Do you tip the Tournament Director when you win?

[rackmsuckr]

When I ran our regional tour, we had a volunteer ref and a volunteer TD. I always tipped them both when I won a significant amount of money - i.e., came in 1st thru third. Other women did too. The staff contributed their time and did not have a lot of money, so we knew it was appreciated, just as we appreciated them.

Tonight, we played in a tournament that had over 32 players. I got $50 for high woman. I won 2 matches, then lost both of my next 2 matches hill-hill. 3 of us women (out of 7) tied and played a round robin and I won. The TD gave me 2 $20 bills, a $5, and 5 ones. He said it was for tipping. I told him Tipping was a city in China. Would you have tipped for such a small amount? Do you tip the staff for running the tournaments in big tournaments?

BTW, Mike won the tournament, so we reprised our roles at the last Thanksgiving Day tournament there, where he won and I got HW then too.

 

[rackem]

Yes, unless the TD is getting paid out of the buy in. Mike didn't pony up either? His giving change like that was tacky though. You should have gave 2 or 3 bucks

 

[JIMMY L]

Tip the bartenders at the pool room. Thanks

 

[curlyscues]

I got $50 for high woman.

maybe he thought you might tip because you were high.
M.C.

 

[JAM]

I have never encountered a player tipping the TD for running the tournament.

In my neck of the woods, there are MANY weekly 9-ball tourneys, with a modest $20 entry fee. Sometimes first place can be anywhere from $150 to $300. The TD(s) and those who help them run the tournament do devote their time each week to keep it going. They also play in the tournament, but, of course, do not have to pay an entry fee. The pool room also provides a free meal to those who run the tournament, which is very nice.

We had a young'n named Cisco who ran the Wednesday night tournament each week, keeping the charts running smoothly, et cetera. His father and he played in the tournament for free, as did another player who initiated the Wednesday night tournament who prints fliers, runs pool charity events, and also pitches in from time to time.

When a player gets knocked out of the tournament, they have a loser's bracket with a smaller race, and the winner of the loser's bracket gets free entry for the next week.

There were times when we attended tournaments, and 5 players were shooting in the tournament for free. It is not so bad if there are 15 or more players, but if only 10 or 12 show up, there ain't much money in the purse. At any rate, that's how they do it around here.

When I returned from the U.S. Open 2 years ago, I had some posters that I disseminated to all the TDs and regulars in my pool crowd who weren't able to attend. I did the same thing when I returned from the IPT KOTH in Orlando last December by passing out the programs to interested parties with pros' pictures and bios in them. They all loved these little pool-related nuggets.

When I received the "goody bag" from the IPT in Vegas, it was filled with instructional DVD's and the like. When we returned from Vegas and attended the Wednesday weekly tournament, I gave Cisco the Mike Sigel instructional DVD, worth $50, as a present for running the weekly event. Keith was not interested in watching it.

As well, to the tournament promoters who does charity events in our area, I gave him a DVD to auction off at his next event. I also gave all of my friends at that weekly Wednesday night tournament who were in attendance a little trinket from the IPT event in Vegas.

Sometimes I think a small pool-related gift is knid of cool as opposed to tipping. It shows that you appreciate their efforts, and I think they really do enjoy the pool items.

JMHO, FWIW!

JAM

 

[vagabond]

When I ran our regional tour, we had a volunteer ref and a volunteer TD. I always tipped them both when I won a significant

This concept is alien to me.Is this tipping for not calling on my fouls? Oh well, I do not have to worry about it because I do not win.

 

[Jimmy M.]

It isn't something that I have always done but I started doing it in the last couple years or so.

However, it isn't really a rule of mine either. It isn't mandatory and is purely courtesy. I'm less likely to tip if I don't actually win 1st place. Not to say that I wouldn't, but I don't feel as obligated to do so.

 

[acedotcom]

It doesn't apply in local tournaments around here, either. All the TDs in our neck of the woods use the position to their advantage. One who runs a tournament from a laptop reportedly keeps changing the draw until she winds up with a first-round bye. Another waits till the tournament is rolling before he decides whether or not to award a prize for 4th place - if he thinks he'll wind up in the top 3 he sees no need for a 4th place prize.

 

[Snapshot9]

Tipping ...

Played 45 years, and no, I have never tipped the TD, nor have I ever seen anyone do it. They are paid by the room or as a tour fee in some manner, otherwise they aren't too smart, or they just love the sport.

I have seen people bring them food or drinks on them, but that is all.

 

[randyg]

I have organized and ran tournaments for over 40 years. That's my job. No need to tip, just thanks......SPF=randyg

 

[poolhall maven]

This has never occurred to me to tip (or be tipped) as a tournament director.
After running 30 tournaments for the Ladies Florida Tour I was never tipped--and it wasn't expected. Like Randy says it was our job.
Whenever I finish in the money in a tournament I tip the staff behind the bar more than usual because I am a good tipper to begin with.

