hey everyone...very new to this hobby (my first post).  i've joined TER...seems like a good first step according to everyone.  my question is: are clients expected to tip in this world?  Say, a donation is listed as $200...what usually happens? you arrive, set the envelope somewhere, have your hour, tip? if so how do you tip?  i don't want to be awkward.

is the best place to ask such questions. You'll get less smart ass answers. I'm not saying that you won't get any, but you will get fewer.

If you do a message search under tips or tipping you'll get a wealth of info. It's a subject that has been discussed numerous times.

...or is that just cows?

Sorry, but GaG made me give a smart-ass answer

do a search on tipping, there are many threads on it already. summary seems to be, how much is totally up to you but many refuse to give a tip at all, ever. And consensus is that best tip is another appointment.

or, stand up in a canoe
or, Dust cloud in the seventh.

There will never be any end to bad puns on this subject.