Karaoke Forums

Hello Everyone,

I have been doing the KJ thing for about 6 months now, primarily as a hobby with my wife. Things have been taking off so quickly, we have decided to go professional.

I know I could get a thousand responses about equipment, I am pretty sure I have a pretty good handle on the equipment and software choices we have made, but I wanted to get an idea about how much most of you invest in logos, banners, websites, and advertising?

We recently got a logo made for our business that is unique and relatively inexpensive. Do most of you have your own logo?

I know word of mouth is the best form of advertising, and we are beginning to carry around a bunch of professional business cards (no, we didn't get them from Vistaprint). We have gotten many referrals from regulars at our shows as well.

We use meetup.com to generate interest in our shows, but we also want to begin advertising via vinyl banners outside our venues to bring in people off the street, etc. We want to get the most bang for our buck. We also want smaller banners to display at private parties. We are currently working with a really great team at sign art etc. (http://tinyurl.com/be3dt6) to create some banners for us. They have fabulous prices, free design and setup, and free shipping (minimum $100 orders).

We are currently putting the finishing touches on our website, and we are considering making a small investment in google adwords or traffic blazer to drive people to the site for private parties. We have gotten several parties setup using only Craigs List to advertise!

Anyway, I wanted to find out how you advertised, appoximately how much you spend on advertising, what type of media you have found to be most effective, and whether or not you use vinyl banners or magnetic signs, etc.

Since we are beginning to make this a real business, we are beginning to closely track all of our expenses and revenues.

Thanks for your help as always!

I wouldn't pay any money to have banners up at venues. The venues can get them for free from alchohol venders. At my venues, it says Karaoke Saturday Nights with Felix the KJ, 8pm-1am. The banners also have a picture of BUD Light as a "Sponsor". I also have my website on these banners. I have done this at 4 venues, and the vendors usually have them in a week from request.

You are right. I get most of my private parties and new gigs from word of mouth. I did one party for a good friend for reduced cost, and got 2 new parties from that one. All following private parties have been from people who have attended a party I have done in the past that they attended.

I have on the back of my truck bed a sign on it with "Mobile DJ and Karaoke" and my phone number. This was just put on, so can't tell you how successful it is yet.

I recently had an add in LA JEMM, the journal for the education of medical marijuana.
This add was put in two weeks ago, already got one call. I advertised here due to the fact it was free. I just had to spend 4 hours delivering them to some local pharmacies, all in Downtown LA.

I have a website, that I set up through Go Daddy. It is $5 a month for the hosting of the website, and includes the tools to create and modify it. My domain name of http://www.felixthekj.com was $2 for the first year, and $15 each additional year. It is relatively easy to create a decent website.

I have my company name on my song books, and on my song slips. My website is also on the books and song slips.

Hope this helps,
Felix the KJ

Thanks for the tips Felix!

I see your point about the banners. We are still thinking about getting our own so that we can take them where we want.

We are set up with godaddy.com as well. Since we purchased the domain from godaddy, they give us free hosting and websitetonight, but it includes random advertising on the site unless we want to pay $5 per month to get rid of it.

Your website seems well thought out, looks like it answers all the questions most singers (and even KJs) would be curious about.

Thanks again!

Fortunately for me I have a pretty solid skill set in a variety of areas. The logo I use (my avatar but bigger) Is my creation. The inspiration from it came from the guy who made my T-Shirts... He was good. I had a different logo initially, and based off of that (a coyote singing into a microphone with a moon as the top) he modified it to what you see to the left.

For a better version check my website:

www.thekaraokekoyote.com

One of the bars I work at had an old bud light light box that didn't work. They were going to throw it out, but I asked for it and recieved. I made a graphic for it using adobe photoshop, and fixed the light box for $10. Home Depot was able to print and laminate my graphic for $18. It looks very cool, and it is hanging on the wall of one of the bars I work at.

The website is mine also, and is hosted for free. If you can use microsoft word, you can design you own karaoke website. All you want is something that you can post your schedule, your contact information, and perhaps pictures from your show.

Get a myspace page. Go to the myspace page of the bar you work at and post friend invites to that bar's friends. Over time your friends list will grow, and you can periodically sent bulletins to those folks.

Collect email addresses like they were gold... they are. I have a jar that specifally asks for email address on it. When I get private gigs, those folks who hired me always get added. Don't abuse it, but send out periodically.

The T-shirts are fun, and give you something to give away. I use "tickets". every time someone sings they get a ticket, and I give away on T shirt a night (maybe two if the rotation is really long). The T-shirt has my logo on it and contact info. Very cool to go to a bar and see someone wearing your logo!

Always loosing pens out of your books? Great! Make sure those pens have your company name and contact info on them! Easy and better than a business card... its something that someone will actually use on a daily basis.

Just google "the American Pen Company"

Business cards are fine, but they aren't a great marketing tool. I only use them when I'm going to bars looking for a job, otherwise I give away a pen.

Bar business cards with drink coupons are great. If your bar owner is any good, he'll have some made up. Ask for them. Give them away at you other venues to good singers who compliment you on your show. Sign the back, and put down, "only valid on X karaoke night....etc."

Look for meet up groups, and karaoke enthusiast web sites. Most will post your shows has a courtesy so singers can find you. If your lucky they will come out to review your show and (hopefully) plug your show in their blog.

www.adventuresinkaraoke.com

I never advertise in the paper or print. Its too expensive and you can get better results when you directly market to the karaoke scene in your area.

Hope this gives you some ideas.

_________________
Good music, good friends, howling good times!