I used to be a "tip-snob" of sorts - I'm not sure why now. It may be because most of the places I play are fairly upscale and pay well enough so I thought maybe I was doing the wait staff a favor by not competing with them. So I didn't put out a tip jar, but people would just throw money on my keyboard while I played (which I hate) and I realized that I was neglecting part of my responsibility: people NEED to tip when they feel motivated.

Then I cultivated the idea (as mentioned in another post) and now I print out a sheets of 200 songs (I call it a "song menu") so that people can make requests without badgering me for things I don't know. On my breaks I visit tables with the song sheet and introduce myself, then visit again on my way back to the stage to get their requests... this has the dual effect of making them feel confortable and conversive with me, and they get to interact with the musical selection. The only thing I have to watch for it that people will ask for slow sappy selections by the dozen (Unchained Meleody, The Rose, The Way We Were, Send in The Clowns, zzzzzzzz) so I won't do more than two slow songs in a row.

Anyway, tips are part of this business and there's nothing like a little gratuity to say "good job". Anyone who says there's no such thing as a free lunch hasn't worked for tips!