Karaoke Forums

Had a few people tonight tell me i need to have a tip jar.  I pointed to my pocket.

The place was packed tonight and for being the end of the month and everyone should be out of money, i was surprised.  Even more surprised that one table gave me $30...$10 first and then $20 more.

Then a guy gives me a $20.

Another gives me  a $10.

Guy that gave me $20 gives me another $10.

Another couple gave me a $10.  She has given me $20 on 2 other occasions.

I am seriously considering a tip jar at this place.  It's in one of the fast growing new communities.  In fact several years ago it was named the fastest growing area in the state.  So there is money floating all around.  The end of the month had no effect on their generosity.  

It has been my biggest tip night ever..

Almost makes up for the general drop in pay that KJ's have had to put up with! Good for you. Sounds like you're doing a great job hosting.

Sounds like you're doing a good job. People are having fun and enjoying themselves.

And at the end of the month when everyone is broke..

40 singers tonight.  Wall to wall people before i got there and it stayed like that all night.  I think everyone there was in shock.

Had a guy that has a karaoke business 100 miles away, come in wearing his karaoke shirt.

Telling everyone on the microphone where he was from and how he won an American Idol contest...

I had a ton of people that blew him away....

I just love starving KJs..

I had my biggest regurlar night on friday . the show was booked at 200. not a bad price for first time there. most places want a break, he never had even flinched about the price. the bar was packed all night. we had started at 8 but still ran till 2, yeah its a long show, but we had a ton of singers so i only sang a few and drank a bit more than a 4 hour show. I was happy, I really figure most of my pay is set up and tear down. at the end of the night he asked me what he owed me an i told him we agreed to 200, if he wanted to pay me extra for the extra time it was ok, but being the first time there i was not worried about it..he handed me 330 !!  we are back in 2 weeks

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the voices arent real, but they have some good ideas

This post caught my interest because it mentioned....money . Seriously though, it also gives me a chance to share about what has recently been transpiring with my show. Where to start . Okay, back in August of 2007, I was approached by a private club (Polish-American) to run a karaoke show for them. The first show was to be on September 26, an "End of the Summer" party. Ok, at the meeting with the Board of Directors AND the Entertainment Committee, I informed them that I was having carotid artery surgery on September 13th. (2nd time for me) BUT, did not forsee a problem doing the show on the 26th. Naturally, some wanted to nix me for the show, but some of my "followers" were on the board, and agreed to ALL my terms, which were: $200 for the first show (5 hrs) , my beers  (Becks...they had to order it because until then they didn't carry it) were on them. I, and only I, make any/all decisions concerning the show , any damages done by any patron were their responsibility, and I would demand new, not repaired or refurbished. Cash only.....it feels better than a check, and it won't bounce. I start and end by my watch, not the pick of three clocks I saw in the club....all off by four to ten minutes. The only bad thing initially was they wanted to give me only a four week "trial" to see how it went. BTW, the following weeks were 4 hour shows at $175  a night ( 8 - 12). OK, had the surgery, was home the next day. Come the 26th, I get there about 4:30, took my time unloading and setting up. Up and running by 5:30, soundcheck all done ready to go.  People start coming in around 6:30 to get their tables and socialize, and naturally I have music playing in the background.  OK...7-8 was dinner time, get your raffle tickets, all that "stuff". At 8pm, I kicked off the show...off and running. EVERYONE, had heard about my surgery, and the fact that I pulled that off had them watching in disbelief. I ran the show until 1:15am, ( a little incentive to keep me around, plus I was having a blast) had over 200 people at the show with approximately 45-50 singers. I only sang the first two, and the last song of the evening. Great time had by all . This place has a 2 o'clock license so I got to "kick back"  before breakdown, enabling me to get some first hand feedback on the show. It was pretty comical when people are talking to my "scars". I kept turning my head to give them a better look Anyway, two Fridays after that, I'm asked to extend my "contract" until February 1st. Same arrangements. $200 for "CLUB" shows and $175 for the Friday shows. Crowd is very relaxed, older, and I happen to cater to the "older crowd", hence the name "OLDE TYME KARAOKE". Well. last week they just extended my contract until the last friday in May. Now, during this "engagement", there have been times where I could have quit at midnight, BUT, the crowd was having a good time..so..I played an extra hour. All of a sudden these people come up to me at the end of the night and hand me a big wad of bills, and this is before the club pays me. Last Friday I played until 1:10, and the CROWD took up a collection and I got an extra $133.00. I've been doing this almost every week and that was the largest so far, the smallest was $78.00, but it goes to show you what good music, decent equipment, personality, and an honest sense of fair play, can get you. These people know that I don't have to stay, and they appreciate the fact that I'm willing. Personally, I wouldn't put out a "tip jar". I think it's unnecessary.....kinda tacky actually. It sends a message that the host isn't satisfied with the original agreement, and is "in search of" crumbs from the patrons. Actually, on one of my "extra money nights", I got a round for all the people still hanging around. Now THAT, my friends, is "OLDE TYME " networking. Just for the record, I recently turned 58, have had two (2) carotid artery surgeries (one each side) and I do these shows, the loading, the unloading, the set-up, the breakdown, re-load into the vehicle, ALL BY MYSELF. OH...and it all fits very nicely packed into the back seat and the trunk of a 1993...mint...Lincoln Town Car. AHHH...."It's a wonderful life"

                               Donny "B"    8)

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It's a wonderful life!!

Oh.. 40 singers and i found a quarter on the floor..

