[Ruhr]

I'm going to Vegas next week and I'm considering my first live, multi-table tournament. I'm experienced in limit cash games and know about casino/table etiquette, chip handling and gameplay mechanics etc., but I have some non-gameplay questions specifically about tournament situations.

1. Leaving the table. What if I need to go to the bathroom and can't wait for the break? What if I'm absent when it's time for me to post the big blind--will the dealer take out the appropriate BB from my stack, deal my cards, and I'll be check-folded?

2. Tipping waitresses. I'm so accustomed to giving the cocktail waitress a dollar chip for a tip. Can't do that for a tourney obviously, so I guess everyone just has a wad of one dollar bills and tips cash that way?

3. Tipping dealers. If I were to place in the money, I know I should give a percentage to the dealer(s). Do you tip ALL the dealers who served you that night? How do you tip the first-hour dealer who may not be there anymore, because it's four hours later and you placed in the money late in the tournament (or do they make it a policy to keep the same shift of dealers around?). Say I win US$1000, what do I tip? Do I distribute that amount evenly to all the dealers?

Thanks in advance for your info!