It seems my story about the housewives in Las Vegas last weekend spawned a few people from the service industry in Vegas to give me some updates on housewives and their tipping habits. The report on Shannon and David is from last weekend. The report on Patti Stanger and Brandi Glanville was from a few weeks ago. Most of the others occurred last year. Enjoy!
Shannon and David Beador
Very friendly toward waitstaff and all who approached her for photos. This source says she was approached a lot. She was a bit kooky and David was keeping an eye on her drinking. Shannon and David were affectionate and left a nice tip. They were there with Heather McDonald who has a reputation for being a bitch and not tipping.Ditto, Heather’s friend Chelsea Handler also a non tipper who was at the same venue previously. And received comps.
Gretchen and Slade
Last summer, on a day Gretchen Rossi got some bad news, she and Slade and a posse were in Vegas. They were comped in the club but also did not choose to tip.
Joe and Melissa Gorga
The Gorgas tipped $100 on their $500 comp last summer. Joe was apparently super nice and asked the waitress about her boyfriend etc. Melissa read a book most of her time there and was very jealous-seeming towards the waitress. Melissa did not like Joe making small-talk with the server! The Wakile’s were there too and not much info on them.
Please don’t burst my bubble that Lisa isn’t micromanaging a mega business empire 😉
I didn’t know Melissa could read, you learn something new every day!
It was probably “her” book…She wanted to know what was in there.
On Fri, Jul 25, 2014 at 8:06 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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LOL, really nice shade you just threw TT.
So funny Tamera!! I wish I had your great wit!!!!!
I am disappointed that people that can afford to give, don’t bother to. If I remember correctly, hotel staff are often given specific direction to not “bother” celebs for autographs..etc..
Tamra doesn’t surprise me…wasn’t Tyrant in vegas for her bachelorette that she charged fans to go to?
Service people get dumped on by all sides..customer (demanding), boss, (demanding) and of course the wages never match the amount of work you do..so yeah people depend on the tips to pay rent, buy food etc.
Geez this sucks logs.
A few years back I stayed at a Marriott in Memphis for 5 months straight (in the south) during the summer, paid for by my employer. On occasion when I ordered room service, I would add the tip to my bill. The wait staff told us that if we put the tip on our room service bill that the hotel takes half of it! That pissed me off as the room service prices were always way more expensive than if I had gone down to the rest. and picked up the item myself. We gave them cash after that!
Hi Lawstangel
I am learning new things, that sucks – I can’t figure out which I am more pissed about..a large chain – stealing from staff – or a large chain abusing staff- if the staff report them – they get fired.
you reminded me of that episode of Kitchen Nightmares – the own’er’s (from Arizona) taking ALL the tips.
I will def. tip differently – who knows what “owner’s” do to the tip.
It’s always preferred that you tip in cash. Becomes sometimes one forgets to count all the cash tips, while the credit card tips are recorded.
On Fri, Jul 25, 2014 at 10:03 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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Tip your hairdresser in cash too, otherwise the salon takes the tips.
Servers definitely prefer that you tip in cash, but if you there is an automatic tip listed on the bill and it’s listed as a “Service Charge”, ask them to remove it. “Service Charge” is code for “the house gets half”.
If you see “Automatic Gratuity”, then legally, the server is to receive all of that. You can still ask them to remove it and leave whatever tip you want but the difference is in the language.
Any time I see “service charge” I ask them to remove it because they are legally obligated to honor this request and just leave the normal 18-20% but this way the server is getting all of it. Of course they still have to tipout at the end of the night, but now they don’t have to tipout after the house takes their half.
You’re spot on! 🙂
Melissa was reading a book? At a club? How odd.
I said it before and I wish I could find it so I could say I called it but I knew just from watching Pandora and her entilted boyfriend that she was a spoiled fucking brat. So I can definitely believe that.
I reworded things slightly to protect the sources (just removing names) Some of them could have been restaurants.
On Fri, Jul 25, 2014 at 8:25 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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I always over-tip because I am a woman and I have read that servers dislike serving women b/c they have a reputation for being poor tippers.
Hi Peachteacher,
I’ve heard the same thing as well. It makes me want to over compensate and give the waitress or waiter a juicer tip.
I over tip because that’s how I put myself through school back in the days when college was more affordable 🙁 I also fill out comment cards or make a comment to the manager if I have received good service.
I overtip but not because I am a woman. I/we (hubs does too) overtip for many reasons. Partly to help make up for the douchebags that don’t tip, partly because we usually get awesome servers (have given big tips even when the food sucked because the service was awesome) and partly because we know the work involved (mother in law is a server/waitress who’s in her 60s).
