Tipping

[Grog12]

Has anyone ever heard of actors tipping your props and or costumer? Especially in a proffesional environment?

[Footer]

I've seen gifts at opening for either a personal or head dresser, or if its someone that really interacts a lot with the actor. Never seen or heard of tipping, that sounds really really odd. Great job, heres a 20 spot.

[Van]

it's a long standing practice to tip a dresser or costumer, especially on touring shows where you're using local costumers/dressers. I've never heard of tipping anyone else though.

[Footer]

Originally Posted by Van

it's a long standing practice to tip a dresser or costumer, especially on touring shows where you're using local costumers/dressers. I've never heard of tipping anyone else though.

I need to go back to costuming then.

[Van]

Yeah, but you gotta be a dresser and deal with that angst. Besides, they never let men do dressing anymore, Well maybe for La Cage a Follies.

[Logos]

First it's "La Cage aux Folles".
Second why on earth aren't men allowed to be dressers, they are usually very good even the straight ones. (Disclaimer: I unreservedly apologise to everyone.)
Thirdly: In the one night touring industry in the UK especially with the old school performers, we almost always were given 20 pounds or more by the tour headliner "To buy the crew a drink." I also believed that tips for dressers were standard. In Stratford on Avon the dressers were usually volunteers who simply wanted to work at the RSC. The only income they got was tips from the cast. This may have changed in the last ten or so years.

[derekleffew]

In the olden days of Las Vegas, it was common for Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, etc., to tip all the stagehands. These days, almost all who used to tip are dead. Generally a wad of cash (or chips) was given to the Stage Manger to divide it up however he wanted. At a theatre in Chicago, as Stage Manager, an <un-named> comedian gave me a C-note and told me to "divide this among the crew." I wanted to throw it back at him, as he was such a putz, but didn't want my crew to suffer. Did he really think I'd have change for a hundred? I broke it at the box office the next day and equally divided it.

[Spikesgirl]

Originally Posted by Van

Yeah, but you gotta be a dresser and deal with that angst. Besides, they never let men do dressing anymore, Well maybe for La Cage a Follies.

Van - have to share. Chris and I were dressers for a touring company of "Chorus Line" that blew through Stockton. I got to dress the guys and he got to dress the women...how jacked is that, I thought until I realized that most of the guys were gay and more comfortable with women dressing them. Same with the actresses. Have to say though, having a guy running full speed at you with nothing but a dance belt on is pretty...ummm, right word, right word...let's just say I kept praying he'd hit the costume and not me!

And we do have male dressers at our theater. No tips though...stingy bunch!

[DaveySimps]

At a road house I use to work at, Bill Cosby would perform for one weekend each year. Every year, he would send the runner out to buy dinner and drinks for the crew and himself (in addition to the catering that was already supplied per his contract). He is a big of LaFayette Coney Island in Detroit.

~Dave

[soundman]

Originally Posted by derekleffew

an <un-named> comedian gave me a C-note and told me to "divide this among the crew." I wanted to throw it back at him, as he was such a putz, but didn't want my crew to suffer. Did he really think I'd have change for a hundred? I broke it at the box office the next day and equally divided it.

I would have taken the crew out for beer and pizza and started a tab a 100 should cover a few pizzas and one round of drinks for the crew. Unless this comedian requested loaders fly man electricians and sound ops, then it might get a little tight.