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

[Kinar100]

When i got to XS she brought me a menu. I ordered two bottles and she brought them out. (I had previously given my buddy $250 to tip host for our table and minimum). I have the runner $20 and I think my friend tipped security for me.

She brought out both bottles and (Absolut $510 per i believe) told me she couldn't open them until I paid since i was paying in cash. I said that is fine. I received a bill for around $1307 (i don't have receipt anymore). I paid in cash, she opened bottles and took my ID. We drank and at the end of the night she came back and said that people usually tip around $100 per bottle. I threw her $200 and called it a night. It was what my high school friend i used as a host had told me the total would be. Am i missing something here?

I had been reading hundreds of these threads for months prior to going and ended up knowing more than he did which i found funny. I want to do this entire thing on my own without using him this next time but I am going with 5-6 guys that once again, have never been at a table, purchased one, read anything on one etc etc etc. So i want to be as informed as possible. Thanks again.

I guess if Auto Grat is included in bill i get (that i then pay in cash so she can open each bottle) does this leave an opening for worse service as I am then kind of showing her my hand (tip) at the beginning of the night (which is then included in the closed minimum bill)? I don't really mind as once we get all 3 bottles we wont need any more service for the most part. I just figured the waitress tip came at the end depending kind of on her service (with the obvious minimum and then more if she was friendly/outstanding)

[headstrong]

First, Yeah that extra $200 that went to the waitress sounds unnecessary. Tax and autograt are charged when the bill comes. It is added automatically to the bill.

The only difference is that with a credit card you can opt to close it at the end of the night instead of at the beginning to include any other charges (red bulls, shots, beers). I would assume you could close out with one card/cash and re-open with another for those type of things.

Typically you pay the following:

Host Tip
Bill: What you ordered + tax (8%) + Auto grat (20%) + LET (where applicable)
Security Tip
Runner Tip

All of the tips are at your discretion, but you'll definitely get more VIP treatment with (better) tips. As far as your numbers - Absolute at $510 washes. 2 @ 510 = 1020 + 28% (tax and autograt) = $1307.00

Lastly, auto-grat is an industry/service practice. It's even common at restaurants when you have 6+ people. Yeah there is a chance you get worse service with auto-grat, but it's an industry standard. I personally/normally wouldn't tip a waitress with auto/grat included, unless they went above and beyond, but even then 18-20% is more than enough, especially based off of 500+ dollar bottles.

[Chuck]

XS doesn't do autograt. Make sure you read your receipt. If autograt is included it will say it. I have a receipt from last September and there's a big black stamp that says "Gratuity NOT included".

[headstrong]

My bad for the misinformation.

It doesn't make sense that they charged you $1307 then because at $510 a bottle 28% is pretty much the exact math (unless 20% is a service fee that they don't count as gratuity, which to me would be nuts. However, it wouldn't surprise me.

[Kinar100]

Damn lol. Well it was a fun night. That $200 would have been nice to know about. Live and learn.

Thanks for the info. Sounds about right and I will be going through a JC host for LIGHT this coming march.

[headstrong]

Same here, we got 3 weeks! For sure hitting Tryst 3/13 and then probably 1oak 314 or 3/15 and try to get in GA for Light the other day. Also trying to get my group into going to the pools, but it's an uphill battle due to budgets. I'm pumped!

[Kinar100]

If you happen to be at LIGHT that saturday shoot me an email [email protected] (IT guy, i check that stuff religiously) and come have a drink if we happen to grab that table.

[DeX]

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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sorry if some of these were answered i didnt read through all posts.

If you were expecting a better table location with the tip I would let the host know when you book the table what you plan on tipping and if it can get you a better table location. you give that tip when you first meet the host outside the clubs, which he should be there to put your slip in and expedite your entry.

When a host can't walk you to a table personally, it's simply because he has to be up front waiting for other clients or one of his bosses asked him to do something, at that point the clubs have table runners(not to be confused with bussers) who will walk you to the table. They're merely walking you to the table that has been assigned to you. Point is, always tip the host you booked the table with. If he's not there that night, that's when you tip whoever is dealing with your table on site because usually the reservation will say +$XXX if you agreed to a tip

[Kinar100]

Thanks for confirming. I was under that impression but glad to have it verified.