Tips for Solo Acoustic Gigs -How To Get More Tips

Have you wondered how to get more tips at your gigs? Getting more cash tips at your solo acoustic gigs is like getting a pay raise. Musicians have the perfect opportunity to make more money by learning some of these tricks and suggestions to boost your tips at you music gigs.
In this video I will share some do’s and don’ts of using a tip cup effectively. I hope enjoy this video and it helps you make more money via tips at your solo gigs and makes you a more profitable musician. #soloacousticguitar #soloperformance #acousticguitar #acousticcover #acousticcovers
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[Santaheckler]

Here’s something that’s worked well for me over the years. I get smaller, inexpensive 3x3 stickers with my logo on them. I will get them for around 10 cents a piece in large quantities. I have them for free in a box next to my tip jar. I will a few times during the show let people I have free stickers and to help themselves. It gets people up there to grab a sticker or two and they always seem to drop a few bucks in the jar. It’s also a way I can thank people if I need to on my break. Always give them to a kid if you can, they will show their parents and it’ll end up with a $1 tip at minimum. The way I see it, they are getting something to take home or whatever. It’s a great way to promote yourself too. Always cool to see your stickers on the bathroom stall. 🤣👍

[jeffwickermusic]

My nephew had the best idea for tips that I have ever seen.
He took about a quart size opaque plastic bucket, wrote “Tips” on it, and mounted a very low wattage light bulb, in the bottom, so that the whole bucket lights up. It’s not obnoxiously bright, but just bright enough so that people can easily see it. This works very well! 😎👍🎸

[ThatSingerDude]

I have a 30oz beer cup I use.I push the money down when it starts getting full. Do not get a Glass jar.I had a gig where an employee was drunk(11:am in the morning) and knocked it over and it broke. The staff was so pissed at that guy.

[Dinga]

You’re a true genuine soul Frank, thanks for what you do. 👏👏🇦🇺

[humanimal]

Excellent knowledge here man. As an aspiring solo musician I appreciate it!

[mr.mikeaz]

I like using a desk bell on the floor to tap with your foot when someone tips just like busking

[tonymullins]

Long time solo, duo and band performer here and just want to compliment you on the video. This is GREAT information for players of all skill levels. Here are a few things that work for me:

1) Set your tip jar slightly away from you or at least away from the lights of the stage. A lot of the people in the crowd just aren't comfortable walking right up to center stage in front of God and everyone to drop a fiver (or wtvr) into your jar. Your idea of placing it closer to the door is a solid suggestion that plays into this idead.
2) Seed money! Put a fiver in there or tape one to the bottom just as a reminder.
3) Tip your waitresses! I always hand over part of my/our tips if someone on the wait staff is helping us. Additionally, it's great etiquette to remind the crowd to take care of the wait staff and the bar keep. I'm not sure if it actually puts any $$$ in my jar, but it's certainly good Karma and endears you to the other folks working the venue.
4) Ask for requests! People will frequently tip you if you play the songs they ask for. Once you get a good stack of napkins (with written requests on them as is common it seems in our business) going, this will often get even more requests sent your way. Like you said, if you don't know 'em, learn 'em and make sure you tell the folks out in the audience as much. If you don't want to play Freebird (who does?), do Simple Man or Give Me Three Steps, just anything else by Skynyrd (just as an example).

[luckyhaskins]

And this is why you work Frank. You have tons of respect for the craft, and the business.
I played a Saint Paddy's Day gig and I was right by the door. My tip jar hanging off the railing i was next to.. I made sever hundred in tips cuz it was right at the door. And the joint was swinging all night long.
2 tricks of mine are to always learn the name of every staff member and thank them on the microphone.. such as " sally is having tons of fun serving you tonight but don't forget she is not doing it just for fun folks.." always win over the staff.. When the boss comes in to count the money and asks the staff " how was the act " they will all say - very good. hire him again.
I am often known to tip out the bar tender after i get paid as well. especially if i did really well on tips. after all, it is a team effort to get that money out of the customers pockets...we are all there for the same reason..
Win over the staff, and you have a solid gig.
by the way, I will give ya a freebie here brother, i have used for years....
" thank you folks, time for every one to leave their loved ones and go home to their dependents"
lol

[RobinRowley]

Thanks Frank. Great tips for tips brother. Keep on. You are good.

[ttaurus]

Amazing how much we think alike. Great video sir. Also one thing that has worked wonderfully for me is make sure to say goodbye as the people are heading out. lots of time they aren't thinking about tipping and this gets there attention.

[WEdHarris]

Very Informative! Great tips! Thanks so much!!

[WichitaJackMusic]

Great video! If the venue is indoors, or at an outdoor gig that isn’t too windy, I will leave my guitar case (I play acoustic electric) open on the floor at the front of my setup. It helps to conceal my pedals and cables, and also gives a sort of old school busker vibe. I’ll seed it with two ones and a five, so the people instantly recognize that that is where the tips go. As the night goes on and it fills up, it gives people a great visualization of the fact that others have enjoyed your music enough to leave something, and encourages them to leave something as well. If wind is a factor, I keep a basic, plain jar, set it on the closed guitar case, and again seed it a bit. I never ask, and always thank for everyone who drops anything in. At the end of the day, playing music is about making an emotional connection with the people in the audience, and if you do, they will be eager to leave you something extra for it.

[dennyps]

Great video, I really enjoyed all of the helpful suggestions. The one that really made sense and took me by surprise was the PayPal QR code. I never even thought of it. Took me less than 5 minutes to set up.

[tlsallada]

I use a goldfish bowl and glued a dollar bill on the inside. It really seemed to help plant the seed to give a tip.

[becomeaudible]

I like to put little sayings on my tip can. The can is large enough to put a card on the side so I will put sayings like “ skews me while I tip this guy” Or “I dare you to try and fill it”. It makes people smile and sometimes they will put a bit more in. Works well.

[Greenjagsurf]

Thanks for this! I've been thinking about busking for a while. This is cool stuff to think about. I've been thinking about a cute sign.

[MrMikeonguitar]

I have a plastic picher for a tip jar. My wife used a Cricut to make the TIPS lettering that she put on it. There is a bar that I play in and I think because of the many people that are seated, not many people see it. So even though crowd response is good, i normally do not get a lot of tips. One day i lined the pitcher with small, cheap battery operated LED's. Seems like it helps!

[adamrafferty]

Hey Frank!!! Adam Rafferty here - hope you are rockin it!!!!

[BlindPidePiper]

My playing partner and I have decided that we are content with what we get paid and annouce a couple of times to give any tip they would give us to their bartender/server. This creates good will with the venue and it's employees.

[johnsather]

Frank, thanks for this video. For the first year of my acoustic duo act, I felt that a tip cup was kind of a pandering stunt, and thought that what I was getting paid was enough. Like you, I finally came around when people were coming up more and more wanting to leave a tip. The only comment I do have is that I have seen solo acts put a giant 5 gallon bucket with a giant TIPS sign on it, or I saw someone with a very large clear plastic jug with a light placed into the jar along with the TIPS lettering on the side, sitting on a stool as if the tip jar was another performer. I felt they overdid the gesture and made the act of asking for tips larger than the gig. It’s definitely an art form in placing a tip jar to make it easier for tippers who want to tip.