I waitressed my way through college, (Steak and Ale and Fitzwillie’s in ATL 1977-1981). I know because of that, I overtip when service is good. When it is bad, I give 10% and a piece of my mind, and I tell them why. I know that the work is hard. Some servers shouldn’t be servers. It’s not for every personality type. I have had some really bad ones. My husband used to be a bad tipper, but now he is on the same line of thinking as I am.
I love that people give you this info. Not surprised by any of this, including pandora. I love lisa, but never cared for pandora. for some reason she does comes off as being really bratty child
I agree Pandora does come across as snobby and entitled.
Both her and her brother are kind of strange. I think Lisa’s son hates the cameras so that might be why he acts weird.
I agree. I’ve often wondered if she and her brother interacts with each other at all. And Pandora acts spoiled and believes she’s entitled and is a cut above everyone. And, she’s no beauty on the outside or inside. My opinion.
None of this is surprising! You can tell a lot about a person just by how they treat waitstaff, retail workers, etc.
So funny Tamera!! I wish I had your great wit!!!!!
Twilly,
Yes, I believe the same thing.
These Housewives are use to getting free things all the time because they are on TV. But NOT TIPPING a waiter or waitress just show the caliber of people they are. Narcissistic “housewives and husbands and boyfriends. It’s all about them. Cheap asses and mean.
I can tell that Joe Gorga & Melissa has such big hearts. Joe never got a big head by being on TV. And it seems he is interested in people and want to find out more about them. That’s so nice to hear even though I felt like he is a kindhearted man before I read this. 🙂 I LOVE nice!
How, by looking at them? I’ve heard Manuel Noriega was a nice guy too.
They tipped 20% of their *comped* bill – as in they paid $100 total for $500 worth of food/svc. In other words, what should be the norm on that bill.
My friends and I don’t have Bravo money, but when we’ve been comped we pay at least 50% of what our bill would have been (because we were going to spend the money anyway). If we take up a table for several hours we make sure to tip the server what s/he would have made if they’d had ‘x’ number of turnaround on their table.
It’s the right thing to do, and it’s the money you were planning on spending anyway. Servers work hard for their money and deserve the compensation.
While good servers deserve a tip, they don’t deserve any more than they would have if the server is paying. If you tip 50% on a comp you are a fucking idiot. It’s not the right thing to do, it’s the dumb thing to do. How were they planning to spend the money anyway? It’s not the same as being at IHOP and getting your pancakes free because it took too long. In Vegas, comps are given in advance to people who are gambling a lot, or increase the attraction to their casinos as well know personalities.
huh? seems as if he was hitting on her in front of his wife, so she was a little pissy. glad to see someone tip decently on a comp tho.
Been there…done that. I did 17 years in food service industry. Worked for my aunt and uncle in between terms at MSU. My aunt decided she deserved a cut of banquet tips (always good $$). I quit.
Thanks to this report….they all just best eat at home for a while.
Don’t these bravolebrities understand that if they are demanding, rude, and especially don’t tip on a comped meal, the staff will be the source reporting them to TMZ, Tamara Tattles, Reality Tea, etc. Hope some of them get voted off the Bravo island and have to wait tables for a living. Ugh. There is a special place in hell for people who mistreat service staff.
I agree with you! Right on! 🙂
Good point!
It’s really not necessary to mention other blogs here. Please read commenting rules.
On Fri, Jul 25, 2014 at 10:35 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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I respectfully disagree about tipping on a comp (sorry this is down so far from your comment), but I see your point.
We were a bunch of college kids, and were generally assholes.
I’m not surprised at those who do not tip, especially Tamra and Heather. Sounds like they consider those who wait on them to be “non persons”. They obviously have no idea what servers go through, or worse, don’t care.
Cat,
So true.
Chelsea Handler doesn’t tip… Humph. This surprises me. On her show she has stated that she waited tables at one time and always tips well. I am choosing to believe this was an oversight on her part. She’s just too cool not to tip well. And if that IS the case, well then, she just sucks. (The Housewives… well, no big surprise there… I wouldn’t expect those entitled bitches to tip).
Did I miss it? I want to know if Nene tips? If so, how much? Knowing Nene, she thinks her presence is a tip.
Witchy,
Yea, I’d like to know too.
I know a few people that work for Lisa and Ken in their London clubs and have never met either of them. They’re property owners, no more no less. They don’t manage their venues
Rach, that’s interesting.
So, not only are these people getting comps, they’re not gonna even tip? I realize most of these Bravolebrities (and Chelsea Handler) don’t seem to care about anyone but themselves, but please, businesses, stop giving these losers all these comps.
Tamara, this is some good gossip IMO.
