KRISTYN Al A tip jar on the c prompts ie in for hospitality e at Moii Cafe on Ca Street Tipping point for tight wallets Those on limited budgets can find themselves being shamed to tip By KRISTYN ANTHONY ce Cabebe remembers the first time he was tip shamed for not leaving a gratuity after grab- bing a quick meal with a friend. The Langara College student had stopped at a food outlet in Metrotown and after paying for his meal, the wom- an providing service spared no shame in commenting on how she felt. “She asked how the food was, and then said, ‘What? No tip?’,” Cabebe re- membered. “I was so shocked I just walked away.” In North America, there is an expec- tation from those employed in hospital- ity for gratuities. Often, hourly rates are lower than minimum wage and in- comes are supplemented by tips - the dollar amount left in addition to the price of a service provided. “There’s a multitude of reasons why people don’t tip and it’s not always about the service and it’s not always about people being cheap,” said Maria Gouthro, a 30-year veteran of the in- dustry. Gouthro, who works for DMH Ser- vices, a hospitality recruitment agency, said she sees tip shaming all the time, both on the job and on social media. She believes it’s rooted in entitlement, fed by what she calls ‘mob mentality’ particularly when shaming people pub- licly. “It seems like it’s okay to do that now,” Gouthro said. “In my experience, I find it’s a generational thing.” David Hardisty, assistant professor of marketing and behavioural science at UBC said he sees both sides of the coin. “Students can sometimes be on a limited budget, but if you can’t afford to tip, then don’t buy it,” he said. Cabebe now feels a sort of pressure when returning to spend his money at the same business where he was tip shamed. “I do know every time I come back, she’ll always ask the same question and I leave something out of pity,” he said. “Tt’s not like, ‘Oh, wow, the service is so good,” it’s that I know she’ll be beg- ging for a tip.” 66 If you can’t af- ford to tip, then don’t buy it DAVID HARDISTY UBC ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, MARKETING AND BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE Tropical ukulele a hit in Raincouver UKULELE data 1 Ukulele means ‘jumping flea” in Hawaiian 2 Early ukulele strings were made from cat or sheep gut. Nowadays, most are made of nylon, but gut strings can still be found 3 In the event of an apocalypse, the ukulele can be transformed into a flame thrower 4 Beatle George Harrison, before passing away, collected hundreds of ukuleles 5 Neil Armstrong loved the uku- lele and spent time playing his own in quarantine up in space Source: takelessons.com/blog/ fun-ukulele-facts-z10 More and more people are tuning into this Hawai- ian guitar alternative for its childlike wonder and simplicity By JESSICA PURVER ith its uplifting sound and evo- Wiss of childhood and tropi- cal beaches, the ukulele has found a home in rainy Vancouver. Known for its Hawaiian roots, this small instrument has grown in popu- larity among both accomplished musi- cians and beginners. Vancouver, due in large part to school programs and les- sons offered in the community, has ad- opted a new ukulele trend. Amber Leake, sales associate at Long & McQuade Musical Instru- ments, found it was a popular purchase for children and teachers. “They’re pretty simple,” she said. “There are a lot less strings and they’re smaller too. It’s easier to reach your fingers to the places you need them to go, and softer strings so it doesn’t hurt you.” For children, the smaller size is an appealing alternative to the RN guitar. But the instrument isn’t just for kids. Adults who are unfamiliar with playing instruments, as well as ad- vanced musicians, turned to the ukule- le for the same reasons. Carlen Escarraga, a Langara Studio 58 graduate, taught himself how to play for fun, and ended up playing in profes- sional shows. The aspir- ing actor used ukulele to broaden his skills and expand what he could do musically. “It’s a bit of a dif- ferent — structure. Ukulele is just so easy to carry O | ‘ we Ar” J a around,” said Escarraga. “Not only is it easier to play, but there’s this lovely nostalgic feeling when playing the uku- lele and I think it’s also not as scary for people wanting to learn.” Founder of Musical Expressions, Joney Poon, agreed that the ukulele is not an intimidating instrument, and its moderate price point is also an attrac- tive factor for her students. Poon recognized the widespread popularity of the ukulele in Vancouver. “There’s a great sense of communi- ty,” Poon said. “Tf you’re committed in con- tinuing on to ukulele circles, you build a community. They’re growing in that area and there’s a sense of bonding that they do through music.” Musical Expressions now offers - “4 lessons until Dec. 13 at the Marpole- Oakridge Community Centre in South Vancouver. JESSICA PURVER photo Langara Studio 58 graduate Carlen Escarraga strums some chords on his ukulele at Langara College on Oct. 7, 2016. The aspir- ing actor is self-taught and contin- ues to improve his practice. Bombers make stylin’ comeback The bomber jacket, a top fall trend this year, has a long and evolving history in the fashion world By CAITLIN O’FLANAGAN curring trend for years and have reemerged this fall season with a new twist. They are back and bigger than ever, in store windows, magazine pages and on A-list celebrities. Ranging from the classic military style to the new, bright- ly embroidered statement jacket, they are everywhere. Terry Pitts, who teaches fashion his- tory at Langara, has noticed the bomb- er’s continued popularity and said it all comes down to practicality. “People’s lives are very fast-paced, and in turn, comfort can be fashion’s driving force,” Pitts said. “Designers keep finding new ways to interpret the bomber, but its ease and comfort are what makes it so important.” Originally designed to keep First World War pilots warm in the skies, these jackets have become much more than military apparel. Starting in the 1970s they became popular amongst ci- vilians, and they’ve become a prevalent part of skinhead and hip-hop culture. Kanye West used Alpha Industries, a company that made some of the origi- nal “flight jackets,” for his Yeezus tour merchandise. He is just one of the no- table celebrities making this street- fashion trend so famous. Cara Stryer, owner of Vincent Park, has had to restock her personal favou- rite of the season, a Cheap Monday bomber, three times already since the middle of August. “I can’t keep them on the shelves,” Stryer said. Being able to wear them all year, mixed with the jacket’s versatility, is what Stryer attributes to the bomber jacket’s appeal. Aside from boutiques like Vincent Park, bomber jackets can also be seen in Hudson’s Bay, American Eagle and Nordstrom. It’s never been so easy to get your hands on one that fits your style and your budget. Rooted in history, but always being presented in a fresh new way, this won’t be the last time the bomber jack- et is a must-have of the season. Bes: jackets have been a reoc- ANNA TILLEY photo Sanika Joyal, Langara College computer science student sporting her very own bomber jacket