Do you tip a TD who also played in the event?

I tip for customer service. Its tough picturing a td following me around making sure I have a good time, coddling me, and giving me customer service. :confused:


That said I would be more than happy to buy them a drink and a shot at the end of a long tournament. I've done that before. Of course it's been so long since I've won a tournament it's tough to remember...



Edit: I can see where Jerry is coming from too, and he makes some good points. Consider me up in the air on this one, as I can see it both ways.


The type of services you get from the TD are:

1. Well organized
2. Rules posted
3. Fair draw
4. Good communication skills
5. Approachable

If you are expecting the type of service you get waitress you probably won't be happy but those are two completely different things.
 
I tip for customer service. Its tough picturing a td following me around making sure I have a good time, coddling me, and giving me customer service. :confused:

That said I would be more than happy to buy them a drink and a shot at the end of a long tournament. I've done that before.

Edit: I can see where Jerry is coming from too, and he makes some good points. Consider me up in the air on this one, as I can see it both ways.

^^^^^^^ This ^^^^^^^

Of course it's been so long since I've won a tournament it's tough to remember...

^^^^^^^ This x2 ^^^^^^^:thumbup:
 
directors playing?

I know we have talked about tipping TDs before, but I was chatting with a TD recently about tipping and he mentioned that some players seem to feel that tipping is not needed if the TD also cashed in the event.

Interesting in everyone's thoughts. Do you tip if the TD played? Does he/she cashing change your thoughts?

Mike

Why is a tournament director playing in his own tournament?

But as far as tipping is concerned yes I think us players should tip to show them we appreaciate all the time they put into a tournament.
Usaully about 12-16 hours is put into our tournaments in the ny/nj/pa area with about 32 to 64 players. Not to mention e-mails, flyers, internet write-ups & so forth.

But tipping a tournament director who plays in his own tournament is NO - NO in my opinion.
 
What is the normal entry fee into the event if they are getting a reduced cost entry of $35 bucks?

The entry was $35, and there were sidepots as well that the TD had to put in themselves if they wanted them.

No discount for any player, including the TD.
 
The entry was $35, and there were sidepots as well that the TD had to put in themselves if they wanted them.

No discount for any player, including the TD.

So he is basically doing this out of his love for the game, and for some free food and drink?
 
Why is a tournament director playing in his own tournament?

But tipping a tournament director who plays in his own tournament is NO - NO in my opinion.

I've heard this before, and I just don't get it. Why would anyone say that the TD couldn't play in the tournament, as long as the tournament was run well?

The Draw is done in front of other people, ran on a computer and board, play moves quickly and the tournament finishes in 1 day.

For this tournament, there was a Men's and Women's event going on at the same time and both finished in 1 day with 40 players. 2 of the ladies finishers (1st and 3rd) each threw the TD $10. None of the Men tipped a dime, including 1st place who took home $700.
 
So he is basically doing this out of his love for the game, and for some free food and drink?

And the Tips from the players!

That way the Room adds more money to the tournament and more tournaments are run for the players....
 
And the Tips from the players!

That way the Room adds more money to the tournament and more tournaments are run for the players....

Ok, i think the picture is becoming clearer.
While this may be the norm in your area, to me, it seems like the rooms are taking advantage of the TD.

Can anyone cite how much on average, the TD makes in tips?

Seems like a bunch of BS, if the room is going to allow the guy to go run around doing all this stuff FOR THEM, and then leave it up to pool players to tip the guy?

How does the room feel if the guy gets stiffed repeatedly?

From the sound of it, this may be a part of Arizona culture. I've just never heard of such a thing. I don't know why someone would leave them getting paid, to pure chance.

To leave it up to the players discretion, that's crazy!
Pool players are the cheapest people on earth!!!

I'd rather the guy get a cut from the added money, before the money goes into the prize fund, that way, he is guaranteed to get paid for his work, and the players can keep every dime they win, without the tipping obligation looming over their heads.

Maybe the TD should get something like a couple bucks from the house for every player showing up or something similar before the money gets added to the tournament.
That way, leaving it up to the players, is a moot point, and you don't have any issues of whether to tip him if he cashes or not, or pool players being stingy.

Cashing would be an added bonus.


Do you have the whole prize breakdown for all the spots, for a 40 man tourmament where 1st was $700?
 
Agree

I tip 10% each and every single tournament win. As long as the TD ran a great tourney!

If I fall in the first level of money, where it's just getting my money back I'll sometimes skip it or buy them a beer.

I always try to tip the TD if they did a good job
I always try if the first and second split is uneven the TD gets the piece
Being a TD sucks and can get old quick and little jelly roll and thanks can go along way in ensure a good tournament for you to snap off. Once a good TD burns out the turnout always drops.

Thanks :thumbup::thumbup:
 
Yeah, Arizona Culture is a different breed.

Many TD's for Weekly Tournaments will charge $2-3 per head that shows for the tournament. Or they'll charge $7 or $12 to enter and take the $2 for themselves. But after running tourneys for a few weeks or months they get burned out and the tourney dies. And then the rooms will add in 100% of the entry money to the pot.

ie. 16 players on a monday, $7 each, $80 in pot, bar adds $80, TD takes $32, then sidepots are a separate pot.

For Monthly's I think each room and each TD is different. Some Charge the same $2-3 per person, some charge a fee or take it off the top. Some just get food and drinks and tips.

I've seen players tip all over the valley and at every single pool room. TD's talk and know who is cheap. Who drinks water and leaves for fast food instead of supporting the room that add's all the money and the TD who works their butt off for weeks to make sure the event is awesome.

I have heard TD's say that if a players running late and wants to call to get in before the draw they will make that decision based on whether that person benefits the room and TD financially or not.
 
