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Monday, January 9, 2012
Business The New Thing at The Royal Room
Posted by Charles Mudede on Mon, Jan 9, 2012 at 9:34 AM
- KYLE T. WEBSTER
I recently ran into Jason Finn at The Royal Room, a new music venue in Columbia City owned by the great jazz pianist Wayne Horvitz and the excellent human beings behind the Rendezvous Lounge and Jewel Box Theater (Steve Freeborn and Tia Matthies), and had a brief discussion about how the club allows patrons to directly tip musicians (envelopes are on the tables and the bar). I was not sure about this policy. Finn, however, was all for it. Drawing, I suspect, from his own deep experience in the business, he argued that the only way musicians make money is from shows, and the more ways money could be directed at musicians during a show, the better. How could I argue with that? But what is clear in all of this is that owners of the new club certainly have their hearts in the right place.
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1
In New Orleans, passing the hat or bucket around during club shows is pretty standard. Although, in many of those cases, I believe it is the ONLY pay the musicians receive (the club doesn't give them anything). Still, not a terrible idea. Almost all of us always tip as we order drinks at the bar, why not take care of our musicians.
2
I think it's a great idea. One of the problems with the standard tip jar approach is the aforementioned jar is usually positioned A) uncomfortably close to the stage or performer, or B) somewhere it's likely to go unnoticed, like the bar or exit. Allowing patrons to contribute a little scratch from the safety of their seats is cool.
That the RR is actively encouraging patrons to tip musicians is a great thing.
That the RR is actively encouraging patrons to tip musicians is a great thing.
3
You guys are re-using my drawing from several years ago? Come on, gang! The Stranger is better than this. Do right by your illustrators. - Kyle T. Webster
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