Honky Tonk Etiquette: What to Wear and Tip in Nashville

Booking choice: The two-step class, from $45 per person. Check dates Compare the options below

The bands on Broadway live on tips. Everything else about etiquette follows from that: be kind, be easy to serve and give the stage some room.

The figures below come from a nashvegas.com guide and the bars' own pages. Treat them as the going rate, not a rule.

The quick answer

Wear comfortable shoes, carry a photo ID and keep cash for the tip jar: $5 to $20 per band, and at least $1 or $2 a drink for bartenders. A song request costs extra. The two-step class at $45 teaches the floor rules.

Dancers in jeans and boots doing a line dance on a wooden floor in a rustic hall — A line dance in full swing on a wooden floor.

How much should you tip the band?

$5 to $20 per band for each visit, more for a request or a long stay.

That is the nashvegas.com guide guidance. A group shoutout from the stage runs $50 to $100. Cash is easiest, and many bands accept Venmo. Put it in the jar or hand it up when the song ends, not during it.

A three-piece country band on a small bar stage with neon signs behind them — A trio on a Broadway stage. Tips are how they get paid.

How much should you tip the bartender?

At least $1 or $2 per drink.

Drinks run $5 to $10 each, so the tip is a small share of the bill. Tip as you order if the bar is busy and you want your next one faster. Keep a few small notes in your pocket.

A guided route puts you in front of four or five stages without hunting for them.

Check dates for the honky-tonk walking crawl

Can you request a song?

Yes, with a tip. Ask politely, put a bill in the jar and let the band decide when to play it.

The bands play from a deep catalogue, so a classic is usually safe. A shoutout and a bigger tip mean the band keeps the evening moving for you. Do not shout over the singer.

Rows of glass mason jars hanging in a lit rack above a busy bar — Glass jars hung over a bar.

What should you wear to a honky tonk?

Comfortable shoes first. Boots are optional, jeans and a sundress both work and a light layer helps.

You will stand and walk for hours. Tootsie's own FAQ says men may not enter in tank tops or sleeveless shirts and that large backpacks and cameras are not allowed, so check the dress rules of the bar you choose. Nobody checks your hat.

An acoustic guitar and cowboy boots against a brick wall on a wet pavement — Boots against a brick wall. They are optional, but popular.

What ID do you need?

A photo ID with a birth date that is not expired. After 6 pm the big bars are 21 and over.

Tootsie's own FAQ lists a state driver's licence or ID, a military ID or a passport. Bring the original, not a photo of it. If you are under 21, Tennessee law bars drinking, and the WPLN guide to nightlife under 21 lists other nightlife.

Can you take photos and film?

Phone photos are normal. Big cameras and video equipment are not welcome in some bars.

Tootsie's own FAQ says cameras and video equipment are not allowed. Ask before you point a lens at the band, and stand to the side of the stage. A photo with a performer works best after a tip.

Two guests holding drinks at a bar under a glowing yellow neon sign — A guest photo at a bar under a neon sign.

Can you line dance or two-step if you have never tried?

Yes. The two-step class is a one-hour lesson with pro instructors for $45, and a line dance lesson is about $40.

The class is at 2416 Music Valley Dr, near the Opry, and the floor is calmer than the bar. Learn the basics there and the Broadway dance floor stops being a mystery. Both are good for couples and for groups.

A couple two-stepping in a room with a wooden floor while other dancers move behind them — A couple at a dance lesson.

One hour with pro instructors, so the dance floor feels easy.

★ 4.8 68 reviews · 1 hour · from $45

Explore the two-step class

What are the basic safety habits?

Watch your drink, keep your phone in a front pocket and agree a meeting point.

The street is crowded, and plans change fast. Plan your ride home before late night, since public transit is limited. A group tour helps with all of that. See the crawl or go on your own guide for the trade-offs.