Karaoke Forums

I just finished a 6 and a half hour show.

It was pretty much packed all night and except for the first hour there was over an hour wait to sing the whole night, with 97 songs sung and 67 different singers/groups for a total of about 100 different people who sang.

The only problem was a grand total of $21 in tips, yes TOTAL.

Is this low? I bet most of the individuals in the bar spent that much or more on drinks.

THis was despite a few of my friends announcing that i should get tips throughout the night after they sang (probably 4-5 times total).

Is it because I am in a college town? or are my singers just cheapskates.

I am not doing this for the money, but the tips help buy new songs. I am wondering if my experience is normal or way low.

it's better than nothing I suppose... I don't have a tip jar out nor is it my policy to accept them because too often, the tipper thinks that their tip somehow buys influence in the rotation.

Keep in mind that I'm not critizising anyone who does accept tips or have a tip jar, it's just not my style.

errrr how long have you been doing this? Surely you would know yourself if its a good or bad night
the other way of looking at it is this...how much more often did your "friends" who encouraged others to tip you, get to sing?

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"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

Dr. Fred... I don't know how common tipping is for KJs from state to state. There have been several discussion in the various Karaoke Forums about this over the years.

In NYC, it is not common at all. This has nothing to do with being cheap. I think a lot of us look at Karaoke as being similar to a Band playing at a Bar. You don't usually see the Bands getting tipped during their show. The other thing is, we're in there drinking and/or eating (at least some of us are.... let's try not to get into that discussion), so we are tipping the person who served us (Bartender, Waiter/Waitress) based on what our bill is that night. We are not viewing the Karaoke show as a service being offered since we are not paying for it (like we would if we took a cab home).

i find it interesting how many drinks i'm offered in a night when they could just as soon tip the jar instead drink or money it doesnt help ur spot in the rotation but a tip is a nice thing ... i dont believe in drinking while im doing a show since it tends to throw off the musical ear and since i like to adjust singers and music levels to make the best of it. i tip when i go out usually after i have sang or when i go up if i like the show.

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Fred,

Weren't you the one that was working for tips only? I remember a thread about that in the past, where a KJ was working for a college town's bar?

If so, then I can feel your pain. Perhaps it's time to embrace the way the most of the kjs on here do things and that's with a paid gig... then tips become less painful.

If not, in the words of Rosanna Danna Danna, "Nevermind!"

Yes I do keep a tip jar, because I do my weekly show for free (drinks only and tips only), mainly because the bar usually has a very small crowd for that and it is insufficient to really provide paying entertainment (and most of the singers are my friends).

I try my best to avoid favoratism for most reasons interms of the rotations but with a busy night it is hard. Probably 2/3 of my singers were people I know reasonably well. I had one guy who gave tips a few times and yes I moved him up a bit he waited 60 minutes when he would have waited 70. That is what I try to do yes, friends/tippers get a boost but not much at all.

Yes I do get offered far more drinks than I can or wish to consume. I had one drink all night half an hour before the end. The bar also provides me free drinks and for them at least it makes sense, they are only paying retail for the booze and their cost for the drink is tiny.

Seems funny that people are much more willing to put down $5 for a drink than $5 for a tip.

because MOST kjs work for the bar, not for the tips.

I swear you're your own worst enemy, Fred. You need to have a sign put up in clear sight that says You work for THEM, NOT the bar, and you're not paid by the bar!.

You're heart's in the right place, but most people singing karaoke don't care about the kj.... if you're working for free, you have nobody to complain to!

Maybe if you worked out a deal on percentages...If the bar makes over a certain amount, you get paid on that!

Cueball said:

Not even close. A band (usually) starts with nothing and creates everything; background music and all vocals. It takes NO TALENT to walk into a bar with a cd player or computer and press the "PLAY" button for a "sing-along" experience.

I look at it more as the position of an Organ Grinder. I bring the organ and crank it and if I do my job right, I'll have an endless supply of performing monkeys.....



Dr Fred said;


You play for tips and drinks? You are not a running a business, you are pursuing hobby. And a hobby that dilutes the business opportunities for the rest of us who are trying to make a living. Since this is a hobby, even without tips, if you get smashed off your (compensation of) alcoholic beverages, you still had a "good night."

