I expect to get mostly negative responses to this post. Having said that...
I do fairly well at my club. I have never been the smallest earner on a shift, and have occasionally been the top earner. I respect and appreciate the functions of each job in the club: dancers, management, bartenders, waitresses, bouncers, and djs. Much love to all. At my club, we tip the bar, bouncers, and djs. I started making decent money almost immediately, and my tip-out method was as follows:
$5-10 to each bouncer (parking lot, door, floor, etc)
$3-10 to the bartender
$15-35 to the dj.
When tipping out, I took into consideration what I earned (tipping out less on a crappy night), and of course tipping extra if they went out of their way for me (like a bouncer warding off an aggressive customer).
After the past few weeks, however, my outlook on tip-outs has changed. I don't know what it is lately, but customers in my club have been extremely grabby, and every time I have told a bouncer or manager about the situation, they have just looked at me and said: "Well what do you want me to do about it?" I always say something to the effect of: "Talk to them, give them a warning or something, just make sure it doesn't happen again!" And nothing gets done. The same (female) customer grabbed my ass three times, twice RIGHT IN FRONT OF A BOUNCER, and nothing was done! I don't care if the person is male or female, that is MY property, and it is totally unacceptable behavior. The worst was last Friday night, when the club was packed for a bachelor party. The guys were getting out of control and even the bouncers were getting pissed because management literally said: "Put up with it for a while, they are spending money and they'll leave eventually."
Because, of course, money is more important than our safety.
I just feel lately like management and the bouncers don't have my back. When I discuss it with others in the club (bouncers, dj's, etc), the FIRST thing out of their mouths is always: "Do you tip?" YES I tip, and even if I don't, tipping isn't mandatory, but their job is to protect me whether or not they like me. Even though I get along with everyone, I really dislike the unspoken understanding that if I don't tip, my safety may be compromised.
So here is my new approach to tipping. Since I do not feel protected whether or not I tip the bouncers, I am not going to tip them. What's the point of handing out $15-$50 night after night, when they just shrug their shoulders to my concerns? You may think I'm crazy, especially since I am still tipping the bartender & djs, but in my eyes, every time I come to the bar or the dj booth with a question, comment, or concern, it is addressed effectively. THAT deserves a tip.
I probaby sound high-maintanance, but I don't believe in paying someone just to keep them "on my side." I always tipped just for this reason, but when it came time for me to call in a favor, they just stood by time after time. From what I've seen, the bouncers, as sweet as they are, have been basically ineffective at maintaining a safe working environment for me and my fellow dancers. If one of them does something for me (the way the bar always remembers the drinks I like, and the dj doesn't play my songs for other girls), I will gladly give them a tip that makes it worth their while.
NO MORE HANDOUTS..BOUNCERS NEED TO WORK FOR THEIR TIPS THE WAY I WORK FOR MINE!!!



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He was drunk and irritating regardless of grabbing at me, he's yell across the room to dancers "Baby!" and such, was generally being disruptive and not spending money.


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