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You could get rid of all the pirates around here, and I doubt the prices would go up. The bar owners are used to being cheap. There just isn't the clientele around here since the economy died. This past Friday all the bars in Venice cleared out at about 11:00 pm because all the women went to the local theater to see Magic Mike. It's amazing around here. If there is a fair or festival there is no business at the bars. There is a band around here called The Gashouse Gorillas. If they are playing all the other bars are dead. There are a couple of other bands that cause that, too. When Cowhead and his band Pitbull Toddler come around, away goes everyone. The problem around here is that we only have so many regular customers that live in the area and a lot of bars. It's better when we are in season, which is October to April. Now all the snowbirds are gone, and many people moved away after the crash. The Venice area isn't that loaded with KJs either.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

Rates are up average of $30 a show now. It will take time to retrain the venues but it is happening.

KjFlorida

There in lies the problem. If the pirates were gone, real karaoke hosts could bump their prices basck to where they should be & the bars would either pay or not do anything - which if people wanted karaoke, they'd have to adapt.

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We don't have a glut of pirates around here like in other places. In the Venice area I can only think of 2 shows. There is one in North Port, one in Englewood. I know of three in Port Charlotte. One is a very Country based show, and one is possibly a pirate (I know he has a ton of SC on his laptop), and one I have never been to cause it's on Tuesdays. I am talking about a good 30 mile radius. That covers the south portion of Sarasota County and half of Charlotte County. I don't know how many shows are up in Downtown Sarasota, but it doesn't effect our area.

My buddy that I sub for makes $150 a night during the week and $250 on Saturdays. He works two - three nights a week. So he grosses $400 - $550 a week for 10 - 15 hours of work. Not a bad haul. It's not 1990's prices, but I could live on that.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

Around the Acton/Lancaster/Palmdale area in CA we have been to lots of karaoke shows in the last year and have yet to find one that I doubt is not a pirate show. And the ones that we do end up talking to "to see what program they are using" and then to talk about the industry, they either have no clue about any lawsuits or they do and they just do not care.
As a matter of fact we just got done with a 7k mile trip in 5 weeks around the country and went to as many shows as we could on it and still did not find one that did not have a hard drive and listing "over 100k songs" or "I don't know how many but just ask I probably have it". Not to say that all are or were pirates but it's a good bet that the vast majority were/are.
Only one place in the last 7 yrs when Thom was traveling for work around the country that was disc based and then when he got behind the equipment and saw the discs (they were possibly for sale) he noticed that alot were burnt copies. Needless to say we did not buy them.

$30 a show is that for 4 hour show?????
That's not even minimum wage if you figure a 4 hour show 1 hour setup/tear down and driving time, comes out to about $7.50 and hour!!!!!
I won't even pack the car for that!!!

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@Lone Wolf: I believe he was saying that he is getting an ADDITIONAL $30 per show.

I believe what he was saying is that they have increased the amount they are now getting per show by $30 per show over what they were getting before ie. before-$125, now, after getting rid of some of the pirates $125+$30=$155. He wasn't saying he now gets $30 per show.

You just have to give the singers a reason to come to your show over a movie, band, wet-T-Shirt contest, whatever. That is what the entertainment business is all about.

-Chris

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-Chris

Smoothedge is right. There is only so many people in the Venice/north port/englewood area. Many are snowbirds and that area really isnt that densely populated. It isn't all on the KJ to bring people in either. The venue has some stake in the night being successful and drink specials, great servers and bartenders, clean environment, etc. go a long way in bringing folks in. Sure, "regulars" are part of it, but the venues' "regulars" are also important.

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I did mean rates we up and average of $30 per show sorry if I was not clear. We use a rate plan that does take into account a number of factors such as # of nights a week, perm install or not, and weekends or weekdays and how long we have been at the same venue. The average rate has gone up by about $30 with new shows increasing much more than the venues that we have been with for years. Our 12 year venue is paying $60 per night less than the newest shows we have booked. Or average show does run for 4 hours.

KjFlorida

Chris, they left EVERY bar. My buddy was running an 80's party at one place, I was running karaoke at our regular place, and whatever was going on at the other bars. They all went to THE SAME MOVIE. BY The way, a wet T-shirt contest at our regular place would be a great idea. It's too bad the owner is a German woman who is in her mid 70's. Something like that would NEVER happen there, unfortunately. .

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

Yes, I do know those named in the last lawsuit. Most are in our local area. All I can really say is that as more and more of those that do not own the music they play are getting sued and getting out business is picking up for us. The venues that have stuck with us are getting larger crowds(and making more money)..... there are 1/2 as many hosts at this point to keep dragging prices down and you do not have 3 shows every night of the week within a 2 mile radius anymore ( I am sorry but a 20 seat beer bar CAN NOT support more than a jukebox period).
This does not mean that things are moving as fast as we would like. It will take a year or two more (with repeated investigations and lawsuits) For the singers and venues to be re-trained and prices to get back to a living wage, but I do have faith that it will happen

Here is a link to the case I know for a fact had enjoinments ordered by Judge Moody...I don't have time to check the others. Read down on page 9 #6 to see the ruling

http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/di ... 260425/90/

had a few mins and it does appear every case in middle district after 2/14/2011 that has defaults are also being given the enjoinments as well

http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/di ... 261129/92/

http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/di ... 261129/92/

I also see default judgments (with enjoinments) against at least 2 venues in our extended area as well
Athena

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OK thanks for clearing that up

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default, default, did not answer, are there any cases that did not end that way yet?

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Paradigm Karaoke, The New Standard.......Shift Happens

It seems to me that those who have attorneys that their attorneys advised them that going to trial would be useless and they would easily lose. So your answer would be no, as it would be useless and a waste of money to continue. Remember, attorneys make a lot of money at trial. However attorneys also have an obligation to tell clients what the most likely outcome will be.

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so THATS what happened in Vegas...........

oh.....wait......no.
the rules are different for SC. an attorney would advise that and that is most likely what happened UNLESS it was SC that defaulted, then it was a mistake.

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Paradigm Karaoke, The New Standard.......Shift Happens

Maybe, but again, nothing has ever made it to court- whether by SC's doing ( backing off, missing dates or filings, whatever) or not.

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

Might be his choice because of all the problems that they have caused,or even because he has not paid for the music, but in my area many of the venues have told hosts that SC is now off limits because they don't want any waves. Play SC and lose the gig.

Right or wrong, fair or not, that's it. The brand is rapidly fading here. Since it's been some years since they have produced, no one will notice soon...... Just dumb...

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

You KNOW the cheer leading squad will not believe what you have said in this post.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE