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Questions answered
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Here's how to mind your ps and qs
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Karaoke is good-natured fun. But please don't boo: grin and bear it!
To tip or not
I NEVER seem to know the right amount to leave behind as a tip. My friend says 20 per cent of the bill but that seems too high. When do I give a tip and what amount would be appropriate?
Tip is the acronym for To Insure Promptness. Originally, a tip was given before receiving service in order to get the best attention.
Nowadays, the tip is given after a service is rendered and the amount usually reflects how happy the customer is with the service provided. The general range is between 10 and 25 per cent of the total value of the bill.
The normal situations when tipping is appropriate are: restaurants, delivery service, hairdressers, salons, pubs, taxis and room service.
Having said that, each country has its own tipping policy. For instance, tipping is unusual in Japan (not expected, though much appreciated); in many European countries it is automatically included in the bill; on the other side of the globe, in the U.S., there are very strict tipping guidelines to follow. When you are travelling, do check out what the specific tipping policy is.
Sing along
Karaoke seems to be the rage now. Is there any etiquette to follow in these settings?
Karaoke is Japanese in origin and means "empty orchestra", even though it has been dubbed "drunk and tone deaf"! It is great fun and a marvellous outlet for people to showcase their talent. Well, the word talent might be stretched a little bit in some cases! It is good-natured fun, nevertheless. Starting with the audience — cheering is good, but please don't "boo". It does take quite a bit of guts to get up and sing. Grin and bear it!
Most karaoke places end up with a bunch of "regulars" and their signature songs. If someone else sings your song — it's not the end of the world. There is no such thing as "Hey, this is my song"! Have two or three more songs in your repertoire and dazzle them; maybe, much later, you can sing the same song. It is gratifying to bask in the glory of a well-rendered song. That doesn't mean you monopolise the mike for the rest of the evening. Too much of anything is poison! Give a chance to others eager to exercise their vocal chords, as well. When someone is singing, don't decide to join in on the stage with gusto, unless you know the person well, or you have been invited to join in.
Miss manners
My daughter is 4 years old. What is the right age to start teaching children manners?
Actually you can start teaching her the basics immediately. Start with one thing at a time, and go on from there. What is needed is not pressure but consistency. Start with "Please" and "Thank you."
For any interaction with anyone, insist on her preceding any request with a "Please" and when she receives it, teach her to say "Thank you". You will need to gently prompt her until it becomes a habit. Slowly build on it, as she grows older.
It is a lot easier to be polite if it is ingrained and automatic. Manners will give children a strong sense of self. The best place to learn is at home.
But two things she needs to understand — one, she must be courteous to everyone, irrespective of the social strata, and two, she needs to see the same courteous behaviour exhibited by the adults in the family. Otherwise, you will confuse her by giving her mixed signals.
CHITRA DANGER
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