Yes but in the US THEY ARE HERE ON AN INVESTOR’S VISA. They have to participate.
On Fri, Jul 25, 2014 at 11:59 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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I spent years waiting tables. It’s hard work, and most people that have never done it, don’t realize how much servers rely on those tips to feed their families
Melissa jealous of other women? Never!
I’ve been on three sides of this issue. I’ve of course been a customer tipping. I’ve worked as a waitress and I’ve owned/managed restaurants and bars with grills. I tip based on service. If service is adequate, so is the tip. If service is good or better, so is the tip. As an owner, never took the wait staff’s tips. They worked for it, not me. If a waiter or waitress is particularly good, I go out of my way to speak with the manager to compliment the employee because usually all they hear are the complaints. For these celebs not to tip is a travesty. It’s not like they don’t have the money for a tip and you know the waitstaff are working their butts off to impress them. They spend extra time to make sure they have everything just right and the celebs know they are working for tips. Having the pleasure of waiting on one of them doesn’t pay the rent. Doesn’t surprise me a bit that they don’t even notice someone that low in the pecking order. I hate elitist people.
Hubs and I make sure managers hear about the good servers too. Like you, we know all they usually hear about is the negative. I want to point out the good and even more so, the exceptional.
I seem to recall that in certain states, tips are reported on the W-2 by calculating 15% of the waitperson’s total receipts. So, if they’re being stiffed at any regularity, it must really suck ! Apparently, the IRS doesn’t realize that there are a lot of selfish deadbeats who dine out.
T.T this is my all time favorite blog ; adore you & your writing. Thanks for this post. I am a server & love that you saw fit to comment on this issue 🙂 DEPLORABLE BEHAVIOR BRAVO CELEBRITIES but not surprised at all !
If you can’t afford to tip you can’t afford to eat at a full service restaurant. And if your meal is comped or a gift certificate tip at least tip 20%. Otherwise stick to having it your way at Burger King.
I don’t believe that Chelsea Handler doesn’t tip.
Also why would Wendy williams have her lawyer with her?!? Wouldn’t it be more reasonable that it was an assistant?!?
Obviously Gretchen and Slade don’t tip
I believe Wendy Williams doesn’t tip. The persona you see on tv isn’t always accurate – the off camera person can be quite different. For example, Miss Love, Sweetness and Kindness (Ellen Degeneres) has been voted the meanest person in Hollywood (terrorizes her staff, etc.). Don’t always believe what the camera shows you.
I agree, they are all fake. Even my most beloved Beyoncé. She gave the sweet Jackie O face and wave after that shocking elevator beat down. She got it together in 2 seconds. I wish more would come out with tell all’s about these fakers.
pretty much all the people around these people sign confidentiality agreements, but i would so pay for the tell alls!
i love these kinds of stories. how they tip & treat wait staff tells you a lot about people. when you said tamra & eddie & heather, did you mean heather dubrow or macdonald?
MacDonald
On Sat, Jul 26, 2014 at 12:01 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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Mmmmmm….. Tasty Tea, Tamara!
Hi Tamara. Been reading your blog daily for at least two years, but this is my first comment.
About Pandora, Lisa, and Ken… I visited LA three months ago for my birthday and dragged my fiancé out to Sur and Villa Blanca with me. Most of the Sur kids were super nice with stopping to take pictures (Peter and Scheana especially, Kristen not so much). Also happy hour there was surprisingly good.
We had dinner reservations at Villa Blanca which was surprisingly having a slow Friday night. I immediately spotted Pandora who was serving the table next to us. Shocked me b/c the show never shows her working at the restaurant (that I can remember) only with her magazine.
I worked up some courage to ask for a photo. She said she couldn’t do photos at tables but to grab her before we left to do one at the entrance. She also so casually said “Giggy’s here, we can take a picture with him too.” I was like “Your mom’s here?!” And she said yes and we could go ask for a picture whenever. She was so nice and encouraging about it. No bratty behavior at all.
Long story short, I and two girls at a table who ever heard our convo went over where Queen Lisa was dining with Ken, Mohamed, Nathalie, Guillermo, and some others (it was a blur at that point seeing her in the flesh). I felt terrible interrupting dinner but Lisa popped right up and in her English accent was just, “Well alright let’s make this quick.” But smiling. You could tell she loved the attention.
Before we left, Pandora also had us wait and brought Ken over with Giggy so I have a picture of just us three. Love Ken (Giggy was a little smelly).
Just wanted to share because on my random LA trip she was there dining at her restaurant just like on the show (but no Bravo cameras around) like it was her usual Friday night.
Thanks for sharing your experiences, PT. Sounds like you had a fun birthday!