Karaoke Forums

Always ask the place you play. If you are knowingly playing at a club that isn't paying you can get hit.

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

Isn't anyone offended by SC's advertising of the Gem Series? It's like they think ANYONE interested is a pirate! Also look at this line in the license agreement...

Regardless of your present situation (whether you are in a lawsuit with Sound Choice or trying to avoid one by the legal purchase of a set of discs or just
starting in business) you will be making a substantial investment in your business by the licensing of these Tracks

Are there any other categories of karaoke hosts/companies? Like someone looking for a good deal on a new set of music to expand their business? Nope just looks like newbies or people trying to avoid being sued because THEY ARE ALL PIRATES!!!

I did give a thought to buying the GEM and then selling off my SC disks, since I have nowhere near 6,000 Sound Choice tracks I'd be gaining a lot. But I don't like that you do not own the material and also you have to let SC audit your company's financial records at their whim? Hey SC can we see your records too? My music? Fine, audit that. My business otherwise is none of yours.

That part I didn't know. Why would they need to see the financials?? How is that their business? Care to explain, Mr. Harrington??

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

I guess that makes my decision for me. The I.R.S. has never needed to audit me, I will NOT let a Karaoke company do it. Where do they get off expecting this??

Hey Mr. Slep, you are in the business of peddling Karaoke, not checking your customers' books. I'm sure you know where you can stick your products AND your audits!!

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

I find it offensive. It bothers me that nearly all of their advertising is focused on and centers around pirates (crooks). I find it to be a put-down to KJs and the karaoke entertainment industry. It's as though they will not acknowledge Karaoke Jockeying as a ligitimate occupation.

I'm reminded of my childhood when I would go into the Ben Franklin five and dime store with the money I earned from my paper route. As I would browse the aisles deciding what to buy, the manager of the store would follow from aisle to aisle and stand at the end with his hands on his hips just watching to make sure this kid doesn't steal anything. I got tired of being treated like a criminal one day and told him "I'm not going to steal anything, and now I'm not going to buy anything either" I left and never went back.

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KNOW THYSELF

That is awesome!! That is a message we should all send SC.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

Come on Mr. Harrington, how do you justify looking at financial records?? THAT is no business of yours. I see you lurking down there.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

I'm not going to steal anything, and now I'm not going to buy anything either" I left and never went back

This is great!

I don't play disks at my show, but I am confident in my 1:1 status. However a physical
audit would be a major PITA for me because of my full-time job schedule, and the fact that my disks aren't all in order. And my song list doesn't have manufacturer listed...in fact I don't even have it in all the file names! I only do one gig and that's all I intend to do, my customers are not picky and I could probably get away with not using SC, but I prefer to use them. Actually the only manu request I got recently was for specifically DK tracks!

DK has an EXCELLENT version of Hush and an excellent version of Joe Cocker's With A Little Help From My Friends.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

I do still have some single DK discs for sale, as well as a bunch of PHM, StarDisc and various others, as well, Smooth. The DK's are $20 each, but the others are significantly less, if you're interested. (Sorry, didn't mean to hijack. I thought this might be helpful).

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Birdofsong

Thanks, I will keep you in mind.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

FYI: I have GEM set #1, going on two years now, and I have never been called, emailed or audited in any way. They have asked for nothing. I did get an update disc to correct some early mistakes, but that's it.

And I don't expect to hear from them. Then again I haven't pirated the songs or broken the agreement either. if I did I'm sure things would be different.

I'd say have not, and probably won't would be a better way to phrase it. To say can not, would be wishful thinking.

I'd say keeping all your karaoke cdg receipts in one place should they request to see 'financial' records would be enough. I don't have a problem with that. As for anything else about our Mobile DJ business, it is NONE of their business! I will continue to use and buy SC because they are the best. I have lots of customers that ask for SC specifically.. and CB too. (Country ppl usually want cb). We keep receipts for 7 years. After that, the receipts get thrown away. Like the Foundation and Bricks... those receipts are looooonnnng gone!
That is one reason I'm going to pay the stupid $125 and get an audit. They can mark the discs I've had forever and the new ones.. I don't care. We've been using the older ones since SC first came out with them, they're used looking already, a black light ink mark isn't going to hurt them.
Paying the $125, I will get their 'certification', they probably won't bother me for some time (if at all), I'll get the banner and I'll have the Legal KJ marketing 'tool'. I know I should be more of an activist.. but, been there, done that.. am too old to get all upset over it.
Yes, I'm fortunate to be able to pay the $125.. wish I didn't have to, but it won't kill me.

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SoundChoice Certification coming soon!

I got a fare shake with Sound Choice. Last week I asked them to throw us a bone and they did. I reminded them of their cash special, and asked for the Gem minus the Sapphire 5, plus 900 songs (15 Star, 52 Spotlight) for the finance price of the Gem. Well they took it...I will add that I tried to buy the Gem back in November, made them an offer and waited nearly three weeks for their response (Kurt was on vacation). They E-mailed back me the very day I got my CB6000. I was bumbed, but as it turned out, time flew and made due with it. Our library now is going to be much, much better with them both. I can't forget about our All Star of nearly 700 songs, and Spanish with Karaokanta and Karaoke Box of 1880 songs...Not a bad turn around in six months after finding out the Apple we bought years back was bad. Who say's we were just clowning around. No, really we did it all with the money from our clown parties. Just 18 more clown parties and SC is paid off...

Jon

I bought the GEM series and have never been asked for any financial info or records of any kind. They did not ask for any of this type of info for my audit either.

the only thing i was told i need to do for the audit was show my physical discs for my corresponding extra SC Songs on my hard drive. I don't find this to be unreasonable in any way.

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Sal "Kjmann" Esquivel
Karaoke With Sal - Website

Just thought I'd bump this in hopes of an explaination from HL.

While I have read of folks not having their financial records requested ( no reason given), the documentation is there as a condition of the GEM lease.

Be nice to know why....

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

Well when I spoke to Chris I asked about disclosures. He said there was none required or requested. Maybe someone mixed that up with being in a lawsuit... The only thing they ask for is a credit check approval and a Automatic Credit Card Billing Agreement, and of course the down payment. The contract is clear yet binding. Nothing in it seems off base. Yes it's a lease, however as long as you renew after 5 years, and renew every 3 years afterwards and abide by the contract they can't take it away from you...When I was a contractor I had to pay for the licence, and fees every year. What was worse Arizona wanted 10% of gross. I didn't (@$%&#!), because I had a licence to make money. This is going to give us the upperhand with two certificates now so I don't mind...1.4 million in the Valley here and not one has them.

Jon

I can tell you why, its very clear.

It is there so that if you break the agreement by pirating the GEM series, they can more easily nail your A$$ to the wall.

Interesting that in two years it has never been pirated. Wonder why?