Dancer Archive
Thread: Dancers need options to ensure tips
As long as players recognize the service being provided and choose to tip for it, there is no problem. Poor and starting players cannot afford large tips, no problem. It's relative. The extremely wealthy may have little to spend their money on and tip excessively well, that's great too. It only becomes a problem for a pure entertainer if no one tips anymore, and we end up with no source of income.
In my experience thusfar, I've been running into a lot of people who don't tip. But I've also been running into a lot who do. The ones who do, even if it's just 10 credits, get a heartfelt thank you for appreciating what I do. And I tend to remember those who tip... and I'm more willing to do them favors in the future as well; passing their name along when someone asks if I know a reputable slicer, or free buffs when they need it. Those who don't tip are the nameless, faceless masses.
So what happens if the rest of the players collectively stop tipping? Entertainers are forced to take day jobs to pay the bills, which means we're not out there to heal mind and bf.
My thought on the subject is that it might just be that too many of the newer players, coming in during the hologrind phenomenon, have simply learned the 'bad habit' of not tipping their entertainers. I find that a lot of the longer running players are very supportive and understanding of the plight of the entertainer (having an income dependent on generosity), and tip quite well.
If the day comes when entertainers can't make a living from tips, the answer is not to find a way to "ensure" tips... it'll be the day when entertainers have to acknowledge that the professions are no longer viable, and we'll have to find other things to do to make money. I'd still dance in my spare time, but if that day comes, I don't want to hear anyone complaining that they can't find anyone to heal their battle fatigue. Maybe they should've thought about that when they weren't appreciating what they had.
I can only speak for myself, but I ALWAYS tip. Someone who's a pure entertainer can't exactly go out and hunt voritors, now can they? So, I tip for their time and efforts.
Mind you, if the only entertainer is AFK, they're not going to get as large of a tip as someone ATK, simply because part of the tip is for interaction.
I'm kind of divided on the whole "cover charge" idea. Yes, it'll mean more regular income, yes it'll spread dancers/musicians out a bit.
Yes, it'll guarantee that you'll see your tip income go way down.
"Why should I tip/heal them? It cost me 500 credits just to get in here!"
Xyrdre wrote:
My thought on the subject is that it might just be that too many of the newer players, coming in during the hologrind phenomenon, have simply learned the 'bad habit' of not tipping their entertainers.
kirah_ashlin wrote:
Xyrdre wrote:
My thought on the subject is that it might just be that too many of the newer players, coming in during the hologrind phenomenon, have simply learned the 'bad habit' of not tipping their entertainers.Then it is up to us to gently teach them proper manners in the GFFA. Not with spammed begs for tips or required tip amounts, but with wit and humor and interaction. Entertainers are the only profession that have no real means of ensuring we are paid because our services are rendered first and passively. That is how the prof was set up and we all knew that going in. It is up to us to qualify the reason for some battle or mission weary player to monitarily show his or her appreciation for our work. We can only do that by being ATK and giving them the kind of service worthy having them give over some of their own hard earned credits.
I agree completely. I used to always send private tells thanking patrons for tips, because it initially seemed less... crass? But lately I've been thanking for tips in spatial, hoping that it might be a cue to those who perhaps never realized that tipping entertainers is the custom. Sure, it's in the game manual, but I wouldn't be surprised to learn that a lot of people just skip right to the 'how do I kill stuff' sections, and jump right in. For me, it's been a smooth way to let people know that yes, the dancers get tipped, without it being a situation of "so, can I have some money?"... and frequently my patrons reply in spatial thanking me for the healing and/or conversation. That tells the story of how it's supposed to work, without any begging or unseemly behavior.
DitahCotton wrote:I'm not in agreement with the forced tipping either. I've gotten small tips and large tips just doing my job, being there, talking to them and comforting injured players. Sure, if they are abusive, then by all means, /denyservice them, and remind them of it! Being remindful/vocal can help.I started dancer to have fun, and i've have quite a bit of it too. I haven't danced all that much lately since I've been quite busy getting Master Architect. Now I'm ready to go on tour again with my entertainer guildmates LIVE. Look for us LIVE girls anywhere on Ahazi and you will be treated to quality entertainment. Of course, we're always happy to include other entertainers in our group as well. Most entertainers who have had joined our group has had as much fun as the spectators!
Nice to see you poking around the forums a bit more these days Ditah!
Wamphyrri wrote:
Hi there..
I am not a Dancer or a Musician but I think you guys and gals are AWESOME!!!
But I find it a shame that you sometimes get nothing more than an action heal and a thanks for your services. I mean you are as important as doctors, IMHO, due to the fact that you can't be healed or fight as effectivelyif BF is too high. If I get at least 150 BF taken care of, I usually tip 1k..
400-500 I tip 4k to each person I watch or listen to..
Option 1.. Group Cover charge.. Just like a merchants house, anyone wanting to get BF healed would get a message when they try to listen or watch along the lines of "You enjoy the music / choreography but must pay a cover charge of 2k for 5 min of healing.. It usually doesn't take that long to get rid of BF unless dancer / musician is low level then price needs to be adjusted. Cover Charge is decided upon by the leader.
Option 2 (In tandem with Option 1).. If you get a group, (at least 5 total and one of these has to be a Musician) You can put together a "Troupe" of Street performers that can heal BF in public.. Cover Charge applies..
Just an idea to get you paid..
The reason that you find it difficult to understand why we don't get tipped for BF and mind healing is that you really do not understand what we sell. We don't sell bf healing and mind wound healing. Those things are free. We sell an immersive experience that can only come from a live player.
A lot of dancers and musicians come to me and say, "why am I not getting tipped? I'm not an AFKer." However, when you really look at their interaction with the audience, they behave no differently than an AFKer with the flag down. They maybe throw out a /greet or a /smile, but most of the time they are talking in groupchat all day. If they would just put forth the effort to be engaging, they invariably find that their tips will increase. Check out this thread:
http://forums.station.sony.com/swg/board/message?board.id=entertainer&message.id=8042
I try to always tip dancers and musicians at least 1k, but only if they aren't AFK. I've seen times in the Theed Cantina (Bria) where there are over 40 entertainers with AFK tags, and I can't find anyone who's not AFK. Also I'm starting to notice people turning off their AFK timers (I assume this is true, because after watching them for 10 minutes they aren't flagged AFK, but won't respond when spoken too). At this point I have resorted to sending a tell before I tip. If I don't get a response, I don't tip.
I don't think there is any good way to force people to tip you, but if you're AFK, don't complain about not making money. And if you're not AFK, feel free to argue your case to the people you see running out of the cantina without paying you.
I'm pretty brutal when it comes to tipping AFK dancers, probably because I've always been an ATK dancer. I ask who's not AFK before I /watch. If no one answers then I targeta Master Dancer, because she doesn't need the healing exp and might not be in the exp group, and I don't tip.On the other hand, I'll /watch thefirst person to respond to my, "Are you here?" question and tip generously. Usually only one person will respond, but I'd tip something toeveryone who responds. I never tip AFK players, so Ireally don't want aguaranteed a tip. Oh, I did see someone macro smiles, so I wait a little while to make sure the ATK players are genuine.
It's really very fairto expectentertainersto talk to the customers, afterall, that's why we chose to be entertainers... with no guarantees. Though I would like the dancer's missions fixed for aguaranteed income.