 

[Stones]

In twenty five+ years of running tournaments from weekly to regionals, I have never asked for or received a tip that I can think of. Like Randy G., an occasional "good job" or "thank you" is nice to hear.
I always paid my own entry fee because I always believed if you play, you pay. No free rides.

If I played in a tourney that someone else was running and I placed high in the money, I would toss the TD and room staff a jelly roll. It was always fun to see the shocked look on their faces afterwards.

Not a common practice down in these parts.

 

[Eydie Romano]

TIP huh? There's such a thing as a tip? OMG!

Well, at the big events in which we produce, we always tip the tournament director. But I have never had or heard of at smaller events that happeneing! That rocks!

 

[vagabond]

TIP huh? There's such a thing as a tip? OMG!

Well, at the big events in which we produce, we always tip the tournament director. But I have never had or heard of at smaller events that happeneing! That rocks!

Eydie,
your situation is different.You are the producer of the event and the TD is employed by u and that is fine if u tip him.
I tip the waitress,check out counter when I return the balls and the guy who hands me the towels in the rest room.TD did not provide any special service to me.If he does favors to me by not calling the fouls on me then I can tip the TD provided I am assured that the police don`t arrest me for bribing.

 

[rackmsuckr]

Yes, unless the TD is getting paid out of the buy in. Mike didn't pony up either? His giving change like that was tacky though. You should have gave 2 or 3 bucks

Of course tipping the waitstaff is a given. The problem I had with tipping (I am a pretty generous tipper, as a rule) is that he gave me the change expecting it from everyone that got paid, which was 13 people. Receiving $50 when the entry fee was $25, didn't amount to a huge profit.

Mike won $400, but I did not watch what he did when he got paid, as it was past 2 AM. I know he tips the racker when he wins a break pot. I did see one person tipping the TD last night.

The TD gets his meals and drinks free and runs their Friday, Sunday and Wed. night tournaments. This one was a special one-night New Year's Eve shindig.

I don't ever tip on the weekly tournaments, although I have given my HW prize away to the 2nd place player several times because she was a newbie and I thought she played well.

And when I place in the big weekend open tournaments, I am barely in the money, so I don't tip then either. But if I am in a women's event and do well, I will usually tip.

Thanks to all for the input. It is interesting to see the regional differences.

 

[!Smorgass Bored]

Let Them Eat Cake AND Wings

Played 45 years, and no, I have never tipped the TD, nor have I ever seen anyone do it. They are paid by the room or as a tour fee in some manner, otherwise they aren't too smart, or they just love the sport.

I have seen people bring them food or drinks on them, but that is all.

I've been running tournaments (100s) for eight years at Planet 9-Ball, they don't take any fees out for green fees or TDs and they Add money.

About a third of the time, the 1st and/or 2nd Place finishers tip the TD for a well run tournament. They'll tip $5 or $10and it's usually the same half a dozen or so players that consistantly tip.

I don't ask for or look for a tip, but I don't refuse it either.

Doug
( sometimes I spend it on Hooter's Hot Wings )

( btw, I am the TD because of my love for the game )




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[misterpoole]

sure

It depends. If the TD's are paid to run the tourney I have not tipped. The last time I remember tipping a TD was back when I played in the Hollywood Billiards (Florida) tournaments. The TD there was not paid so, whoever it was, got a tip from me if I made it into the final. Just seemed the right thing to do, if the tournamenet was well run.

 

[jay helfert]

I have never solicited or asked for tips in the hundreds of tournaments I have run. My job as TD is to make sure we have a level playing field for all players. When a tournament runs smoothly, no one notices I am there. That's a good thing.

I have often handed out large packages of 100's to tourney winners, and sometimes they have expressed their gratitude for the way I have run the event by handing me one or two. I take this as a compliment when it happens. Often I receive no tip, even when I hand a guy 10 grand in cash. That's okay too. It is strictly a matter of personal conscience as to tip or not.

I get paid for my work, and a tip is just that, a bonus. When I have won large amounts of money in Poker tournaments I tipped the TD for doing a good job. As much as several hundred at the WSOP, when he got me 35K in cash and put it in a plain paper bag as I had requested.

The next year I won 42K and they gave me a hassle when it came time to get paid. That time I only tipped the girl who counted the money a $20 bill. A tip (just like in a restaurant) is a reflection of good service.

 

[catscradle]

I'll probably never have to worry about winning significant money in a tournament, but to me the concept of tipping the TD seems inappropriate. I doubt I would do it.

 

[!Smorgass Bored]

For The Love Of The GAME

I'll probably never have to worry about winning significant money in a tournament, but to me the concept of tipping the TD seems inappropriate. I doubt I would do it.

And you would be treated fairly as everyone else and welcome to play and thanked for your participation if it were a tournament that I was running. You'd be reminded of the next tournament and asked to return.
Doug
( I don't do it for the MONEY )