A pianist, or strolling musician, should be tipped $1 for each special request of music. You may also want to tip a musician a minimum of $1 as you leave the restaurant even if they did not play a special request for you.
Categories
- Blogroll
- Common Sense Etiquette
- Etiquette Classes
- Etiquette Faux Pas
- Etiquette History
- Etiquette Tips
- Business Etiquette
- Business Networking
- Cell Phone Etiquette
- Childrens Etiquette
- Cocktails/Party
- Concert Etiquette
- Conversation Etiquette
- Country Club Etiquette
- Couples Etiquette
- Dance Etiquette
- Dating Etiquette
- Digital Etiquette
- Dining Etiquette
- Driving Etiquette
- E-mail Etiquette
- Exercise Etiquette
- Flag Etiquette
- Floral Etiquette
- Funeral Etiquette
- Gentlemen's Etiquette
- Gestures
- Gifts
- Golf Etiquette
- Graduation Etiquette
- Grammar
- Grooming Etiquette
- Hospital Etiquette
- Introductions
- LGBTQ Etiquette
- Locker Room Etiquette
- Monogram Etiquette
- Neighborly Etiquette
- Office Etiquette
- Personal Grooming
- Pet Etiquette
- Pregnancy Etiquette
- Professional Dress
- Professional Presentation
- Prom Etiquette
- Public Courtesies
- Religous Ceremonies
- Restaurant Etiquette
- Royal Etiquette
- School/Classroom Etiquette
- Shaking Hands
- Social Etiquette
- Social Media
- Spa Etiquette
- Telephone Etiquette
- Thank You Notes
- Theater Etiquette
- Tipping Etiquette
- Travel Etiquette
- Wedding Etiquette
- Leprechaun Etiquette
- News
- Pageant Tips
Sorry, for some reason I misread this – that you were only addressing piano players or strolling musicians – both of whom are usually paid SOMETHING by the restaurant. I still think a few dollars tip is required, plus $1 per request played. I feel I should disclose I have worked in restaurant management previously.
However, when there is a solo artist or duo or trio – basically anything other than a lounge pianist or mariachi-type group, you might be surprised how often the musicians’ tips are their only source of income for the night – or the venue may pay a very low fee, even as low as $25 or $50 for the whole night, telling the musicians they can receive tips. The venue brings them in to attract more diners. Because of this situation, I feel they should be tipped more generously.
Knowing that many musicians are dependent upon tips for income and are often not paid by the venue, I would say a $1 tip is not sufficient or acceptable – and even less so if the musician plays a special request. When you are in a restaurant or club where you do not pay an entrance fee, the appropriate amount to tip is the amount you would have paid to see the artist in concert, with $3 or $4 as an absolute minimum. If you find the musician worthy of a $20 entrance fee, you should feel good about putting $20 in the tip jar, or $10 or $8, etc. as you feel fit. If the music was not something you would pay to see, simply tip $3 or $4 politely as a gesture for their service and work.