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How do you deal with girls who don't tip?
Just want to get some other DJs perspectives on how to deal with girls who don't tip. I usually play the nice guy, and it does allow the girls to take advantage of me to a certain extent. I've seen other DJs go the asshole route and start messing with the girl's music, etc... I just feel it only breeds resentment and shit talking if I'm a douche about it. Still, it's frustrating when certain girls consistently don't tip for my services. Talking to management rarely has any effect.
Keep in mind, I'm not talking about ugly girls who don't make any money, or girls who just have a bad day every once in a while. I'm very sympathetic to these situations. I'm talking about girls whom I see giving dances, know they're making money, yet at the end of the day they regularly leave me dry.
I'm falling behind on bills, and need to think up some ways to step up my game. How do y'all get through to these girls? Ladies? What makes you more inclined to tip the DJ?
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Re: How do you deal with girls who don't tip?
What's makes me inclined? The fact that there is a mandatory tip-out. Why isn't there one at your club?
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Re: How do you deal with girls who don't tip?
There is mandatory minimum, but it isn't enforced and some of the girls take advantage of that fact. There's no mandatory tip for a customer to sit at the tip rail either, but how do you feel about customers who don't tip if they're sitting right by the stage? It's a matter of respect. I do feel that I work hard for my money. The idea that the only reason a girl is paying me for my time is that it's mandatory is disturbing. There's no mandatory tip at a restaurant, yet it's still expected.
Really, if a girl can't even pay me less than the cost of a jukebox... does that really seem right? It's actually kind of insulting. Yet, I suck it up and continue to work with a smile on my face (pardon me for venting here... not going to say any of this stuff at work).
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Re: How do you deal with girls who don't tip?
I would start playing the dick card. Where I live and dance, most clubs dont make girls tip anybody but the club, but say its optional. Usually girls only tip if its a kiss-ass club, to get off stage, on stage, for their music, for DJs work/effort. Most freelances dont tip the DJ here if they dont go on stage etc. Do freelances req. a tip-out on their part, just the girls who go on stage, or every girl?
If you do a good job, which seems to me like you do based on your concern and put in effort. I see no problem for you to use your dick card, let them know YOU are the one getting them clients on the tip rail, you are the one who gets their stage flowing, you are the one advertises their set and them. Something along "Hey, your night is going well. How about a tip for us working together making your set great for the customers?" Let them know you can "mess" it up, Im not saying dont intent to, but let them know you are there and you wont be taken advantage off. Are you sure talking to the manager wont help at all? Hope everything works out.
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Re: How do you deal with girls who don't tip?
I've already talked to management about it in the past. It's just not a big concern for management. Even if they DO talk to the girl, she may tip me for a week and then fall back into her old patterns. The thing about playing the 'dick card', I've seen that backfire on DJs in the past... even to the point where the DJ will get fired over it. Either that, or it will harden the girl's resolve and make her feel justified in not tipping.
I do try to do extras for girls who tip well. I'll do extra music research for them, burn CDs to bring in as gifts, etc. Every club I've worked at, though, management has made it very clear that I am not to show preferential treatment based on how well a girl tips.
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Re: How do you deal with girls who don't tip?
I always try to tip an extra five bucks MIN above a mandatory tipout / just general floor fee. If he did me a favour, I will tip 10$. If he did me a huge favour (like skipping me on stage after 1230) I will tip up to 20. For example, if I'm busy and they come and tell me that I'm going to have to go up again I will pull out a 20 and say "forget me for the night, right?" (if I know that they will hold to it if there are enough girs) or will say "20$ at the end of the night if I don't go on again".
if I am making an insane amount of money... like have had a customer back there for 300$ and he has no intention of leaving... I will offer up to 40$
DJs love me. I have seriously NEVER had a problem with one and the dj at the club I just started at said to me "oh yeah, the week DJ only had nice things to say about you!" without me even asking. Like, when I showed up and introduced myself to him he said that.
playing the asshole card lightly (not cutting songs, pulling them out of VIP) might incline them to tip you but it also might backfire and they might never tip you again because of it. All the DJs hated my ex-friend because she wouldn't tip / would cause drama if they did either of those things. Maybe say "if you want me to treat you nice, you gotta treat me nice" and THEN do them a favour? Do that for one night and if they still don't tip then fuck them!
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Re: How do you deal with girls who don't tip?
And I absolutely LOVE girls with your outlook, Sadie. Believe me when I say that I will go to the wall for girls who make me feel appreciated. I have a very good rapport with most of the girls I work with ( or, at least they allow me to think that I do ;) ). It's only a handful of girls whom I have trouble with. And, I know it's not realistic to expect every girl in the club to appreciate what I do for them... but if don't strive for excellence, I will never achieve it.
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Re: How do you deal with girls who don't tip?
