Table 1 :5 dollars(refused)
Table 2 :5 dollars(refused)
Table 3 :5 dollars(refused)
Table 4 :10 dollars(accepted)
Table 5 :15 dollars(accepted)

Total refused:10 dollars
Total money made: 25 dollars

Average money per table: 5 Dollars

So it's Possible right?

Umm yeah, but highly unlikely because it still makes no sense. Why would you accept $10 at one table, and refuse $5 at 3 other tables, thus equaling $15? That would be blatant stupidity, and you obviously are NOT doing magic for a living. Even a kid living at home would take $5 tips. They add up big later, and will earn you far more money in the long run.

Yeah I'm totall with you on this. Why refuse money? That is only 5 tables, and you've already made an extra $15. Not think if you could do 20 tables in an hour, then that's $60 extra then what you would have gotten, and besides if you refused the tip wouldn't that kind of be rude? I never have refused a tip at all of my table hopping jobs...it just seems rude...

-Trix

WOAH WOAH WOAH! Who let the mathematician in here!

lol, since when does that equal 10 dollars?

LOL, yeah exactly. I guess that table really wanted to make up for his other refusals. What nice customers! Well since this magician is an idiot, we will make up for his losses! Yes you are darn right it would be rude. If you are relying on magic to put bread on the table, you ain't going to be pushing money back.

This just makes you look like a pompous jerk, and implying that your customers/audience's money is not good enough for you, and they are "cheap." You are far better off performing for free in this case, and taking NO tips period. This type of attitude could even cost you your job, and LOWER your tips overall. Many would rather not tip you at all if they know you are going to refuse what they can afford.

So what if 8 people all offered you $5 at a large table? You going to turn them all down one by one?

Turning down 8 people at one table -$40.00
Turning down 60 people who offered $5 tips the whole night -$300.00
Complete and udder stupidity -Priceless.

Hold it one minute Total refused is not $10 it is $15 (Tables 1, 2, &3 = 3 tables @$5) Then you get $25 from 3 tables. OK this averages $5 a table, however, this scenario doesn't happen that often. Plus you have just urinated off three tables worth of people. Now if you're lucky these people just won't come back. But they very well may go to the manager or to corporate and gripe about the ungrateful little SOB that wouldn't accept a $5 because it was too small. Then you're looking for another restaurant plus your reputation for upsetting customers will be at every restaurant you go to.

Way to burn good gigs for everyone.

What do you do with $1 tips? Does anyone turn them down? What if someone dug some loose change out of their pockets and tried to give it to you as a tip? Would you turn it down? What if it really was all the person could afford? I'd never turn down a $5 tip though, I don't live in Malibu.

I should probably explain what I do better. The reason I average $5 a table is because even though I turn down a lot of small tips ($1's-5's), I still do except some of those, simply because the people insist. I don't just flat out refuse tips. I explain that I'm being paid by the restaurant, and they don't need to tip me. However, there are still quite a few people who do insist on tipping. At every table I go to, I explain that I'm hired by the restaurant, and the service I'm bringing is free of charge. I do this because I've found that in the area that I work at, it is the easiest and most effective way to approach tables. Which allows me to decline tips without offending anyone. It also gives me the perfect timing to introduce my business card.

My purpose at a restaurant is to bring home new gigs, and contacts. I still make a nice amount from the restaurant, but I'm not worried about making the money there. Which is why I will decline tips. I've also found that if I decline tips, the wait-staff ends up being tipped more. That's just the case I've found out in my area. I know it's different in other areas, but if I decline tips, the customers usually leave them for the waiters. Which makes them happier, and they cooperate with me a lot better.

So, I should have explained my position much better. But I've never had a bad experience with the way I go about collecting tips. I've never had a complaint, and I get many of the same customers back to see me.

Falling, I do accept tips and the wait staff still has higher tips when I'm there. Last Fri I was at Joe's Crab Shack for my usual gig. as I left one of the waitresses came up a kissed me. Right on the lips. Then gave me a hug and said "Thanks." That one threw me, never had it happen before. Turned out one of the tables I entertained at gave her a $25 tip and told her they really enjoyed my show.

Sometime the fringe benefits are BODACIOUS!!!

Hahaha thats fantastic

I dont take the tips, I say instead, would you let your waiter know that they had a great time with the magic, and to let the manager know that aswell. That way you can get a raise, or even keep your job.

Do you even do restaurant work? I have a contract with every restaurant that I do. I'm hired with them usually for 6 months. And after four months, my contract can be reviewed, and usually it ends with my time at the restaurant being extended. So it doesn't seem like you know quite what you're talking about.

Paddy- That's fantastic. I can't say that's ever happened to me. I do see what you're saying though. And I know in other parts of the country, it's true. I've done a little work in South Dakota, and I accepted all tips there. And it worked great. But from my experience here, the people are just a little too stingy. When I first started here, I took all tips. And it didn't seem to work out as well because customers didn't want to tip the waiters as much. Which is why I started declining smaller tips, as those were the people I figured didn't want to part with as much money. But the tables who do insist on tipping, on tip higher; do tip the waiters higher as well, just like you said.

fallen, yes i do work. And with what you said, I may be wrong but getting a contract is very risky because if that restaurant burns down (or somthing happens to it) they are resposible for you getting paid (if the contract isn't expired yet.

What are you on about. For one the chances of that are close to zero, Two, you get paid per night anyway, the contract only ensures you are there every week.

Not having a contract is the most stupid thing iv seen, what if they decide not to pay you? No guarantee they will use you again.

For someone that does restaurants, you are very immature and seem to lack sense.