Karaoke Forums

to make a short question into a long story:

scenario: let's say you're an above average KJ who's been working at a particular venue for several years--

at this venue, there's a handful of 4-5 regulars that are very close to each other. they've been regulars at that venue long before you came along to KJ. and although you are faithfully there with your show every weekend KJing, they will be there hanging out a few times during weekday for happy hour as well as show up to your KJ gigs on the weekends. in other words: they practically live at that venue, while you're there only on weekends.

however, none of these regulars sing nor participate in the karaoke. still, you & the regulars get along fine.

so, let's say, one night, during your show, a "guest" KJ drops by randomly to sing/hangout and while that guest KJ is there, he shows off every chance he gets. he shows off how animated he is, talkative, crowd-friendly, likable and he can sing his (@$%&#!) off. you tell the crowd that he is a KJ that works elsewhere because you give shout outs like that and you don't feel threatened. (by the way, he's not auditioning to take your spot or anything, this KJ naturally is this animated 24/7.)

at the end of the night, the regulars huddle up and then come at you with: aye, what if this 'guest' KJ takes one of your weekend nights, regularly? we love you. but we think he'd be a nice fit for this venue for 1 night out of your 2...

and your response is: please. the grass ain't greener. y'all would tire of him & regret it after 4-6 months. there's a reason why i've been here at this venue for years. (you're not against new comer KJs, you just see this ONE particular KJ as a 'nice to visit, wouldn't want to live there full time' things. like, he's a nice guest, but as a full-time KJ at this particular spot, nah, he wouldn't last too long so why bother trying?)

QUESTION IS, WHO'S RIGHT? Are the non-karaoke regulars a good judge of KJs because they practically live at that venue and have been there before you came there? They maybe see your weaknesses as a KJ host that you may not see? Or do you, the seasoned vet KJ know better what the venue needs since you've been running the show there for years. And this is not to say you won't bring in another KJ, but that you'd pick a better one than the venue thinks it could. but who's right? The Regulars who don't participate in karaoke, but practically live at that venue and knows every nook and cranny of it, or you the vet KJ who hasn't had any singers ask you to bring in a different KJ. But who knows what the venue could be missing?

and i know folks will come up with the quick fix of: why not let the guest KJ try out anyway? let's say it's not that easy to have that guest KJ suddenly come on board overnight. but if there was a demand to bring that KJ on board from the managers or something, then something would have to be worked out. for now, it's not as easy as, "well, guest KJ suit up and see what you can do. prove me wrong."

so, who to side with? anyone been in a similar sitcho?

are the long-time regulars a good judge of hosting talents even though they don't participate in karaoke but they're at the venue as if they work there, or is a single KJ a better judge of other KJs---or does KJ ego make one blind? what say yall?

my answer is: of course, i'm biased. i'm siding with me over the regulars--on this case.

but i won't ignore the input of regulars who are always there and there before me, even if they don't participate...

I would put very little stock in what a few non-singing regulars have to say about karaoke hosting. Everyone likes the "new flavor" of the month idea simply to see a new face and perhaps that new host will bring in other singers, patrons, etc.

You sound a little concerned so i hope things work out in your favor.

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Sound Choice and Chartbuster Certified

Agreed. While ALL patrons - singers and non alike - are important, the nons are looking for something to watch because they aren't participants.Your karaoke skills are of no interest to them. The singers ( your actual target) are there because of YOUR hosting skills and abilities.

If they wanted the other KJ they would be frequenting his shows.

You could also do some light research for intel., maybe finding out if any of your singers actually do go to his shows. Their opinions and observations could be helpful to you.

Besides, if you asked any of the non-singers to give up a day of their income per week, would they do it?

In actuality, their request was way way out of line. They aren't the owners, and it was rude and disrespectful for them to ask. Your mileage and patience may vary.....

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

You being at a venue is between you and the venue and is no one else's business. Anyone can say whatever they like but in this case it is irrelevant. It's a non-issue.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

What are you saying here??? Did these people (it doesn't matter whether they are participants or not) come up to you and basically asked if you'd be willing to give up one of your (paid) nights nights for someone else to work in your place?



Agreed!!!


Agreed!!!

Ask anyone if they mind if you give someone else their job.

Unbelievable.

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Never the same show twice!

It depends on the bar, the patrons, the owner. How much 'pull' (money spent) do they have? How set in their ways is the owner?

While we as kj's feel it's disrespectful for patrons to ask you to give the other guy a night, unless you have a contract with the bar, there's no guarantees. It's not like it's a union job where you can just show up and get paid because the union backs you.

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DJ Don

Took the words out of my mouth.

Sometimes you have to explain to idiots that you aren't there for your health & good times. You are working and getting paid.

to cueball, yep, they asked would i mind to share my job/$ with someone else. ha.

i didn't take it personal. i've been a kj at this venue for years. and i'm there back-to-back nights friday & saturday. so i try to assume different 'personalities' to avoid repeating the same show.

my feelings weren't hurt because this didn't come from the managers, the waiters/staff or the singers. but it raises the interesting question, what stock does this 'minority' of non-karaoke regulars have in my karaoke?

It really raises the question of what kind of class do these people have. That takes total balls for someone to come up to you and propose a question like that (and making it sound like you'd be a really small person to refuse their request). It should never have been brought up to you by them in the first place. If anything, those Regulars should have just approached the Venue's Manager (or Bar Staff) privately, and stated that they weren't crazy about you being a KJ there, and express their wishes that Management find someone to replace you (assuming they didn't do that already).

Singers don't care about our jobs. Here's proof.

The following is a Facebook thread started November 20th. The poster is a local KJ that is also part of the local cover band scene. I have never been to one of his shows, but I understand he is well liked and does a good show.

Names removed for privacy. I also removed the fluff posts keeping only those related to karaoke.

=================================

<karaoke host>
November 20 at 1:31pm ·

Hello, my fine friends! If you haven't heard, <bar name> closed last night. Getting my stuff stolen, now this.... Anyway, I'm looking for new venues for <karaoke company name>. I'll be hitting the streets checking out places but welcome your mad suggestion. Maple Leaf, anyone?

<poster name> I assume you wanna stay on the East Side?

<poster name> you should come down to Tacoma and check out several places!

<karaoke host> Yeah, preferably close to home.

<poster name> How about Steves or Damans??

<poster name> There's a new karaoke bar in Bellevue. Can't remember the name but it's on bellevue way next to the Wells Fargo.

<poster name> The old "leaf" is back open and has a bar. Seriously look into it. The old crew would definitely be back!

<poster name> There is a new bar opening soon in The MV (Maple Valley), and Farrelli's does karaoke one night a week, with a subpar host, I might add. So, you could up-par her and MV isn't too terribly far from your abode.

<poster name> Pickled Onion

<poster name> Does the new maple leaf have kareoke?

<poster name> I heard they already closed the bar at Yi Pin (maple leaf)

<poster name>Rock the dock down on the water in tacoma?

<poster name> Hit up Rock Bottom in Bellevue. After they changed management/ownership they did away with karaoke and live music. It is dead in there now. I'm afraid they will end up closing if business doesn't pick up.

<poster name> Sideline bar and grill in Factoria Bellevue! They have a karaoke host on sundays and Wednesdays currently. They need you in between!

<poster name> I'm so sorry <karaoke host>. What about the Berliner?

<poster name> have you talked to the lime to see if you could pick up more nights there also what about some of the bars down by the waterfront in kirkland

<poster name> Taphouse Ink in Black Diamond. Won award for neighborhood bar recently. Ask for Derrick or Belinda.

<poster name> I think the Dog and Pony Taphouse in Downtown Renton would be cool. We've been going there for Seahawks Sundays.

<poster name> Dog and Pony is participating in a TV show this weekend. Maybe karaoke can help save it!

<poster name> Pickled Onion? I wonder if World of Beer might be a good place as well.

<poster name> What about Williams?

<Chris E. Avis> As a fellow karaoke host, let me express my sympathy for <karaoke host>. Having gear stolen, then losing a gig to a bar that suddenly closed, flat out sucks.

However, (and again - as a fellow karaoke host) suggesting that he hit up locations that are already occupied by other karaoke hosts - even if you think they suck - is bad karma. There are no less than 5 suggestions in this thread to go to bars where there is already karaoke. One of them a venue that I work.

I can appreciate all of you wanting to support your favorite karaoke host, but please be respectful of other hard working KJ's in the area.

<poster name> Sorry if Williams has Karaoke...I've only seen live bands there, I doubt anyone meant any harm, just trying to help fellow brother.

<poster name> the new place in bellevue is called Stone, not open yet though

<karaoke host> Chris E. Avis, I totally appreciate your opinion, but this is my thread and my friends care about me... of course they're gonna make suggestions to me it's all rock n' roll, baby!
November 22 at 1:53am · Like · 9

Bars in BLUE do not have karaoke currently.
Bars in RED do have karaoke. One of those is mine. I know the hosts at all of the others in red as well and they are good, legal hosts.

