You can’t walk on Las Vegas Boulevard or Fremont Street without encountering the famous and sometimes infamous Las Vegas street performers.  We’ve got Elvis, Elmo, Michael Jackson, Captain Jack Sparrow, Marilyn Monroe, Sexy Cops, Show Girls, Transformers, Super Heroes, Darth Vader, musicians, magicians, and more.  Some are incredibly talented and others are simply beggars in disguise. They all want tips for entertaining you or taking pictures with you.  How much should you tip a Vegas street performer?  Should you tip them at all?  Are they paid by the Casinos to stand out front?  Here’s everything you ever wanted to know about Vegas street performers and more.

Is Elvi the Plural of Elvis?

WHO DO THESE PEOPLE WORK FOR?

Most of the street performers are free-lancers. They are not paid by the casinos, bars or restaurants to entertain you. They buy or create their own costumes, or instruments and put themselves out there in hopes of making enough “tips” to earn a living.  A few of the showgirls and characters do rent their costumes from a company in town that does that and a few work for a company that owns the costumes.  This company schedules the showgirls and locations and keeps a certain amount of their daily tips with the rest going to the girls.  The musicians, magicians and other performers are totally on their own.  They all try to entice you to tip them because that is how they earn a living.  For most, this is their full-time job.  By the way, Performers and photo-op characters are the only people on the strip to whom you should give money.  Never give a promoter money or buy tickets or anything else from a promoter or salesperson on the strip without a physical kiosk or building.  They are paid by the organization they are promoting if they are legit.  Transacting business on the Las Vegas Blvd. streets and sidewalks is illegal.

SPEAKING OF TIPS…

Tip Well For This

If you stop to listen or watch a performer and enjoy their show, you should tip a few bucks.  Same if you decide to take a picture with one of the characters or showgirls. 

…HOW MUCH YOU TIP IS COMPLETELY UP TO YOU

The law states Las Vegas street performers cannot tell you how much to tip…even if you ask, legally they should say, “We work for tips and the amount is up to you.”  If they ask you for a specific amount, they have broken the law. They can and should add something like, “Most people give us $2-$5 for a picture.”  Telling you what others do is not illegal.  Telling you how much to tip is illegal.  Giving you a price is illegal.  They are not selling anything, they are performing for tips.

AGGRESSIVE PANHANDLING…

If a Vegas street performer harasses or pressures you for a larger tip, they are guilty of what the law calls “aggressive panhandling. If they chase you down for a larger tip or because you didn’t tip at all, they are also guilty of aggressive panhandling.  When this happens you should find a police officer and report the performer.  Everyone wants the rude aggressive ones off the street; they make it worse for both tourists and the quality Vegas street performers alike.

…DON’T BE A THIEF

Of course, if you take their picture or take pictures of them and do not tip at all, you are a thief in my opinion.  I know, they are out in public in a costume and you want to post the pictures on social media so your friends can enjoy what you saw in Vegas.  But this is their job and you just took their “work” without asking or paying for it.  Think about it this way: Vegas street performers don’t come to your job and STEAL your work without paying for it.  So, show some respect.  By the same token, they should respect you and be polite, smile and say thanks no matter what you tip.

Is Underwear Man a Super Hero?

HOW MUCH DO THEY MAKE?

It varies.  A few of the better ones make over $100,000 a year working 25-30 hours a week.  Before you move to Vegas and give this a try, remember these are a very few of the really good ones.  Most of the good ones earn about half that much and the average and below average ones don’t make enough to survive.  Also, remember these people are out on the elements and weather on their feet for long hours exposed to the world.  Sometimes they are verbally attacked and physically assaulted for no reason.  It’s not easy wearing a sexy cop outfit or body paint and dealing with drunks, perverts and judgmental religious nuts who are offended by the sin in sin city all day every day. They earn their money by the quality of their costumes, personality, talent, effort and the amount of abuse they sometimes endure from rude people.

I probably wouldn’t tip for this

PREPARE IN ADVANCE & AVOID SCAMS

• Photos With Characters & Show Girls

Set a budget for this part of your entertainment. I suggest you look around before taking any photos with characters and make some decisions about which ones you want to take pictures or video with you–yes video as some of them put on quite a show.  You can always go back for the ones you like and you might see one you like better down the street. Watch how they interact with others so you know what to expect and then decide how much to tip.  Before you go on the street to take photos with these characters, get your bills changed into the amounts you plan to tip.  I recently observed a tourist agree to give a showgirl $20 for a photo, but he only had $100 bills.  She counted out $80 in change and handed it to him. But as he took the $80 in change she pulled it back and started shouting that he was stealing her money.  He grabbed his original $100 bill and it tore.  The police were called and after 3 hours of conflicting eyewitness testimony and police statements filled out, the police decided it was “he said-she said” and they didn’t know who was telling the truth.  So, they took all the money she had in her possession and impounded it–which means she will never get that money back.  And the tourist lost his $100.  This bad experience for all involved could be avoided by doing as I suggest.

• Other street performances

For musicians, singers, and other performing artists tip based on how much you enjoyed what you saw or heard.  Be both wise and generous.  Again, make change in advance and set aside some singles, $5’s, $10’s or even $20’s if you choose, to tip when you stop to watch a performance.  If you feel harassed or pressured,don’t stop to watch, and don’t tip.

Photo Op ?

Vegas Street Performers are talented, hard-working, entertaining and a part of the Vegas Experience.  If both the performers and tourists follow what I’ve outlined here, it’s a great experience for all.

Anything I left out?  Questions?  Comment below and I’ll respond.