Karaoke Forums

Sometimes I have to wonder how some of these places stay in business. I had a gig last night at a new venue, my first show there was last week Friday. First week went alright, they had a big party there so they put me in the big band hall so that they could accomodate all the people they were expecting. Lots of my regulars came out and the bar manager told me he was impressed with my following. They have a regular KJ that does weeknights and an occasional weekend, but the manager tells me he really likes my show better.

So this week I get to the bar, and unload all my gear into the band hall (which is also where they serve their fish fry and other food right up until my showtime). After everything's loaded in, I go to the bar to find the manager and see where they want me to setup tonight. I find out the manager that I booked the show through is not there, she called in sick. The manager tells me she doesn't know anything about them having Karaoke tonight and that the manager who had called in sick told her that there was nothing going on. WTF? Then she says to me, oh your the expensive one aren't you? To which I replied, well apparently so. So she goes on with the diatribe about how they haven't advertised tonight and they don't expect much of a crowd, seemingly hinting that she'd like to pack up my stuff and go home.

I stood my ground and repeated who I had booked the show through, what we had agreed to for a price, I mentioned that the manager from last week had called me during the week and said they were getting a lot of inquiries about tonight's show and that I had been advertising the show on Facebook for 3 weeks. Finally, she goes to call the owner. When she returns she asks again what I had worked out with the other manager and after I repeat it she tells me that the owner says I have to do it for $100 less than my normal price or pack up and go home!!

So here's the decision as I saw it. I pretty much at this point already figure I'm not going to be back at this place. They wouldn't be jerking me around at this point if they wanted to keep me around and I was already referred to as the "expensive one" so obviously the people I'm dealing with now don't see any value in having a higher quality KJ. So I'm already here, my gear's already in the building, do I want to load it all back into the van and go home with nothing or do I want to pay a gig at a heavy (and forced) discount and at least not waste the entire night. So I negotiated a $25 bar tab in addition to the fee they were "offering" and did the gig.

I'm actually kind of proud of myself, as pissed as I was at them, I kept my cool, remained professional, decided to make the most of the night and ended up having a lot of fun with a small but active crowd (there were probably 30-40 people in the bar and I had 20 singers most of the night). What I can't figure out though is how they're this screwed up. The manager that booked me was in charge of promotions, the manager that liked me last week is the one that is supposedly in charge of entertainment. The manager I talked to last night is in charge of accounting and they have two owners. Apparently all of these people have their hands in the booking process and they don't play nicely together. The end result is that one hand has no idea what the other is doing and their patrons and folks like me pay the price. How do they even remain in business?

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

That is why I have contract/agreements. Ya need something in writing, weather it is a "legal" document, or just a written note on a bar napkin saying dates and prices.

But a lesson learned too, go HIGH on the ladder as you can (ie:owner).

And the manger you booked with is a moron too. That manager should have communicated with co-workers about you being there for karaoke.

I don't care if the person called in sick or not I would have requested to speak to that person on the phone, and let them clear it up with the person you were dealing with at the bar.

The "Your the expensive one", remark should have told you that they are willing to undercut anything they can and have in the past.

I also think that at the end of your show I would have made some kind of announcement that this was your last night there but you could be found at (insert your other venues) just to get a dig in.

Your right about to many hands in the cookie jar and I'll bet the a lot of the proceeds of the night go unreported and straight into someone's pocket.

To bad that some places are like this but maybe you can stand back and watch them fall on their face and wonder why.

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I like everyone when I first meet them. If you don't like me that's not my problem it's YOURS!
A stranger is a friend you haven't met yet

Almost the exact same story with me on doing a show for the Eagles Club. Except I got paid full amount. But you are correct. When the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing, neither of them can do the job right. When owners/managers can't or don't agree with policy, I will just turn and walk away. No questions.

So the entertainment manager like your 'entertaining' show
The promotion manager expected a small crowd because they didn't promote
Accounting manager sees you as expensive because they deal with the money

Situation sucks. Definitely too many hands.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Here's my 2 cents.. I booked for our band back in the day and we ran across a similar issue a few times.... so I completely understand how you feel. I would have accepted the gig for the lesser money. However, I would have contacted the manager that was ill that booked you and see if she could make it right. What's the worse she can tell you? If it's no, adios... I hated to burn bridges because it sometimes would come back to bite me. Who knows who will be running the place in the future or what place or places those managers would be running next.

