The Banana Republic of Commerce

[elena_elphie]

I have a question about how much it is necessary to toke the floor in the Commerce top section. I haven't been doing this, and I feel like I have been steered into worse Commerce 40 games as a result,and I've had trouble getting them to give me table changes promptly, etc.

What is the standard toke amount to get them on your side, and when should you toke them? When you start playing? When they do something for you?

I really feel like I don't know the local customs in this Banana Republic we call Commerce and any natives that could educate me would be greatly appreciated.

[sternroolz]

Not sure what you mean by "steered". If a seat opens, the list is called and you are given the first available seat, after table changes are taken care of. If you request a table change, they should accomodate you as soon as anyone else that requested ahead of you is given a choice of moving first. Are the above things not happening? I am quite certain that management would love to know that their floor is giving preferential treatment in exchange for money.

I only tip chip runners or floormen when I hit a jackpot or part thereof at the $9-18. I do treat all the staff plesantly and politely. I have been going there for over 10 years, and many of the staff recognize me and say hello, but do not know my name and I really have never tipped anyone but the cocktail waitresses, the food servers, and the dealers. I did hit a small jackpot share last weekend and I tipped the dealer $10 and chip runner Visa $10 because she is always courteous and competent in her job.

Maybe drop down to the $9-18 for an hour or two and see how things are run. They follow a pretty stringent protocol about seating players, forming a list on the chalkboard for table changes etc. Try at night. Like I said, the chip runners are really decent and nice, especially Visa, and the floor people...James, Betty, and another guy whose name escapes me, are also real professional about their jobs.

Some people do tip them...I see a few chips being passed...but I don't think it's required at all.

[TheMetetron]

Yes, toking the floor can get you by the list, into a good game, or get a table change quickly.

[onegymrat]

Hi Elena,

I really don't think that the floor at Commerce knows the difference between a good game and a bad game. The majority of them are not astute players. If your games are tough, don't blame the floor. Remember, the tough game seats are open first because...well, the games are tough.

I agree, even though it's not ethical, that toking the floor MAY get you a seat or table change faster in many card clubs. However, at a high volume type of casino like Commerce, I don't think it really matters to them. If you don't toke them, someone else will.

This can be much clearer once regulars like Andy Fox or Rick Nebiolo chimes in.

[snakehead]

[ QUOTE ]
I am quite certain that management would love to know that their floor is giving preferential treatment in exchange for money.


[/ QUOTE ]

lmao

[snakehead]

for the most part, tipping floormen at the commerce will get you very little. if you only play there occasionally as a visitor, I think you should save your money.

tipping jack will get you into the game without waiting for your name to be called. as for table changes, you have to keep on top of it even if you tip. watch the table you want to go to and remind him when a seat comes open.

[lastsamurai]

It helps tipping the floorman if you are a juiceman in the bigroom.

[TheMetetron]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I am quite certain that management would love to know that their floor is giving preferential treatment in exchange for money.


[/ QUOTE ]

lmao

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, I thought that was pretty funny too.

[elena_elphie]

I definately noticed that, on Saturday I noticed an open seat in a table I wanted to be at and agressively asked to be put into it. That helped a lot. It seems the table change list is completely worthless, people get added to it, and all the names are periodically erased.

[elena_elphie]

Well I noticed that some regulars were given their choice of table from the must move, while I was just shoved into whatever open seat was available. Also we weren't moved from the must move in the order we arrived, so it seemed pretty clear that some preferential treatment was going on.

I have been getting better at navigating the games there, it is just the chaose is not at all what I am used to. In the 20, table selection didn't seem to matter much, but in the 40 it does. Anyway I'm off to the Bay Area for a few weeks, and then I'll be back down at Commerce.

[onegymrat]

I've been thinking about your post some more and should have done this before initially responding. I think I have taken how the floor treats me for granted a bit. I NEVER tip the floor for a change but am a regular there (though lower limits), so they do ask me if there's a preference of tables. I can totally imagine that happening (regulars who may or may not tip), where they may scoot the others ahead of you and/or give them choice of tables over you. This is wrong and unethical, but it still appears to happen. I will pay attention a bit more about the treatment of "non-regulars" at my next session.

