I have worked many restaurants, early on I would work for tips, but I have found that tips only can be something that hurts the entertainer in coming back to a venue. Let me explian, It is many time the waitstaff that gets put-off by the magician “taking their tip”. Sometimes the waitstaff feels that we receive part of the tip that they would have gotten. I have gotten around this over the years. When someone offers me a tip, I thank them graciously, and explain that it was their waiter or waitress that sent me over, and if they would kindly add what they wanted to give me to the waiter or waitress at the end of the night. Make sure that someone in the waitstaff is in earshot.
This does a few things. 1 The waitstaff is happy that you are adding to their pokcet, 2 it encourages them to bring you to their tables, and 3 it helps you get more return gigs as the waitstaff will tell the management what a great job you did.

Now do not get me wrong, I have refused tips, and when the customer insists I accept them. But I make it a rule that my primary mode of payment is not through tipping. Like any other venue when I am at a restaurant, I am being paid by the management to be there. I am adding value the the overall experience. The management will benefit from what I do for them. I have had gigs choose to go with tip only performers, sometime it works, and other times they come back to me.

For me going out and knowing what I am bringing home also keeps peace at the house 🙂