If you receive services anywhere, you know that tipping has become prevalent in almost everything. One musician is speaking up after a popular Minnesota fair decided to ban tipping. Musicians are worried about how they’re going to make a little extra money, unable to do something they’ve always done.
Karina (@karinakernmusic) says “musicians gotta eat, too” and agrees that musicians should be able to have tip jars at shows. Unfortunately, the Minnesota State Fair disagrees. Karina said that this year, they’ve made it a rule that musicians and vendors can’t have tip jars out. She said most people will be happy about that rule, but “musicians are not super thrilled” with the fair’s decision.
Before the 2026 State Fair, musicians and vendors could always put out tip jars, and there was never any issue with it. Now, they’re banning them entirely. She said this adds to the costs of being a musician who utilizes one of these fairs. This is because musicians typically play at these fairs for “exposure” and aren’t paid for providing their music. They have to pay for their own ticket and parking, which means they’re “taking a loss.” Now, musicians will not be able to receive a little extra money through tip jars.
Karina is part of the fair this year, but the whole tip jar debacle has her feeling “annoyed.” She said that, if people want to tip, they basically need to sneak the tip to the musician. It’s a big change for musicians and vendors alike this year at the world-famous fair.
Commenters immediately rushed to Karina’s comments, reacting and sharing their opinions on this matter. Many commenters agreed with Karina that not being able to ask for tips is a travesty. As one commenter stated, “Wtf, if they ban tipping they need to be paying y’all for your time.” Another shared, “Musicians, sure. Vendors? Idk. They’re already charging me $15 for fries and $8 for a lemonade lol.”
Others disagreed, with many feeling averse to tips. One commenter stated: “Tip fatigue is real.” Another commented, “I pay to get into the fair. If you are free entertainment, you should be free.” Commenters continue to share their opinions and reactions on Karina’s video concerning tipping in general.
