Nickel and Dimed

What's the deal with tipping? I've never had a job where I was supposed to tip, so admittedly this is a one-sided discussion. In fact, since I write and my constituents read I don't think it's even a discussion. So.....my thoughts. I feel lousy as a tipper to give someone a couple of bucks, or to throw my change into a tip jar. I feel like the tippee and I both know that I have an obligation to tip, and as such, I am giving them the least amount of money I can to get out of the situation with my integrity intact. So, this starts what we can call a death spiral of integrity. The tippee knows I have to give them $1 to save face. I just want to save face, so I give them that $1. But the tippee knows that they weren't being tipped because of their service but out of obligation. So now, the tippee is looking to receive $2 to know that they have provided good service. I know that $1 is no longer sufficient and now must pay $2 to save face. And so, we are left in a situation where the tippee and I are never satisfied. They will think that my $2 is a lousy tip, and I will feel like I just nickel and dimed this poor high school kid. People will always may the minimum tip they need to to save face. Even a big winner at a casino. They just want to be a bigshot. It has nothing to do with service.

Speaking of Nickels. This past Thursday, Sara and I made the trek down to Nashville for Nickel Creek’s last concert of their Farewell (For Now) Tour. I know, I know. You’re probably wondering, “What the heck does Farewell (For Now) Tour mean?” Well, I’ll tell you what I know. The lead musician in Nickel Creek is a mandolin player named Chris Thile. Chris Thile is also known as one of the top two mandolin players in the world. As such, he released his first CD at the age of 8. About the same time, his mandolin teacher had another student at the age of 12 by the name of Sean Watkins. Sean Watkins has a sister four years his younger named Sara. So, the two families met and a band with 3 kids and one dad playing bass was formed. Fast forward through two limited-releases and numerous music festivals to the year 2000 (right Conan, in the year TWO THOUUUUUsand). Their self-title major label debut produced by one Alison Krauss was nominated for two Grammy’s and they receive first commercial success.

Fast forward through two more releases (This Side and Why Should The Fire Die?) and their decision to take a break. Fact of the matter is that they have been a band for the past 18 years and they decided they couldn’t make a better CD than Why Should The Fire Die? so it was time to stop playing together. So they said 2007 was their last year and scheduled their Farewell (For Now) Tour with the last shows a two night stand at the Ryman in Nashville. The Ryman Auditorium is THE venue in THE country/bluegrass town, and I’ve long been wanting to see a show there. But I’ve been waiting. Waiting for the perfect storm of band and timing and Ryman. When I found out Nickel Creek was playing what could be their last shows there, I knew I had to be there. Thursday night. No problem. Six hours from school. No problem. Sara having class the next morning. No problem. I had to be there. So I went, and it was awesome. The Ryman has the best acoustics of all the venues I’ve been to and now tops my list of favorite places to see a show. Like I said, Nashville is a bluegrass town and a Nickel Creek show is bound to special guests. So, Nickel Creek brought friends (Bela Fleck, Gillian Welch, David Rawlings, Tim O’Brien, and Benmont Tench from Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers) onstage throughout the show and for their encore (which they did the right way and only played covers). I know Sara disappointed because she wanted Alison Krauss, but I thought the show was incredible. I’ve always thought that Watkins siblings were chumps and that Thile could have put anybody beside him and the band would have been the same, but after the show I’m much more impressed with Sean’s abilities on the guitar, and release that only those three could have been Nickel Creek. They did their last song (Why Should The Fire Die?) in style with no mikes or amplifiers. A great way for a great band to go out.

Andrew had free tickets to the show in Louisville and decided not to go. Now that's dumb.

Song Recommendation - The Lighthouse's Tale by Nickel Creek