Tipping the DJ?

I think it is really crass to mention gratuities in a contract. AND specify that they be in cash. Completely off the radar rude.

I'd wait and see how good they are, but waht you were thinking of to begin with is generous.

And then I'd send them a note telling them that their request was crass, tacky and off base ;-)

If you'd like me to write it, I'd love to.

I'm interested in this, too. I was originally thinking tips exactly the same as you originally thought. 20% seems outrageous to me and it seems equally outrageous that they're asking for the tips in cash in the contract.

WW's tipping guide suggests 10 to 15 percent of the total bill for DJs:

https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-ideas/etiquette-advice/wedding-tipping-guide

Definitely wait to see how they are on the wedding day first

Why would a DJ get 15% of the bill? That is nonsense.

My DJ put the same thing in his contact. He's the owner as well. No tip for him. especially because he was unresponsive for about a month.

The fact that he dictates what his tip should be is ridiculous. And 20% is way ridiculous. We tipped our DJ $150 and our photo booth attendant $50

Thank you all for your responses. I don't want to mention the vendor's name until after. Just needed some advice!

Im tipping the dj 200$ cause he is free and we know he is good, he djs for fun here and there... He has done a few of my family's events...

Thanks! This is a very helpful thread!

That is ridiculous - both that he mentions a tip in his contract and the fact that he is suggesting 20%. That is far too much. The amount you are thinking is generous if he does a good job.

The only people I tipped 20% were the hair stylist and MUA. Everyone else got a flat amount per person. Some of the fees are just far too high for 20% to make sense.

Why is your dj free?

Wait you are paying $3,000 for a photo booth and DJ??? That is extremely high. Where do you live ?

I think that's way too high... I really think it depends on the service! But closer to 5% ($150)

Just a heads up my FSIL got a guy to do her wedding for free because he was a dj and her friend and a week before the wedding she heard a commercial that he was the DJ for an event the same night of her wedding. They had to find a new dj in a week! They couldn't make him come because they had no contract. They were lucky they found someone.

Our DJ's contract specifically says that tips are entirely at our discretion and are NOT expected. 20% sounds crazy to me.

@LoveYouMoore - I'm in NYC and that price doesn't surprise me at all. We were quoted similar prices for DJ & photobooth.

They're telling you what gratuity to leave? Agree w other posters. Give a tip based on performance. If they knock it out of the park and 20% is fair, great. If they're terrible, less than 20% it is

Tips are done if you want, if you can and based on what you can.

The mentioning of tips in the DJ contract is lame and embarrassing.

ETA : the mentioning of tips/gratuity in any vendor contract is unprofessional IMO. If any vendors would care to object, I would welcome the enlightenment.

My caterer and bar tending company offered to let me prepay tips.

Both of them actually suggested tips lower than what I would have expected to pay - I declined on both.