Tip Jar on Bar???

As a host,I would never allow a bartender to put out a tip jar. I would also not hire( or continue to employ) a bartender who felt the need to send me a tip guide.

For my bartender they said a tip jar is only out for cash bars, and then for host or open bars they add an 18% gratuity as a tip at the end of the night.

I agree with you, I don't like tip jars on the bar and feel like they're tacky. it always makes me feel kinda funny when I see that at a wedding. Our bartender's tip is included in fees were are already paying to the venue, but if it wasn't, we probably would have done a flat fee or $50 or $75 per bartender, but our open bar is only 5 hours.

1. No tip jar, you are correct that it's kind of tacky and guests would feel that they have to.

2. 20% of the total bill is very sufficient, don't feel that you need to tip nearly the entire cost of her services. That's crazy, and pretty presumptuous on her part to send you an unsolicited tipping guide. That would really rub me the wrong way.

Her fee may be $300 but I think of the tip more on the amount of drinks she prepares. So if the total alcohol tab was $2000 (for example) I would probably tip about $300-400 (15-20% of the total tab) depending on the level of service she provided.

I've been to weddings that were open bar but tip jars were present on the bar. I felt obligated to tip many times throughout the night, which got very annoying. I would suggest not having a tip jar if you plan to tip at the end of the night.

The tip guide is probably based on what she would expect guests to tip based on the amount of alcohol served. Are you having a seven-hour bar or does this include set up and clean up? I'll just go with the standard five hours.

80 guests x 2 drinks for first hour x 1 drink for 4 hours = 480 drinks

480 drinks x $7/drink = $3360

$3360 x 20% = $672

Based on that, $280 for 7 hours bartending is not at all crazy. As PP said, she's basing it on what she's serving, not the fee you're paying. She's also probably wanting you to tip what she's expect to get from a jar. There was a post about this the other day -- bartenders requiring a certain tip in order to not put out a tip jar. If you don't want a tip jar out because you think it's tacky (and I agree with you, FWIW), then you need to make up for the money she's missing out on for not having one.

ETA: I don't think the number above is what you should tip, since this person is already getting $300 (as opposed to the $2/hour bartenders normally get). But $672-$300 = $372 anyway, so $280 seems fair.

View Quoted Comment Unfortunately my wedding is this Saturday so I don’t have time to find another one.

I guess I feel like the $300 we are paying her upfront is already $42 per hr , add what I would have tipped her let’s say $100 that’s $57 per hr. Does that not seem like a reasonable amount of money to make to serve beer and 2 signature cocktails? That’s way more than I make!

I would not have a tip jar at our wedding. We have an open bar, and are tipping ourselves.

I would tell her no to the tip jar and tip her at the end of the night based on level of service you receive. You shouldn't feel obligated to tip based on her specific guidelines. Good luck.

Omg, I would NOT be happy if a vendor suggested a 100% tip based on their fee! A 20% tip based on her fee seems sufficient = $60 (unless she was charging a very cheap rate compared to other bartenders in your local area, then a little extra would be generous).

No tip jar. Tacky guest experience.

View Quoted Comment

Yeah, I totally get this. I get her side too, though. She could make a lot on tips at this kind of event, but she's also getting a large flat fee for a bartender. I also don't think it's right for her to bring this up on such short notice. I would say no to the tip jar and tip what you feel comfortable with.

View Quoted Comment I couldn’t agree with this more !!

My best friend had a top jar at her wedding, it wasn’t bad at all but the bartender was amazing!!

Our venue asked about a tip jar as well. That was a hard no from FH. When we inquired as to what the bartender typically makes in tips, he told us no more than $200. We have having an open bar for 5 hours. Good luck!!!

I was told we have to have a tip jar. Our venue only let's us go through one company and I just found that out when I called to order drinks. Ugh.

As a bartender if I got a $50 tip for 5 hours of work (especially for a wedding of 80 guests) I would feel extremely undervalued. Bartending is much more work than people think. On an average night in my bar with maybe (likely less than) 50 people I make $150 in 5-7 hours. The weddings I’ve worked I’ve made significantly more ($200-$450),however, there was a tip jar and many more people. Given what you have said, if you’re going to tip a percentage I would base it on the amount of alcohol served, not her setup fee, as that is tipping for the work of bartending. Now if she doesn’t do quality work, I completely agree with a lower tip.

We are insisting that there be no tip jar at all on the bar - we will tip the bartenders appropriately.

That being said, I will let the bartenders know that if our guests offer them tips, they may accept - but under no circumstances should they put up a jar or in any way solicit tips.

View Quoted Comment I am totally willing to tip, I always do in bars. This is a private event. I’m sure bartenders in dive bars don’t make as much as a fine dining restaurant. It all depends. I don’t understand why $60 per hr to serve THREE types of drinks is not sufficient. I’m a nurse and I make significantly less than that even though I keep people ALIVE.

When I asked for a quote as to what the cost would be for 80 guests and 7 hrs I think she should have factored in how many drinks she would be serving and how much work that would be. Don’t quote someone one price and then try to double it by adding a tip or worse trying to get the guests to tip. What special skills does it take to serve drinks anyway? Give me a break. Expecting to make $700 a night is ridiculous.

If $400 is not enough money then she should go find a job in a bar, don’t do private events.

Also bartenders out in bars typically don’t earn an hourly wage, they work only on tips. I’m already paying her a base fee of $300.