How much do your tip your VIP Host for bottle service?

[k97jw04]

We usually tip the waitress 20%, but how much do you guys tip the VIP Host that you make the reservation through? If a different person seats you do you tip both people?

Do you tip more if its a group of 8-10 guys vs a mixture of guys / girls? I definitely don't want to "under-tip" someone, but I don't want to throw money away either.

[dnix]

read this

http://jackcolton.com/las_vegas_tipping_guide.htm

[nyc2vegas]

I usually just have each guy throw in $20 each to tip the host, I collect it before we leave the hotel so I can nonchalantly give it to him, if there is only 4 of us ill have each throw in $25 and of course 20% for the waitress

[k97jw04]

Thanks guys, although the article didn't really help as this is all it says:

Your VIP Host.
There are a million and one different types of "VIP Hosts" in Las Vegas. Some get you limousines and hard-to-get tickets at no charge, some get you into a nightclub, and some simply sit you down at your booth and introduce you to your cocktail waitress. How much you tip your VIP Host depends entirely on the host and the service they have given you. I’d say $75 on the low end and $1,000 on the high end.

[nyc2vegas]

if you need anything else let us know

[dnix]

Thanks guys, although the article didn't really help as this is all it says:

Your VIP Host.
There are a million and one different types of "VIP Hosts" in Las Vegas. Some get you limousines and hard-to-get tickets at no charge, some get you into a nightclub, and some simply sit you down at your booth and introduce you to your cocktail waitress. How much you tip your VIP Host depends entirely on the host and the service they have given you. I’d say $75 on the low end and $1,000 on the high end.

Cause its really up to you. I dont think a host will be insulted with $100 tip, but Ive tipped more to a bartender. It just depends on the service. If a host at Tao seats me at or near Table 63, hes getting a huge tip. If he seats me in the hallway, he gets the standard $100 tip.

[k97jw04]

OK - so if the host you made the reservation through checks you in, but someone else seats you, what do you do? Tip the person that seats you? This happened to me at Jet once.

Also, a couple years ago at another club we had 8 guys and everything was set. The VIP Host calls me at the last second and says "$300 and I'll get you a good table." Is this standard business practice in Vegas? We did it b/c that particular weekend we didn't care and had guys willing to spend the money. But $300 seems like quite a bit for just the VIP Host. How do you handle this situation.

Thanks NYC and Dnix for all your advice.

[k97jw04]

Since you guys are being helpful - where am I going to get the most hip-hop and Top 40 and the least house music... out of Tao, Tryst, Pure, Jet, and XS?

[dnix]

OK - so if the host you made the reservation through checks you in, but someone else seats you, what do you do? Tip the person that seats you? This happened to me at Jet once.

Also, a couple years ago at another club we had 8 guys and everything was set. The VIP Host calls me at the last second and says "$300 and I'll get you a good table." Is this standard business practice in Vegas? We did it b/c that particular weekend we didn't care and had guys willing to spend the money. But $300 seems like quite a bit for just the VIP Host. How do you handle this situation.

Thanks NYC and Dnix for all your advice.

Ive never heard of this happening, but it doesnt surprise me with Jet. Its not one of my favorites, to say the least. The doormen can be greedy too.

Since you guys are being helpful - where am I going to get the most hip-hop and Top 40 and the least house music... out of Tao, Tryst, Pure, Jet, and XS?

I would say all of them would be pretty close to the same, when it comes to music.

[Guest]

Host

We usually tip the waitress 20%, but how much do you guys tip the VIP Host that you make the reservation through? If a different person seats you do you tip both people?

Do you tip more if its a group of 8-10 guys vs a mixture of guys / girls? I definitely don't want to "under-tip" someone, but I don't want to throw money away either.

Tip just one person.. and yes if the group is all guys u should tip more in my option because that is a harder group to work with VS mixed groups.. !!!

I usually just have each guy throw in $20 each to tip the host, I collect it before we leave the hotel so I can nonchalantly give it to him, if there is only 4 of us ill have each throw in $25 and of course 20% for the waitress

This is a good rule but there is no rules on this but to give a good time and you should tip based on service..

Thanks guys, although the article didn't really help as this is all it says:

Your VIP Host.
There are a million and one different types of "VIP Hosts" in Las Vegas. Some get you limousines and hard-to-get tickets at no charge, some get you into a nightclub, and some simply sit you down at your booth and introduce you to your cocktail waitress. How much you tip your VIP Host depends entirely on the host and the service they have given you. I’d say $75 on the low end and $1,000 on the high end.

If a host saves you a $1000 on a table bill (i know because i do this all the time for my clients you should give an extra good time and they will always take good care of you.. but any tip is good because we work on tip here in vegas..

OK - so if the host you made the reservation through checks you in, but someone else seats you, what do you do? Tip the person that seats you? This happened to me at Jet once.

Also, a couple years ago at another club we had 8 guys and everything was set. The VIP Host calls me at the last second and says "$300 and I'll get you a good table." Is this standard business practice in Vegas? We did it b/c that particular weekend we didn't care and had guys willing to spend the money. But $300 seems like quite a bit for just the VIP Host. How do you handle this situation.

Thanks NYC and Dnix for all your advice.

Anyone that gives you options is doing a good thing because you get what you pay for but if that person said u have to upgrade or tip $300.00 for him to give you good service that u got took and a lot of host/ companies/ promoter/ people have and done this in vegas because we have such a high turn over rate in this industry. P.M. me for more info on deals and VIP Options i can offer to you.

