Hollywood Archives

Retro / Fit

Dec 30, 2009

Location: United States » Hollywood

Anticipatory Behaviour: The Gratuity

Feb 10, 2009

A gratuity prepared in advance of the parking valet - a typical anticipatory behaviour driven by a desire for efficiency and to a lesser extent a desire to avoid social awkwardness - not to have to complete the task of finding the right change in front of the valet.

Vice versa - the behaviour of the valet to mitigate (or enhance) this awkwardness? And the cultural differences in giving gratuities - particularly for Japanese visitors to the US unskilled in and unused to the nuances of giving in this manner - tipping is unheard of in Japan - and handing money to a 'stranger' is met with blank stares akin to madness.

Given that many service industry workers rely on gratuities to survive how much flexibility is there really in whether to give or not? How would the attitude to giving, and levels of gratuity differ if it were called a gratuity tax? A bail-bond gratuity? Or college fund gratuity?

For any online/mobile service where an % of the payment is based on the experience - how and whether to support gratuities? Who measures the experience? From a service provider's point of view - do low tips mean unhappy customers?

Related: everyday workplace bribery.

Location: United States » Hollywood

Courtesy Calls

Oct 01, 2008

Signs extolling patrons to call the courtesy number to report overly loud members of the audience at the Hollywood Bowl. For every social situation, person - the socially acceptability of pointing out anti-social behaviour, and the mechanisms (usually signs) that make this easier. Related: signs directing parents to take responsibility of their children.

The event? Traditional Iranian music, head banging and graffiti.

Location: United States » Hollywood