Karaoke Forums

I just came from a Karaoke place and even though the KJ was lazy, <Sat behind his station from the first song on> was a bad mixer, <Loud singers blew my ear drums out and there was way too much highs> and had no stage presence, I tried to tip him. I had arrived very early and was there when he was setting up. I turned in a slip to sing and even though he seemed to have a large crowd of "friends" I still got to sing first. After my second song we decided to leave. <The highs were really getting to us.> as I left ,I took the book back and placed a $2.00 tip on the book. He called me out on the Mic and said he gets paid and handed me the money. I stated "No, I'm a KJ, take it!" He handed it back to me.

I don't plan to go back and he "really" didn't deserve it but I was embarrassed. Did I cross some line traveling from the west coast to the east where gratuity to the KJ is just not done or did this guy know he didn't really deserve it?

Some just don't accept tips. Simple as that. Has nothing to do with East or West or whether he felt he deserved it, sucky system not withstanding.

Dont accept tips??? Why the F not??

Well, I'm on the East Coast, and I don't accept tips (at my regular shows) either. I usually thank the people for the offer, and I politely tell them that I'm getting paid enough and hand it back to them. There have been 1 or 2 that have insisted, so I have accepted it.

I have NEVER called someone out on the mic for something like that... that was just plain rude on the KJ's part.

in a case like that I like to suggest that they tip there bartender. BUT I don't ever refuse a free beer , even tho all of our bars comp us at least 3.

_________________
the voices arent real, but they have some good ideas

I wouldn't have given the kj anything in the first place being he was that bad to begin with. I tip for good service.
But for him to call you out over the mic was more of a jerk thing to do rather than just handing it back to you and explain he didn't take tips.

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

yeah, he broke bad form... since he's so bad, he probably didn't know what to do with it! ! Never been tipped before is my guess! !

The APPROPRIATE response to an actual TIP and NOT A BRIBE is to graciously accept it and perhaps try to defer and tell them its really not neccessary. But if the custie INSISTS then accept it graciously and tell them thank you and hope to see them again.

ALWAYS REMEMBER: an actual tip is a gesture of gratefulness for a job well done.

Not a bribe or an attempt to buy someone off. To simply refuse it would be RUDE and ARROGANT and leave a very BAD TASTE in the custies mouth.

_________________
"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

Bigmike - Your instinct is correct. The guy obviously has NO TACT !

_________________
[shadow=pink][glow=deepskyblue]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

I first thought it was just him but one of the people I was out with said they had never seen anyone tip before. It's like in Oregon since you are not aloud to pump your own gas you would think that tipping a gas station attendant would be natural but I found that it is just not done or expected there. I got a lot of strange looks when I first moved there.

When in Rome....

Thanks guys, I will continue t tip then. I don't plan on going back to that place so it won't be a problem.

I don't put a tip jar out and don't expect tips. But I don't refuse tips either.

If you are wondering what to do if there's no tip jar, watch the regulars. Actually if there is a tip jar, watch them too. They may not be tipping even if it's there. Of course, you still can.

I gladly accept tips but not bribes. Sometimes it can be hard to tell the difference. You should not have benn called out in that manner though.

That's why I put a tip jar out. If they are standing around with a bill in their hand, it's more than likely it's a bribe. If it's just a tip, they put it in the jar.

_________________

Seize the day and SING!!!

I'm not saying this KJ wasn't bad, but since when did staying behind your mixer become "laziness"? That's where I am 95% of the time. Also, does "stage presence" refer to his presence on stage while singing? That, in my opinion, is not a legitimate beef against the KJ. He's not there to entertain you. That's what the singers are for.

I could understand the comment if "stage presence" referred to his overall personality, though. If he was indeed spending all his time behind the mixer, there is absolutely no excuse for shoddy mixing.

As far as the tipping incident-- wow. Absolutely a no-class move on his part. Anybody else in the crowd that heard that would definately think twice about ever tipping him, if they ever would in the first place.

I too stay behind my equipment 75% of the time. The rest of the time is mingling with the crowd. Asking people if they want to sing, Dancing, talking to people who are noticably by themselves, and making sure the sound is good throughout the bar. When I am behind the equipment I don't even think about sitting untill the end when fatigue sets in from all of the dancing.

As for Stage Presence I mean interacting with the crowd on the mic and not just repeting the same line all night. KJs are not just the guy who puts up the next song and hands out the mic. We are the show within the show.

That make since?

Tipping in the UK in unheard of pretty much

KJ'ing. Think of MASTER OF CEREMONIES (MC) or TV GAME SHOW HOST.

_________________
"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 an astute observation! Yes, it's usually the people who taunt me with a bill like holding up a carrot who want something in return for their money...usually moved up in the rotation. Those who hand me their slip and just throw something in the jar are doing it out of appreciation for my hard work - no more, no less. Mike, you have to do what you feel is right for you and the venue. Personally, I'm not a "rent-a-friend". I stay behind my console and on stage 100% of the time. I don't want to mingle, don't want to engage you in conversation or be your BFF. I'm going to treat you politely and professionally when you come up with your slip or have questions. I'm going to hype you as you walk to the stage, work your mix throughout your song to make sure your levels are continuous even if you or the music get softer or louder and urge everyone to give you a big round of applause after your song.

I'm a KJ. That's what I do.

_________________
[font=Lucida Console]DangerousKaraoke.com[/font]
[font=Lucida Console]"Sing for the day, sing for the moment, sing for the time of your life!"[/font]

I'm more like DangerousDan. I may be an MC, but never do I act like a gameshow host.

I am more MC than gameshow host for certain.

I on't mean this in a negative way, and I try not to convey this - but I'm not there to be your friend - I am there to serve you with a product or offering.

That doesn't mean I am not friendly.