Since you guys are being helpful - where am I going to get the most hip-hop and Top 40 and the least house music... out of Tao, Tryst, Pure, Jet, and XS?

All these clubs are good but its all about the week of/ day of the week because we dont know until the last min. whats going on or who will show up.

Thanks Michael

[nyc2vegas]

if someone did that to me and asked for $300 for a better table id tell them to go F#$% themsleves and go somewhere else!!

"This is a good rule but there is no rules on this but to give a good time and you should tip based on service.. "

yes I always tip on service but I tend to tip on the higher end at times because I have worked on tips and I know what it is like to work on tips....and I also know the people that I am getting hosted by at this point so I know what the service is going to be like and they have taken care of me so much now that they truly deserve it.

[Kinar100]

Sorry for reviving this thread but I couldn't necessarily gleam a clear answer from the previous posts.

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-Scenario-

I request a table a few weeks out, contact a host, get a location id like pinned down, a minimum and my group size (6 guys)

I contact the host a few days before and then the day of, making sure everything is in order.

I show up before opening and contact the host to begin the transaction. He tells me to come to the table line and I meet him in person for the first time.

*QUESTION* At this point, upon first contact and with my group ready to enter the club, do I give the host the handshake agreed upon? (On a sat night with a 6 man group looking for a lower minimum in a decent but not spectacular location for a headliner, the $250-400 range seem reasonable?)


Assuming the above is correct, I hand the host the money, he enters it into a log, my group gets stamped/ticketed and we roll to a table.

*QUESTION* Lets say my host is a busy person and won't necessarily walk me all the way to the table (is this common/uncommon?), if someone else does, do I tip them anything?

*QUESTION* Once at the table do I have a designated security person within our zone that I can then tip? If so, do I in the beginning hand him a tip?

*QUESTION* After we are seated and I meet our runner, do I then tip him as well or wait till the end? or tip in beginning and end? (probably the latter as it will provide better service i would assume)

The waitress then appears, shows me a menu. I order the bottles, waitress takes ID, (in my scenario i am going to want them delivered at 11:00 12:00 and 1:00) I pay in cash for all 3 and then we sit down to drink.

Night goes on, we drink bottles, we decide to leave around 3:00 AM and I get my ID back. Now since I paid in all CASH, do I pay the gratuity at the end of the night in cash to the waitress or is that included in the original cash bottle price?

I then leave the club with my buds after emptying my pockets and all is good.

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[headstrong]

*QUESTION* At this point, upon first contact and with my group ready to enter the club, do I give the host the handshake agreed upon? (On a sat night with a 6 man group looking for a lower minimum in a decent but not spectacular location for a headliner, the $250-400 range seem reasonable?)

You give him at LEAST the agreed upon amount when you meet him at door or as you are sat at table. General rule of thumb is $100 per bottle, but some clubs like XS force $500+ host tips for great locations. You can easily negotiate this ahead of time.

Lets say my host is a busy person and won't necessarily walk me all the way to the table (is this common/uncommon?), if someone else does, do I tip them anything?

You only need to host tip one person. If it's a different host working the door and your host is off or somewhere else, you tip that person. I would try to communicate that ahead of time. You dont need to tip the host and then another person.

Once at the table do I have a designated security person within our zone that I can then tip? If so, do I in the beginning hand him a tip?

Yes and Yes.

After we are seated and I meet our runner, do I then tip him as well or wait till the end? or tip in beginning and end? (probably the latter as it will provide better service i would assume)

I would tip him at the beginning and I think that is best.

Now since I paid in all CASH, do I pay the gratuity at the end of the night in cash to the waitress or is that included in the original cash bottle price?

You pay auto-grat/tax like you would at any venue/restaurant, when the check comes (either right after your order all of the bottles or at the end of the night when you close your tab) it will be a line item. It IS NOT included in the listed bottle price on the menu.

[Kinar100]

Awesome. Makes sense. Eventually i will find all my posts with your guys great answers and compile a massive BEST answer thread heh.

Regarding that last question. I am going to most likely pay in cash upfront for 2-3 bottles although i might end up opening another tab for beers/drinks or using my CC later in the night.

At XS the waitress brought me two bottles and i paid $1307 in cash right there. She took my ID and at the end of the night, i got my ID back and gave her $200.

Would this be the same setup at LIGHT?

Btw, thanks for being my #1 question answerer lol. Much appreciated.

I could actually make a wiki for this too which could be useful for examples and scenarios. Maybe later.

[headstrong]

The money you paid up front should have been closing your tab at that point for the bottles you ordered, which would include tax and auto-grat. The extra $200 at the end of the night was on your own accord.

Here's the flow of prcing:

Host Minimum Spend Agreed upon -> Menu provided with bottle prices (excluding tax/autograt) -> Bottles ordered -> Tab closed and bill provided with bottles and tax/autograt - pay the bill.

Not the timing of that flow is generally up to you. You can leave your tab open and pay at the end pr purchase your bottles up to the minimum spend up front. That is your choice. I personally like to close out the tab up front so I am not on the hook for any of my groups rash purchases. Also, make sure the waitress knows ahead of time who can actually order bottles.

When did you get the bill? All clubs can be handled in a similar manner (with minor/slight variations).