Karaoke Forums

I had heard this for years but finally contacted the local liquor authorities to get a confirmation. In Washington State it is ILLEGAL for a karaoke host to drink on the job. I can't think of the last time I popped in on a show and found a host that wasn't drinking. I have never consumed ETOH, legal or not, while hosting and this is purely out of respect for the singers and the owner of the establishment.

I shudder to think of the time that the LCB agents would have if they went around to all the karaoke joints around Seattle and ticketed bar owners for allowing liquor consumption by the entertainment. (This includes bands, btw - NO ALCOHOL for entertainment, who become 'employees' of the bar when they are being paid to perform.)

Sadly, I know of hosts who can't even begin to work without first obtaining 3-4 double shots at the bar. Kind of makes the discussion about the appropriateness of drinking while hosting a moot point, at least for those of us in Washington State.

k

A respectable business owner/employees of any type of business shouldn't be drinking during work hours in any state.

It puts you in a bad light.

DWKJ ah....... a new term, lets make it a national law. I guess they think you might loose rotation if you drink.


Seriously I know a KJ here, who is well respected, but his nightly liquor bill is almost half of what his show makes in a night. But everyone loves his shows.

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I'm Not Dead yet...... But every day Im getting Closer !

I don't know what the law is in Oregon. But since I no longer drink it wouldn't matter to me one way or the other.

It would to plenty of others though. I don't know about the KJs but most musicians around this area drink openly onstage.

I don't know what the law is in Alabama, but the club that I work in is "private" meaning they can stay open as late as they want to, etc.  Both here in Alabama and in Biloxi, MS where I worked, the bar owners or managers added FREE drinks as part of the perk of working there.  So they obviously don't have a problem with it.... It must be a typical standard protocol in most areas... at least in the south...

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Might be interesting to determine what the laws are state to state. I have to chuckle that there are hosting companies that won't play a burned disc but drink alcohol openly - I can't imagine what creates more liability for the bar owner, can you?


K

No matter what job you have you should not drink on the job.  This is my opinion.  The place I worked did give employees 2 free drinks after 1am.  The bar closed at 2am.  I did partake after 1am.  However there are some employees at that bar that do drink on the job and try to hide it.  However, it is ussually pretty evident that that have been drinking by the time the bar closes.

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Will sing or fish for food!!I'm not quite right!!

I don't see any harm in light drinking.  We are talking about a bar after all!

 If it's obvious that you've been drinking then that's too much drinking whether you're an employee or a customer...  Just being a little loose can be a good thing as long as you don't push it!  

 Just my opinion.

--Tad

This is interesting. I never even imagined there was any law addressing this. I don't know about my state. I know one or two beers or drinks help me to relax and I think I sing better. I never get drunk. Even when I'm not performing. I rarely have more than 3-4 drinks all night over a 3-5 hour period. I can understand people not wanting to drink, if it impairs your abilities to perform your duties then you certainly shouldn't.

[font=verdana]Years ago, when I tended bar in different places in Oregon it was illegal to drink behind the bar. However, a lot of the places had live bands, and there was no such stipulation on them.  Here in Michigan, I have been in several bars that not only the bartenders, but the owners were visibly intoxicated,  :drunk:  so I am guessing we don’t have such a law here, but not sure.  I am not a heavy drinker, but a mild brandy and seven in a tall glass a couple of times during the length of a show keeps me relaxed and in a fun mood.   I know where my limit is, and if I feel like I am getting anywhere near that, I will switch to Squirt. [/font]

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Blue Rose Classic Karaoke
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I would have to agree with only one aspect of this whole thing.. And that is that liquor consumption by any employee of any establishment is not accpetable. I am an Ex-Bartender and I bartended for many many years, I know the washington laws very well and I worked very closely with the Wa. State liquor control board. What I was told that individual "contracted" entertainment may consume alcohol, because they are NOT employed by the establishment, but if you are on payroll which you are actually punching their time clock to perform then it is in fact illegal.

This dispute came about when we would hire bands to come in, and several karaoke hosts would be drunk on the job. It basically comes down to this, if you give the liquor control board the impression that any one person is in fact employed by the establishment then they are an EMPLOYEE then they may not drink while on the job. Individual contractors, or self employed individuals may in fact drink while entertaining. They have nothing to do with the bar, they have no authority of others, they do not make calls on customers whether or not to cut them off, kick them out, and they are just that, contracted entertainment. This goes for bands, karaoke, magicians, comedians, ect... They may indeed drink while performing. Most of the bands were contracted through a booking agency, as for most of the karaoke and talents that we had, they were not paid as employees, they were not working as employees but as contracted individuals. The booking agency paid them, we paid the booking agency, and sometimes we paid the bands but they were never on payroll. Employee is a hard thing to actually nail down.

You can contact the liquor control board about this anytime and as long as they are given the correct information and things are ACTUAL then they will be able to give you the correct information. But make sure you know exactly who pays who for what and who is working for who and you are not basing anything off of an assumption.

The descrepencies have come out because hosts in particular and other companies are trying to get other companies in trouble by any way possible, and calls have been made, complaints filed but when it comes down to it, its all in the wash anyways. Its always about misrepresntation when it comes down to one company vs. another.

