Karaoke Scene's Karaoke Forums

<snip> I'm pretty sure they make more money charging $1.75 for a can of Pepsi than they do charging $2.30 for a Bud, so they don't mind the non-drinkers too much.

Unless the venue or KJ was outstanding I would walk back out of a bar charging cover for karaoke...

What about a "minimum" charge for a lounge/or bar?

Like $5.00 minimum charge per person.

Would that be better than a cover charge?

OR

are you just talking about the Karaoke hosts creating a cover charge?

Would they (karaoke hosts) even be allowed to do that, or are cover charges all up to the bar in question??

If you were to recieve tokens equaling what your cover was, then I wouldn't understand your reasoning unless you weren't planning on spending money in the first place.
I could see it if the club was just trying to get more money.

but again, if I can gat fair value for my cover charge, then I have no problem paying for it.

What I WON'T do is $1.00 a song type of cover, though! sheesh!

Author:	RCM Catwoman [ Mon Oct 04, 2004 2:27 pm ]
Post subject:	Cover Charge?
Cover charges at karaoke shows in my area are rare. How about in your area? Do you think it's right to charge a cover for karaoke?

Author:	Bearded Wolf [ Mon Oct 04, 2004 4:20 pm ]
Post subject:
I don't agree with a cover chage, unless it's standard procedure for the club. That way, people are used to it. But if they're paying, as a KJ, you better be good! We have some places here in Baltimore that actually jack up the prices once people start singing, calling it an "entertainment tax!"

Author:	Lonman [ Mon Oct 04, 2004 4:32 pm ]
Post subject:
Cover charges aren't common practice for karaoke in this area. I used to be against them but this is an area that some have opened my eyes. I don't necessarily agree or disagree with them. Serious karaoke singers generally don't drink so they are only drinking water, pop, coffee, or something similar - stuff that MOST clubs i've ever seen give refills on for free (which is their fault in the first place - CHARGE FOR EVERYTHING AS IT WERE NEW!!!!!!). Now in a situation like that where the singers aren't spending on their own, then I can see a club charging a cover since their main patrons are singers, but if the singers aren't spending money on food or drink - *(REMEMBER this is the entire basis for a club hiring karaoke entertainment in the first place, to make the club money!!!!!!!)*, then the club isn't going to see karaoke as profitable & drop it. NOW if a club charged a cover & in return you recieved something like 2 tokens up to the amount of the cover to redeem for drinks, food, coffee or whatever, then I don't think I would mind a cover at all. Luckily my club don't have an extensive amount of non-spenders to really worry about a cover, but I have talked with other kj's that this HAS been a big problem, a couple to the point they lost their job because of it. As far as "jacking up the prices" this is the norm in many clubs when the entertainment starts - whatever it may be. I'm really surprised more don't & run selected drink specials per night - in all honesty

Author:	knightshow [ Mon Oct 04, 2004 5:43 pm ]
Post subject:
completely agree with you. I've been in a couple clubs that charge a cover. If I don't get equal value for the cover charge, I'm outta there. Since I drink and eat at the venue I go to, if I can't get exact fair value outta those tokens or tickets... see ya!

Author:	marty3 [ Mon Oct 04, 2004 7:23 pm ]
Post subject:
Haven't come across cover charges around here. A few places have been known to up their drink prices a bit (maybe $.50 or so) on karaoke night - not very common though from what I've seen.

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Author:	KJ Denndogg [ Mon Oct 04, 2004 7:30 pm ]
Post subject:
As far back as I can remember , Every club that I've been to (either hosting , or as a Karaoke patron) has upped the ante on drinks as soon as the entertainment starts...even sooner if they can get away with it , I've never seen the problem with people not spending money at the (limited)bar gigs that I've done ( well maybe a few Senior Citizens drinking Coffee)..seems like just about every K-Junkie around here...about a 10 mi. radious ,knows the rest of us and most everybody is there at the start of the show buying rounds for each other... pretty much till closing! ..buncha' party poodles they are anyway!

Author:	Melly [ Mon Oct 04, 2004 8:05 pm ]
Post subject:
Hmm, we have niether cover charges....drinks stay the same price....she always puts up certain drinks at a lower price thru the night....and the venues buy lots of great gifts to give away. This months big gift is a vacation package from a travel agency.

Author:	karaokefun [ Tue Oct 05, 2004 4:38 am ]
Post subject:
Holy cow, Melly! That bar owner must be doing something right! At my bar, drinks go up $.50, but it's a hole-in-the-wall bar, and even with the extra charge drinks are cheaper than at most other bars around. I'm pretty sure they make more money charging $1.75 for a can of Pepsi than they do charging $2.30 for a Bud, so they don't mind the non-drinkers too much.

Author:	hitwtom [ Tue Oct 05, 2004 8:50 am ]
Post subject:
There goes someone talking about my place and I don't recall them ever being there. BTW Pepsi is still $1 and beers $2 at Hole in the Wall Tavern Hollywood, MD We don't charge a cover or raise prices for Karaoke, however when we have a band it's usually $3 at the door and drinks go up .25-.50.