Now that's what i'm talkin' about..

I seeing nothing wrong with excepting tips but a tip jar is just down right tacky. I think it gives the entire industy a black eye. It seems everybody from Starbucks to my local 7-11 type store is placing a tip jar in front of them and expecting a little more from the customers.

Negioate a better deal with the club/bar. Get paid what your worth. Don't lower yourself to these tactics.

I know of a local KJ who determines rotation by who tips. Thats just wrong.

I'm sure I've ruffled some feathers, so feel free to go ahead and dis me.

Mojo

There are several kinds of tips.


One is for Prompt service.  Above and beyond the call of duty.

One to give me special privilege.  Move me up, take care of me.

One is just because they actually like you and what you are doing and about how well you do it.


Do some people deserve a special favor once in a while?

On occasion i have done a favor or two, depending upon certain situations.

Is it a steady practice, no.  Are there times when it could be beneficial to me or the bar?  Maybe.   Do i broadcast that i'm doing it?  no.

Have there been times when i have absolutely said no?   yes.   Certain people believe they should get whatever they want, whenever they want it.  I don't.

Every situation is different and only at the time they arise can a decision be made.

Hey Mojo,
 You hit the nail on the proverbial head with YOUR response.
But sidewinder,  "Prompt Service" as far as DJ/KJ'ing is concerned, (just my opinion, I KNOW, yours will differ) is only relegated to showing up and starting on time. We're not talking about other "venues" such as getting fitted for a pair of "$120 hiking shoes".  :P
 Bottom line, and I already know that you're going to come back with some argumentative slop because that's what you do best, so have a party, is that all I did was try to SHARE, that's all, the fact that I'm enjoying my current gig. BUT, as usual, according to the responses that I've seen you post, it's always about YOU. YOU..have to argue and disagree, or find ...."something"...to keep on rambling. Well, enjoy yourself. You've already got one warning, I'm sure the next isn't too far off. Oh, and I won't bother to respond to ANY of your posts from here on. YOU'RE JUST NOT WORTH IT! BTW... ...that quarter you found....call someone who cares
I'm sure that Mojo, myself, and probably A LOT of others here do not appreciate YOU telling us the definition of tips, favors, or when YOU think they're appropriate. YOU started the post about YOU needing a tip jar and about all the people who "tipped' (bribed I'll bet) you. Your response to what I posted was...WHAT...what was your point...do you even know ?
Nope....you're just rambling again . So on that note, I'll just ramble on out of here.

                               Donny "B"  

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It's a wonderful life!!

Prompt service meaning like a waitress would give.

I play the rotation.  Like it or leave.

The post was about getting tips without a jar.  Didn't say i was using a jar.  I said it would be worth considering because of the income level of the area.   They could be tipping just because they have money to blow.

Maybe they do like me, so what?    Do you want to be liked or disliked for yourself and the job you do.  I like the fact that they appreciate me and my work.

As you should ! I have had a few people walk up and offer me a tip, normaly I point to the bar tender and tell the person "Thank you , but I am paid pretty well for my job, the bar tender however is working hard and is only paid A small base pay. she neads this more than I do" normaly this person has already tipped the bar tender , but appreciate the unselfish act. Now if a patron buys me a beer, Im ok with that. even tho I get them free either way , its money in the till.

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the voices arent real, but they have some good ideas

...good response sidewinder. Put out a tip jar dude. People do want to award good service if there's an easy way.

Supercharged, i too, am paid well for kjing, but my 2 female bartenders always walk out with at least $300 each night. I don't make quite that, but with tips it gets pretty close. in my area, people are conditioned, right or wrong, to tip everyone. We're touristville and 80% or so are just that- wanting to have a good time and willing to pay for it. I'm fortunate to have an ATM next to my rig! (no bribes to bump)

I do have one regular that always tips me $20 AFTER letting him sing "All Out of Love" by Air Supply because he actually nails the song and gets overwhelming applause. He loves the attention and rewards my mixing skills with a tip. And YES, he waits until it's his turn in the rotation.

I took a poll on another forum concerning tip jars a few years ago- i had never worked in an area that used one until i moved. The majority said "go for it but don't take bribes"- you can't imagine the extra money tips amount to, and keeping it fair and NOT bumping singers have kept the regulars, well..regular.  Even the loose change tips have added up- traded a huge jarfull last month for $269 including the deductions CoinStar takes out at the grocery store.

I used to leave very good tips for one Kj who I personally knew, just because I wanted to keep him coming to the small show he ran. I only spent $10 or less at the bar most nights, but I often gave $20 or more in tips to the KJ.

The advantage about a tip jar is that one can give tips semi anonomously. I dont think my KJ ever knew with certainty that I was leaving so much in tips.  I didnt want favors but I enjoyed the show. I knew he was a graduate student, newlywed with a baby and needed the cash to help get by. I wanted to maintain the Karaoke entertainment but I was unwilling to drink enough at the bar to make the KJ's salary increase through the bar profits alone.

I now have the KJ job at that same bar, and guess what. I drink even less now that my drinks are free.

Many people who are there to sing (not drink). They just buy a drink or two as a minimal courtesy to the bar. They dont drink enough to pay for a good kj through their bar tab, but many of them value the KJ enough to leave a good tip.

Ask yourself what the job you want. Babysitting drunks or attacting good singers. Unless you go with drunks, tips are the only way to make KJing profitable.

Maybe a tip jar with a sign that says

 "This is a reward
for a job well done.  
   Not to bribe me
 for special favors.
     Thank You"