Karaoke Forums

I'm new to this form and exploring hosting a show myself. Just moved and no karaoke within 60 miles.

I've been singing for a little over a year and have gathered a few discs of my own, 30 discs (400+). I just got a rig with enough power and features to host a show.

Seeing very large library advertised and discussed is intimidating to a guy who can only start with a thousand or so song to choose from, that's after purchasing more bricks and founder packages to get started.

What is the number of songs needed to start host a good show???

375,000...that's what Dee-Ann sez! But seriously, depending on the expected crowd, size of venue, and demographic of crowd, it will vary. I think one could get by with maybe 2500 songs, but you better add a sizable amount of additions every week which means you won't be making much profit. Most legal shows have 10,000 to 50,000 songs, and some might be duplicates. What type of venue are you going after? If you are going for the college age crowd, you better look to adding the latest songs by the latest groups as well as popular older songs. If your are gonna do the local gin mill on the corner, you might get away with country and oldies. Look toward getting a good basic mix of styles and songs.

It really depends on the local market.
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If there is no other shows in 60 miles, and there are people that want to come sing, even a small list can be worth a trial.

But if that is the case it may be the only bar in the area, and many people may not want to be bothered by karaoke.

Some people just dont like it, and may be annoyed if you change the nature of the only watering hole in the area.

Others may really like it so it is up to you and the bar. I would say in such a situation 1000 songs might be a bare minimum to start with a good diversity.

If you are trying to get karaoke started among people who may not be familiar with it, you may need a bigger selection as first time singers are going to be more hesitant on song choice.

Several of the starter packs have very good diversity of songs.

Dont get too many unusual songs until you have the basics covered, and that depends on the age and music tastes of the crowd.

You want to have a good soild core to begin with for nearly any venue. Sound Choice Foundations & Bricks are a great start there. This will cover some of the more popular songs up until around 2000. You didn't really mention what your collection consists of. Once you get a show running then have a request sheet out for your customers to sign up songs they'd like to sing that you don't have and then try to get them. There is no right amount of songs to begin with, but you do want songs that people want & ask for. Something popular on the radio today does not necessarily mean that is what people want to sing. You don't want to necessarily have a ton of country songs in a club that is primarily rock oriented and vice verse. Picking music is tricky, but once you find out what the crowds in each club wants, purchase accordingly from there. Also what is hot in one club may be totally opposite in the club right next door so don't assume that one library will be perfect at every club. Core songs are just that, songs people typically can pick & sing.

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The Sound Choice Bricks are great, and I've also had great luck with some of the large Chartbuster Essential collections. It really does vary from venue to venue. When you get in there and start working with the crowd, you will quickly be able to tell what some of the most desirable genres are for the crowd. You can be successful in any situation if you are attentive to their requests. Write them down and make every effort to get them within a couple of weeks. When they see that you are looking out for them, they will love you and the show will be a success. Good luck to you! It sounds like you are in a great place, since karaoke isn't so saturated in the area.

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It's called Karaoke Therapy...

the complete foundation and bricks are available at karaoke.com for about $800 bucks. A real bargin. Craigslist and ebay are great, too.

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Good music, good friends, howling good times!

Thanks for the great advice.

Some more back ground I'm near a military base in Germany so the rabble will generally be younger soldiers and Germans that like classic rock.

Most of my collection is country, rock and some current pop. My intent is to purchase the brick and foundation packs to get to a good starting point. From what I see 2000+ may be that number then aggressively build after that.

Again I am a cherry at this so this may sound stupid but where do you start on fees? Do you volunteer/ work for tips until you get some followers to show its potential for increased revenue or do say show me the money up front?

I've found some interest at a few clubs, but again getting your foot in the door with a limited library may backfire.

You don't need to mention that you have a limited library. You want to stress that you are attentive to pleasing the customers. Maybe state something to the effect that if customers want a selection you don't have, you will make it priority to get it so that they have a terrific karaoke experience. Always play up on your strong points; don't draw attention to anything you feel is a weak point.

