Karaoke Forums

Was that bar in Silverton MAC's PLACE??

Its a 74 mile drive down to Silverton(almost an hour and half on country roads--worse in winter) from downtown Portland.

I would NEVER drive that night in night out to do a Karaoke gig unless it were a VERY JUICY paying gig.

Took me 1/2 a tank of gas for up and back in my 2003 Jeep Liberty(13 GAL Tank, and I assume you will have a van or comparable vehicle to haul your gear)--do the math.

If its the KJ I'm thinking of I know exactly who and what that situation is.

http://www.nwkaraokeguide.net/2009%20Fi ... _Place.php

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"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

Your quantity of songs isn't an issue. Not sure what your mix of music is.


Have you done any gigs at all? Volunteered to do a charitable event, family function, anything to get your feet wet and see what problems you encounter? Have you designed a flyer and sent it to every bar you can think of?

I would not take a job for $75 on a regular basis. Instead offer a one time deal of $75 so they can see what you are made of and if you have the right stuff someone will ask you back if they think you will get the taps pouring. Sorry to hear about the saturation in Portland. I wouldn't point fingers but stress that your library is legal and that you have cdgs to back it up and if they ask what you mean, explain the trouble they can get in if a pirate is working for them.

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KingBing Entertainment C'mon Up! I have a song for you!!! [font=MS Sans Serif][/font]

Like Swing said. I thought I had read the area was overstaurated. Unfortunately the wrong time and place to break into the business.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

Only if he plans on being mediocre. If he plans on being better he could do it.

Well given that she's spoken with TWENTY-EIGHT BAROWNERS and gotten pretty much the same $75 and you need 80.000 songs reply...........I'd say TIMBERLEA's pretty SPOT-ON in his commet.

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"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

Again I would say that her best approach would be to hire on at one of the bars or with a multi-rigger to gain some actual LIVE FIELD-EXPERIENCE for a couple of years in which time she could build some kind of following.

AND YES she would have to work for the "PEANUTS" that are offered: the cost of gaining actual expereince---"starting at the bottom".

Also have the opportunity for custies and other potential clients to see her show and then come-up and offer her a gig somewhere else(Ive had that exact scenario happen several times).

While at first gig at a bar or with multi-rigger she could BRING HER OWN CD COLLECTION as an ENHANCEMENT to the existing show---believe me that the custies will DIVE RIGHT IN AND EXPLORE her own selections and use her stuff regularly.

Also she needs to build herself a MYSPACE site to use to advertise KJ/DJ services with
photos of:

--Her in DJ action
--Her system
--List of her songs
--Any other things that pertain to what she does as a KJ
--List of comments/testamonials/friends
--List of gigs, showtimes
--Photos of the gig, bar, custies singing and partying
--Build a bulk EMAIL list of custies for updates, events

Many of the KJ's here have VERY IMPRESSIVE website prescences which are key to their marketing efforts.

I have a small one that I really havent kept up on since Ive kinda been out of KJ'ing for the last couple years---as an exasmple:

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.c ... =115705075

If you REALLY want to see REALLY WELL DONE MYSPACE how Karaoke sites SHOULD BE DONE, go take a look at LONMAN's and KARYOKER's myspace's----very PROFESSIONAL!!

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"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

I am confused but if I am following this thread correctly, there is a karaoke company out in Silverton that has over a 100,000 songs and is being promoted by nwkaraok Mag written by Swingcat about Macs Place which is owned by people from the Wooden Nickle who are also promote concerts at the Oregon Gardens. Now I'm not saying I am incredible smart but in the article Swingcat wrote this guy in Silverton has 3 systems apparently all with over 100,000 songs getting free press in nwkaraoke mag and ultimatly being paid for by promoters for the Oregon Gardens which promote concerts all summer long. I think if these concert promoters can hire a rouge karaoke company and this type of individual can get free press in a karaoke Mag online then nobody has anything to worry about as for as the karaoke police are concerned. I'm sure it would be death to the Oregon Garden promoters, Wooden Nickle / Macs Place if there involvement were to become nationally known for promoting pirated karaoke music operators. "BUT" hey this all revolvels around some "newbie" who hasn't got a karaoke job yet who might have gone to someplace in Silverton that Swingcat thought she might of stopped by...

