Clients:  
Do you tip your providers if they provide a quality experience for you?
If so , is there a certain percentage of the base fee you tip based on the quality of the experience?

I tip everyone. I have given as little as 40 bucks to as much as 120 in this hobby it depends on how much money I have in my pocket at that time. From being a waiter to working and depending on tips I can tell you straight up it's usually the people with the least amount of money who tip the most and go out of the way to help people in need. It's also these people whose tips make you smile bigger than you will ever know if you haven't worked and lived off tips.

But that's nowadays. Back in my agency days I received tips around 25% of the time.  Can't remember how much, though.  

You Crack me up with your direct responses and humor.  
I am going to have find cheap air fare to Chicago

I'm not sure why, they provide a service just as waitress or bartender, whom I tip well.

What if I got you a bowling ball with my name on it? Would you call that a gift that's really for me?

I will occasionally tip a girl who goes over and beyond the call, either by extra time or enthusiasm, depending of course on her actual rate. I am much more likely to tip an agency girl that charges $250 hr than an independent charging twice as much, but there are always exceptions.

I do have trouble with the concept of tipping someone who makes five to ten times my own hourly rate even though I understand there may be a lot of down time between clients.  Similarly I have never tipped my lawyer or my accountant, and they get paid per client as well.

In my experience, probably 1 out of 20 guys tip.
Anything extra is very much appreciated, as I'm providing a service much more personal than waitresses or bartenders. I'm actually surprised more people don't tip, especially the ones that have very precise requests, or when I stay 20 minutes over making sure they are 110% happy.  
I don't consider any extra amount a bad tip. People should stop assuming all providers have so much money,  and just tip if she exceeded your expectations! You don't know her situation, she might be supporting her family.  If she made your day, why not make hers? Just my view on it.

I rarely tip indies charging $400+, as GaG says, the same as a lawyer.  However I always tip agency girls, because they are usually on a 60/40 split with the agency at a much lower rate,  so $50/hr is much appreciated by them, still bringing me in at $300/hour including the tip, but representing a 33% tip of the portion the girl gets to keep.  Never fails to get the best an agency girl has to offer.

I'd say about 25-30% of my friends leave something extra (that's going on my last 10 engagements, 3 left something more). Some bring me gifts. Some do both, goddess bless them. Their $ generosity ranges from 15% to 20%. I am grateful for any tip or gift or extra show of kindness I get, but never expect it. No such thing as a bad tip or gift. :

The general idea is to provide motivation to serve since the employee does not directly benefit from the business.   Further - most restaurant or service employees in the US (where there is an expectation) are essentially paid from tips as a matter of custom.  Their actual wage rate is ridiculously low.

be it actual cash, a gift card, sent a gift card or gift, etc etc etc.

Lol what a title. This could be a thread all on its own.

Welcome to the 21st century but you keep doing you! and I do tip my massage therapist  who owns her own business. same with the nail tech who owns the biz!

I dont really see the need but then again i have yet to repeat with anyone.

I repeat. That's how I tip

Good point about agency vs independent. I think im going to start leaving extra when i see someone through an agency/aamp.

I have a rather high donation for my area so obviously, I do not expect tips. I'd say if I do get tips, generally they are from gentleman who are traveling from other parts of the country or if I am on tour. Many times it is an extra gift with the donation but sometimes (more often at home), I receive gifts. I'd say overall tipping is probably around 25% but that can fluctuate.  

I agree, I may round up the fee, but if they provide good service, and I enjoy their company, I call them back. This is just like Massage Therapists... If they are at a spa, I will tip as I know they don't set the rate nor do they get all the money. If they are independent, I feel no need to tip. They set their rate so should be happy with what they get. If they are good, I will repeat. Or if the provide more, and I wasn't expecting it, I will tip. But I love Deep Tissue work and don't always look for BodyRubs. Sometimes I just need a good massage.

maybe that they have to do it to put up with my lacking sense of humor.

If I go to a bar and the owner is bartending, I am not going to stiff him just because he owns the joint. Nor am I going to stiff the woman who cuts my hair just because she owns the shop.  

is personal service.  It doesn't matter if the "owner" or independent is the one providing it.  Like GaG says, haircut, manicure, massage, shoe shine, etc., are all personal services and should be tipped just like a waiter at a restaurant.

I don't like gifts either, but they bring them.

Such as bartenders - it is customary to tip a bar-tender.  I also tip the guy who cuts my hair - and he does own the place.  It's customary to do that and the fee is arguably set to include it as part of compensation.  You could probably come up with some more exceptions.

the doctor example and compare it to a provider.  Its not the same.  A doctor (or a lawyer) requires a substantial college education and a professional license issued by a government agency.  Even though your manicurist, barber and masseur/masseuse are also licensed by the state, they provide a personal service that warrants a tip, IMO.  Its just good business for the customer and may get you scheduling priority or better service in the future.  Providers are not regulated or licensed and in that respect don't have any of the protections that other personal service providers have through licensing or regulation.  (I would argue that they should be, but that's for another thread).  It just seems incongruous to tip a massage therapist and not a provider, when the latter provides a much more intimate and fulfilling service for most of us.

Thank you for getting it.  

have had about 50% that have tipped.

Glad someone filled in for me lol

$50 for a decent experience and $100 if I really really like the service.  For a hit-and-run, nada....