As far as pay, don't work for tips. (I did this a LONNGGG time ago) It doesn't work. First of all, if you are working for tips, you may not make enough money to even purchase songs they request, much less getting paid a little for your time or to replace equipment, which you will have to do. Also, if you start working for very little pay or tips, either way, it is hard to get the bar owner to pay you what you're worth later. I started several venues at a reduced rate, with an agreement between the bar owner and myself, that my rate would go up when business increased. Business increased but the raise didn't come from the owner voluntarily. They force you to beg for it later. Then they tell you that it hasn't increased that much in the register (as if you haven't been seeing what you know you've been seeing) and then you are forced to make a decision. Do you want this bar to keep taking advantage of you or do you want to lose the gig? It just doesn't work. So ask for a rate you are happy with.

This part can be tricky, especially for a new KJ. How much a bar owner is willing to pay varies from place to place, and situations are different. If the going rate for karaoke is low everywhere in the area, they may not be willing to pay over $100 a night (for say a 4 hour show). If your area is saturated with KJs, bars don't seem to pay as much either. However, I wouldn't start lower than $100 no matter what. You won't get to keep all of it anyway. That way, you're not charging a ridiculous amount, and once you prove your capabilities and the customers grow attached to you, the bar owner is more likely to give you more because you have become an asset to his or her business. Also, as customers are happy with you, they may tip you. Mine do. I don't verbally encourage it, but some nights I make impressive tips, simply because they want to thank me for my work and show their appreciation for what I do.

I take other factors into consideration when deciding on my rate. For example, if the bar wants to give me more than one show per week, I may charge them a little less. One bar is working me 4 nights per week right now, so my rate is lower for them, but I make more from them in the long run.

Another thing to consider about your rate is that it kind of sends a message to the bar owner about what you think of your capabilities. If you are willing to work for nothing, in my opinion, you would give off the vibes that you are not confident in your show's quality or your capability to please a crowd. People who are confident in their skills want to be compensated for them.

When you try to sell yourself to an owner, be confident. Ask for what you want. Stress the good things about you and things you know a bar owner would be looking for in entertainment. Be courteous, but business-like. And NEVER NEVER agree to work for tips!! You shouldn't have to anyway. How you deal with a bar owner in the beginning sets a precedence about how you expect to be treated. And how you are treated will follow suit accordingly.

Good luck to you. Hope this helps a little. Keep us updated!!

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It's called Karaoke Therapy...

We are working on our library right now. I am not concerning myself with number of songs, just trying to get a good selection overall. I'm getting the Sound Choice Foundation I and II and Bricks and a few Chartbuster Essential Plus paks (100 song paks, not the 420 essential ones) and then, will just fill as needed from there. Once you get started, if someone requests a song you don't have, let them know you'll have it the next time........and make sure you do!

Get yourself a good core set . SC Foundations and all the Bricks.
Look for PACKS Of recent hits and GENRE specific favorites.
AN BELIEVE ME THAT IS ALL YOU'LL NEED --then keep adding songs by requests.

Most singers who can't find their favorite song will ask you uf you have it ...I believe if you get it by your next show ..no harm done. In fact the'll be pleased.

Having a 100,000 song ADVERTISED library means this ...
10% are probably Duplicates
60% will NEVER BE REQUESTED
AND THE REST 30% - WILL BE SING SOMETIME BUT ONLY 5% WILL BE SUNG REGULARLY..MAYBE

True but I would go with the numbers 60% duplicates, 30% never requested.
10% will be sung.

A year of a show running 2 nights a week for 3 hours is only going to be about 15000 songs sung.

Unless you go for 5 nights a week for a several years with musically diverse crowds I dont think you could get near 30,000 different songs sung.

Most shows depend on regulars singing the same set of 1-5 songs every week.

It's not about the karaoke, it's about the party. How many songs, what type of equipment, how good the singers are, all of that is window dressing. It sounds like you have a younger crowd which means that they are there to mate and not to sing. Make it a social event. Be yourself. All will be well.

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Okay, who took my pants?