I'd also like to add, contrary to what the youngin's say, the lapdance is NOT always better when the gurl is crying.

craigb

paulo
 
I've never really got my head around the expectation that I should reward someone for doing the basic thing that  they are already being paid to do. 
 
 
Above and beyond the call of duty then fair enough, but that rarely seems to happen in this country,
 

That could be the difference right there.  Although this is changing, in America, it's common to actually pay less than minimum wage to restaurant employees where they are expected to make up the difference with tips.

 
And there was me thinking that the reason customer service in the US is generally better than here was because they know that the customer might have a gun in their pocket. 

outland144k

pauloI've never really got my head around the expectation that I should reward someone for doing the basic thing that  they are already being paid to do. 
 Above and beyond the call of duty then fair enough, but that rarely seems to happen in this country,
 

I[font="'book antiqua', palatino; color: #003366"]'m not sure from where you hail, but often in the USA, waiters/waitresses don't get paid enough to cover the description of "what they're paid to do". It is assumed by both management and the waiting staff that they will be tipped and it is considered an amount to be worked somewhat into what they make from the establishment. I assume that there is some sort of differential (and I'm[style="font-family: 'book antiqua', palatino; color: #003366;"] not[font="'book antiqua', palatino; color: #003366"] sure that all clubs use the same one), but I can't tell you what the formula is. That's why some waiting gigs at some clubs are to be desired more than others: some bars and restaurants have a better tipping clientele than others.  
 
Oops, Craig beat me to it (and used far fewer than I to describe the situation).

I think the US system is disgusting, frankly. If you want staff, then frigging pay them. Their service is obviously useful enough for you to require them, pay them for their service.
We don't do tipping in the UK, but the insidious US culture is creeping in everywhere, making people think it's "ok" to expect tips.

These initial grumblings escalated into movements. In 1904, the Anti-Tipping Society of America was created in Georgia, and its 100,000 members pledged to not tip anyone for a year, the Times reports.