(From the other side of the pond). There seems to be some misunderstanding of tipping "in America". The tipping of wait staff, taxi drivers, bellboys, paperboys at Christmas, is virtually obligatory. It's understood to be part of the cost of their service. Rightly or wrongly, goodly or badly, it's just the way it is, and it's not going to change soon. And yes, there are those who out of ignorance or in the name of some lofty principle or out just plain cussedness do not tip, or do not tip to the usual amount.

The tipping of musicians is understood to be an entirely different matter. In my experience, it's rarely done out of a sense of obligation; it's often done out of a sense of exuberant appreciation for the joy, excitement or other manner of heightened emotion that the musician has evoked (sometimes by performing a requested song). And it's also done to encourage a specific performer (or group of) to keep doing what they're doing. Obviously a very different outlook from that which produces comments of the "if-you're-not-happy-with-your-income-as-a-musician, quit-and-get-a-real-job, we-don't-give-a-damn" type ...

I find it curious that so many people here profess to be liberal buyers-of-drinks for performers, but balk at the idea of tipping same. At some point in their life or in the night, most performers who are not hopeless alcoholics would prefer the price of a drink in their pocket to the actual drink, it seems to me.