Tipping Tips

This is always a big question: who and how much do I tip? This may vary regionally and, of course, is dependent upon the level of service you recieve. But here are some general guidelines:

• DJ: $50-$100
• Dancers: $25-$50
• Any vendor who owns their own company does not require a tip (e.g., photographer, videographer)
• If your catering hall tacks on a service charge of 20%, then the service staff do not require additional tip. However, the maitre'd and catering manager are often not included in this 20%, so they might get between $200-$400 (varies regionally). The best thing to do here is ask your venue what others normally tip for a similarly sized affair.
• While this isn't a "tip", it is nice (but certainly not expected or required) to make a donation to the Rabbi and/or Cantor in honor of the occasion. You can donate any amount you feel comfortable with to your Rabbi's or Cantor's discretionary fund.

The LAST thing you want to be doing at the end of your celebration is to be searching for cash and checks to tip your vendors. So I recommend that you decide what you'd like to tip ahead of time, and place each tip in individually marked envelopes for each vendor.

Comments

[A slighted Bartender]

I would like to point out that while a banquet venue may charge a service fee, your bartender and waitstaff do not see one penny of this. Most banquet bartenders however, unlike the waitstaff, make less than minimum wage. When we are asked not to put out a tip basket, or you tell your friends not to tip because you paid a "gratuity" as part of the bill, we suffer. Please keep this in mind while planning. Thank you.