I just read Virgina Tam's post about her paino bar/hotel playing brother. Yes, that's an exception to what I said above in the US. I don't know how it works in the homky Tonks in New Orleans or N.O. culture. If there is a tip jar present I'd ask the staff what the custom was but if a jip jar is present & they've done a good joj then a tip woul be encouraged, as Mary says but here in the Northeast I don't see many tip jars unless the players are either underpaid or not paid at all, which I can't remember seeing or hearing about.

Barry