Hat Line lie.

[Daniel Mooncalf]

At a recent festival. I noticed a few people who previously didn't, started using "god bless you." as their last hat line.

Do you think that this could help net more tips? Even if you don't mean it?

[Rachel Peters]

Speaking as a Christian, having lived in the sub-culture nearly all my life as the child of a pastor and having seen the inner workings and guts of "Christian book stores", festivals and events, I can say that Christians will eat up a LOT and will spend money on crap, whether it be bull or not, if it has even the possibility of being "Christian". Especially in America. They will buy the Cathy Lee Gifford devotional booklet at four times its normal price because it's labeled "Christian".

Now, if it WAS genuine and the performer were praying that God (or to whomever they may be praying) bless the crowd with money to put in the HAT, that could possibly help them as well!

[Patrick Kelly]

No

It won't help, because the religious (and the French) don't tip.

If the religious do tip it's always wrapped inside of some garbage that you have to throw away, like a Cathy Lee Gifford booklet. This is good in a way because you can be aware of those trying to steal your soul.

[Rachel Peters]

Oh yeah, I forgot about that. Good point.

[Stretch]

Which religious?

Puritan Christian? Quaker? Buddhist, Hindu? Catholic? Pagan? Baptist? Think of Elmo's Methodist! HA! Which Religion indeed!

[Rachel Peters]

I know a lot of people who are religiously atheist!

Religious: adj. scrupulously faithful.

....and waaaaaaait a minute..... I DO tip well! But then, I'm not "religious people ".

[Patrick Kelly]

French?

[Rachel Peters]

Me?
"Peters"?
Very German. ...which also does not make sense of the good tips.

[gav]

Germans give good tips. Some of my biggest hats have been in Germany.

I think people who say god bless you as a money line are losers if they don't actually believe in what they are saying.
I doubt it helps.

[Lee Nelson]

say what the people want to hear I think.
If you are in the bible belt, pretend to be christian, whats wrong with using a blessing that is common to all. Its better to smile and agree with people than be accosted by god botherers trying to make your mind up for you.
If your playing a festival in a non religious area its going to turn people off your hat if you mention God.
Whats so different from all the other lies we tell every show we make anyhow. In my show if you took my jokes literally I have been married seven times, divorced eight and found true love with a leather clad Gerbil called Clive.
It aint true! Its also a little bit debateable whether its what the people want to hear but from experience they dont seem to mind

Lee

[Mr Qwirk]

It won't help, because the religious (and the French) don't tip.

Im not sure what French youre talking about, but ive had some of my best 'performances' in France, and the tipping was better than other parts of western europe.

[Patrick Kelly]

Were you performing for the French , or were you performing for the tourist in France?
I've never performed in Europe, only in America.
Maybe it's just the French that come to America.

[Lee Nelson]

this is getting off a fun thread but...

The problem most people have with the French is that they love there language and do not reward English speaking acts. French and silent acts do very well in front of an arts loving and generous community,.
Dont blame the French for loving their culture and language, blame the performer for not adapting..
Anyhow, lets go back to talking about god!!!

[Patrick Kelly]

As I stated, I'm in America. If I have 3 or 4 French people in my crowd I should adapt to them? If I have a few French people in my crowd then I may also have a few Germans, Italians, British, or whatever. And I should adapt to the 3 or 4 people that don't tip?

I'll shut up now and you guys can talk about your God.

[Lee Nelson]

If you want more money you should!

Amazing what one sentence can do.

I dont believe in God, only me.