DM Tip Jar -- is that going too far?

[Tewligan]

Put down another tally for someone surprised at all the negative responses. They put tip jars at Starbucks for crying out loud. I can't believe that the general American populous is willing to hand over their change from a $5 cup of coffee, but the general gaming community is not willing to fork anything over to a person who spends their time and effort to entertain you.

Presumably, the DM gets enjoyment from running the game, though. I doubt that your friendly neighborhood barista wakes up in the morning and says "All right! I can't wait to serve some coffee and muffins today!" There sure are some odd analogies running around in this thread.

 

[Ourph]

I wouldn't have a problem with a sign saying it's $3.00 to sign up for the game, but a tip jar isn't the same thing. With an upfront charge, people know they are expected to pay or not participate. A tip jar seems passive-aggressive in a way. You're not forcing people to pay, but you're basically labeling them as cheapskates or unappreciative if they don't. An upfront fee lets people make their choice at the outset, rather than putting in $3 and then feeling guilty after the guy next to them puts in a $10 bill.

 

[Driddle]

I pay my female players a few bucks here and then for wearing skimpy outfits and jiggling their dice a lot before each roll. (shrug) The entire world is about commerce. Experience points or dollars, what does it really matter?

 

[+5 Keyboard!]

I pay my female players a few bucks here and then for wearing skimpy outfits and jiggling their dice a lot before each roll. (shrug) The entire world is about commerce. Experience points or dollars, what does it really matter?

LOL.
Thanks for the laugh.

 

[Samnell]

My players used to jokingly offer me bribes. I told them I only accepted large bills or, to riff an old SNL skit, "Ten minutes in the Woodshed...anything goes."

 

[cougent]

I'm going to start running monthly rpg sessions at a local game cafe with an open sign up. I considered sticking out a GM tip jar to help offset the costs of game books and supplies. I wouldn't make a big deal out of it and I certainly wouldn't hound people to tip.

If you played in a game and your GM put out a tip jar, would you be offended?

In answer to your question, No I would not be offended but I also would not put anything in.

Now if there was a weekly fee, like $5, to play in the game used to cover costs of things like GM provided minis, battle mats, additional source books or adventures, then I would gladly pay it (and have in just such a scenario).

When we did the community pizza and coke fund we took care of the DM's portion as well.

For me, it's not about the cost, it's the principle... now if the DM carries my stuff to the car for me he might get a tip.

 

[w_earle_wheeler]

I sometimes ask for "spare change" to cover the cost of printing out hand-outs and battle mats. It's more of a donation plate than a tip jar, I guess. I never expect to make enough money to cover those expenses, but every quarter helps.

 

[Glyfair]

Well, since you ask, the biggest difference is that the DM doesn't make a single penny off of games he/she runs at a convention.

I don't know about today, but back in the late 80s and early 90s I used to run at Origins when it was on the East Coast (mostly in Baltimore). We had our own group that organized and ran events. We got a certain percentage of the ticket costs and the GM got some of that. It wasn't a lot (IIRC, it was like $1-$2 per player) and it was months after the event, but it was something.

Now, things might have changed since then. It's also possible that standard practice is for the company running the events keeps that fee to offset transportation costs. It did happen at times, at least in the past.