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CHECK YOUR ATTITUDE AT THE DOOR, STICK AROUND YOU JUST MIGHT HAVE SOME FUN

Nobody has talked about the quality of the KJs in this area. Surely not everyone of them is only a $75 a night KJ.

You make it sound like there are no bar owners that want a higher quality KJ for their business.

Are they all illegal KJs with loaded hard drives? Are they all just so-so KJs?

Are there any customers that want a higher quality show?

Are they karaoke shows or dance show mixed with karaoke?

Are the bars making enough money from these KJs?

Elaberate on the situation there.

Dan-------I ASKED HER if this was the same one i went to.
There is another one in Silverton also in another bar a couple blocks away that I havent been to. there may be others that i dont know of. I only visited Macs. Not the other one around he corner.

As to the guy at Mac's legality-- I have no way of knowing or not knowing of his status.

Im not the Karaoke Police.

I only report on the shows I go to and what I see and observe.

If you have any other concerns you can contact the editor of the mag.




As to Portland----if you can get them to pay you more that 75 its suprising. Again as I said there are a few that get paid WELL---but they are LONG ESTABLISHED IN THOSE PARTICULAR GIGS---with strong followings over serveral years.

If you can get over 100 or 125 I'd be surprised. But again there are some with LONG-ESTABLISHED FOLLOWINGS and LONG ESTABLISHED GIGS that do WELL WITH IT.

But PDX/VANC metro is VERY SATURATED and VERY VERY CUTHROAT.

I know of one multi-rigger who would go in at 60 or even less just to get a gig. And Im sure there are others who would do the same.

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"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

Quality of shows varies from place to place. Some are utterly ATROCIOUS, some are intermediate, some are REALLY REALLY GOOD.

Depends on the venue, the sound gear, the KJ, the waitstaff and the library and how well all of that is maintained.

Its the same variance you find in any large metro areas. Some stink, some are OK and some are really great.

The crowds are the usual average mix that you will find. Again some KJ's have strong regular followings with same loyal people night after night. Other places its peopel who drift in and out. There is a percentag who are hard-core karaokers who demand higher standards. But for the bulk-its just casual participants.

Like in most areas nowadays the BULK of KJ's are running hardrive based systems of one sort or another. Or CAVS. Are they legal???? Who knows?? I dont. Draw your own conclusions.

There are a few old-schoolers still exclusiely using discs--but not many.

As to the barowners-----DO YOU HAVE A FOLLOWING???? If so they might be willing to pay more--if they have some kind of guarantee of success. Most tho---really dont care much about the "QUALITY" of the KJ---just so long as they are not PISSSING of custies and hurting the business. Most recognize the value of a good one(or at least one they can live with and doesnt annoy the crowd). But getting more money out of them.........tahts another thing. But the long-time gig peopel they have EXCELLENT BAROWNERS who really know quality when they see it and understand that YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. And they are in the minority.

Id say the bulk of them are a mix of dance and karaoke. Although there are some that straight karaoke. There are both. Many of the venues have a mix of band nights and karoke night. but there are some karaoke only places too. Usual mix for metro area.

Making money---those that stay in biz and keep having karaoke must be making enough. If they close or drop it then I guess not.

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"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

Yeah I remember doing the Farmhouse for a week only to be replaced by a company that would do it for $250.00 a week (7 Days) with a pirated library. Now they have sombody new in again probably no crowd now days with that much transition but when we left the Farmhouse we were so disgusted we ddn't even charge them for the week we provided entertainment. We were at $110.00 a night with a legal library of 27,000 songs. Today we still do a lot of karaoke clubs but we get hired to keep clubs / bars out of going to: the soon to come to Oregon, potential court attorny fees and potential trademark infringement lawsuits. Oh yeah we still have good sound systems and professionally trained entertainmers.

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CHECK YOUR ATTITUDE AT THE DOOR, STICK AROUND YOU JUST MIGHT HAVE SOME FUN

when were u at the farmhouse?? Was I around when u were there?? Did I meet u there maybe---do a PE&D story???

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"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

What a PE&D Story

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CHECK YOUR ATTITUDE AT THE DOOR, STICK AROUND YOU JUST MIGHT HAVE SOME FUN

I don't remeber I think it was about 6 - 8 months ago.

