Handshaking Confuses Me

[sfnate]

Another thread on the forum got me thinking about this again but I don't want to hijack it.

I'm confused about host tipping - what I get for it, who to tip, or even why. Now I'm not stingy: I tip valet's well (faster car retrieval), bellhops (sucky job), waitresses (part of their salary) and bartenders (cheaper, faster drinks). I don't get handshakes though.

Example:

My last LV trip I called up a host from JC on thursday and booked a table for fri. Took about 60 seconds. Friday at tryst I'm told the guy I booked thorugh is at XS, so i text him and he gives me another name to ask for. I walk up to a bouncer and ask for *that* name and the bouncer basically says " get in line and wait like all the other tables". 10 min later a guy with a clipboard walks down the line, I flag him, and get let in.

So: who was i supposed to handshake? The two hosts i never saw, the bouncer who told me to wait in line or the guy with the clipboard? I didn't think the whole chain of events was particularly tip worthy in the sense of "great service", and definitely not worth a tip of 1/6th our total bill. Our table location was kind of poor, so if I had slipped clipboard guy a bill, would we of gotten a better table? Or maybe some sort of special?

I get that if I deal with one guy all weekend and he sets up a bunch of shit, or hooks me up with a killer table or killer bottle deal - yea, I'm totally down for slipping him a strong tip. But for a three person hand-off at 10:30 on friday and a wait in line?

P.s. not trying to insult anyone.. i'm honestly curious. I don't like being "that douche who doesn't tip" but I like being a chump less

[UpperRiver]

I find it all equally confusing. In that situation I probably would have given it to the host you were told to ask for but seeing as how you never saw them either I have no idea so my response is basically pointless lol

[clientele]

doesnt sound worthy of a tip

[Guest]

I never even walk up to the line until my hosts texts me and confirms hes waiting for me a designated location by the ropes. Then at that point you can handshake your guy. If your host can't do that on a regular basis, then hes probably not meant for you

[BSM]

If I can't find the host, or if he/she is busy seating another table, I'll try to find out who's running the table reservation line, get their attention and slip them something ($20, $50 depending on the night and the club) to get bumped up from waiting too long.

I'll also tip the walk-in host, regardless if it is the host I used to secure the reservation or not.

I'll make my best effort to try and contact the host I worked with on the reservation, but sometimes it just doesn't work out. But it's a "Pay it Forward" type of business, where if they do well by me, I'll reserve through them again and again and tell folks here, and others who visit, to contact them for their arrangements.

[sfnate]

I never even walk up to the line until my hosts texts me and confirms hes waiting for me a designated location by the ropes. Then at that point you can handshake your guy. If your host can't do that on a regular basis, then hes probably not meant for you

that sounds like a good strategy!

[Freshness]

If your made to wait and your host isnt even there then definitely no tip for anyone involved.

[BigPimp]

I think the host tip serves two purposes - to reward the host for good service (waiting for you or has another host waiting for you at the door so you spend limited time in line) and to buy a good table location. If neither of those two is satisfactory, then your tip should reflect that. But, like Royale said, I don't get in line until the host knows I am there and is waiting for me (or has someone waiting for me).

[Nickal01]

Just curious, when should the VIP host be tipped? As soon as you meet them so that you can possibly get a better table? Maybe once they seat you?

[Guest]

Just curious, when should the VIP host be tipped? As soon as you meet them so that you can possibly get a better table? Maybe once they seat you?

Its up to you, but most people tip them before they get seated. Also do it when you are alone with the guy, and be slick about it. If the manager is there, then they will have to refuse it.

[Matt]

I think it confused you because your experience is not typically what should happen. I'll arrange to meet my host somewhere, and they'll be there and walk me in to the table, at which point I tip them.

In the event that they're not able to take you in personally you should ask for the number for the other host so you can arrange to meet them and the same process should happen, just with a different host.

[dnix]

That's why I always try and book with a host that's at the club I'm booking.

[Oakley2414]

great post.. i've had this question but kinda afraid to post it..

My part was for guest list. I wanted to tip the host who put me on their guest list but never got to see them. What do I end up doing then?

[dnix]

Don't worry about it. Not really an expectation for tipping for G/L. Only for escorted entry or tables.

[sidewalk]

I always try and talk w/ the host who booked us, but two times that didn't happen. One time last year, I didn't tip the host who seated us, because I was expecting the booking host to come around to the table and I'd handshake him as he got us a b1g1. He never came around and I felt bad for not taking care of anyone.

Then one time this year, we got let in/seated by another host and I handshook him instead. Then the host we booked with came around and was expecting a tip. Kind of awkward...Not sure if hosts pool tips or not.

I think from now on, I'm just going to try and always be seated by the person we booked with, even if it means waiting a few minutes more.