Yeah, Arizona Culture is a different breed.

Many TD's for Weekly Tournaments will charge $2-3 per head that shows for the tournament. Or they'll charge $7 or $12 to enter and take the $2 for themselves. But after running tourneys for a few weeks or months they get burned out and the tourney dies. And then the rooms will add in 100% of the entry money to the pot.

ie. 16 players on a monday, $7 each, $80 in pot, bar adds $80, TD takes $32, then sidepots are a separate pot.

For Monthly's I think each room and each TD is different. Some Charge the same $2-3 per person, some charge a fee or take it off the top. Some just get food and drinks and tips.

I've seen players tip all over the valley and at every single pool room. TD's talk and know who is cheap. Who drinks water and leaves for fast food instead of supporting the room that add's all the money and the TD who works their butt off for weeks to make sure the event is awesome.

I have heard TD's say that if a players running late and wants to call to get in before the draw they will make that decision based on whether that person benefits the room and TD financially or not.

See, i disagree with the players having to directly foot the bill for the TD.
IMO, that should come out of the ROOM's pocket.

Does the room charge table time for the matches played? Greens fees?
Or do they solely try to recoup revenue based on food and spirits?

If the room is adding money, i am wondering where that money came from.
Not likely that a room will add money for nothing unless they are making out.


Where i come from, the room adds money to each and every tournament based on the number of players.
They do not match the prize fund. That is unheard of here.

BUT, they do make the loser of the match pay table time, or a flat greens fee for each match lost. So they are making a profit for the use of equipment, food and drink, that they would otherwise not make on a dead night of the week.

Some local tournaments have been running for over 20 years.

And if you have that whole player running late, is the player a "good" or "bad" player, that is the beginnings of the corruption.

If i were running late, and the TD made it a point to exclude me for whatever reason, you can bet that whenever i get there on time and play, should i cash, the TD isn't ever going to see any money from me.

This does nothing but cause conflict.

Like i said, TD payment should come from the house, not the players. Then the house can decide on how to recoup their money without any problems arising between the TD and players because of money issues.

Just some food for thought.
 
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I don't know about the US but here in Canada I've seen a TD take out alot more then 20bones to run the event.I understand if the tournament
is 2 days and the time invested is alot in itself,what is that worth?
I've seen a TD take 300 plus to run a weekend event which some players
had a major issue with and some did not.Personally I had no issue with
it,cause between his gas,time ,and hotel I thought it was fair.Tipping I
still think should go to the bar staff and actually the TD would tip them
well to.
 
... I have heard TD's say that if a players running late and wants to call to get in before the draw they will make that decision based on whether that person benefits the room and TD financially or not.

Couple the above with tipping the TD, and even the suggestion of impropriety will kill a tournament...
 
I'm. Pretty sure tournament directors take a small percentage for themselves (unless you're CW :rolleyes: ) so why would you tip them. Seems silly.
 
I don't know about the US but here in Canada I've seen a TD take out alot more then 20bones to run the event.I understand if the tournament
is 2 days and the time invested is alot in itself,what is that worth?
I've seen a TD take 300 plus to run a weekend event which some players
had a major issue with and some did not.Personally I had no issue with
it,cause between his gas,time ,and hotel I thought it was fair.Tipping I
still think should go to the bar staff and actually the TD would tip them
well to.


I think there is a big difference if it is multi-day event at a big pool hall opposed to a smaller 8-32 player race to 3 tourny at the bar. In that case the bar probably isn't paying the TD much and the wait staff isn't giving them anything. At a large tourny the TD will probably get paid a bit more money.
 
Conflict of interest

I've heard this before, and I just don't get it. Why would anyone say that the TD couldn't play in the tournament, as long as the tournament was run well?

The Draw is done in front of other people, ran on a computer and board, play moves quickly and the tournament finishes in 1 day.

For this tournament, there was a Men's and Women's event going on at the same time and both finished in 1 day with 40 players. 2 of the ladies finishers (1st and 3rd) each threw the TD $10. None of the Men tipped a dime, including 1st place who took home $700.

The tournament director should not want to be involved in something that could be Conflict of interest.

Not only would it be uncomfortable for the players but could be for him also.
Why would anybody put themselves in that position?

He could be the most professional & honest person in the world & all you need is a poor loser to start spreading rumors.

Why would a person or room put themselves in that position?

I'm sorry it's just my opinion don't get mad at me for my opinion. :-)
 
The tournament director should not want to be involved in something that could be Conflict of interest.

Not only would it be uncomfortable for the players but could be for him also.
Why would anybody put themselves in that position?

He could be the most professional & honest person in the world & all you need is a poor loser to start spreading rumors.

Why would a person or room put themselves in that position?

I'm sorry it's just my opinion don't get mad at me for my opinion. :-)

What sort of conflict of interest do you mean? With the exception of the big tournaments the TD always plays in my experience.
 
What sort of conflict of interest do you mean? With the exception of the big tournaments the TD always plays in my experience.

Several things could come up but just a couple off the top of my head is a favorable ruling to a player that has heavily tipped him in the past or allowing that same player more time when he is late for a match. What the igno is saying is there is the potential for perceived favoritism even if there isn't any.
 
Around here tipping a TD is rare although I am sure some players do it every time they cash.To me it comes down to weather or not you feel like tipping.Some TDs put in a great deal of time,effort and put up with allot of crap so tipping them is a nice gesture regardless of how or if they play in the tourney they run.

I definitely wouldn't want to see this go the way of the food and hospitality industry and have employees come to rely on tipping as the major part of their income thus compelling every costumer to tip regardless of service.IMO (and this is not a rant against tipping) when tipping becomes required it is no longer gratuity.
 
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