Maitre d' seating tipping?
Steve Miller
On Tue, 13 May 1997 20:21:38 -0400, Lucky...@prodigy.net wrote:
>I'm going to see Drew Carey at the Sands in Atlantic City. What is the
>best way to ensure I get decent seats? How to ask...what to give? Etc.
>Or is it just a matter of getting there early and being 1st in line?
>Any advice would be appreciated!!
My wife and I had an interesting experience at the Las Vegas Hilton a
few years ago while going to see Bill Cosby and Sammy Davis, Jr. As
we moved up to the head of the line, I dug a $5 bill out of my pocket
and held it cupped in my hand. The maitre d' asked if we required
some special seating and I told him to do what he could and discreetly
handed him the bill. We were led to a table that was reasonably close
to the stage. The table had six chairs and was set perpendicular to
the stage. It was also against a railing so there were no tables
directly in front of ours. We were given the two middle chairs.
There was already a couple in the front two chairs and the man turned
around and said, "You must be the $5 tippers." Shortly after, a
couple was led to the back two seats at the table. Again, the man in
front turned around and said to them, "You didn't tip the maitre d',
did you?" They responded that they had not. We then found out that
the couple with the front chairs had tipped $10. So, for $10 the
couple in front had no heads they had to try and see around, my $5
gave us the inconvenience of looking around on one set of heads, and
the poor folks who didn't tip had to try and see around all of us.
I have to say I much prefer reserved seats.
Later,
Steve
Monaco
In my view, this is one of the worst things left over from the "old
Vegas." The worst I've seen is the Desert Inn showroom. They charge
pretty heavily for any show already. They also will leave seats empty
rather than give them away. I recommend sending a letter to hotels that
still use this nonsense. Eventually it will all stop.
article <3381a6bf...@news.ti.com>, smi...@ti.comS says...
Don Strevel
The best way for a fly to not get eaten to to stay out of the web.
The idea from the old days that you have to give the guy with the
seating options $$$ to get a seat is a practice that is wrong, VERY rude
to a guest, and just not right!
If anyone infers that you have to give them $$$ to get a seat,
quietly get their name or something off their name badge. If they are
not wearing one just get the date, and time (they can then look at the
schedule) and a general description. Your not going to get them fired,
and don't tell them that you want their job as you probobly could not
handel it. Just ask to see their supervisor, on the spot. If they him
and haw ask to see the "GM". You have to actually have an issue and
have the ability to communicate it correctly or yur going to look like
one of those cheapies that want ANY reason to try to get something for
free, even a show. Just inform them that you are personally offended
and do not see why they are "holding up" their customers for money,
"more" money. You will be allowed to go in, NOT in preferred seating,
but inb a normal comfortable seat I am sure. Another trick they may try
to pull is to get you out of like and HOLD YOU with idel chit chat~ as
the room fills ! You'll got for it because they will be "chumming you"
by telling you how sad they are, how your just the greatest person
they've ever met in all the 500 years they have been in business. They
just canot believe that this actually happened. Yea right, it happened
an hour ago!
Don't be slowed up, make them take care of it on the spot without
making a scene. A scene could cause security to be summoned and who has
egg on their face then? ...you will.
Tipping the guy with the seating options is wrong and only continues
because people keep trying to do it!
Don
-R.C.Jender
In article <3382C0...@earthlink.net>,
Don Strevel <str...@earthlink.net> wrote:
>Monaco wrote:
>>
...lots of stuff about tipping the maitre'd deleted...
I have no problem with tipping the maitre'd. Hey,
it's probabaly the only thing left of the old
Las Vegas. So, big deal, I give the guy 10-20 bucks to
be in the front row. I'd probably lose it in a slot
machine anyway. I really don't see the big deal.
Does anyone know how much the maitre'ds make as a base
salary (or hourly)?
--
-----------------
Raymond C. Jender
Lucent Technologies
Bell Labs Innovations
MCCLURE JASON MATTHEW
VegasBrat (br...@vegas.com) wrote:
: In article <5m1j8i$o...@ssbunews.ih.lucent.com>, r...@nwsrs.nw.att.com says...
: >
: >In article <3382C0...@earthlink.net>,
: >Don Strevel <str...@earthlink.net> wrote:
: >>Monaco wrote:
: >>>
: >
: >...lots of stuff about tipping the maitre'd deleted...
: >
: >
: > I have no problem with tipping the maitre'd. Hey,
: > it's probabaly the only thing left of the old
: > Las Vegas. So, big deal, I give the guy 10-20 bucks to
: > be in the front row. I'd probably lose it in a slot
: > machine anyway. I really don't see the big deal.
