Karaoke Forums

I know this has TONS of variables...and I'm not trying to have it pined down to an exact science. I am just curious in a Bar situation for a 4 hour gig, whats the "average" price?
2)- private party etc.

I find the national average for bar's ia about $150 for the night.


My min is $50 and hour. Depending on the size of the bar I have gotten up to $125 - $150 an hour.

Private parties start at $100 an hour.

I don't do karaoke at weddings but weddings start at $800 for me and my average is $1100 this year.

TY for your reply

125-150 an hour is unheard of around here for bar/club work - I think most in reality would agree. $150 for the night (4 hours) is more in the avg ballpark give or take depending on the saturation level of karaoke.

For private shows, you can usually get 3-5x the price of club price.

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

It depends on several things.

As already pointed out "the area" is one, although I believe that even in an area where the normal top money is $150 the right host can get $200 - $250 with a little talk.

Another would be an established following, of course this is going to be impossible for someone just starting out so it would have to be built up over time along with the pay rate. This is also dependent upon other things as well.

The charisma of the host,

Having a library that covers what the patrons want to sing,

Sound and knowing how to run it,

Running a show that the majority perceive as fair.

Achieving good money in your area is going to depend a lot on who your competition is and what kind of shows they are running.

One other way is to buy out an established host who has a good following and gets top money train under him/her for a few months and learn what works and why it works and then continue on with his/her established venues as you begin to add others.

Used to make more than now but in our area (north of Seattle) average $150 to $200. Most krappyoke is probably well under that. I'm sure there are hosts who have SWEET DEALS but don't talk about them.

I don't do weekend gigs for under $200, just simply not worth my time. I have taken a few weeknight gigs from time to time for a little less.

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

There's something to be said for stability too... If it's a regular, on-going gig, I tend to give the venue a break. Whereas single dates get charged more.

Travel time is also worked into the equation.

Right now, I have two weekly shows (Thursday & Saturday). Thursday is less than 2 miles from my home, AND they let me store my equipment there. So, I charge them $150.

My Saturday night show is 20 miles away, and we have to load in and load out. They get charged $175.

Once in a while I'll accept a Friday evening, even though I don't like doing three nights in a row. For those fairly rare occasions, I charge $200 - $250 depending on location.

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Earl
(BS, PHD & Certified CurmuDJeon)

[font=Times New Roman]"Growing Old may be mandatory... but growing UP is still optional."[/font]

I would say the average here in the SE is closer to $125.00. I've met tons of KJs throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and FL that make $125.00, but have only met a handful that make more than that for a 4 hour show.

And for every one that I've met that makes $150-$175+, there are just as many that make $75-100.

I make $175 a night, and I'm the 2nd best paid KJ that I have ever personally met out of probably 40-50+.

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C Mc
KJ, FL

I've been paid anywhere from $125 to $200 for bar gigs. Not counting I've done with a special introductory price.

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KingBing Entertainment C'mon Up! I have a song for you!!! [font=MS Sans Serif][/font]

The area definitely influences the price... saturation, income, etc.

I personally don't do a show for under $50 an hour. I invested too much money in equipment and music to charge less. I also have a big and loyal following I can rely on, which I am very grateful for.

Right now I work 7 days a week, 4 hours every night except two shows.

One of the two just started. The owner was a little hesitant, because his last KJ really didn't bring anyone in plus charged less. I told him, he gets what he pays for. So we started with 3 hours, so he can get a glimpse and if he likes it and the show grows we can go up to 4 hours.

My Tuesday night show actually added 2 more hours, so I'm doing 6 hours there.

Thank you all very much for your replies! As someone just starting out (as all of you once did) you know I have tons of questions and more that will arise.
Thanks again

My regular bar rate is $150.

I usually come at the club owner with the $175 to $200 figure and let them 'talk me down' to the $150 - $165 range.

That's for a 4 hour show.

I don't generally charge a premium for weekend bar gigs provided they are weekly shows.

My 'one off' rates for private parties and such are $100 to $150 per hour.

I don't do weddings, and I screen private party inquires because if they're going to be full of little kids, I don't want anything to do with 'em.

I've found in situations where there are a lot of kids, the parents like to use the karaoke guy like a babysitter while all the adults go off somewhere else.

I found that true as well when I DJ'd my first (and one-and-only) Bat-Mitzvah. I wanted to reach right out and touch some of the parents; as well as their demon off-spring

Not enough money in it to get me to do another one of those.

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EveningStar Entertainment & Events
JR & Michele LaPorte
Peoria, AZ

For me, I average about $200 for a bar karaoke show ($50/hr). I do give a discount if they book me on a regular basis, $25 to $50 discount.

For private gigs, usually around $100 to$125 per hour

Don't forget to try and factor in bar percentage as well. I ask for a 10-15% bar total on top of my min. $150 fee for 4 hours. If you're just starting out, I would waive that fee, but then if the night picks up, it is worth negotiating. It can turn a $150 night into a $300 night

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Wam bam thank you m'am.

Do most of you figure in bar % ? I've not heard of this before. Interesting concept I must admit

It can be used as a tool to book a gig. say you tell the manager look I will do this gig for $100 and 10% of the ring over $400 many who don't have a large ring at the end of the night will jump on this. But as I have seen it happen several times if you end up drawing a large crowd and the ring approaches 3 or 4 thousand dollars for the night suddenly the managers want to backstep and your origional asking price of say $250 is all they want to pay.

Heard of this WAY too many times and it usually ends BAD with the bars owner or manager not wanting to either show the actual z-tape ring, refuse to honor their deal of said %, or outright lying about how much they made.

It puts the kj in a very bad position to get paid "honestly". A large group spending a lot of money could have been there " not because of karaoke" or "were there before karaoke started", or a number of legit or BS reasons...

Flat Rate is guaranteed consistent money..and can make tax-time much easier to calculate. Getting paid CASH the night of performance is always a good idea as well.

DITTO DITTO!!!!!!!

I did one time as a base + percentage, never again.
The place was pack and busy.
I guessed around a $5000 nite for the bar.
Played for $100+10%.
I got $200 for the nite.
Asked to see the Z-out, mgr said register broke.
Asked to see the actual money, she said already in drop safe.
I am thinking she took home the $$$$.
Never played there again.