Karaoke Forums

There's is another KJ in my area, that does a show on Wednesdays and Fridays at the same place. He's older (in his 60's) and is known to have a bad attitude at times for no reason and play favoritism (I actually experienced this first hand). He's running this show for 1 1/2 years now.

Recently he lost another show for his attitude. That place called in another company. They weren't happy with the new company at all and ended up calling me after 2 weeks. I'm there now ever since.

Today I got a call from the owner of the Wednesday and Friday place. He asked me, if I would know that KJ, so I said yes. Then he told me, that if I know him, I probably know that he can have his attitudes at times. I said yes too, just because it's true. He continued that yesterday that KJ had it (again) with one of his customers and he's basically done with him and wants to replace him. He wants me to come in tomorrow and talk to him about taking over the 2 shows. He also told me, that he will have a serious talk with the other KJ tomorrow and has a good feeling, he will not last longer than the end of that conversation. That's why he wants to assure himself, that the Karaoke shows would continue without a break.

Now from my understanding, that would mean that he might wants me to start tomorrow night already.

I never walked into this place, nor did I talk to anyone from the business about any interest from my side. He found me through asking other people about alternatives and checked out my myspace page and website.

I also know that this KJ is down to 4 shows a week right now (used to be more like 10-11 before). So that would also mean that he would be down to 2 shows after that.

On top, the owner asked me to keep that conversation to myself for now. That means, I can't even call the other guy and try to play it fair.

What should I do!??

It's what you work for ?
You are getting an opportunity due to your professionalism and quality run show..right?

Take the JOB (assuming you want it ) and don't look back ....BUSINESS IS BUSINESS AND YOU SHOULDN'T FEEL GUILTY

Sevarin I'm 69 now and too old and cranky to do my high paced shows. I admit that to owners. If he was doing that many shows at that age he is tired and burned out.

It is hard to reach a point and hurdle in your life when you are too old to do something you love and admit it to others. I would suggest you approach the owner and the old gent and suggest hosting for him for half. This would give the old man a break and ease his transition. You would wind up with the gig anyway. My karaoke now is only a supplemental income.and I depend upon younger help.

Anyhow I hope I presented a different and more logic solution from the old man's standpoint

_________________
Join The Karaokle Singers Social Network. Upload Your Music!!

I would say go for it. It is not like you are seeking the job, they approached you - it's business.
If you were a mechanic & someone called you because another mechanic isn't doing the job, would you think about it?
How about if you were a painter?
A Banker?
Just because you host karaoke shouldn't be any different. Someone wants to replace a current company because they are not happy, take the job.

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

I'm with Lonman. Go for it. It's not like you went looking for the gig and stole it from under his nose. You didn't. They came to you.
Say nothing to the other host. It's really not your place to do so.
Take the gig if it's offered. Your reputation for professionalism and your quality show is is starting to pay off.

I agree that you shouldn't be morally obligated to turn down the job. But it might be more of a headache than it's worth. When I replaced a fired KJ (this was not in one of my current rooms, and I didn't know the situation beforehand) I found all kinds of resentments and resistance to my show. If the guy's been in the room for a long while he will have supporters even if some want a change.

If you have replaced this same guy before in another club and got through it maybe you'll be OK. At least you know what you are getting into.

Yes Bill that is why I made suggestions. I have been in that position.and replacing a host is not easy. At his age he is bound to have older customers. Business is business but so is PR. Its not like OK the bay guy is gone and now things will be better. It is a tender transition that takes time.

Helping the guy and hosting for him awhile would eases the transition with all involved. Without knowing all the particulars I am just offering other thoughts than dog eat dog go get it. As Ive stated before I do not offer guesses but speak from experience.

_________________
Join The Karaokle Singers Social Network. Upload Your Music!!

I would at least talk to a few regulars at the karaoke show to see if the old guy had a major following.

Sometimes a KJ may not interact well with the management but did a good job with the singers. The place where I first sang karaoke had a KJ who did a great job with the singers, but was not too professional on other matters, especially dealing with the owners. He was replaced and the show which had been a major weekly event died with him, with the attendance eventually falling by about 75% on average. The replacment KJs were "ok" but they just didnt keep things going.

That may be a difficult situation to get into, as a KJ a some singers may hold it against you if the old KJ was liked.

If that appears to be the case, it may be best to let it "die" for one week (I cant do this week but starting next week I can start.)

This would make it clear to the singers that you are not "stealing the job" from him.

On the other hand if it is not a close nit group of singers with loyalty to a KJ then just grab the job if you want it.

We run a Karaoke show here in England, and I am 51 and my other half is 58, we run a show right across the board for everyone, and we do fine, sounds like this guy has a real bad attitude so THAT is why he's booted, right...So you just go and do your stuff, as he doesn't deserve it..and like these guys say,,the bar has approached YOU mate...go for it and enjoy it...
Pete.

I would take the gig without skipping a beat. The guy is a lousy host and deserves to be replaced. The only way I would say no would be if the KJ was a very good friend of mine.