On a side note.....when his gear was stolen a couple weeks before he posted this thread, I friended him and offered to loan him gear and to cover one of my gigs temporarily if he needed to make ends meet. I received no response to that offer. i sent it again even after his response to my post in his thread and still received no response.

So I notified the hosts of all the red venues to be on the lookout for poachers.

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-Chris

I just love how people assume that a venue where Karaoke is already established, can just offer up Karaoke any old time they want to. By making an open statement like that one ("The place has Karaoke on Sundays and Wednesdays, so they need you in between."), these people appear to have no concept of the fact that a Bar is paying someone to do a job there, and they may not be able to afford to shell out for the same service on additional days in the week. After all, if there's already 1 KJ there for 2 days a week, don't you think that same KJ (or KJ's Company) would want to secure additional days there if they could as versus leaving things open for some other KJ or KJ's Company to come in and work the original KJ out of a job there?



Sounds like this KJ just told you to F-Off, cause he's gonna do whatever he wants to.



That was extremely generous of you, considering his response back to you about everyone's suggestions to him.


I would warn others too.

Agreed. He showed his true colors as an a-hole. I would be done with him, especially after your extremely generous offer with zero response. If what he says is true about the bar closing down, gear theft, etc, NOW is the time to be gracious and accept all the help offered to get back on your feet. Business works through relationships and networking and the idiot just burnt a valuable bridge. Move on.

I feel like he gave me the finger as well, but I am not going to get bent about it. Having never met him or been to one of his shows, I don't owe him anything more than professional courtesy.

I will admit to typing up a PM to let him know that someone suggested to me once to check out a bar and it happened to be his where he does 2 nights a week. I was going to ask him if he thought it would have been okay for me to try to take the gig in the name of rock'n'roll.

I typed it......sat on it for a few hours.....then deleted it. Not worth my time.

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-Chris

'd


Wimp! I'd a nailed his arse! Make sure those others venues know what venum he carries Chris!! I also would have called him out on his own post, just letting others know how red/rude that is, go find bars that don't have karaoke! If they come looking for you (bars w/karaoke already) that's different.

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

I'm curious... After that KJ basically told you off, how many Likes and Unlikes did you get for your post to that KJ's Peeps?

In his thread, I received 1 like for my reply.

But I posted this to my own karaoke related group and as a follow up to another thread where some hosts were chatting are received over 100 likes -

--------------------

Hiya folks......

It has been almost 4.5 years since the very first FGP karaoke show. In that time, FGP has grown well beyond my expectations. In no small part, much of our success has been because of the singers and patrons of the establishments where we provide karaoke shows. Thank you all for your support!

Now for the serious part.....

Over the years, many friends and patrons have offered up suggestions for venues where they would like to see a Feel Good Pros karaoke show. Most of the time, the venues suggested have been venues where there was no current karaoke taking place. In that situation I am happy to go check the place out and if I feel it is the right fit for the bar, FGP, and the patrons, I will make a sales pitch. Sometimes it has even worked

But on occasion, someone will recommend a place where there is already a karaoke show in operation. I have always let whomever made the suggestion know that I am not interested in taking a show from another hard working host and I have always declined to make a sales call in that situation. On the rare occasion that someone makes a recommendation and I don't find out until I am on location that there is an existing karaoke show, I will do no more than leave a card in the event the venue decides they want to make a change.

I have a lot of respect for my fellow karaoke host. Particularly those that pay for their music, and pay their taxes. In tough economic times, bars, clubs, restaurants and other venues are cutting back just like the rest of us. We are under pressure to prove our value and make sure we are attracting paying customers. We don't need the added pressure of fending off other karaoke hosts that try to take our gigs from us.

So please, out of respect for my fellow, hard working karaoke hosts, don't make recommendations to me (or other hosts for that matter) to go pitch to a venue where another host is already working. They are trying to put gas in the tank, food on the table, and maintain a roof over their heads just like everyone else is.

Thanks!

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-Chris

I have a KJ friend that spends winters in Florida and hosts while here to pay for his expenses. When he arrived this year his long standing gig had been taken away from him by what I suspect is a pirate. It does not look like he will get the gig back any time soon either. So I offered to let him do 1 show every other week at my gig. Hopefully he will find something else soon because "snowbird" season is when all the action occurs. Last night he did my show and I had a lot of fun being in the audience and he ran it quite well. I asked the patrons about the show and they were having fun, but stated "he's good, but I like how you run your show better". . It is the time of season to help someone too.