What do you tip a VIP manager or VIP host/hostess?
Monday, November 13, 2023 10:12 PM
I saw a thread a few weeks back on the snoo website where some mongers discussed tipping at clubs. What surprised me was the OP of the post suggested he tips "10%" to the VIP host/hostess. That seemed outrageous to me. Personally, I like to think I tip well in general, especially to dancers, but I have always been pretty light on tipping VIP hosts. To me, they're management, and there more primarily for the clubs benefit than my own. The thread on the snoo site made me consider if I've been leaving a trail of bad feelings in my mongering travels by not taking care of the VIP staff, so I want to start a discussion and hear from fellow PLs (and especially dancers or club managers if any are listening) on what you all think is appropriate.
One thought I have is, 10% of what exactly? To unpack this question, I want to give a few scenarios for VIP rooms across the country, and poll you all on how you would tip in each scenario.
Assume in each scenario that you are having an excellent time at the club, have no complaints, and plan to return. Here goes:
1. NYC Club, like Sapphire. You pay a fixed fee (covering the room, and the dancer), of something like $1250 a specified increment of time, likely only like 30 mins, as NYC is hella expensive.
2. Vegas club, like Spearmint Rhino. You pay a dancer fee of something like $600 for an hour, and in lieu of a room fee, the club requires you to purchase a bottle for $280. In this case, you have potentially two people to worry about tipping, the VIP manager, and the waitress who brings the bottle. What would you tip each?
3. SoFla, Cheetah Pompano. You have negotiated a cash tip for the dancer's services of $600 for a half hour. The club requires the purchase of a $150 of champagne for the room, brought to you by a waitress. Again, you'd have two people to potentially tip here, the manager and the waitress. Do you tip on the total or just the bottle fee, and how much?
4. SoFla, Tootsies. You negotiate a cash tip for the dancer of $750 for a half hour. You are charged a room fee of $100 and there is no alcohol service or waitress involved in this arrangement. How much if anything would you tip the VIP manager who shows you to the room?
5. DTW club, like Flight Club. You negotiate a fixed-price arrangement with the dancer of $500. The VIP host charges you just $40 for the room, but you also wind up being asked by the dancer to pay the club a skip fee of $50 during the dances. What (if anything) would you tip the VIP host in this situation?
BONUS QUESTION: if you are tipping the VIP manager, when are you tipping? Before the dance, or would there be any good reason to wait until after?
I'm eager to hear your thoughts, have at it.
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