As far as the owner or owners, sounds like they have no idea whats going on and might not know how good you are or how many $$$ you bring in. They might change their mind after they see your quality show and discover that out you bring in more $$$. Plus, you have no idea how the money manager approached the owner about you. So, I kind of understand why the owner reacted the way they did.. They don't know and hate spending $$$$ for something they weren't aware of. I'm sure they have seen alot of unscrupulous things in their day..

All in all, it is a case of no communication which sux for the KJ... as usual

As a result, we did go to contracts...

You know in all my years of doing this, I've never had to use a contract for a bar gig. My stance has always been one-off shows (private parties, weddings, festivals, etc) always go with contracts that include non-refundable deposits. However on the bar side, I've never had something like this and honestly even if I had, I'm not sure it'd have made much difference on the money side. I mean at that point is it worth going to small claims over $100? Probably not.

Lone Wolf, the temptation was certainly there to make noise about the situation, however in the end I felt it best to keep things on a respectable level. Honestly, what goes on between me and the bar is between me and the bar. Thinking about it now, making an announcement like that or complaining to anyone other than the bar's management staff could only serve to paint me in a bad light. I'm actually kinda proud of myself that I kept my head, had a really fun night and did make some new friends out of the deal. Hell I've already connected with them on Facebook so maybe the next time I play one of my other locations in the area, I'll pull them away from this bar for that night

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

I would have done the same thing if I were in your shoes. If they were to ever call to book me in the future, I would certainly let them know that my first show would be at 100 dollars more than my usual rate, to make up for the disrespect handed down on this particular evening and I'd want the money UP FRONT for any and all future engagements at that venue. Once bitten, twice shy.

Well, as long as your original price was something like $250 or better, then taking a $100 hit but getting a $25 bar tab sucks.. but it's better than turning around and going home.

Like you said.. you were already unloaded.. but if the $100 hit meant you were only getting paid $50.. well.. i'd have had a hard time not just turning around and walking out.

I, like you, have never felt the need for contracts or performance agreements with bars. I reserve those for such things as parties and other one off events.. and even then I don't always do a contract.

Any time you're in front of a crowd that's good PR and a great opportunity to repeat your company name. If you had 20 active singers, and several already connect with you on Facebook, those are that many more faces that might show up at one of your other gigs.

Holy cow! They've got that many people running the show and they are calling you the expensive one. I'm sure it was hard to keep a straight face.

Yeah Bruce at this point they'd pretty much have to be on crack to try calling me for another show. I kind of hope they do though because this is where I have fun with them. One thing I've learned over many years of bands and karaoke is that owners hate being told their bar is small time. So usually what I'll do in a situation like this now is if they do call, first, I'll ask to book with the owner (given what went on at this bar). Then I'll set my price much higher than what I actually want. When he tries to talk me down I'll tell him no and say "honestly, you guys obviously can't afford me, you should probably try someone cheaper".

Sometimes it doesn't work but many times it does. The owner will get all blustery and before you know it he'll be ready to take that price. Then, just to really get his goat, I'll tell him since I know he's out of his price range that I'll knock a bit off the top and at this point bring it down to my price range. In some cases he'll be thankful and accept it, but at least two times I've done this, the owner has actually insisted on paying the amount I originally set.

Bar owners are a funny set, they play games all the time so you have to learn to play them as well.

Cheese, yes my rate was higher than $250 for that night, so it still worked out. I don't take weekend gigs for any less, I have other opportunities that would pay me that or more so I have the luxury of being able to turn those down. I agree with you, had they wanted me to take less than $150 for the night, I'd have walked. At that point it's just an insult and I don't need that. And the $25 bar tab, which was actually the manager's idea, was a nice touch.

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

I didn't think I said tell the customers what the problem was just to announce that this would be your last night there but if they liked your show that you could be found at wherever.
I wouldn't let the crowd know why just that you wouldn't be there any more. That way you could keep YOUR customer base.

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I like everyone when I first meet them. If you don't like me that's not my problem it's YOURS!
A stranger is a friend you haven't met yet

A really bad situation I feel your pain. But it sounds like you handled it very professionally. I'm sure it was very tempting to fly off the handle and leave.