Dancer Archive
Thread: Dancers need options to ensure tips
There seems to be a general lack of it nowadays.I've never had a problem getting tipped...Of course, it's not exactly the best way to make money. But, I'm never afk, and if I'm not involved in something else, like guildchat or /tells, I interact with the audience. And, when I do that I get tipped. Sometimes, even if I'm not interacting, I think people can tell I am ATK simply because of the way I dance. That is, I rarely even use a macro unless I have to. My dances are varied, there's no repetition, and I use techniques. I also dance in the appropriate style. I do popular when there's a good beat. I do exotic when there's a slow beat. And, guess what, I'm male, and I'm still getting the tips. So, I think it's all about engaging the audience. And, while talking to them certainly helps, actually entertaining by getting a good groove without a macro can be just as engaging to the audience. Maybe only 1% of the people who I dance for tip me. I honestly don't know. I haven't made a count of everyone that comes in and out of the Cantina when I'm dancing. But, even having tips that total 10K during one dancing session is a good session to me.
So, I guess what I'm saying here is that I don't believe that we should enforce tips. I do, however, believe the entertainer missions should pay more and actually WORK. Just like other missions they should be based on your level of expertise, and paid accordingly. Nearly every other profession has this, and so should we. We do have a way to make money, and it's called buffs. Sure, you have to master to actually be viable. But, I see this as no different than most other professions, who generally need to master or get to the top of their tree to really start raking in the money. Selling dancer buffs for 10K a pop is not unheard of and generally very acceptable to the customer.
I do have to take issue with the fact that some people claim that entertaining is not supposed to be a money-making profession, however. I don't see why not. Every other profession is a money maker. Even if it's just with missions, which we should also have. We need to be just as viable making money as any other profession, whether through missions or giving buffs.
Tips, however, should be an extra. Just like I'll pay good money, which I consider a tip of sorts to a tailor who makes me some really great clothing. Or, I'll tip the doctor who heals me and doesn't ask for a tip. Heck, I even STILL tip people who train me from time to time because I appreciatewhat they do for me, even though it appears that some people are paying others for the pleasure of training them. You'll never see me do that. Or, basically, if I appreciate anything somebody does for me, I tip. They are providing me a service that I am thankful for. Common courtesy does, in fact, dictate this. But, for all those people who come in and don't tip, there are several that do, and I'm always psyched when I get one because it feels good to be appreciated. And, it happens often enough that it outweighs all the non-tippers. It warms my heart to get a 100 credit tip from a newbie.
For those of youwho are still at the lower levels of dancing and aren't receiving tips, it's really only a matter of time. If you're engaging and people know you are ATK, you will eventually start to get more and more tips. When you master, you'll have a viable way of making fairly decent money. You just have to wait your turn just like every other profession until you are skilled enough. Just hang in there, and it'll happen.
Metis_Onea wrote:No one should be forced to tip. Let's be honest .. entertainer is not supposed to be a money-making profession. I find that by being social and actually talking to people as they come into the cantina, I get very nice tips and "thank you"s. We are a social profession and therefore, should be social to get tips!If anything needs to be enforced, it's common curtesy.'sides.. if an entertainer is low on cash.. grab a couple missions for the same cantina and do what you would have been doing anyway.
Entertainer not supposed to be a money making profession? Tell that to Paul McCartney...
Seriously, though... I agree with you. I've made great tips since day one as a dancer, and I attribute that to my interaction with patrons. Not just a /greet and a smile, but trying to strike up interesting conversation to help them enjoy their healing stay. Asking if there's a dance they like better than the one I was doing at the time, those kinds of things. The more we cater to our audience, the more appreciative our audience.