^ Post a printed paper "Tip the Dj $X" on the wall or your enterance.. I know this sounds lame, but whenever I was having a bad night, or pissy and standing around the booth, I would ALWAYS notice that paper and tip the DJ at the end of my night. I always give every DJ I meet a tip since... it just seems like common sense.. Plus I like to get away with no stage so thers that bond. If you do favours for the girls and they dont repay you I would certainly let them know, I just find that rude. If a girl asks you for a favour you can joke and say "a tip could always help with that!" one DJ I knew would always say that to all the girls and it worked for him!
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Re: How do you deal with girls who don't tip?
I guess it wouldn't frustrate me so much if I weren't so far behind on bills. Electricity during the winter months really killed me, plus I owed on taxes this year. Just trying to think of some ways to bridge the gap.
I'm trying to start up a mobile DJ business, but that's slow starting until word spreads. If any of y'all are working with DJs who you aren't happy with, and want me to build some custom set mixes for you or anything for a modest fee, let me know. I'm starting to get desperate, here.
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Re: How do you deal with girls who don't tip?
Pick an intimidating or mean stripper that you get along with, and have HER talk to the girls who don't tip you.
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Re: How do you deal with girls who don't tip?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Elusive21
Pick an intimidating or mean stripper that you get along with, and have HER talk to the girls who don't tip you.
ROFL. Too funny.
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Re: How do you deal with girls who don't tip?
^^^ Seriously, though.
I don't understand the girls who don't tip. I tip time and a half (the required amt per dance, plus half).... or I did, until they decided to take 20$ over the 50% out of VIP. Then I stopped. The DJs understand and remember, though.
Is there a middle road? You don't have to be a dick, but you might need to be firm. I've had DJs throw me hints during the night. "I take care of you, you take care of me, yes?". That was like a bell going off in my head. "Oh, yes he DID stop playing rap to make sure I got to dance to my super sexy rock songs. What a nice DJ. I SHOULD tip him." Ding ding ding ding huge tip.
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Re: How do you deal with girls who don't tip?
I don't understand this. I tip minimum plus half of that at the very least, without a thought. They do nothing special for me, but I know they would if asked.
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Re: How do you deal with girls who don't tip?
Is there anything other than music that you do for them? For example at my first club the DJ controlled the lights on stage, so if you didn't tip him he wouldn't do any flashing lights or anything like that (it was basically just him mashing buttons to turn on and off red, blue, and stobe lights).
A new girl came up to me and asked why the DJ didn't do anything at all with the lights when she was onstage. It turns out she didn't know she was supposed to tip him.
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Re: How do you deal with girls who don't tip?
Anothe thing that same DJ would do would be to always have gum, and lay pieces of it out on the dj booth. If a girl asked for one who didn't tip, he could say something about how she needed to tip to have a piece of gum, in a playful way of course. I have seen that work before.
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Re: How do you deal with girls who don't tip?
i would chat with the girls who dont tip one last time.... say sweetie if you want to choose the music, then you will tip me at least the minimum. i also second the sign suggestion. and vent about it to the girls you like which will encourage them to talk about it in the dressing room.
and the girls who still dont tip- well refuse to play their music. you arent fucking with them necessarily, but if they are not paying you for a service then dont perform that service. if you have a girl who dances to heavy metal, switch to playing slow R and B. a girl who likes R and B start playing classic rock. they will get the message. i woudlnt fuck with the lighting or what not, but you need to show them you mean business and you are not a pushover who will be their bitch for free. I dont think that it will reflect badly on you... as long as you keep the girls who are tipping you happy then you dont need to worry. there will be people there who like you as a dj and if you vent about the gilrs who dont tip, chances are when one of them badmouths you another girl will be like "what? DJ__ is wonderful. you do tip him though, right? as long as you tip him he will look out for you."
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Re: How do you deal with girls who don't tip?
Problem is, the girls who don't tip are also by nature huge drama queens who will complain to management at the drop of a pin. So, I have to be careful about any actions I take. I've already asked about putting up a sign, management won't let me. I've done the candy thing before and it worked well enough. Thanks for reminding me about that one.
I read a study recently about how certain smells affect behaviors. Interestingly, citrus smells tend to encourage people to be more honest. Maybe I'll put up some scented candles in the DJ booth.
Concerning the lights, I already do that one. I put effort into the light show for girls who tip and occupy myself elsewhere for girls who don't. I'll also play the songs a little longer for girls who don't tip. Or, if I happen to notice a girl who doesn't tip doing a lap dance during a break song, I'll put on a nice six minute song to make sure the customer is getting his money's worth ;) More than this, I really don't think I can get away with. Management would have a fit if they thought I was doing anything like that intentionally.
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Re: How do you deal with girls who don't tip?
Any girl who has danced for any amount of time understands the benefits of tipping out handsomely. On nights when I make great money, I make sure to spread the wealth because I know it always ends up benefiting me in the end. To me, it's just common sense.
The fact that management doesn't have your back on this is problematic. At one of my clubs, I get along with the DJ well (bc he knows he can always rely on me for a nice tip), but he does have to regularly play the dick card with a random variety of trashy, fucked up strippers who try to stiff him, or do not tip out adequately. The first time I heard him giving a girl the shakedown, I thought, "what a dick," but after seeing what he has to go through just to get minimum tipouts, I totally understand it.
