• Time Out New York
    • Time Out New York Kids
    • Time Out Worldwide
    • Travel
    • Book store
    • Subscribe to Time Out Chicago
    • Subscriber Services
  • Time Out Chicago
  • Ad Space
    (728 x 90)
  • Search
  •  
    • Home
    • Art & Design
    • Books
    • Clubs
    • Comedy
    • Dance
    • Film
    • Gay & Lesbian
    • Home & Living
    • Kids
    • Museums & Culture
    • Music
    • Opera & Classical
    • Restaurants & Bars
    • Sex & Dating
    • Shopping
    • Spas & Gyms
    • Sports & Rec
    • Theater
    • Travel
    • TV & DVD
  • « BACK TO SEARCH
    • Tools

      • E-mail

        E-mail a friend





        • * Mandatory

        • View our privacy policy
      • Print
      • Rate & comment
        [X]

        • (will not appear on site)
          *Required
          •  characters left

        • View our privacy policy
      • Report an error

        Report an error


        • View our privacy policy
      • Share this
        • Delicious
        • Digg
        • Facebook
        • reddit
        • StumbleUpon

  • TOC Blog

    • So you’re saying the stuff was bad…

    • Published on 12/1/08

    • I know the Tribune delivers the Sun-Times, but I didn’t realize they share editors as well...

    More posts »



    TOC Poll

    • We want to know what you think. Click here to answer this week's poll question.



  • Ad Space
    (120 x 240)


  • TOC Student Guide

    • Essential advice for our scholastically minded citizens.



    Continuing Education

    • Never stop learning. There's no excuse not to go back to school.



    Sign up today!  

    Newsletter

    • Events, discounts, and the best of Chicago delivered to your inbox every week.



    TOC Staff

    • Who does what and why.



    Prizes & Promotions

    • Win prizes and get discounts, event invites and more.



    TOC Free Flix

    • Get free tickets to hot new movie releases.



    Subscribe

    • • Subscribe now

    • • Give a gift

    • • Subscriber services



  • Shopping
    Time Out Chicago / Issue 152 : Jan 24–30, 2008

    The tipping point

    When it comes to gratuities, how much is enough?

    By Kevin Aeh
    Illustrations by Emily Flake

    To tip or not to tip? Yes, you know your bartender gets a couple of bucks and your server gets 20 percent of the restaurant tab. But what about the girl who gave you a shampoo? And how much, exactly, are you supposed to tip cab drivers and lap dancers? Let this page be your guide. And remember: You should always tip a little extra for exceptional service.

    Hotel concierge and other hotel staff
    Karen Giobbia, chef concierge at Park Hyatt (800 N Michigan Ave, 312-335-1234), tells us that she never expects a tip from guests. But when it does happen, it’s always appreciated. As for what dollar amount you should tip various members of the hotel staff, Giobbia says that it should be whatever you feel is appropriate and based on your approval of the services. Peggy Post, great-granddaughter of etiquette empress, Emily, and author of Emily Post’s Etiquette, makes it more clear, suggesting that the concierge should get $5 for scoring you tickets or reservations, and that you should add more if the tix were difficult to get. The bellhop gets $2 for your first bag, and an another dollar for each additional bag. Post also says to leave the housekeeper anywhere from $2 to $5, and that tip should be left daily.

    Parking valet
    Although it makes sense to tip the valet guy when you drop off your car (you want to ensure the vehicle will be taken care of), Post writes that you should save the $2 tip until the car is returned to you. Stacie Krajchir and Carrie Rosten, authors of The Itty Bitty Guide to Tipping, note that if you have a special request (like keeping the car parked in front), you should tip right away. And don’t forget to fork over an extra buck or two during downpours and snowstorms.

    Hairstylists and such
    Brad Habansky, owner of the men’s boutique/salon Guise (2217 N Halsted St, 773-929-6101 ) in Lincoln Park (which will soon move down the street to become Guise/Chic and add services for women) tells us that 20 percent is the standard for hair-care professionals. So if your haircut is $50, the stylist should get $10 and if your highlights costs $100, the colorist gets $20. And if the stylist and colorist are the same person, you don’t get to save money: Give him or her $30. Habansky estimates that only about half of the salon’s customers tip the shampoo person, but up to $5 is a nice gesture.

