Redditor Shares Parents' Reaction After Monetizing Their Piano Performance

Money changes the meaning of things. It can turn a hobby into a profession, a favor into a service, a polite gesture into a statement. At a party, especially one hosted in a beautiful home filled with well-dressed guests and catered food, money is usually invisible.

It moves quietly behind the scenes — paying for the wine, the appetizers, the polished grand piano in the corner — but no one talks about it. No one acknowledges it outright, and that’s what made OP's tip jar so loud.

For years, OP's role at their parents’ parties was predictable. They love hosting — big gatherings, lots of friends, the kind of nights that stretch late into conversation and laughter.

At some point, the OP was asked to play. You see, OP's been on the piano bench since they were five, competed at state and national levels, and built a repertoire of demanding Liszt and Chopin pieces.

So the OP would come downstairs, perform for some minutes, accept the compliments, then disappear back upstairs. It was understood: the OP was part of the ambiance.

But this time, with college around the corner and spending money on OP's mind, they decided to treat their performance differently. The OP set out a small jar labeled “pianoboy12345’s college fund,” along with their Cash App, Venmo, and PayPal.

This act wasn't appreciated by the parents, and it brought tension that the OP hadn’t anticipated.

Here's the full story in the OP's own words

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The OP got an idea of putting up a tip jar

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The OP got a lot of money from tips

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OP has offered the following explanation for why they think they might be the AH:

I might be the a-hole because I did embarrass my parents. As my parents are east asian immigrants who have succeeded in a predominantly white field, image is really important to them and I might've tarnished their image in front of their friends.

We've gathered some of the most upvoted comments from other Redditors for you to read through below

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Donating the money

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This Redditor had to list the reasons

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They objected to the sign on the jar

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The OP should just go get hired

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The OP wasn't performing on the street

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Talking to OP's parents

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It's tacky to beg from guests

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OP has spent years training, competing, and refining a skill that people genuinely enjoy. If guests wanted to support that talent — especially with college around the corner — why shouldn’t they?

We live in a time where side hustles are encouraged, where musicians drop Venmo handles, and where creators monetize their craft without apology. But to OP's parents, the jar symbolized something else entirely.

It suggested a lack and hinted at financial strain. In a room full of well-off friends, “college fund” didn’t read as entrepreneurial — it read as need-based.

And in certain social circles, appearing unable to provide can feel like a quiet failure, even if it isn’t true. So yes, the OP was declared the AH.