Karaoke Forums

I am doing a dance with my Saturday gig. They want to book me on a periodic basis, i.e. having to confirm every week. I finally told them that I have a price for a regular weekly gig, and a price for one that is "at their pleasure". I haven't been looking hard for another Saturday place because 1) I love this place, it is a blast to do and 2) it is a definite go, a gig that could go on for years. But now I have said I am raising their price $50 and looking for a regular Saturday night gig. If they book me permanently, I will stay at the lower price. But that they have to act.

(I think they want specifically us, but are figuring they can find someone else to do the karaoke if we book elsewhere. I am trying to educate them that not everyone has the equipment and talent we do. They do sort of know, I think, because the times we do the place it absolutely rocks. But they are skittish about making a commitment.)

So what are your pricing policies for bar gigs? Holidays? Regular week-in/week-out gigs? Do you have a sales pitch to educate the owner about your differentiators and the advantages of having a regular schedule?

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Almost an impossible question for me to answer, due to flexibility.


Bar venues: I charge more for weekends than weeknights.

I charge more for large venues than for small ( a. more and larger setup, b. Higher potential draw and revenue for a larger place.


I charge one price for a weekly gig, and a price between standard bar and private events for non weekly gigs


Private Events: Same applies for size, weekend/weekday.

I charge even more for holidays.

I MIGHT charge less for a daytime event

I sometimes charge less for a home event than a venue event depending on circumstances.

I charge more for additional services

I charge a flat fee based on a four hour minimum (whether I work that long or not. Time surpassing 30 minutes past for hours is extra.

etc...... Kinda hard to nail down until I interview the client...

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

Micky, just a quick question, you said a dance, is this strictly DJ or is it karaoke only, or a combination?
I charge a flat rate for four hour karaoke only, One rate for week day, slightly more for Fri. and Sat.
Now to DJ an event my minimum is 300.00 for four hours or less. My reason behind this is what most don't understand is there is alot of work involved in DJing that they don't see ie: playlist, having the right music, handling request etc.
Not that karaoke is easy, but the way I see it with karaoke the playlist kinda takes care of itself. I don't know if any of this helps, but I hope it does.

It was a figurative "dance" with my gig, in the maneuvering fashion. It is karaoke.


I don't do any DJ work at all, so that's easy for me.

_________________
[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Price is such an area related subject, but I've been doing this for a while, and I always charge more for karaoke, epecially if they want both. I can take requests for songs all night, and just spin tunes with pleasure......KJing, IMO, is work along with more equiptment, and money spent on it...... ...ps..lights are a hassle, and more expense also......charge extra for that too.....

I agree totally with you nobody. To do both in one gig does bring a premium price. I was just trying to come up with a starting point for micky to go by. You are right pricing is something that is area based and also venue type is a consideration.
Yes spinning tunes all night is a great time, but I usually set up a playlist ahead of time, and take request during the event, and I use DMX controlled lighting for DJ gigs that I preprogram prior to the event, That why I stated customers don't see the work involved. They just see us rockin' out at a party.
With karaoke only in a bar setting, I don't bring my lighting rig, I usually use the house lighting set up. In my area bar karaoke just doesn't pay enough for me to setup and run my lighting IMO.

I hope I'm understanding you correctly. You are charging them $50 more if they aren't a regular gig?

I think that is more than reasonable. If you are consistantly bringing in a crowd I don't know why they wouldn't just make it a regular thing. Have you asked why they do this week by week thing? You have every right to charge more if it isn't a for sure thing. It slightly offsets your cost of keeping the night open not knowing if you'll have a gig or not. Do they understand they are putting you on hold so to speak? would you take another gig for that night not knowing if they will want you?

What did they say about the extra $50?

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

Great point, Babs!
Make sure you point out to them that you could get booked for another gig but if you are keeping that night open for them, then you could lose out on that extra cash if they decide not to book you.
I personally would not "hold" the night without an agreement in place.
I might call them up if I got another request for the same night and ask them to confirm as you have another possible booking.
But then again, I might just take the booking and let the bar know I'm not available when they try to book me.
It all depends on the owner and how reasonable he is.
If he's of the unreasonable persuasion, I would go with the latter scenario.
Let him learn the hard way.
If he's of the reasonable persuasion, much like my once a month venue, I would call him up and offer the night to him first.

Tell them you have a $25 per week retainer FEE, If they BOOK you it's included in your price . If they don't book you that week ..you still get the $25
Lawyers do it

That's a good idea, Jam. I am not sure they will go for it, but it is something to remember.

With regard to keeping the night open, if we can book a regular gig that makes sense we will. But I won't book just anything -- I know that gigs are not always long term. This one will be long term if they just commit to it, I am almost positive. The owners are good people, and their place and the food they serve is first-rate. I also love it because it is one of the very few non-smoking bars in Indiana. Also, I am afraid they are thinking "oh we get calls from karaoke guys all the time". Yes, I know I am not indispensable, but I am not positive they understand the difference between a low-end right with box mixer and two speakers and my full setup with monitor speaker, compression, and Compuhost.

Their hesitance seems to be 1) the size of the place, which is small, limiting their upside 2) their existing base of mostly a dinner crowd, and 3) uncertainty of the owner about how to operate in this community. The three gigs we have done so far have been really wild successes. This one looked to start slow and then built to an enthusiastic crowd. I told them that if anything these things build over time as people learn where you are, and that doing it every week will build a core of regulars.

The opening is there, because there is not a strong Saturday show in the area. As you know, top hosts often reserve that day for weddings. So I hope they jump.

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.