Take care of those who take care of you. It really sucks, but it sounds like your management is giving you no choice but to be a dick. You should not be falling behind on bills because girls are stiffing you...that's just messed up :(
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Re: How do you deal with girls who don't tip?
It's just the atmosphere at every club I've worked at in Dallas. DJs around here are a dime a dozen (granted, few as good as me. But, I digress). The attitude of the clubs around Dallas seems to be that the customers don't care about the music, as long as there are tits on the stage. Granted, the primary reason a customer will go to a club is for the ladies. That's a given. The music and mood does play a big part in the customer enjoyment, as well as how lively the customers are with opening their wallets. Damnit. Now I'm feeling underappreciated... somebody come give me a hug.
Edit: I should add, not every manager is like that. But, all it takes is one manager putting his foot down. And every club around here seems to have at least one like that. On the other hand, it is a good thing that the managers DO have the backs of the entertainers. Too many clubs across the country don't give two shits about you girls.
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Re: How do you deal with girls who don't tip?
I only tip nice DJs.. But you might have to play the dick card for some girls, or add a tip jar on top of your booth.
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Re: How do you deal with girls who don't tip?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
johnjdick
Problem is, the girls who don't tip are also by nature huge drama queens who will complain to management at the drop of a pin.
:rotfl:
Sorry I am laughing when this is such a problem for you--but trust me I have been there! Still am there with the drama, but they are required to tip me absolutely, which is the only way to go.
And yeah it's almost always the drama queens who are the shittiest tippers.
Your management sucks, from the sounds of it. They are making it a lot harder for you to make good money.
I won't play music I know a girl won't like, that is like slitting your own throat. You want them dancing well and dancing happy up there, the customers like that and stay. Not saying I've never done it, or that I'll never do it again, lol.
But I'll be damned if I'll play her favorite songs, either--especially if they suck. Ever notice how often drama queens pick shitty music, too?
One little trick is if you have multiple girls onstage or multiple stages, so that the girls following your problem girl are dancing to what songs they like, not what she likes. If you are making the rotation, you put all the hard heavy rock girls behind the shitty tipper that can only dance to rap. Also, make the shittiest tippers dance right after the hottest girls. Unless you have a lot of ugly girls too, in which case first priority is balancing the uglies with the hotties. But if the shitty tipper is also ugly, well, there you go...
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Re: How do you deal with girls who don't tip?
I guess I don't understand why you can't play music they don't like if they don't tip when there is a mandatory tip out because they are also breaking a rule. I understand playing mediocre music for the girls who tip the bare minimum, but to those that tip 0$? Why should you do anything to please them.
You could also start encouraging customers to tip on the girls you like and stay quiet for the girls you don't.
I am surprised management won't let you enforce this. In every single club i have worked at girls were expected to tip the dj and if they weren't then management would be difficult. The only exception is my current club... I don't go on stage but when I negotiated my contract with the management I had it pre arranged that I wouldn't need to pay the off stage fee... And at our club only the girls who go on stage are expected to tip the dj. Shitty for the dj I guess, but considering the dj was a douchebag I did not really care and I never really met the newer djs since I don't interact with them.
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Re: How do you deal with girls who don't tip?
Just don't let them pick their music if they don't tip. They'll get the message.
If they go to management it's their word against yours, and I find at most clubs DJ outranks dancer. Dancers are easily replaceable - good DJ's are hard to find.
Sorry this is happening to you. It's a rare night indeed when I don't tip the DJ at least 5 bucks. On an average night it's 10-15. Our club has no minimum and many dancers will not tip, but it's much nicer place to work when you do tip the DJ. I don't see why girls don't realize this.
BTW - it sounds like you go above and beyond what any DJ I've ever worked with has done. I've never had a DJ make a CD or download music for me. Often I get them to pick my music because sometimes I just don't care what I dance to.
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Re: How do you deal with girls who don't tip?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Athenathefabulous
I guess I don't understand why you can't play music they don't like if they don't tip
Because if you piss off a lying drama queen cunt, she will start to spread rumors and make up spiteful shit about you. Had one tell the entire dressing room that I was a racist once. Took me a while to live that one down.
Actual conversation:
Me: "Hon, you know I can't play that song. We aren't allowed to play hardcore rap here."
Her: "But that song isn't hardcore rap."
Me: "According to management, if the song contains the word 'nigga', we aren't allowed to play it".
She then proceeded to go to the dressing room and tell everyone that I called her a 'nigger'. WTF?
Edit: It should be noted that this level of drama queen is, thankfully, not present where I currently work. The above incident happened at a previous, seedier club. Still, incidents of this nature have taught me to tread lightly when dealing with any level of self-centered "diva".
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Re: How do you deal with girls who don't tip?
I should also add, the management really isn't as bad as this thread is making them sound. There have been times in the past where they've had my back. It's just that it's not consistent, and I don't want to be 'that guy' who is always complaining to management about every little thing. That makes me look bad.