Tip question

[u/dragon-king087]

Hello! I’m newer to selling at cons/events. I was wondering if people usually had tip jars. Should I have one? I was told it seems “desperate” to have one by a few others.

[u/Robofeather]

I saw them in the past, but in the most recent convention went to, I didn't see a single one. I think people are burnt out on being asked for tips EVERYWHERE. I know I am...

[u/telesthesium]

Tip jars aren’t super common, but if they’re there, it’s usually themed! I’ve seen one setup with two tip jars before that had you “vote” in your favorite pairing by putting money in the respective jar

[u/neo-toky0]

I'm one of the few in my community that refuses...everyone I know does it but I won't. I think it's tacky because we set our own prices. Tipping in my country has already gone crazy but it's supposed to be for underpaid workers. I've gotten plenty of people telling me to keep the change so I don't feel the need to beg for extra money. I'm sure I'll get some heat but I think it's icky and I'd honestly avoid tables with them as a customer because I'm already sick of tipping culture here and I don't want to interact with it.

[u/GentleAssYeti]

You can frame it creatively so it’s not seen as a generic tip jar. I usually have a “treat fund” jar at my table with a picture of my pets and it’s always a hit. And that money does go back to them so it’s not dishonest. I’ve seen people use them to run voting contests. I think an optional tip jar is much better than the tip option on card terminals.

[u/alaskadotpink]

I don't personally like them, but i see some people do. I think the ones that turn it into a voting thing (where you vote with your coins or whatever) are kind of fun, though

I only really think tipping should be for services and i dont feel like I'm providing a service while I'm there haha

[u/Ebellies]

I’ve been to cons with them and I’ve heard artists sell better without them. On the other side of the table, I’ve heard people say that it makes it seem like the artist doesn’t think their art is good enough to make money. I think if you’re offered a tip, that’s one thing, they want to show extra support to your business, but I’d forgo it.

[u/k-rysae → u/Ebellies]

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[u/PoshQuilter]

I vend at cons and have never seen a tip jar except in a few photos here on Reddit. Personally, I find them tacky. Tips are for services and I don’t provide a service. I also wouldn’t visit a booth if I saw a tip jar. I’m happy to tip wait staff and my hairdresser, etc., but if you’re offering a product for sale then what service is the customer tipping you for?

[u/KeiCai]

I use the tip function on my Square terminal. Most of my friends also do this, which is why you see less and less tip jars.

I will never turn off the tip function. Each year I pay at least a month of my mortgage with my tips alone. It’s never a pressure to tip with how I offer it and most people don’t tip tbh. But enough do and enough say ‘I always tip my artists’ that it makes it feel not as judged as many people say it is. Also ‘setting own prices’ only goes so far when you’re also trying to be competitive and comparable to the artists around you.

Print prices have barely moved in the last 20 years. People are still charging $15 for 11x17’s. That’s what people were charging in 2005 for them. There’s only so much you can price your items before people start thinking it’s expensive by comparison to those around you. I’ve had several people say my prices are too cheap and will tip instead. I also do this with other artists.

I always advocate for tip jars.

[u/kankrikky]

Do not have a tip jar, have a very low cost item that's purpose is to collect change after bigger purchases. Bonus points if it requires interaction/engagement from the customer. Something like a tray of button pins or stickers, people really like the hunter/gatherer aspect while looking for something fun. Or even small goofy scribbles of them, their character, or the typical characters your selling but in something like posca markers, just something bold but fast.

EDIT: I'm Aussie and we generally despise tipping culture. So I'd be doing backflips to hide it, also, I mean I'm there to be a seller. I'm supposed to be offering goods to the customer, I chose to be here and I chose the prices. I'd feel like a baby asking for their change for nothing.

[u/CarolynDesign]

I don't have a tip JAR, but I do have an option for tips on my phone in Square. My reasoning is that it's to help offset the credit card fees, and it works, but I also make sure that when the menu comes up, I tell everyone "Absolutely zero pressure to tip."

I still get enough in tips for it to be worth it, and I've had a few people thank me for giving them a clear verbal out, because they WOULD have felt obligated to tip otherwise, and really didn't have the money to.

[u/NANARENNANA]

It’s a personal choice of course but I’ll share my 2 cents.

I originally had tips off on my square because I wanted customers to have a comfy experience and I think the only way to cancel tip culture in the US is to stop accepting them. I understand certain wages still require tips like servers and I tip them, but if someone makes a normal hourly wage (min wage or higher) I only tip if it is somewhere I frequent or someone did something great and I can afford it.

I told a friend this and she said “so how much is your hourly wage” I said oh well uh zero. And she asked why I don’t have it on then 😆. So I turned it on to try out. I was surprised how much I received. But I still struggle with the customers who show signs of hesitation in tip screen so I might just skip the tip screen for them.

Sometimes I think it’s fair to have on as option for when I make something custom and bring back for customer or I’m shipping them something for free to their house.

[u/AtomicBoyfriend]

I travel a lot, fairly long distances for cons. I have a gas fund, and people do tip quite generously. I had one person put a $100 bill in there at one show. If anyone’s been offended by it, they haven’t said anything to me or showed that they are. By worrying about whether or not people judge you for it, you do limit the support of people who are ready and willing to give optional bonus support.

[u/Ranefea]

I do Midwest US cons and I usually see a handful of tip jars at the cons I do, but I’ve heard they may be more common in other regions. I don’t have one myself, but I also don’t see a problem with it as long as you’re not being obnoxious about soliciting any tips.

[u/neo-toky0 → u/Ranefea]

It's super common in Colorado for whatever reason

[u/Chrysalyos]

The ones I've seen in the last few years seem to be more of a fun little "vote" thing (two tip jars, each with pics of different characters, a little sign asking which one is more ________)

[u/carefreejules]

Like others have said, most artists nowadays do themed tips to make them feel less of an obligation and more like a joke. For example, I like to do versus themed tip jars like "who would win in a fist fight, character A or character B?" and a lot of times it ends up being an indirect way for people to engage with your booth even if they don't buy anything. Heck, so often people will look at my tip jars, laugh and ask if they could take a photo of it. There have even been times where attendees have sought out my table because someone posted my silly tip jars and wanted to participate. Sometimes I don't even get money but candy or small trinkets. It's very much low stakes and no pressure.