Karaoke Forums

Almost quit my gig on Friday.  Just bought new powered JBLs, place sounds better than ever.  I mean unbelievable.  Drunk SOB fell into one and toppled it.  In my opinion, the bartenders didn't control the ensuing fracass, wasn't a fight, but it got crazy.  It was packed, and needless to say I was pissed.  I don't usually get mad, but to see a $1300 speaker go over, and then have the situation mimimized was too much for me at the time.  

I don't do drama, so what I had to say to the drunk and the tenders I said at the time.  I wanted some space to assess; I wanted the area secured like a crime scene!!!!!  They're friends of mine, but they're tenders (most don't possess a lick of business acumen).  I probably said a few things to piss them off (like maybe you should keep a better eye on your drunks ...).  I ended up packing up my gear and was ready to quit.  

We have a stellar show there.  The place is so packed on karaoke nights, it's difficult to keep order.  I understand that.  I also understand better (now) the division between the business and the show.  Still need my bartenders to have my back (they say they did, but not to my standards).  Either way, the owner actually thought I had quit and had filled my slots (Wed and Fri).  She did so with the guy that runs that show next door (last show there was Saturday night, so he is gigless), and one of the bartenders that works my shows.  They were going to use a house system and outdated books (by years).  That made me laugh.  The show would have tanked, and I only say that because my show has been getting mammoth in the last couple of months because the sound is much superior to anything else in town and I mix my singers relatively well (one place is way too loud with a monotone host, one just quit doing karaoke because the KJ had killed the show (played more to his friends than to the crowd), and the other two places have bunk house systems with 'what am I doing' KJs).

After I cooled - sometime Saturday, I was able to test the speakers for functionality (still need to run them full bore at the show to be certain the one survived), my next thoughts turned to whether my show had outgrown the place.  It's pretty small, and my equipment is vulnerable where it's located.  One of my more intelligent regulars suggested something I'm going to try.  While keeping my speakers on stands, he suggested rigging some hooks and chains between the ceiling (pretty low), and the speakers (most likely the handles).  Not to hang them, but to give them some stability so the next time someone falls into one (and they will), that they're subject to suspension.  Ingenious.

Owner called me yesterday and we talked.  I listened to what she had to say, apologized for telling everyone to get the @!*%%# out (instinctive, that late at night and with that traumatic of a situation), and agreed to come back with the stipulations that she pay me and extra $25 a week for the next six weeks to cover the cost of the smashed Rotosphere, and that she allow me to rig to the ceiling.  Small price to pay for what she was about to lose (3-4 weeks ago she confessed she couldn't survive without the karaoke show).  I doubt it, but it's possible.  I'm loyal to a fault sometimes.

Dave, the guy next door covered for me once on that house system they've got.  I was told by too many people to never take another night off.  :)  Anyway, even if I did want to graduate to a better venue, I need to know that all is functioning before I make the move.  If the speaker survived, and the rigging works, I don't see a need to move, but damn if the talk on the town hasn't already exploded.  I went in to square up with one of the tenders last night and had to chuckle at some of the stuff I was hearing.  

I was pissed (seeing red) that night as many hosts would be, but I try to look at what I can do differently, and I should have had the forethought to secure the speakers beforehand, the situation may have been avoided altogether.

Was the drunk dancing or just trying to walk?  

Was he acting like a jerk or just drunk?  

Was it the entire crowd acting goofy?

What kind of music was playing at the time?

The drunk was trying to walk - He had that, 'Gee what happened gaze".  He had no idea what he'd just done.  My crowd is very goofy.  I was just wrapping up the karaoke portion of the show.  I believe there was a Hank Williams, Jr. song playing.

I suppose for edification purposes, the above questions could use answers; however, if someone damages my equipment because of their own ineptitude, drunk or not,  none of that matters. I'm going for blood. I've often said to people who appeared to be starting to swing a mic that unless they have a crisp $100 bill in their pocket, they'd better not swing the mic. Always say it over the mic. Tell them I have a $10 mic for them if they'd prefer, and they can swing it all the want.

I have the Mackie 350s up on stands but have them well out of the way - thank goodness space allows for that. I had 90-pound Bag Ends up on stands and was always worried about them crushing someone...but it would take a real bear to push one of those over.

Yeah, I need to be smarter, especially with a $2800 pair of speakers.  I would have been happy if he'd have just been asked to leave.  He stuck around outside stumbling around and damn near got railed by a bunch of my supporters.  I just wanted him out of sight, because I was close to the boiling point.

Sounds like you handled the situation as good as or better than some people I don't know what I would do if one of my speakers got toppled, but chances are I wouldn't have done as well as you.hope your speaker is alright!!

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I'll be alright as long as there's light from a neon moon

From the tests I ran (limited due to apt living), seems to be fine.  Nice dent/gash in the grill.  Those are a paltry $150.  I'm thinking on sticking a band aid on it.  

You're lucky nobody received a $1300 dent in their head.

Do you have insurance to cover yourself?

