CR tips - how to get them
Just so you all know, I've searched for other threads about this, but none quite fit my particular situation.
Perhaps I'm getting greedy, or perhaps I'm just starting to get more accustomed to CRs. For awhile, I didn't care if I got tipped, because I figured that $115 - $130/half hour was good enough. Soon, I started getting $50s and then $100s and then $150s. Now, if I don't get at least $25, or so, I'm bummed. Usually the guys that tip the most are regulars at the club. So when they mention that they usually come in to see so-and-so, I can pretty much guarantee that they'll be a big tipper.
However, lately, I've been getting guys who've never been in the CR at my work before. They don't tip anything. They ask how much the rooms are, and I tell them they start off at $200 and go up. I feel like it's being too pushy if I say $200 plus tip. I guess I should figure that if they're willing to pay $200, they probably don't care much about tip? Also, I'm not allowed to ask for tips, technically, where I work.
Should I just refuse to do the cheapest room? If I do the cheapest room and don't get a tip, I get the equivalent of about $12/lapdance, and that includes being able to touch and my top off. That just seems really bad to me.
I thought about what someone said, and saying it's an extra amount if you touch me, etc (only if the guy is new), but making sure that he knows what the amount for most people USUALLY is. But then again, that could backfire and make me look arrogant and mean.
Another thing is, unless they tip in cash, I don't know what they tip until I sign for my room to get the money after it's over.
So...what's a good way to get tips upfront since they pay the waitress up front for the CR?
Re: CR tips - how to get them
Could you try changing the language by saying maybe "$200 minimum" ?
Re: CR tips - how to get them
I could, but (and I guess I'm being greedy), I want at LEAST a $25 tip. The other day, I got a $5 tip...yes, it's better than nothing, but still.
Re: CR tips - how to get them
Well I'm no expert but I think that if you can demand a $25 minimum tip from a business point of view, then do it. If you need the money, you will have to settle for people who tip less.
Re: CR tips - how to get them
I work in a club that makes it very difficult to get tips for CRs and they have the waitress run it at the beginning too. He has to buy more funny money and not just add a tip to the tip line, so it really has to be run in advance and in multiples of $20. Plus they have a policy that you're not allowed to ask for tips, but I've tried it anyway and got away with it. I mostly try to do it without other people hearing.
Okay, first of all I think it's a bad idea to say the price is "$XXX plus tip." You might ruin your sale because you come off as though you deserve a tip and the guy will feel hustled before you even close. Words like "surcharge", "plus", "champagne" (sounds expensive), etc. set a bad tone. Words to close should be like "exclusive", "bonus", "extra", "only", etc. Wait til you close and get his credit card/cash out of his pocket before asking for a tip. In your case, I'd probably go with, "it starts at $XXX, depending on how long it is and how much extra fun you want to have."
Then when she has the card (this is critical because he's pretty much committed to running it,) I will say something like "she's running your card now, should we go ahead and put everything on there now?" and he'll of course say yes because he doesn't really understand what that means, and you say, "okay, well this part is up to you...would you like to add the tip now or do cash?" At least this gives him an out if he doesn't want to tip yet. Usually I don't ask for a credit card tip unless he's extending (and thus running another transaction on his card.) They usually have at least $20 in their pockets.
Btw, he's probably not going to know what to tip you when you put him on the spot, so be aggressive and suggest an amount right then. "$100?" while nodding and smiling. if he give you that wtf? face, go lower.
But for the most part, I pretty much get fucked over on tips unless he has cash in his pocket. At the end I'll ask if he enjoyed it. And if he says yes (they always do), I'll say, "well, you're all settled up for the dances, and anything extra is up to you" (smile and pull out side of g-string.)
Re: CR tips - how to get them
Quote:
Okay, first of all I think it's a bad idea to say the price is "$XXX plus tip." You might ruin your sale because you come off as though you deserve a tip and the guy will feel hustled before you even close. Words like "surcharge", "plus", "champagne" (sounds expensive), etc. set a bad tone. Words to close should be like "exclusive", "bonus", "extra", "only", etc. Wait til you close and get his credit card/cash out of his pocket before asking for a tip. In your case, I'd probably go with, "it starts at $XXX, depending on how long it is and how much extra fun you want to have."
Then when she has the card (this is critical because he's pretty much committed to running it,) I will say something like "she's running your card now, should we go ahead and put everything on there now?" and he'll of course say yes because he doesn't really understand what that means, and you say, "okay, well this part is up to you...would you like to add the tip now or do cash?" At least this gives him an out if he doesn't want to tip. And I only do that if I'm feeling bold. Usually I don't ask for a credit card tip unless he's extending (and thus running another transaction on his card.)
Btw, he's probably not going to know what to tip you when you put him on the spot, so be aggressive and suggest an amount right then. "$100?" while nodding and smiling. if he give you that wtf? face, go lower.
Cool. That's all going in my personal "best of hustle hut compilation".
The place in vegas I work at is shitty at asking for tips. I'm always pushing the dude to add tips for hosts and waitresses and the hosts never ask for me. It pisses me off - they actually will say shit like, "it's all pretty expensive huh?" with, this stupid, headshake and eyeroll. They never ask if we want to extend or help upsell a 1/2 hr to an hour or anything. They SUCK. Anyway, so I definitely need to commit your tips to memory.
Re: CR tips - how to get them
Thank you! Getting tips is so much easier than selling more dances. And you don't even have to do anything! I think it's important part of making money as a dancer and a lot of girls don't know how to do it or are too nervous to.
If it's done right, he won't feel pressured ...which I think is the only drawback of it. But I pressure guys to spend all night. If I waiting for them to make the first move in offering me money, I'd be a broke ass stripper.