Snakehead is right, you'll just have to keep on top of it. I really don't think you should tip for that though.

[ShawnHoo]

[ QUOTE ]
tipping jack will get you into the game without waiting for your name to be called. as for table changes, you have to keep on top of it even if you tip. watch the table you want to go to and remind him when a seat comes open.

[/ QUOTE ]

I tip Jack $5 or so every other time I play and hardly ever have to wait for a game. Wasn't sure if he was the exception or the rule.

[haakee]

From my few visits down there, Jack is the only competent floorman in that cesspool.

[andyfox]

Jack is the Rule. It's not so much the amount you give as whether you give or not. But you need to be a regular so they remember you're the person who tips. Jack is pretty shameless about this.

[elena_elphie]

Yes but he is so lechy! You don't have to deal with it of course not being female, but at first I thought letting him lech on me was a sufficent substitute for tipping him, but he seemed to get somewhat bored with that after a week or so of me not responding and it was around then that he seemed to hint that he wanted a tip or something, which I also ignored.

He does seem fairly competent at dealing with the incredible chaos of the 40 game, and he is somewhat charming despite his lechiness, I'll give him that much.

[Gabe]

i'm sure they'd be shocked to learn there is gambling going on there, as well.

[lukesw]

i just moved out to LA two weeks ago. i've been to commerce for 12 sessions and i definitely think there's some favoritism going on. although i'm not sure which factor is more important - being a regular or tipping or a combination of both.

the only first hand experience i had is with mario (i think he works mostly during the day). he has always been prompt and attentive to me (even though i've never tipped him, or any floor man for that matter). so one day i was having a great 40 session and he moved my chips over to the main game from the must while i was eating dinner (with my girlfriend over at an empty table). anyway i tipped him for not making me get up from my dinner to move my chips and the next day when i came in he had a seat available for me even though there were 4 or 5 names on the list.

as a general note, i see favoritism at all casinos toward the regulars even though i don't always see them tip the floor.

[lukesw]

btw, since most of the posters seem to be commerce regulars, i have a quick question.

i moved to LA to play at the commerce, but through a connection i have the possibility to play as a prop at the bicycle. my question is: are the games at the commerce so good that my commerce WR will still be greater than the bike WR + prop wages? i'm currently playing 20/40 through 40/80.

any comments, suggestions, or advice appreciated.

[sternroolz]

I don't have too much experience with games $20-40 and no experience with games higher than that, but I do know for certain that some of those games at the Bike can be complete donkfests and are good games if you can take the variance, while other times they go on complete lockdown...folded to the blinds hand after hand. Sometimes this lockdown lasts for a long time, and extends from $20-40 down to $3-6. It's something that really doesn't happen at Commerce.

I have no idea why anyone would ever play in this type of game and its why I don't play much at Bike. You only lose VERY slowly, but you are guaranteed to lose due to the house drop. I guess this stuff wouldn't bother a prop so much though.

[PokerCad]

Good thread, as a regular 3-4 day a week commerce player (9-18,15-30,20-40) and a fairly new 2+2er, it was good to see some 2+2 names associated with players that play there as I am interested with meeting some of you guys for conversation and strategy tips. My game has advanced beyond all of my friends and I don't really have any one to connect with, I have probably played with a good lot of you and it would be fun to make new "poker" friends. Anyway, to the thread, being a regular and a tipper does help a great deal in getting into a game when you arrive, it doesn't take much, just an occosional yellow chip and the floor people will make an attempt to get you in a game even if there is a board, plus they make more of an effort to get you service or a porter when you need one, I agree that most of them do not know what a good game is and I think table changes are over rated, as table textures change rapidly in the 20-40 area IMO. I think the floor people in the upper section expect tipping more, maybe 'cause of the higher $$'s being played or because players in this section just generally tip more ( there are a ton of people with money who play in this section, any thoughts?) not me unfortunately, I am just a grinder,lol, anyway in the 9-18 section I don't find that tipping makes any difference in a seat or selection but I give a bone occasionally to turn the TV channel etc. just 'cause I like the extra attention it gets mejavascript:void(0)
/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /images/graemlins/laugh.gif just some thoughts. Would like to meet some of you 2+2ers, (so I can stay away from you, lol) let me know
Jeff