Karaoke Forums

I don't concern myself with poaching the local bar shows for $150-$200 a night. Why should I when I can book a private party for $600+ minimum? And referrals from it to boot?

Let the "$100 & Free Beer" bozos have the dives with all their issues. Go for the real money shows.

I know of a local operator who told me he was trying to franchise his operation - I'm not sure what he offers for the franchise fee...

His company currently has shows in Kansas City, Marshall Missouri and Tampa Florida.

http://www.starsandbarsmusic.com/#!karaoke

We had two big production companies in my area, but only one of them is limping along with a handful of shows 20 years later.

Karaoke has a hardcore fan base around here, but the pay rate is so low that only Indie shows continue to survive. Most of these KJ's are living off $50 shows with happy hour booze prices. They're using outdated systems with libraries that are outdated, stagnant, or bootlegged. Since there is little regulation here, there is little fear of shutdown.

To date, there are only two digital shows and both are doing it more as a favor to the bar owners than a serious business.

As long as these Indie shows can undercut any organized effort from a real KJ company, I don't see Indies phasing out anytime soon.

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Karaoke should be a selfish pleasure.
Check out my Facebook page "Griff's Karaoke Adventures" to see how many tunes I can do without repeating!

The two I know of are based in L.A. and San Diego I don't think they are state wide and I have never heard of a national large scale karaoke contracting company. Then again this business model is pretty much in it's infancy. I can see where large scale contractors would support the litigating manus, the manus would clear out 95% of the illegal single rig operations and leave the field open for them to fill in the void. Unfortunately at the current rate of clearing most large contractors would not live to see the independents disappear. Unless of course they decide to clear for themselves. That is why a very large national company is not on the horizon, still to many independents out here.

How can you poach singers if you are not lurking at someone else's show?

I would not consider advertising and attracting someone else's singers poaching. I would consider a sales call to a bar during non show hours to drop off information and or speak to them as a form of advertisement. Lurking at their show, pointing out to the owner how much better you could do the show and pulling singers aside to tell them about your show IS poaching (in my book).

When I go out to someone else's show my main purpose is to have fun, and if it has a new host (one I have never met), I try to find something he/she does that could make my show better. If someone asks me what I do I will tell them, but I will not aggressively go in search of new patrons.

I used to do the same thing, until I found out going out to another hosts show was too much of a distraction. My being there would remind the singers I was a KJ and had a show close by. As time went on I stopped going to other shows altogether since I was working 6 days a week. The last thing I wanted to do on my day off was go to a karaoke venue. Now that I'm retired I only go if my wife wants to, I'm too busy catching up on things that I have left undone for too long.

Well LR you answered your own question, the death of the independent operator has been exaggerated. But then again it is your forte.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

I posed it as a question tim. I'm still not convinced that eventually the independent operator will disappear with time. Everything is in place to to establish a single large contractor to handle entertainment. On a small scale we can see the large scale contractors can invade and dominate a market. Now it only remains to be seen if some enterprising person can come up with the money to go nationwide using the same smaller scale examples and making them larger in scale and dominating markets on a state wide or national level. You are the one who is the champion of free enterprise and capitalism tim.

One of my long term plans is to do multi-state operations. I don't think I will necessarily franchise it, but that is something yet to be determined. I been speaking to one of my hosts about managing the WA state gigs in the event I decide to move back home to Texas.

-Chris

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-Chris

Today WA tomorrow the world!!!! just kidding.

I did not have the opportunity to read every post in this thread. Yet the question transcends into many other areas that show the same type of potential of failure and success. So many factors play a role that it is all subjective in nature.

1. If a larger company tried to gobble up all the business in your area. It would require having less opportunity to begin with, and how they may cut throat their way into the consumers pocket.

Mom & Pop retailers are a flipped mirror example of that question as the Huge sellers who pump out as much as they can for as low as they can have crushed many small independent businesses. Yet I do not believe that the same effect would happen to small independent karaoke host. It is more isolated to the area you reside in as some areas would never be effected and some would be destroyed by it. Thankfully for karaoke host. Consumers are not going to scan the internet all over the country looking for the cheapest karaoke host. like they do up against the small karaoke audio retailers. That in itself tells me
that your area is going to account for 50% of the success or demise and sometimes even higher.

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Before it is too late. America still has the chance to shine again. CONCENTRATE on building this country
again. Become producers and NOT consumers. I will be the first to tell you that I am sickened that we
must sell product made overseas from certain countries that do not have to follow any rules, have a slavery type work forces, have governments that do not believe in the liberties we take for granted.

The day America starts to rebuild, STOPS giving other countries money. STARTS making product here again, giving all the incentives to businesses to stay here. Let workers make a good living. That will be the day when no matter how many people are around you looking to cheat or undercut. You have an unbreakable foundation in our country that would leave enough business for EVERYONE. Currently our foundation is broken and we are all suffering. We are all Victims and YET we are all in one way or another to blame as well.

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MADPROAUDIO ~ DISABLED VETERAN ~ FAMILY OWNED COMPANY

My 31/2 cents:

I NEVER pursue a venue with a current karaoke host.

Yes, part of it is ethics- I think hosts that go in and mine singers, hand out cards, and heckle the current host are scum- worse than pirates, because while a thief is a thief, a low-life shows a complete lack of class or upbringing- just tacky.

BUT, I have practical issues as well. If the current KJ is godawful, it's harder to dispel the reputation of a venue known for crappy-oke.

If the current Karaoke Host ( note the different labels...) is a decent host, then I have to overcome fan predjudice and possible negative feelings for taking their favorite hosts' show.

I'm a guy who likes starting a karaoke show from scratch, or lacking that, after a long pause between shows.

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

That day will never come because greedy American businessmen who worship the capitalistic way of doing things will never want to pay American workers a decent wage.

They would rather have the work done in foreign countries by foreigners who will do the work for 1/10th of the pay that American workers would do it for. This way, they save a ton of money and become even richer than they were before, while the working class becomes poorer.

That's America and capitalism at it's finest. Not saying I am against capitalism. I am just saying that every system has it's good points and bad points, even capitalism.

And don't forget the consumer who wants all these low prices.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

Agreed. I've taken over karaoke venues, but by no means through active pursuit. It was just as you were saying - bad or flat out incompetent hosting (through skill set or alcoholism) - and the bar owners came looking for us.

Once, I remember showing up for our first day at a new venue. While we were setting up, the former KJ came walking through the door with equipment in tow. The owners had not told the former KJ he no longer had the gig. Un-com-for-ta-ble!

By the same token, I've lost shows because we failed to gel with the bar owner. I know they're paying the bill, but when an owner wants to get up and sing every 3rd song, bans certain songs (or swear words), attempts to control the rotation, or admonishes us for shutting down an unruly singer, then we're happy to collect the check and move on.

Then again, we made most of our money from corporate events, so the bar money was icing on the karaoke cake.

_________________
Karaoke should be a selfish pleasure.
Check out my Facebook page "Griff's Karaoke Adventures" to see how many tunes I can do without repeating!