How much to tip a party host

[Anonymous]

15 kids at an indoor gym for a birthday party venue, I chose the party package that came with pizza and juice at about $550 before tax. The entrance fee for this place is about $30 per kid, so about $450 is for the fees, $100 for the pizza, water, and soda.

The party host did not lead any games or anything. It was a trampoline + gym place where kids just play on their own. SHe helped pass out the pizza, pass out the cake and utensils, clean up, that sort of thing for the 30 minutes spent in the party room.

But in the bill, they put Suggested tip 15% 20% 25% using the entire party package cost. So the suggested tip at 20% was $110. This is pretty insane. You're being asked to tip on the entrance fees too? I realized this at the party, and my thinking is that part of these people's jobs are to help with the party part. BUT STILL, with the young employee right there, I felt pressured to tip more.

What's a reasonable tip in this situation?

[Anonymous]

I would probably tip $50 in that situation.

$100 if the staff was really helpful and engaged - managing the party, leading activities, etc.

I personally don't feel contained by those "suggestions" outside of actual restaurants being 15-20 norm. Doesn't make it the automatic norm everywhere else.

[Anonymous]

I just gave $20 cash.

[Anonymous]

Nothing. They are receiving $15+ an hour and aren’t doing anything special for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would probably tip $50 in that situation.

$100 if the staff was really helpful and engaged - managing the party, leading activities, etc.

I personally don't feel contained by those "suggestions" outside of actual restaurants being 15-20 norm. Doesn't make it the automatic norm everywhere else.

OP here. I agree. But then I feel like all other places are expecting Restaurant tip suggestions which is ridiculous. They are not making a few dollars per hour and rely on tips.
I even think $100 is too much for 30 minutes of work. That's way more than how much I make at my current job. My expectation for these kind of services are $20-$40 depending on the service.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just gave $20 cash.

I think that's very reasonable for a 30 minutes of work with only handing out pizza, drinks and minimum clean up after the party. I hope those workers don't expect us really tipping them based on the total party package.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nothing. They are receiving $15+ an hour and aren’t doing anything special for you.

I agree. But I do feel bad about tipping nothing just because they actually read the bill right after you sign it. $20-$40 is acceptable to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would probably tip $50 in that situation.

$100 if the staff was really helpful and engaged - managing the party, leading activities, etc.

I personally don't feel contained by those "suggestions" outside of actual restaurants being 15-20 norm. Doesn't make it the automatic norm everywhere else.

same

[Anonymous]

$20 per person, you are paying for the service aready.

[Anonymous]

About 50

[Anonymous]

I gave $50 to the host at Chuck-e-cheese and she was ecstatic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nothing. They are receiving $15+ an hour and aren’t doing anything special for you.

+1
It’s not a waitress job. It’s a job paying a full hourly wage.

[Anonymous]

Wow we have my daughters bday party tomorrow and I had no idea we were supposed to tip

[Anonymous]

You can always click other or none on the suggested tip thing. If the latter hand the kid some twenties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow we have my daughters bday party tomorrow and I had no idea we were supposed to tip

So did you tip?