Street Performers and Cheapskates

[TheNoNamedOne]

Today after taking in a movie at Mihama (300), my wife and I walked over to the Ferris Wheel building to get some ice cream at the BaskinRobbins, and there in the front there were a group of about 6 boys doing a break dancing routine to some classic James Brown and wrap music on a small ground stage they had set up (sleek wood panels).

Now over the years I have seen these kinds of performers and they were so so, but these guys were really good. Perhaps they have been the same ones we've been seeing over the years and their hard work has finally paid off for them making them how they appeared today. Needless to say, there was a huge audience gathered around them enjoying them for a good one hours worth of entertainment.

Toward the end of the show they placed their donation bowls toward the front. I couldn't believe it. I think I counted only 6 or 7 out of all those people actually drop some coins in -- and of those probaby 5 of them were Americans, but the Americans made up probably only 1% of the audience.

I mean here these boys were, out here giving it all they got in entertaining these people for an hour and not running around on scooters like bozuzokus, and out of that huge audience only 6 or 7 dropped something in their bowels.

I was quite disappointed by that.

[Tempestuous]

Perhaps it is in how you view it?

We see it as entertainment but maybe others see it as kids goofing off that should instead be working harder to get ahead in life by working or going to school?

My understanding is the general custom is not to tip at restaurants,hotels, bars or cabs....does this custom overflow into the area of entertainment?
(don't know just asking)

Perhaps they just think it is just free entertainment and somehow they are getting perks from the establishment.

We always enjoyed the dancers. There was always a couple out of the handful that were exceptional at it. We have pictures of one of our kids out there trying to imitate them. :)

[thistle]

I have to agree with The Prosecutor, it is disappointing. But street performers are not really
a big thing over here, and I think a lot of those people watching did not expect to be asked
to give money at the end of it.
If it were in Europe, we would not stay long and watch a performance without being expected to throw in some coins, so if we were not willing to do that we would probably not loiter long, but rather move on to the next on.

I have found Japanese are not big givers publicly, look at those charity boxes in all the convenience stores, i often put in 10 yens, but if you look in those jars they are full of 1 yen coins,
pathetic.

[bokuwa]

No different in America. Happens all the time. Some days they get good money and some days they don't. A waitress can do a good job all day long, but have a rotten day in tips.

You said 1% were Americans, I do you know? They had signs?
Not all people with western faces are Americans.

The rest of the 99% were Japanese?
Not all people who look Japanese are Japanese.

And at the end of the day, if a talent agent came up to the performs and they signed a million dollar contract, am I suppose to have a feeling of????

Eat, drink and be merry!!! Soon it will all be over.

[socalheart]

I've never seen the performers provide a "tip" jar myself. I do understand why the locals wouldn't give them a gratuity though. I've lived here as a foreigner for most of my life, and know the Okinawans to be very generous people. They simply do things for others, because they're nice. The introduction of a gratuity is a very foreign custom to most. They may think we're odd to give the performers a gratuity. heh. The young people of Okinawa have become much more western in their lifestyles in the last twenty years or so. It's not bad per se, just different.

[Boost]

We really enjoyed watching those guys too when we were there. Never noticed a tip jar though...now I kinda feel bad. Would've been more then happy to give them some money for their performance!

[DoctorP]

The ones that I have watched did more of a pass the hat at the end of the performance rather than leave a tip jar sitting out.

[TheNoNamedOne]

I do understand why the locals wouldn't give them a gratuity though.

I do, too, and so do the Okinawans. In fact, they have a simple word for it in their lexicon -- "Ketchi" i.e. stingy, selfish, tightwad. The concept is not foreign to them.

[QUOTE]I've lived here as a foreigner for most of my life, and know the Okinawans to be very generous people. They simply do things for others, because they're nice.

This is a wide brush you are using to paint them with. btw, did you know that Okinawa has the highest rates of incest in Japan? See? Things aren't that simple.

The introduction of a gratuity is a very foreign custom to most. They may think we're odd to give the performers a gratuity. heh. The young people of Okinawa have become much more western in their lifestyles in the last twenty years or so. It's not bad per se, just different.

If they are so kind, then, as a crowd, they would have tipped more than they did/do. Japanese understand the concept of a tip, and since the 70's they have been traveling widely around the world to countries where tips are. Millions of people in Japan have walked through the classroom doors of English conversation schools and most schools from time to time will discuss it.

"Ketchi" is the more appropriate and accurate explanation -- particularly in the urban modern parts of Japan.