    Manicurist
    Get ready to dip those shiny nails into your purse, because Post claims that the manicurist’s tip should be around 18 to 20 percent of the cost of service—but always leave at least $2.

    Airport skycap
    Most people know the tipping rules in this sitaution, but Post reminds us that when you drop your luggage off with the skycap, you should tip $2 for one bag. Add a dollar for each additional bag.

    Lap dancer
    It isn’t called “shaking the money-maker” for nothing, you know. Because these dancers give you extra-special attention (on your lap, no less), expect to hand over a decent amount of cash. Krajchir and Rosten say the tip should range from $5 all the way up to $20 for private performances in VIP rooms. And one tip just isn’t enough here: Give the same amount for two or more songs in a row.


    Tattoo artist
    Krajchir and Rosten note that tipping is optional after getting inked. The authors say that you should only tip if the artist custom-designs a tattoo for you. But Bob Jones, owner of Insight Tattoo (1026 N Milwaukee Ave, 773-342-4444), says that the artists in his shop feel tipping is always welcomed and appreciated. “Remember, it’s a service,” he says. “And [a tattoo] is more permanent than dental work.” Jones says that a 15 percent tip is normally sufficient. “If the tattoo is $60, a $10 tip is cool.”

    Cab driver
    Cabbies should be tipped 10 percent of the fare, Krajchir and Rosten claim. That means if your trip from Lincoln Park to Old Town costs around $6, you should give your driver a 60¢ tip. We say you should round up and at least leave a dollar. It’s just good karma to go that little extra mile.


    • Comments
    • |
    • Leave a comment
    [X]

    • (will not appear on site)
      *Required
      •  characters left

    • View our privacy policy

    • No comments yet. Click here and be the first!


      • Subscribe now and save 87%!

      • For just $19.99 a year, you'll get hundreds of listings and free events each week, plus our special issues and guides, including Cheap Eats, Great Spas, Fall Preview, Holiday Gift Guide and more!
      • Time Out Covers
      • Time Out Chicago respects your privacy. We will only use your e-mail address in order to contact you regarding to your subscription and to send you our weekly e-newsletter. We will not share this information with anyone.

  • Ad Space
    (320 x 110)

    Ad Space
    (300 x 250)

  • Most viewed in Shopping

    • Articles
    • Venues
    • Forget-me-not knots
    • Alex Kuczynski, style writer
    • The tipping point
    • TOC’s next top model
    • Wardrobe workshop: Men’s vests
    • What’s old is new again
    • Spring fashion
    • Winter shorts
    • Trifecta
    • A very slutty Halloween
    • Bloomingdale's
    • Room & Board
    • Wicker Park Fitness
    • Hubba Hubba
    • Vicious Cycle
    • Fiesta Cantina
    • Click Shoes
    • Cat and Mouse Game Store
    • Nordstrom
    • Ciao Bella

  • TOC's cultural heroes

    • The 40 creative icons who define the city of Chicago.

    The full list »


    More Shopping

    • Dutch Bike Chicago
    • Dutch Bike Chicago

    • Veruca Salt
    • Veruca Salt

    • vfish
    • vfish



  • Ad Space
    (160 x 600)

    Ad Space
    (160 x 600)

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Contact Us
    • Media Kit & Advertising
    • Get Listed
    • We're Hiring
    • Subscribe
    • Subscriber Services
    • Site Map
    • Home
    • Art & Design
    • Books
    • Clubs
    • Comedy
    • Dance
    • Film
    • Gay & Lesbian
    • Home & Living
    • Kids
    • Museums & Culture
    • Music
    • Opera & Classical
    • Restaurants & Bars
    • Sex & Dating
    • Shopping
    • Spas & Gyms
    • Sports & Rec
    • Theater
    • Travel
    • TV & DVD
    • Visit our sister sites:
    • Time Out New York
    • Time Out New York Kids
    • Time Out London
    • Time Out Worldwide
    Copyright © 2000–2008 Time Out Chicago