Proper Etiquette on Tipping at Children's Birthday Party

Hi,

I am so glad you asked this as most people really don't know what to do! LOL. My first job was as a party captain at Putt Putt when I was 17. I made pretty much minimum wage just like they do at all the party places, Chucky Cheese etc. Whether we are working or just doing normal employee stuff your rate is the same. You are NOT paid extra to run a party. I did about 10-12 from Fri-Sun when I worked so it was pretty crazy. Screaming, crying, running around kids etc. It is very tiring.

I went to a party about a month ago for my daughter and this subject of tiping came up. It was at Leaping Lizards and there is a sign saying Tips are appreciated.

Tips are great! If your party host or captain does a good job meaning they work their butt off to please you then yes tip them! Remember most of them are very young and probably making minimum wage. Most of my parties I made between $15-25 depending on the size of the group etc.

If you are having to do alot of work for the party etc in the party room then cut it down but if the hostess is doing JOB, i.e. cutting cake, passing out food, entertaining, organizing, presents etc. Then please do tip them. I remember tips is where I made my money. My paychecks for 3 days was only like 150 buck so what I made on the tips was really my "paycheck" Oh and oops pay them in CASH.... Just like you do a normal waitress or hairdresser.

HTH

E.

Personally, I thing that tipping a person if they have done a great job for you is very nice. My husband and I are Clowns and it is always nice to receive a tip. We never expect one because we feel that we are already being paid for our services, but it is really nice to know that we performed well enough to be rewarded with a tip. So to answer your question, tip if you feel that the people at the party have done an exceptional job in helping you celebrate your party and keep the stress to a minimum.

By the way, if you need any additional entertainment we offer facepainting, balloon sculptures, comedy magic shows, Glitter Art Tattoos (these are great because the last 5-7 days), friendship bracelets, along with fun interaction and games. We've entertained at birthday parties and large events like the Plano Balloon Festival.

Our prices are very reasonable (we have four great kids of our own so we know how expensive things can get)and we do our best to work within a person's budget.

Please feel free to take a look at our website at www.freewebs.com/bubblesandwowza for samples of our work along with video testimonials from satified customers regarding our performance.

Give us a call at ###-###-#### if you have any questions at all.

Hope you have a great party whatever you decide to do.

Hope to hear from you,
K. Schmidt
Bubbles the Clown
Bubbles and Wowza, LLC

Dear KD,

I own and operate Emler Swim School where we have birthday parties and often our lifeguards are tipped at the end of the party.

Here is our position on tipping our staff. If the employee went above and beyond to make your child's birthday experience special and joyful, please feel free to gift them additional money for making your party a great celebration. Tipping exceptional service personnel is a great way to encourage them to continue great service.

However, I pay my lifeguards to perform their jobs. If they do not go out of their way to make this day special for your child, please do not tip them. Tipping mediocre service personnel rewards them for a job that could have been done better.

$10 per person is fairly typical, but I would pay more or less depending upon how delighted I feel.

Hope this helps. Have fun at your party!

J. Emler

In response to Kathryn R, if the bill doesn't state that gratuity has been added, then it has NOT been added. Even if it has been added (usually 15-18%), it would be shared between all the employees working the party.

It is nearly always appropriate to tip in a service situation, unless the service was poor. Then, the manager should be told WHY there was no tip, or a substandard tip, left. If you just walk away, the only "message" received from the server is that you are cheap! Having been a restaurant manager at one time for over 10 years, I heard all the complaints from my staff about low tips. Many were justified, many were not.

KD, if you are not sure, just call and ask what is usually done. They will either tell you that tips are not necessary, in which case you can still leave one if the service was exceptional. Or they will tell you that tips are up to you but are always appreciated, which is what I tell my clients if they ask. (I own a pet sitting agency.)

I wouldn't tip because it's sure to be wrapped up in the total they are charging you. Sort of like when 8 or more are at a restaurant...they add gratuity to the bill.