To illustrate this point, by your own admission, the majority of the "crowd" are simply your friends... Obviously this is not a job that can be measured by ANY type of compensation. It is simply a social gathering for your and your close friends. Thank goodness you don't have to purchase all your equipment, music and on top of that your drinks too.

CS

I think you're looking at Cueball's quote in a different light than it was made in. He's talking about the need to tip a KJ is no different than the need to tip a band.
He wasn't discussing or comparing levels of talent!

and we went round and round with Fred about his hobby. Previous thread I mentioned was with all the arguements we could muster...

If you brought 100 people into the bar, then the bar owner should have given you a BIG tip.

I could not agree more! last night we did a DJ only show for the place I do karaoke at every other week. Being the bar managers birthday (where she put up a free 1/2 barrel and Prime rib dinner!) we did it for 1/2 price. when it came to be quiting time the patrons took up a collection and came up with almost $40. we played another hour. theres nothing wrong in taking a tip for something extra, but in just plain expecting tips....well we have all told you what we think of that. The bottom feeders who offer to do shows for cheap to undercut those who do a good job drive me nuts. I still think of this as a hobby, that doesn't mean I'm not one of the higher priced shows around.

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the voices arent real, but they have some good ideas

I find the more singers I have the less tips I receive. If people are only singing once or twice all night they don't think to tip. Some nights I'll make $100 in tips or more. Some nights I'll make $10 in tips. My big tip nights are almost always the nights I have fewer people. Now I don't rely on tips only, so I would never complain. I get paid well and don't expect tips. I don't drink, so no one is buying me drinks, but I do get free coffee and bottled water from the venue.

Possible solutions - talk to the owner, tell him your situation. People aren't tipping because when it is so crowded and they sing less they don't tip much. I'd ask that he at least pay for your drinks if you are working for free ! Geez ! Explain you have over head to keep up your equipment and the tips are way to low to keep you going. If he'd pay for your drinks instead of the customers you may see an increase in tips. Consider the amount of tips if for every drink bought money was put in your jar instead. Plus I'd have a huge sign that said I work for tips only.

You may consider $1 a song. Why not? If someone is singing only twice a night what's $2 to them.

It's time to reconsider business if you've built up a crowd like that.

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Are you getting paid from the bar?
I don't make any tips most nights. Singers don't typically tip at all, so be happy you got anything!

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And now it's coming back on him. $21 is a great tip night for me, but then I get paid from the bar!!!

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

If he is like any owner I know, if you brought 100 people into the bar he will ask you when you are next available! Then get paid! Tips are always icing on the cake. You can't depend on them.

No this was the entire debate, he does this for free basically since he feels the bar won't pay. Now that his tips are drying up, everything everyone told him is starting to come back to him re working for free. I mean a SIX HOUR show for free? Not worth my time or effort, even for fun. If the bar can't pony up a regular pay, then don't complain if people don't tip - it isn't the singers responsibility to pay you.

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But see now hes created the situation where HE CANT GET PAID BY THE BAR. Hes worked for free there for so long....that hes established that operating procedure with the bar. The bar is not indebted ONE IOTA to pay him ANYTHING as hes MADE A BUSINESS/ENTERTAINMENT AGREEMENT to work for free there up til now(for at least a year-maybe longer?). So as soon as he starts demanding to be PAID the owner will tell him to hit the road! Thats what he gets for creating this situation for himself and he has NO REASON to be complaining!! So it sounds like hes tired of working it for free as his HOBBY and now thinks he DESERVES to be compensated as a PROFESSIONAL. Wont happen. He better start looking for another venue and start COMPETING as A PAID PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS. Thats what he gets. Did this to himself against the WISE, SAGE COUNSEL of the PROFESSIONALS here at KS!!

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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

Bill H. said:

Not here... the bar owners would simply make a big deal about having a shot with you and confirming your next (free) night for the bar.

Bar owners talk. And pretty soon all the other bar owners will want the same deal from their KJ's and start chipping away at their income to get it.

It's trickle-down economics especially from those owners who believe karaoke is just another taxi meter... if there is a slow night, they want you to end early and take less money...

Anyone who's "working karaoke" for drinks and tips can certainly afford this kind of arrangement since they've obviously nothing else to do.