 12 to 13 dollars per hour. Which is not great money at all considering the two hour setup and two hour cleanup time. Bartenders absolutely rely on getting some kind of cash tips when they work a venue. Either people get it or they don’t. Generosity is a state of mind. People who vet it will throw the bartender a few bucks for the night. It’s a nice thing to do. Especially when half the guests are typically at a wedding, eating and drinking for free. It’s just a nice gesture to support local workers and shouldn’t be considered as a bartender shouldn’t “expect “
anything from a private party.

As a reference point, our bartenders are paid $17.50/h (above min. wage) and get about $2/guest in tips if gratuity is included. As event bartending is not like a 9-5 job, it is generally paid more than other jobs due to the irregularities. However, most bartenders will make more money with a tip jar displayed and we still see it at about 80% of our events. Most guests expect a tip jar there because you also tip your valet, for example (if you don't, don't use the valet - they're getting paid less and are relying on tips even more so).

Keep in mind that in restaurants, you pay 20% on your bill, which includes drinks, glassware, etc. If your bartending service or bartender provides all the drinks, cups (or glassware), ice, garnishes, etc. THEN you can tip 20% on the total bill (because it will be significantly higher than $30/h).

Simply put, tip jars definitely not tacky, and expect to pay more than 20% in tips for service-based bookings for quality service at events.

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Of course as a vendor you would say that because it benefits you instead of viewing from the eyes of a guest.

When the hosts of a party hire any vendor, it is never their guests’ responsibility to pay the tip. Not to mention, a tip should only be given for going above and beyond the call of duty. Therefore tip jars do not belong in view. They can keep a small jar behind the counter out of view for the ones they receive but nothing in view. There have been posts via the search feature where brides have said they will get angry and take care of the situation themselves in the middle of the reception if a tip jar is visible and they are completely validated to feel the way they do. As a vendor, their wishes need to be respected.