Dancer Archive
Thread: The Tipless Dance
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Delsa_Belib
Fri Mar 12, 2004 11:08 am
#1
Hi all!
first off let me say that I honestly had no idea how much fun dancing would be and I intend to keep it regardless of what ever I decide to do in the future. Awesome profession!!
I have been struggling with how to approach tips and mind buffs. I recently had a situation happen to me that left me shaking my head. What happened was this. I am dancing in a cantina with some friends when I get a tell. It is from a rebel that is at city that is only about 5k from where I am at on Tattoine. I tell him that I would be more then happy to help him and that I'll be there in about 10 minutes.
DarthEric2
Fri Mar 12, 2004 11:51 am
#2
Whew.... ok... tiPless..... Thought is said something else there for a sec!
Panthu
Fri Mar 12, 2004 12:21 pm
#3
Yeah, traveling for a cunstomer then getting stiffed is always a bummer. Also a bummer, getting there and they are already watching someone else. Oof! I hate that one. 
Delsa_Belib
Fri Mar 12, 2004 12:37 pm
#4
Hi all!
first off let me say that I honestly had no idea how much fun dancing would be and I intend to keep it regardless of what ever I decide to do in the future. Awesome profession!!
I have been struggling with how to approach tips and mind buffs. I recently had a situation happen to me that left me shaking my head. What happened was this. I am dancing in a cantina with some friends when I get a tell. It is from a rebel that is at city that is only about 5k from where I am at on Tattoine. I tell him that I would be more then happy to help him and that I'll be there in about 10 minutes.
OOF hit port before I was done.
I wrapped up things where I was at (BTW it was the Unchained Cantina In SandStorm City, Tattoine, Startsider. Place is always busy) jumped on my speeder and headed over. When I got there it was a group of say 5-6. I got an invite and proceeded to dance for them. I buffed all of them and after about 15 minutes they all got up said thanks and walked out. For my efforts I got no tip. I was really upset that for my work they would not have the courtesy to tip me.
I dont want to be percieved as money grubbing by asking for a tip. I am more a dancer for the social part and not the money but when I dont get tipped it makes me feel taken advantage of. Like I said I dont want to sound like a whiner be asking for a tip but I also want to allow people to be there own judge of what they feel is an appropriate sum. Even if they are poor and can only affor 1000 credits at least they acknowledged the service rendered.
How has everyone else handled this?
De'leesa Belib
Master Dancer
Starsider Galaxy
Panthu
Fri Mar 12, 2004 12:41 pm
#5
Voodoo curse... really seems to help.
Delsa_Belib wrote:
How has everyone else handled this?
Jaela
Fri Mar 12, 2004 12:53 pm
#6
You have allowed this to happen and as a long time image designer, it happens to all of us sooner or later. You really have two choices, either trust that they will be generous and be prepared to not complain if they arent,,,or,,,empower yourself and specifically state in the beginning what you expect as a "tip" or "fee" and be prepared to have them decline or accept your services.
I dont depend on tips and the chance that the tip will be inadequate to compensate me for my time any longer. Part of the thinking on their part is that you are gaining exp, dont have anything fun to do, or just enjoy helping the 'brave" warriors of the GCW. None of those three reasons apply to me and I dont and wont to travel unless the "contract" is agreed to in advance which usually includes a prepayment. There is absolutely no excuse for them to be cheap, but its common and it has nothing at all to do with lack of credits. Its an attitude and unfortunately you were used, and by not establishing an expectation in the beginning, you allowed the situation to develop. Either you need to rethink your policies, or just expect some bad with the good. I for one dont want the bad, and wont allow myself to be used as you were, but everyone needs to establish their own playstyle and what suits their needs best.
Delsa_Belib
Fri Mar 12, 2004 2:43 pm
#7
Well needless to say I think I learned my lesson. Next time I'll establish a rate. Group rates will be cheaper per person but No more travelling to meet someone until a price has been agreed upon. I love being a dancer but if someone is wanting to get their mind enhanced then enhanced or having me travel to meet them and drop what I was doing means I charge.
Another thing I just wanted to chime in on was that since I have made master I have had more fun playing the game compared to all my time spent doing other things. Dancing definitely Rocks!
De'leesa Belib
Zabrak Master Dancer
Starsider
Drygo
Fri Mar 12, 2004 4:34 pm
#8
Yeah, I pretty much agree with everyone here. As a master dancer, you no longer need experience. If you're dancing you're doing it for your own enjoyment, to possibly help out a friend, or to make money. Entertaining is hard enough to make money as it is. So, if I'm mind buffing someone who is not a personal friend, I always expect to be paid. Sometimes if I'm in a good mood or just don't care, I don't bring it up. Most of the time I get paid, occasionally someone must think it's free and doesn't pay me. I don't go after them about it. But, this is all when I don't bother talking about it beforehand. However, 95% of the time I do discuss the terms beforehand. After all, as I said, this is really my primary source of income at this point. I think most people realize this. And, even those who won't tip you just for generally healing bf or mind wounds, still realize it's expected to pay for a buff. I would say that what happened to you is probably not the norm, which is why I occasionally won't bring it up beforehand. But, if the trend one day seems to be that people are being cheap, I kick up the terms and prepayment discussion a notch. If things seem to be going well, I might just let it slide and rely on someone's good faith--which is usually okay to do. At least this has been my experience. Some people even tip me more than my going rate.
DraenorBH
Fri Mar 12, 2004 6:34 pm
#9
that really is quite sad...i tipped a dancer 50k once just for the hell of it, she didnt even buff me, i just thought i was rich with my 200k lol
Aynianu
Fri Mar 12, 2004 8:11 pm
#10
Well i never move for anyone really, usually too busy with ID work or Tailoring, so if they want something they come to me, i never ask for tips, infact getting tipped while dancing is so uncommon i am very surprised when it actually occurs (maybe once per week on average), even getting tipped for ID work seems a bit too uncommon for my liking, but at least when they do it is generally nice sum's 
Today for example, i was the only dancer in anchorhead, with master ID tag up.
i was there for about 6 hours, had 3 ID's, 2 of them tipped me (6k + 3k)and one didnt, and not a singletip from dancing. Was mostly chatting and an im not exactly poor so i dont 'need' the tips, but it did make me feel rather unappreciated. And tommorow i wont be in anchorhead
All i can tell you, is there are many anti-social players who simply do not understand how SWG works as an online game, i really think that is all there is to it, think of ex-quake players and such.
MUSoprano
Fri Mar 12, 2004 8:50 pm
#11
My method is simple, and effective.
I charge X credits. Once my client (or clients, if I'm group buffing) has tipped me the required amount, I start dancing. Period. If they don't pay, I don't dance. Ifmy doctorcan require payment up front, you darn well better believe my dancer will too.
Soulburner69
Fri Mar 12, 2004 9:30 pm
#12
with my character on wanderhome, i usually tip a minimum of 500 credits, that's even if i watch for the sake of it, or healing a miniscule amount of battle fatigue. and generally 1000 cred per 100 fatigue healed
Bansheekry
Sat Mar 13, 2004 1:53 am
#13
That situation happened to me as well. I was out hunting and happened on a camp in the middle of nowhere. I always stop by anyone's camp to say "Hi". I was about to leave when the group asked me to dance for them. Being that it was in the middle of nowhere and they looked pretty beat up, I went ahead and did so. When they got all healed up, they disbanded the camp and left. Thank God I didn't bother to store my speeder or I would have needed to pop my own camp. Only one person was considerate enough to say thanks. But no tip =(
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