Another cut-throat example of how vicious some karaoke hosts can be against another.

Basic rule to apply to yourself, dont get drunk on the job... lmfao, because no matter what you would look like a jacka**, and really then it would not matter if someone had an aqusation against you or not.

What it all comes down to is one persons aspect on something, and really anything in moderation is okay, anyone who crosses that line is in the wrong, wouldnt matter if they were entertainment or not. Believe me, I had a few battles with bands at the end of the night because they thought power drinking was okay.

As for myself I have drank while hosting, but never with the intention to get drunk. But I know my limits and I will not allow alcohol be a vice while working, and I can say that I have seen many hosts drink while working but it has never interfered with hosting capablities. I dont see the problem with it actually some people are definently a little less tense after a drink or two. But I have rarely seen a drunk host so, if they drink what is the real harm here?

So K does this mean you never drink when you host? Are you considered an employee where you host? Do you go in and drink in the establisments where you host on your off nights? Because if so then that would be illegal if you were considered an employee. Just curious, because this sounds like a personal conflict you may have with others that drink while hosting. Or maybe just something you have against others in general.

Its black and white, either you look like an a** when you are drunk and hosting or you dont get drunk(period). Let the people who do this make an a** out of themselves and in time they wont have the job anyways.

I've do consume a few cocktails, each night...always have, hopefully always will!  Also, at the end of the night I hear, "Why are you drinking Mt Dew, have another drink with us?!?!?!"  A simple, no I don't drink after midnight.."usually" satisfies them.  Anymore, it's just not worth the problems + can't take the chance out on the road.  Too much on the line!  I do see owners and employees drinking in the bars though.....MrD

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[highlight=midnightblue]MrD - KJ/DJ Specialist
Visit MrD on facebook - mrdsentertainment
& on myspace - larrynance[/highlight]

I HAVE to agree with SW on that.

I personally don't drink while I'm working. The ONLY exception is, when customers want to buy me a drink/shot. I consider this as more money for the bar and I don't want to tick somebody off, by denying such an offer. (Some can really get weird about that)

When I'm done with my show and packed up, I have (enjoy) a couple of beers and leave.

"I personally don't drink while I'm working. The ONLY exception is, when customers want to buy me a drink/shot. I consider this as more money for the bar and I don't want to tick somebody off, by denying such an offer. (Some can really get weird about that) "

I do admit, some people get po'd when you turn down their offer to have a drink/shot with them.  But if I ONLY drank when they offered to buy one for me....Heck, I'd be worse off and be 'toasted' every night!

MrD

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[highlight=midnightblue]MrD - KJ/DJ Specialist
Visit MrD on facebook - mrdsentertainment
& on myspace - larrynance[/highlight]

The reason I started this thread in the first place was because of conflicting information I had heard for years. No, I don't drink on the job. Not for any other reason than I don't think it's necessary. If someone offers me a drink or a shot (and this occurs often) I will tell them, I'd love to, as soon as I've got everything wrapped up here and can sit down and relax and enjoy it with you.  Drinking in moderation has always been appropriate in my books; on the other hand, a drunken karaoke host is inappropriate if it affects their ability to do the job.  And note, the last part of the sentence below "while on duty."  Wow, you wanna make me sound like some sort of alcohol prude or something. That I'm not!

I WILL AGAIN REITERATE:  This is not a personal flame about anyone. This post was purely to point out a fact that I was unsure of but now have it directly from the authories in charge.

Might be interesting to find out how many states have the same law.

Here is the direct quote from the Liquor Control Board person:

It is illegal for anyone working for a liquor licensed establishment to consume alcohol while on duty.  this not only includes waiters, waitresses and bartenders, but it also includes entertainers.

Lucille Jenkins
Customer Service Specialist, Licensing and Regulation
360-664-1622
LAJ@LIQ.WA.GOV

That maybe the quote, but what exactly does 'entertainers' mean?  I would hedge, that it probalby mean something different, like to the extent of 'people actually hired and not contracted' by the bar.  Such as the 'pole' type.  It is interesting to know, I know of none such law here in the midwest, but there very well maybe.  The boss told me, whatever you want to drink is on me, while your hosting your show.  So, until he says otherwise......that's what I'll abide by.  mrD

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[highlight=midnightblue]MrD - KJ/DJ Specialist
Visit MrD on facebook - mrdsentertainment
& on myspace - larrynance[/highlight]

Will just e-mail her and ask her specifically, I guess. I don't really want to stir anything up with them and get them to thinking they can go out and ticket a ton of people and asking specifically about hosting karaoke just might do that.

k

"Will just e-mail her and ask her specifically"

Ummmmmmm, Hhahahahaha....I think I'll "Let Sleeping Dogs Lye" on this one!
MrD

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[highlight=midnightblue]MrD - KJ/DJ Specialist
Visit MrD on facebook - mrdsentertainment
& on myspace - larrynance[/highlight]

Prolly a good idea.

k

I emailed her & she stated the same thing.  Pointed me to this link
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=314-11

Apparently it is also illegal for an employee to dance with patrons while working.  Jees I do this all the time.  Hopefully no one here does that either!

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