: Yeah, you're right it IS about the only thing left of the old Vegas,
: and I never saw a thing wrong with it. As the old saying goes, you
: get what you pay for, and if a 20 got me where I wanted to be, then
: so much the better. Nothing wrong with that, unless you are anti-
: tipping or tight, in which case you end up where you deserved to be!
I have to disagree with the people in favor of maitre d' seating. If I
pay $50 to buy a show ticket and show up first in line, should I be
seated in the worst seat in the house because I don't bribe the usher?
That doesn't make very much sense. And what if EVERYONE slips the
maitre d' $20? Will we all get the best seats in the house? That seems
unlikely--if the show sells out, someone who tipped $20 is still going to
be stuck with a bad seat.
Here's a possible compromise: If showrooms insist upon employing the
outdated practice of maitre d' seating, everyone should tip AFTER being
seated, rather than before. That way the maitre d' has to attempt to
provide some type of service BEFORE receiving anything, just like waiters,
valets, taxi drivers, etc.
Just a thought,
Jason
THLCCL
Jason writes:
<I have to disagree with the people in favor of maitre d' seating. If I
pay $50 to buy a show ticket and show up first in line, should I be
seated in the worst seat in the house because I don't bribe the usher?<
Can someone give us a little history lesson on maitre d's? I know what
they are and what the do but I was curious about how the GET the job.
I could be dreaming but I think I read somewhere that those jobs are
bought when someone leaves. Any insight from anyone. PLEASE don't slam
me if I was wrong about this!
Boy, I think I probably opened a can of worms with this one! Uh OH!
thanks,
THL...@aol.com
Vacantly Occupied
> Tipping the guy with the seating options is wrong and only continues
>because people keep trying to do it!
>
>Don
Don, I don't know if you are correct or not on this issue, but just a few
questions:
Why is the guy doing the seating (do they call him the "captain"?) any
different from anyone else in Vegas? If the "GM" is to be called if they
"hold you up" for a tip, why does the GM allow the practice to continue? Why
should we tip anyone, if not this guy? <I guess he's not in the cullinary
worker's union!>(no, I don't really WANT to tip anyone!) Why do we tip the
bartender when we collect our 2 drink minimum? Why should we tip the guy in
the crapper? (we don't do this in any other restrooms)
John in OHIO
Naomi Rivkis
Vacantly Occupied <jrm...@bright.net> wrote in article
<5mb0u1$h...@cletus.bright.net>...
> Why is the guy doing the seating (do they call him the "captain"?)
any
> different from anyone else in Vegas? If the "GM" is to be called
if they
> "hold you up" for a tip, why does the GM allow the practice to
continue? Why
> should we tip anyone, if not this guy? <I guess he's not in the
cullinary
> worker's union!>(no, I don't really WANT to tip anyone!) Why do
we tip the
> bartender when we collect our 2 drink minimum? Why should we tip
the guy in
> the crapper? (we don't do this in any other restrooms)
I think the distinction is that, if one elects *not* to tip any
of the other employees, one still receives the merchandise
one paid for. If one paid to see a show and is not permitted
to see it without also tipping the maitre d', because he will
seat you someplace he makes sure you *can't* see, then
he is effectively robbing you of your purchase. The bartender,
if you don't tip him, may scowl at you, but he does not spill
your drinks on the table so you can't make use of what you
bought.
> John in OHIO
-Naomi
Naomi Rivkis
Jay Noh <Anti...@use.address.in.sig> wrote in article
<Anti-Spam-270...@14.phoenix-003.az.dial-access.att.net>...
> In article <01bc6ab6$c3d8f8e0$7a2174cf@computer>, "Naomi Rivkis"
> <nri...@no-spam.worldnet.att.net.please-no-spam> wrote:
> > I think the distinction is that, if one elects *not* to tip any
> > of the other employees, one still receives the merchandise
> > one paid for. If one paid to see a show and is not permitted
> > to see it without also tipping the maitre d', because he will
> > seat you someplace he makes sure you *can't* see, then
>
> Are there really seats that "makes sure you can't see"? If so, I
would think
> the problem is not with the Maitre D', but with the people selling
us the
> tickets to the show knowing that some people with tickets won't be
able to
> see and enjoy the show.
Most theaters have "obstructed view" seats.
> > he is effectively robbing you of your purchase. The bartender,
> > if you don't tip him, may scowl at you, but he does not spill
> > your drinks on the table so you can't make use of what you
> > bought.
>
> FWIW, here is my $0.02...
> 1) Show seats should NOT be equally priced. Good seats should cost
more and
> they should have assigned seats at time of purchase.
> 2) OTOH, if all seats are priced equally, then I see no problem
with the
> Maitre D' seating you at a preferred seat when you tip.
> The bottom line is, some people are willing to pay more/extra to
get a better
> seat, may it be by more expensive assigned seats, or by tipping.
