Tipping Question - Photographers and Band Members

september2004 Posted: Dec 30, 2003 02:40 PM

Tipping Question - Photographers and Band Members

How much are people allocating for photographers and band members regarding tips?

I have a budget in mind for a band however shopping around I get the feeling I will go over my amount if I include tips. How much should I estimate? I am clueless...

Thanks!

aliciahelene Posted: Dec 30, 2003 02:50 PM

Re: Tipping Question - Photographers and Band Members

I was told around 100- 150 for the phtographer and 50 for each band member

julybride444 Posted: Dec 30, 2003 03:20 PM

Re: Tipping Question - Photographers and Band Members

We did $100 each for the photographer and his assistant. We tipped $100 for each DJ.

aliciahelene Posted: Dec 30, 2003 03:24 PM

Re: Tipping Question - Photographers and Band Members

My photographer will be with us for along time, so I may give him 150, the videographer will get 100 because he isnt with us as long..its hard to know exactly what to tip..its stressful, I dont want to be cheap, so its tough to know whats right!

btrflygrl Posted: Dec 30, 2003 03:46 PM

Re: Tipping Question - Photographers and Band Members

my photographers own the studio so we're not sure about tipping them. The DJ is also the owner...but he'll have an assistant so we'll have to tip him.

september2004 Posted: Dec 30, 2003 04:05 PM

Re: Tipping Question - Photographers and Band Members

Yes, traditionally owners are never tipped.

If I'm selecting a 6-8 piece band and tip $100/person, it adds up and puts me over the edge...this is my problem...

AHHHHH!

aliciahelene Posted: Dec 30, 2003 05:14 PM

Re: Tipping Question - Photographers and Band Members

I was told 50 per person for band members, but yes that adds up!

groovypeg Posted: Dec 30, 2003 05:45 PM

Re: Tipping Question - Photographers and Band Members

i was not planning on tipping my band members $50 each...more like $25 b/c we are paying for their meals, which are $40 per band member. is that bad?

cw0904 Posted: Dec 30, 2003 09:41 PM

Re: Tipping Question - Photographers and Band Members

I agree with Groovypeg on this one. We are giving our band members and DJ plus his assistant a meal. And to give EACH person $100 is pretty hefty. I am probably going to give $40-$50 not sure yet plus the meal.

aliciahelene Posted: Dec 31, 2003 09:29 AM

Re: Tipping Question - Photographers and Band Members

We are giving all of our vendors a meal, but that to me is a given, you are askng them to spend MANY hours with you , if they are well fed, they wont be cranky
Tipping all adds up, its hard to know what it right, we are all on different budgets, do what you feel is best! We are doing :
Matre D: 2-3 per guest
DJ : 300 because he is hardly chraging us a thing aplus riving in from Jersey
Photographer: 150
Videographer: he is teh owner, so Im not sure, but most likely 100
ceremony musicians: 25 per person
Officiant: 25 ( he works for himself and his fee he keeps, so we may not tip)
Florist delivery 20 per person
Steel pan musician : 50 bucks
I think thats it...makup and hair 20%
I hope I didnt leave anything out! Good luck!!!
I think 40 - 50 permusician plus a meal is more than enough! 100 per musician is too steep and unnecessary! ( I think)

september2004 Posted: Dec 31, 2003 09:59 AM

Re: Tipping Question - Photographers and Band Members

Thanks everyone for your input!

I know with some vendors (like the reception hall) I flat out asked if tips were included and what is standard practice (what are they expecting). I estimated another $100/150 for the photographer right off the bat, however my approach to the band may be, after negotiating, tell them that I do not want to go over X amount so they know the maximum amount they can expect from me...

I don't know, bad idea?

groovypeg Posted: Dec 31, 2003 10:04 AM

Re: Tipping Question - Photographers and Band Members

We are giving all of our vendors a meal, but that to me is a given, you are askng them to spend MANY hours with you , if they are well fed, they wont be crank

i totally agree that you have to feed your vendors, but none of my vendors are house vendors, so i have to pay for them. that to me is an added expense. i have an 8 person band-at $40 head is an extra $320. plus my 2 photogs and video person and their assistants are $200 to feed. i just didnt budget well for tips i guess.

aliciahelene Posted: Dec 31, 2003 10:05 AM

Re: Tipping Question - Photographers and Band Members

No, do what you can afford, there is so much pressure on us to over tip, it gets out of hand,
if you can afford, it great over tip, but if ya cant afford it, then ya cant afford it, my fh freaked when I told him how much we were spending in tips..its insane

aliciahelene Posted: Dec 31, 2003 10:07 AM

Re: Tipping Question - Photographers and Band Members

my main concern for myself is really the photographer, he is with us ALL day, he derserves a great tip in my opinion, the other vendors work hard too no doubt, but they are their a shorter time. None of my vendors are house vendors either,its stressful, we knew about tipping, but it wasnt until we added it all up that we said WTF!!!

kathleenmarie Posted: Dec 31, 2003 10:08 AM

Re: Tipping Question - Photographers and Band Members

God, its so hard to figure all this s**t out!

aliciahelene Posted: Dec 31, 2003 10:11 AM

Re: Tipping Question - Photographers and Band Members

I know..and the trouble on here is depending who you ask, you get s many different answers, some people are big spenders, some arent, its hard to know whats right!