Author:	karaokemeister [ Tue Oct 05, 2004 8:57 am ]
Post subject:
karaokefun wrote: <snip> I'm pretty sure they make more money charging $1.75 for a can of Pepsi than they do charging $2.30 for a Bud, so they don't mind the non-drinkers too much. Don't bet on it. I have one venue I played at during the summer that charges a cover. They use it to offset the cost of the 'show'. Keep in mind they do this for live bands, DJ's, and my show. Prices will vary based on the expected draw but covers top at $3. A season pass is $25 and gets you into every event for the season. I was paid a flat rate for my show vs. the take on the door. If the door takes more than I charged I got the rest. If turnout was low I get my flat rate. It's the only gig I have that charges a cover and from what I've seen the only one in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and the Denali Park area that charges a cover almost every night. Keep in mind others may charge a cover for bands they bring in (like when the Violent Femmes played at the Blue Loon in Fairbanks) but it's the exception, not the rule. All the other venues I play don't charge a cover since they more than make it up with drinks, food, etc.

Author:	MikeyP [ Tue Oct 05, 2004 9:08 am ]
Post subject:
Unless the venue or KJ was outstanding I would walk back out of a bar charging cover for karaoke...

Author:	Lonman [ Tue Oct 05, 2004 9:53 am ]
Post subject:
MikeyP wrote: Unless the venue or KJ was outstanding I would walk back out of a bar charging cover for karaoke... If you were to recieve tokens equaling what your cover was, then I wouldn't understand your reasoning unless you weren't planning on spending money in the first place. I could see it if the club was just trying to get more money.

Author:	ritisroo [ Tue Oct 05, 2004 9:56 am ]
Post subject:
What about a "minimum" charge for a lounge/or bar? Like $5.00 minimum charge per person. Would that be better than a cover charge? OR are you just talking about the Karaoke hosts creating a cover charge? Would they (karaoke hosts) even be allowed to do that, or are cover charges all up to the bar in question??

Author:	Melly [ Tue Oct 05, 2004 10:06 am ]
Post subject:
I know a place in town that charges a cover charge....but ours is a small place where we live and everyone KNOWS everyone....everytime a venue out here does that....NO ONE comes..but, the place i work at....when she does this....we have a mob...it's hold about 60....we get about a 100....not bad for a small town of 5000. In this case....the more you give...the MORE you recieve really works. We've been there 6 years. Never fails.

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Author:	Lonman [ Tue Oct 05, 2004 10:49 am ]
Post subject:
ritisroo wrote: What about a "minimum" charge for a lounge/or bar? Like $5.00 minimum charge per person. Would that be better than a cover charge? OR are you just talking about the Karaoke hosts creating a cover charge? Would they (karaoke hosts) even be allowed to do that, or are cover charges all up to the bar in question?? The $5 minimum is kind of what I was describing with the tokens in return for the cover either in full value or in the form of say a food dish or 2 drinks - whatever that may be. You still have your $5 or tokens to spend but if you want to drink water only, then that's what you get for your $5, if you want an appetizer, then that's what you get, if you want....etc... Usually the only time a cover charge that would be imposed by a host is pretty much only if that is how they are getting paid. Cover charges aren't illegal. Now if a karaoke host were trying to be paid via a percentage of bar sales is where it is a very fine line between legal & illegal.

Author:	MC Krusty [ Tue Oct 05, 2004 7:05 pm ]
Post subject:
The karaoke place I hang out at charges $2 on Friday and Saturday nights. I think it's mainly for the extra staff needed on those nights and also to keep the dirtbags out. $2 is no big deal. They give you free sodas & waters, so it all works out. Plus the drink prices are cheaper than the "clubs" around town.

Author:	MikeyP [ Wed Oct 06, 2004 3:31 am ]
Post subject:
Lonman wrote: If you were to recieve tokens equaling what your cover was, then I wouldn't understand your reasoning unless you weren't planning on spending money in the first place. I could see it if the club was just trying to get more money. I missed the bit about tokens (looking through previous messages)... that would be fine with me... but I have never seen it done... I have seen bars give out drink tickets to the first 20 singers or so... To amend my previous post, a small cover charge would be fine but most bars that charge cover for karaoke here charge $4-$5 or more.

Author:	knightshow [ Wed Oct 06, 2004 6:57 am ]
Post subject:
but again, if I can gat fair value for my cover charge, then I have no problem paying for it. What I WON'T do is $1.00 a song type of cover, though! sheesh!

Author:	Full House Entertainment [ Wed Oct 06, 2004 8:07 pm ]
Post subject:
The venue we have been doing for quite some time has never charged a cover, does not increase prices on karaoke nights and offers a drink special and bucket prices for beer on karaoke nights.... We are treated fairly, the patrons are treated fairly and we work well with the bar owner and staff! I guess that's why it's our home away from home and has been successful for us for 7 years!

Author:	karaokemeister [ Thu Oct 07, 2004 9:37 am ]
Post subject:
knightshow wrote: but again, if I can gat fair value for my cover charge, then I have no problem paying for it. What I WON'T do is $1.00 a song type of cover, though! sheesh! I would agree with this wholeheartedly. I'm a host not a juke box! BTW, I forgot to mention this before but the venue I did shows at did not raise drink prices during the show. They would sometimes run special on draft though. Most drink specials are difficult to run here because the liqour laws are pretty strict (no happy hours or ladies night for example).