Most other
> mass places like ballparks do this, the closer the seats, the more
expensive.
> Why do people have a hard time with this, especially in a place
like LV?
I have nothing against shows being ticketed at different
prices for different seats. But I want it done officially, not
by way of a bill of uncertain denomination slipped under
cover of darkness to someone who bought his job. When
selling show tickets the hotels ought to offer reserved
specific seats visible on a theater map and identified
individually, like any theater in any other place, and list
the exact price one must pay for each. Paying that price
at the ticketing counter should then yield that particular
seat, with no need to bribe anyone. The extra income to
the hotel would also then permit them to hire ushers who
are competent and willing to deliver service in exchange
for their salary, rather than hiring anybody who can pay
them for the job, without regard for any qualification but
the ability to extort more and more money out of patrons.
> Jay Noh (ni...@asu.edu)
--
Naomi Rivkis
nri...@worldnet.att.net
"All that I have learned from you, all that I have failed to learn,
I will order up again with an overcautious pen,
making models, giving names (nothing ever stays the same),
initiate the change that moves the peripheries of love."
Marilyn
Hacker
Jay Noh
In article <01bc6ab6$c3d8f8e0$7a2174cf@computer>, "Naomi Rivkis"
<nri...@no-spam.worldnet.att.net.please-no-spam> wrote:
> > Why is the guy doing the seating (do they call him the "captain"?)
> any
> > different from anyone else in Vegas? If the "GM" is to be called
> if they
> > "hold you up" for a tip, why does the GM allow the practice to
> continue? Why
> > should we tip anyone, if not this guy? <I guess he's not in the
> cullinary
> > worker's union!>(no, I don't really WANT to tip anyone!) Why do
> we tip the
> > bartender when we collect our 2 drink minimum? Why should we tip
> the guy in
> > the crapper? (we don't do this in any other restrooms)
>
> I think the distinction is that, if one elects *not* to tip any
> of the other employees, one still receives the merchandise
> one paid for. If one paid to see a show and is not permitted
> to see it without also tipping the maitre d', because he will
> seat you someplace he makes sure you *can't* see, then
Are there really seats that "makes sure you can't see"? If so, I would think
the problem is not with the Maitre D', but with the people selling us the
tickets to the show knowing that some people with tickets won't be able to
see and enjoy the show.
> he is effectively robbing you of your purchase. The bartender,
> if you don't tip him, may scowl at you, but he does not spill
> your drinks on the table so you can't make use of what you
> bought.
FWIW, here is my $0.02...
1) Show seats should NOT be equally priced. Good seats should cost more and
they should have assigned seats at time of purchase.
2) OTOH, if all seats are priced equally, then I see no problem with the
Maitre D' seating you at a preferred seat when you tip.
The bottom line is, some people are willing to pay more/extra to get a better
seat, may it be by more expensive assigned seats, or by tipping. Most other
mass places like ballparks do this, the closer the seats, the more expensive.
Why do people have a hard time with this, especially in a place like LV?
--
Jay Noh (ni...@asu.edu) | Save our earth, Greenpeace members kill yourselves!
ASU Dept. of CSE, 5406 | In the end, there can be only one: UNIX.
Tempe, AZ 85287-5406 | #include <disclaimers.h>
Charles A. McCartney
DLeff...@ix.netcom.com wrote:
>
> The "maitre'd system" is quickly being phased out in Las Vegas. When I
> moved here in 1991, I believe the Excalibur was the only showroom to
> have assigned seating. Now, the only room I can think of that still
> uses a maitre'd is the Desert Inn. And possibly (not sure), Aladdin,
> Golden Nugget, Plaza: these are all "small" rooms. A very recent trend
> is the "two-price" room, such as the Lance Burton/Monte Carlo just went
> to. Others are Splash, DeFects, the MardiGras rooms at the Riv.
>
> Comment/criticisms/corrections?
>
> --
> Spam-blocker: Remove "SPAM" in address to reply.
Your tip is now included in the price of your ticket and usually says so
on the ticket itself :-D 15-20% The maitre'd and other showroom
staff end up making more money this way.
DLeff...@ix.netcom.com
Actually, per the union contract, a 17% "gratuity" is collected on
pre-purchased tickets for the server (the one who brings the drinks) if
drinks are included in the price of the ticket. Ushers and maitre'd's
do not share in this 17%. Also on show tickets is a 10% amusement tax
and a 7% state sales tax. A show can cost as much as 34% more than that
advertised price if the words "tax and gratuity included" are not
spelled out. However, if drinks are not included, there is no
gratuity. Likewise, if there is a cash bar, and you serve yourself,
just put something in the bartender's cup.
Scottyb12
Too bad that the only part of " old Las Vegas " left over is one of the
many ways they have to take your money.
Scotty