After Yankee games, sometimes we'd go to Wollensky's Grill in NY. Lots of Wall St guys.
We knew the bartender - he made over 200k annually. $1000+ / night in tips routinely, even on weeknights.
yep. at the dive places, most drink all night while they work, so I imagine it's not that miserable of a shift

There are bad nights, of course. Band $ is guaranteed, but aside from our tips jar, we cannot earn the limitless like they can.
Some nights, there are just stacks and stacks of 20s... they do well. they have to work thru some very hot days/nights.
I don't think I could do it... pretend to care what some whiny vaping idiot is crying about as he bitches about his woman while hitting on 40 simultaneous girls on his phone. People are just too punchable. With music, I can tune them out and just play and have fun. When they do get too involved onstage, I do get cranky now and then, but usually only the super-drunk will interrupt a live show with suggestions or whatever.