I'm curious about how many of you regularly get tips. Occasionally I am rewarded with a few extra bucks, but more often than not I am not. Is it just me? Is it a regional thing? Urban vs. rural? I don't think it's a reflection of my performance or how happy people are with me, because even repeat customers don't tip. You'd think that people who rely on tips in their own careers would be good tippers, but I don't find that to be the case. For instance, I've done two birthday parties for my hair stylist (human hair stylist -- not clown) and she does not tip. I don't really care; I just think it's kind of weird.

I have found that tipping a rare. I have had parents ask me if I had change instead of giving me a $5 tip. I think part of it is how much we charge. They don't realize all the time and effort that goes into our being able to keep little Johnny and his 20 rowdy friends under control and having fun for an hour. And in part I think it is regional. I just make sure that I am happy with the amount I walk out the door with, and if I should get a tip in addition to "great job" then I am doubly happy.

As this is my third state to set up bussines in. I can safely say it is a regional thing. Houston- big city big tips. CT- various types of areas, tips range from none to $100.00 Up state NY- mostly rual. rare tips and then only a few bucks.
And it is not always the people with the most money who tip good. House? millions of dollars. Everyone happy and booked again. tip? none.
I agree that I don't NEED a tip but to me it is a compliment even is it is just a few bucks. It's always nice to be thanked.

I would think people dont know if a tip would be right there is no rule book about tipping

I've been toying with numbers for awhile such that I'm now starting to try setting my rates at a place which "suggests" a tip. Basically, the concept is that it is easy to leave me the change on that bill or make it work out such that an extra 10 or 15 or 20 percent is at a nice, even interval in relation to the formal cost. The idea is that I can set a price somewhere that it will allow me to make what I must, while also keeping the cost slightly less than it could be if I just insisted outright on something a little higher. Should I receive the extra added, great. If not, well that's alright, also. In perspective, it makes everything a kind of plus ("Hey I DID get that additional amount!") rather than leaving disappointment. Perhaps it may allow customers to feel a little more in control and as if they are getting a better bargain, rather than just "paying a clown a lot of money." We'll see how it goes.

Scooter, I think you're right; people just don't know. Admittedly, I'm sometimes ignorant about tipping other professionals. A few years ago, when I lived in Kentucky, I had this hound dog who would constantly get loose and chase skunks. As a result, I was constantly hauling him off to the dog groomer's for de-skunking baths. I was horrified one day when I noticed a tip jar on the groomer's counter. I didn't know I was supposed to tip the dog groomer. I think that's probably the case with a lot of our customers. They're not displeased or cheap -- tipping the clown just never occurred to them.

If you work in a rural community, would it help to bring along a container shaped like a cow? Then the customers could "tip the cow."

I carry in my pocket a little cow with a clown nose on. He is my "cown"! I made a purse like a cow udder. It is my "udder" purse (Other)

So, Tim, tell me, do you know if they cow-tip in Wisconsin? I'm a former Iowa girl, and we used to tell gullible non-Iowawegians that we cow-tipped. But I'm not sure if the Wisconsinites would get it. (although the state isn't lacking in cows.) That's a pretty funny idea though. Maybe I'll get a cow cup just to keep at home and I can tip myself!

Misspriss: I like your purse idea!

Yeah, they tip there pretty well, from what I understand. Shoot, people were even tipping over our fiberglass "cows on parade" a few years ago here in Chicago.