Dancer Archive

I never ask for tips if i'm just healing battle fatigue and wounds. Some ppl do tip, some don't. I've gotten tips from 100 to 100k for dancing, and I have to admit, I rarely tip docs when they heal me, just because that's giving them xp. Maybe that makes me a bad person, and if so, i'm sorry, nobody's every really said like "Hey, why didn't you tip me?" and if they did, i'd give them a couple K, but i'm not the richest person either, so demanding tips I feel is not smart; cause then, those that will tip you, will get turned off, and those that wouldn't anyway, probably still won't

Either way, it doesn't matter much to me, if they tip and if not i'm still friendly to everybody

I don't care if a doc or medic is pulling XP while they heal the entertainers in the cantina. I share out some of my tipswith the docs going out of their way to heal action. If they're healing live, ATK performers especially, I'll tip them even more, and let them know that I appreciate it. And I always tip docs for healing wounds.

Why? Because I like it when patrons tip me, whether that be game mechanics (healing) or just being fun, entertaining, or pleasant company. That tip has nothing to do really with the game mechanics I'm working... it's a show of their appreciation that I'm there for them. That tip, or /deepbow, or "thank you for being here... I've thoroughly enjoyed meeting you" is, for me, what makes this profession fun and worthwhile. It's the appreciation of the fans... and I like to remind the docs that they're appreciated too.

Maybe part of the reason that docs and medics so often ignore players with wounds in med centers, and instead focus all attention on tumblers, is because too many people just stopped showing their appreciation. Just like how so many people just stopped tipping entertainers because they got so used to seeing AFKers, and thought, "why bother"?

I tip my docs, and try to keep alive that show of appreciation that someone cared enough to do their part in our overall game community. That kind of environment is one where entertainers can live, thrive and survive. That's the kind of game I want to play in... not one where we're always having to ask "who gains?".

As much as I'd like to be tipped properly, I just don't see the ent profession as being one to demand it. Most of us have gotten used to the fact that patrons simply don't tip much anymore. Even my own guildmates forget to tip more often than I'd like . . . Perhaps its because we don't use resources that cost credits in our healing and buffs. Our resource is our time, energy and performance(and the cost of accarragm!).

Now, I am also a Master Medic and a Novice Doctor. I have NEVER been tipped for healing anyone (and I'm not at the place where I can buff yet). Funny that there was a mention about doctors ignoring wounded people in the med center - I don't know how correct that is or not, but I rarely find anyone with wounds there. I find tumblers aplenty, butfew walking wounded. Makes me wonder where they all go?

When I'm dancing, I admit that I haven't ever tipped the people healing me. I always make it a point to thank them though, because I do appreciate it. But, I know that they're just looking for experience and probably don't expect a tip. Plus, to be honest, there are too many of them and I'd go broke if I tipped all of them. I also feel as, for me, anyway, it's not necessary. Usually if I really want to make sure I don't run out of action, I get a buff or I buy accaragm. Otherwise, it's no big deal for me to regenerate.

On the other hand, back before I became a TKM as well, and was able to heal my own wounds, whenever I sought out a doctor for actual health and/or action *wound* healing, I always tipped my doctor, both for services, and for just being there when I needed them. I didn't always tip a lot because I'm not exactly rich. But, depending on the amount of wounds, I'd tip anywhere from 3-5K. It's a service that was necessary for me and they were taking time and resources to do for me. I especially made sure I'd tip them the higher amount if they were actually in the med centers and took care of me without me having to ask 10 times.

As for buffs, I always pay for those, of course. I don't really have much choice. It's either that or I don't get a buff, unless a friend is giving it to me for free.

As for being a dancer, while I don't expect to get tips, I do appreciate when I get them. After all, the people that come into the Cantinas are in the same position as I am in regards to the wound healing and battle fatigue healing. They need me, (or someone) to heal those wounds or that fatigue for them. I think people should tip their entertainers, quite frankly. But, I never expect it, nor do I ask for it, nor do I get mad when I don't get it. It's just too commonplace not to. And, if I got mad over the hundreds of people that walk into the Cantinas every day and don't tip me, I'd probably develop an ulcer. So, yeah, they should, but not a big deal if they don't. After all, there are several people that do tip me throughout my session. I don't really know if it's for the healing or the performance. But, either way, I am always thrilled and thank them accordingly, even if it's only 100 credits from a newbie. I remember those people.

For me buffing someone else? Well, I have kinda stopped doing it for the time being because I am quite annoyed at the state of our profession in regards to buffing. But, when I did buff, yes, I charged, and I expected and required payment. I know lot of people go the "tips not necessary" route, but if you want the buff from me, then tips are absolutely necessary. It's a service I provide just like the doctor buffs, and it takes up my time, and I have to deal with a lot of aggravation for it, so I expect to get paid for it. Unlike some of the entertainers, I'm one of those entertainers that absolutely believes in interdependency in the SWG universe, and I want to be useful and I want a way to make money, just like every other profession. It's all fine and dandy to be all hoity toity about the snobbery of our profession and how we are only performers. But, I just don't agree with that. As of now, we still have a place in the economic system, and I am going to make damn sure I take advantage of that place. It's only fair and it's only right. And, after all, I need money too. Most patrons don't complain about having to pay for buffs. If anything, I find more resistance to paying for buffs among the entertainers who choose not to charge, which I really don't get. Luckily, it hasn't gotten to a point where I've had a problem selling my buffs. I hope it never does.

I don't mean to insult you, Zaax, but the problems between doctors and dancers are totally different. Its not to say you all should not get tipped. You should for all your hard work in making medicine and applying it. As someone who works hard for the money, I always try and tip my medics and doctors at least a little something for the effort to heal me in the med centre. However, you all have a lot more leverage than us. People respect you. I'm sure if all the docs and medics went on strike, things would be in an uproar. Such is not the case with us.

Because no matter how many dancer players go on strike, there are three more who are dedicated automated buffers who will do our jobs for free and not care if they are or are not tipped. You do not see treatises on how your professions are more of a burden to the game than an assett. You do not see commentary on how your professions and those who practice them are dolts for even trying to play as the developers intended. We get that a lot here. Moreover, if there is no medic in the medical centre, healing will not be done in a timely manner. But if we try and deny a cantina our services, or try and leverage our skills, the customers will just watch the AFKer right next to us. Kind of hard for a player to see the need for gratuity when there is someone just as good as a live player who will give all we have for free simply because its automated.

So its not that I do not feel that medics and doctors shoudn't be tipped. They should. However, players who play medics and doctors are not systematically being replaced by automated non-players. That difference makes all the difference between us.