Sounds like the guys a burnout and has become cranky and irritable. Time for him to go. Take the gig. Tell the owner to expect an initial drop in attendance as the old "crowd" will gripe. But it will turn around soon enough and maybe generate a NEW HI-ENERGY bigger spending crowd. Take the gig and worry about thed details and situation later.

Beware tho of crowd hostility and particularly BACKSTABBING and SABOTAGING barstaff loyal to the old guy.

_________________
"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

As a venue owner, I would never agree to such a scheme. When you are letting someone go, you generally must cut all ties immediately, as digruntled employess can do real damage to a business. Better to make a clean break than chance it.

My uncle's are farmers in a close knit community. They refused to talk to land owners about farming their land when another farmer was leasing it. However when the land owner became unhappy with the current farmer and the land owner sought them out, well it was business time.

You did not seek the new gig and stab the old cranky fart in the back. Go for it!

Sounds to me like - no matter what you do - this KJ is on his way out. He will be fired due to HIS actions, not because of anything you have done - the bar owner sought YOU out.

This is a business decision that needs to be made. Take the meeting, and then base your decisions on what you do next on what is dealt with in that meeting.

_________________

"I hold the key to an open door....will I ever be free...?"

I agree about cutting an employee loose. You do it quickly and cleanly.

DO NOT AGREE TO A SHARING/HALF-TIME AGREEMENT.

Nothing to feel GUILTY about.

He dug his own grave and gave himself enough rope. You were approached by THEM. And you really have NO IDEA as to what actually has transpired.

Again, take the gig. Replacements happen all the time. If you dont take the gig someone else will.

_________________
"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

Take the ball and run with it.

concensus reflects that since you didn't go after the gig, and now as a "vendor", you're being approached, to go for it..

I MIGHT suggest ONE other thing.

Visit the gig in question. Don't talk to anyone, just see how it flows...

This way when you sit down and negotiate the new gig, you'll have a bit more eye wisdom on the situation.

Goforit!

Thanks everyone for your replies.

karyoker, I do understand, where you coming from... absolutely. But I'd rather would not take the gig than sub hosting for the other guy. I do this full time. Why would I work half price, when I invested about $10,000 in my equipment (actually $22,000 altogether, if you count in the value of my stolen equipment) and probably more than $50,000 in my song collection over the years? I'd rather not take the job and work somewhere else full time for full pay. If I would do this as a hobby, I would definitely think about something like that.

Lonman, you are right to the point. Thanks for that example. I thought about, what you said and you're absolutely right.

Knightshow, good suggestion. Unfortunately I have to be there in about 2 1/2 hours. So no time for that. On top, I think if I would show up at his show out of the blue (everybody in the area knows me) and then take over the show, that would look even worse.

SwingcatKurt, thanks for your suggestion. This is very helpful. I will mention that in my conversation with the owner later on!

To everyone else, who replied: Thank you all for your answers. I really had some ethical issues with this situation. But after reading your replies and talking to a good friend of mine (who actually agrees with all of you) I think I have to do what I have to do. It will probably not be easy to get this gig started, but I didn't do anything wrong, he did... period.

Glad you came to that conclusion, Sev. We're really just vendors of a product - if someone else's product loses its quality, it is certainly the prerogative of the owner to find a new product. Glad you were chosen. Of course there will be fallout - hopefully it will pass quickly.

So I went to talk to the owners. It's a couple, mid age and I have to say, very very nice people. So I absolutely believe, that this has nothing to do with the owners themselves.

What actually happened was, that when he set up for his show on Wednesday, he placed one speaker right in front of a table, who was taken by regular customers (He is not using speaker stands). They asked him nicely, if he could move the speaker a little bit, so they actually have some room to sit. (I have to add, that he actually sets up very early, because they have a band playing before the Karaoke show and it has to be a smooth transition. So it wouldn't really be a big deal to move the speaker a little bit). He answered in a rude way and got into an argument with these customers and ended up calling one of them an a-hole. They immediately left after telling the owner what happened and went to a restaurant across the street to have dinner there.

Come on, you just can't do something like that!

Then they continued that he indeed has an attitude towards the customers and owner like he (KJ) actually owns the place and they should be "blessed" to have him there. Well, regardless to say, the owners don't like that and told him several times, that he should not forget that he is working for them and getting paid by them.

I kind of got into that subject a little bit to assure myself, that they don't try to dictate the show. But they assured me, that they wouldn't do that and would actually appreciate someone, who runs an absolute fair rotation to everyone, regardless if friend or new customer and would never ask to be unfair. The whole opposite, like I heard and experienced myself before, they told me that they had several complains from different customers, that they've waited for more than an hour to sing and saw several people several times on stage while waiting for their one song.

So, like I said, I'm absolutely convinced, that this is indeed his own fault.

End of the conversation was, that the owner told me, that he will have a conversation with him, because he feels like he owes that to the other KJ after almost 2 years (which I highly respected, obviously a fair owner), but he added that as he knows the other guy, this will not go over very well and there is a chance, that I actually will do the show tonight already. He said, he will call me either way and let me know as soon as he talked with the other guy.

It is a very nice Irish Pub btw, with a big outside patio where the Karaoke show happens. A very nice and clean establishment.

I keep you posted, what happened.