Drunk or not you are responsible if someone gets hurt from your falling speaker.

The music factor is, some KJs think that if the entire show isn't totally high energy, it's not a good show.  The only thing that it leads to is everyone acting goofy and things can and will happen to your equipment.  You promote high energy and then wonder why stuff happens.  They need to vent their high energy.    And it usually ends up in some type of violent act.  Either smashing stuff or fighting.   You need to let them calm down every once in a while.

A stubbling drunk is still responsible for his actions too.  If their was damage he needs to pay.

How do you hold a drunk responsible for his actions?  Seriously?  I'm providing entertainment for the patrons of a bar.  Wouldn't the bar be liable?

Being drunk is no excuse for your (the drunks) actions.   Your equipment hurts someone, makes you liable.  It happened in the bar.  But it's your equipment.  A good lawyer can make it your fault even more.

Just like your car or your icy sidewalk.  Your property is your responsiblity.  Whenever someone is injured by it or because of it.

Yeah they will sue the bar...and you.

You are an independant contractor.  You are not a bar Employee.

Mr Bar owner, why did you hurt the patron with a speaker?

Don't ask me, ask the KJ it's his equipment.

The bar is responsible if someone gets hurt on bar equipment.  Like a slippery floor.    Broken glass.     His speaker.


Your speaker, you will pay the hospital bill and any lost wages, whiplash, can't have sex anymore....      

The bar owner will help you.... by telling everyone it's your stuff.

The best example of this would be the fire that killed 100 people at the night club in Maine.  The group Great White is responsible for the fire.    It was their pyrotechnics that caused the fire.    The bar has some issues with the nonfireproof insulation, but the major blame and resposibility fell on the entertainment.   They brought them, they set them up and they lit them.    You are responsible for your show and your equipment.   If you start spitting fire or throwing things or saying things on the microphone to cause people to panic or riot.  It's on you.   Like yelling "FIRE" in a crowded movie theater.    The bar insurance may pay, but then their insurance company will come after you to reimburse them.   Pain and suffering is hard not to prove.   The last thing the bar owner is going to do, is take the blame for you.

Not only does the band have to compensate all the families, the bar is gone too.    That's one very big sum of money.   Millions, if not a billion.    The band will be playing concerts from beyond the grave.

Everyone should have insurance to cover your equipment and personal injuries (liability) from your equipment.   It happened once it can happen again.   Be lucky the speaker just hit the floor.   It could have broken a leg or caused a severe head injury.   As much as you would have liked the drunk that did it to have been hit by it to break its fall...

What if your equipment shorts out and causes a fire?    On an overloaded circuit...in a bar...that's 75 years old...

Just to set the record straight, that fire wasn't in Maine.

                    Donny "B"

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It's a wonderful life!!

Before you ask. The club was called "THE STATION" and it was in RHODE ISLAND.

                   Get your facts straight before you start spewling your garbage.

                                                         Donny "B"

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It's a wonderful life!!

You got the idea.  :hug:

I didn't have the article in my back pocket.

Neither did I..it's called memory

                     Donny "B"

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It's a wonderful life!!

Either way, what I decided to do was this:  I bought four 10 foot chains, some monster hooks that'll screw into the ceiling, and some heavy duty clamps to chain the speakers.  I'l have a couple of feet of play in the chains, so the next time one gets knocked into it'll be suspended.  The only thing I'll have to worry about now is if the speaker comes off the pole and swings into someone.  Hopefully it'll be the axxhole who knocked into it and it knocks him/her cold.     That would be too funny.  I've also purchased some CAUTION tape to help secure the area.

Why is it so hard for some people to recognize when they've had too much to drink?

Most of the time it has to do with age.

Using caution tape will not relieve you of responsibilty.

Just like a beware of dog sign.

You are admitting your dog is dangerous, that's why you put up the sign.   Doesn't mean you can not be sued for a dog bite injury.   You just admitted you knew you dog would bite someone.  To stay away.  

The caution tape means you know there is danger.  Doesn't save you from being sued.  It's still your equipment.  A swinging speaker can hit someone more than once.  It will keep hitting them until it stops swinging.

Last night was my first show since the 'incident' on Friday.  Talk had gotten around town that I'd quit.  It was nice to see the 'love' and support from my faithful followers.  Last night was packed.

I chained the one speaker to the wall, draped some 'caution' tape around it and put a band aid on the dent/gash in the grill.  It was a nice look.  I was thinking I should have my strobe and fog behind it to give it more character.  Anyway, great show.  Things are back to normal, whatever that is.

The drunkard that fell into the speaker showed up last night and apologized, stating flatly that he was way too drunk on Friday and shouldn't have even been in the bar.  He was having issues with his girlfriend, who evidently was in the bar with someone else.

Where does one get insurance like that, and what's the cost like?

2 feet of play in those chains sounds like too much. Once the speaker has fallen that far, it's got some serious momentum... and to the hook in the ceiling, it feels a lot heavier. If hooks have feelings. "he ain't heavy, he's my bro..." but I digress