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CHECK YOUR ATTITUDE AT THE DOOR, STICK AROUND YOU JUST MIGHT HAVE SOME FUN

Positively Entertainment and Dining Magazine. The one i write for here in pdx. U should have let me know u were there!!!!!

If you ever get here again you TELL ME so i can come meet u!!

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"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

By the time the article would have hit the paper it would be promoting another company with illegal music and or another Club owner supporting the pirate industry.

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CHECK YOUR ATTITUDE AT THE DOOR, STICK AROUND YOU JUST MIGHT HAVE SOME FUN

Wow. Portland bars only pay 75 bucks. Even here in cheap blue collar corner bar Milwaukee, KJs get $150 a night. Maybe Kwhore needs to come here. I hear some even get $200 a night.

I'm going to chime in here and offer up my 2 cents.

If you are looking to do karaoke in a bar that already has it then you are in for a long and exhausting search.

My suggestion is to create a karaoke gig where they have never had karaoke before and build up your customer base slowly until you have a strong following. Then you have the ability to find other shows to do on different nights and bring in your own crowd. Then you can command the larger dollars.

You might also want to try doing private parties and market yourself through your fellow karaoke singers that you associate with. Also become friends with local KJ's and let them know you are trying to get a start in the business. If they like you they will probably keep their ear to the ground for you and when they hear of an opening someplace then they can refer you to the bar. This is how I got my start in the business. I was singing about 4-5 nights a week and frequenting several KJ's gigs and one night a KJ by the name of Dalton asked me if I wanted his gig at that bar as he was moving on to another place that he had been hoping to get hired at. He said that I had a good singing voice and presented myself well and he felt that I would be a really good KJ. Then He took me straight over to the owner and introduced me and and within about 30 minutes he hired me on a handshake. At the time it was kinda crazy because I did not have a system nor a full selection of discs but I had a couple of credit cards. Two weeks later I started the gig and I have been KJ'ing ever since. That gig paid $150 a night and started out with 1 night per week and within 90 days I was doing 2 nights a week, it lasted for 1-1/2 years.

My point here is that you are looking for work at bars that have had a long line of karaoke KJ's that have come and gone, and each time they have made a change the incoming KJ ends up prostituting themselves for less money than the last KJ to get their foot in the door. Bar owners have taken advantage of this and that is why the business here is tougher to get a decent pay rate. If you do take the pay cut to get in the door don't expect to get a raise above what you entered at as it will not happen here. You will in effect have placed a lower price tag on your forehead and it will be difficult if not impossible to overcome. So don't sell yourself to the lowest bidder, be creative and look in other places where you can create the wages you are looking for.

Network with local KJ's here in Portland.......I would be happy to help you! I turn away at least 2 new shows every year. I'm not interested in doing any more bar gigs so I might be able to help.

Starting for $75 a night is ridiculous and totally unnecessary. I have never worked for less than $150 and I never will. The tops here in PDX is about $200 for a regular bar gig on the weekend nights however the private party market is wide open for $250 to $500 depending on the pocket book of the client and the size of the event. You would be amazed at how large this market is and how few KJ's are tapping into it.

Trust me when I say this......you can still make good money in Portland with karaoke you just have to think outside the box. Everyone else is thinking inside the box.

Dare to be different!

PM me and we can exchange ideas.

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FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

Oh man....The Farmhouse....OMG what a revolving door that has been over the past 4-5 years or so. The guy that owns that place is a slime-ball. I have known at least 3 KJ's who have worked for him that said they were cheated out of their pay and where basically abused by this guy. It's a real shame as it has enormous potential to be a big money maker for everyone. That area is screaming for a decent karaoke show with a fair rotation and good sounds. Yet the owner does everything in his power to kill that potential. Sad....really...Sad.

I did the math on the $250 a week for 7 nights a week and it was like $35.61 per night or for a 5 hour show $7.12 per hour. That is not even minimum wage here in Oregon. That is insane! Who in their right mind would agree to such a thing?

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FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

Now I find this out... I was never so happy to leave an establishment in my life.

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CHECK YOUR ATTITUDE AT THE DOOR, STICK AROUND YOU JUST MIGHT HAVE SOME FUN