Karaoke Forums

Burnaby, first of all you just can't have someone just go in and do a show for you. They need training (a one or two hour crash course doesn't cut it). Unless someone is trained they do not move or touch my equipment. I imagine many here will have horror stories of well meaning people who want to help, who wind up damaging expensive equipment.

Bartering can be good on occasion, but the problem is if you do it for one, then everyone will want to do it. If you don't agree to barter with one person on one ocassion, then you will get a reputation of playing favourites. It will eventually cause a mess Cash evens the playing field. Afterall what are you going to do with a dozen chickens, a couple of pigs, and a cow.

_________________
You can be strange but not a stranger

I was only referring to having someone help move heavy equipment around, not take over as KJ.

In the past I've bartered my help for people to help me build a fence, paint some rooms (I hate painting) and even a professional chef cook a gourmet dinner.

Are there bartering exchanges in the USA?

Feel it all the time... I think I am going to start taking days off here and there. Lucky for me I don't have the PITA of having to move my equipment in and out. I work the same club 3 nights a week and I leave my gear there in place and set up...except for my laptop and HD. I don't know how some of y'all do it. I had a private party to do on a Sunday a couple of weeks ago and had to move my gear to another venue and set up... I forgot what a pain in the @$$ it is.

_________________
~ D.J. ~
Dothan, AL 36301

My Rig:

- Shure PGX/SM58 Wireless mics (4)
- Yamaha MG-16 6 FX Mixer
- Behringer EP2500 Power Amp
- DBX 266XL Comp/Gate
- JBL MPro 15" Speakers (x2)
- Behringer 15" Powered monitor
- Compaq Laptop
- Furman Rack light
- Furman Power Conditioner

There might be, but (to my awareness) they are few and far apart. That's why I asked you what you meant. Bartering is something that never would have popped into my mind.

Here's a suggestion (which I believe I've made a while back on this forum)....

One of the members on the (now defunct) JOLT Forum was going through a burn-out stage. He decided to have "Guest Hosts" for his show each week. He would run/operate the equipment, and the "Guest Host" would handle the slips and announcements. Even tho the "GH" didn't have to set up or lug the equipment back and forth, the "GH" got a better understanding of what the KJ goes through each night (with all of the "When am I up Next" or "Do you have this song", etc...).

From a more general aspect. It takes special people to work in a constant environment with drunks, mentally handicapped, or even councelling vets or others with PTSD. After awhile it becomes old andit is hard to keep a positive attitude. I have seen those dedicated people totally break down and need the very services which they provide.

I have been burned out for a couple of years and hire hosts now but for other reasons also. Younger ones to bring in the younguns too and we run a very high energy no silence boom-boom show. I do not have the energy to maintain this for 4 hours night after night. Also I need help setting up.

What keeps you going? Those little successes. Those smiles on peoples faces. Those compliments from strangers and the look on first timers faces when they first see and hear your show. Sometimes after a kick (@$%&#!) show after going to bed at 2:30 a I am awake at 6 a and ready to go unload and eat breakfast and still wired. When the entire crowd is full of energy you get energy back and sometimes when you turn off and there is silence again you are dead tired and beat. As a singer last night I had the priviledge of seeing many people in the crowd with smiles and a look on their face that said ALRIGHT!!! That puts more energy into this old body than drugs. booze or anything else.
One smile or compliment can erase all the negatives for the night. When at other shows after the song I usually thank the host or compliment or tease in one way or the other. You dont get old because you put in many hours with karaoke, you get old if you don't!!!

_________________
Join The Karaokle Singers Social Network. Upload Your Music!!

troubleshooting sound problems, deasling with drunks and jerks... ! This could go on and on and on!

on the idea of getting somebody to help move gear without paying them. I usually negotiate free drinks for myself and a helper. I have a few people who help me move the heavy stuff just to drink free for the night (moderately or i will have the bar stop giving them away). they enjoy the "free" night out. and i enjoy having the help. as they evolve into helping setup and tear down I start to pay them some (10-20) and its well worth it.

_________________
the voices arent real, but they have some good ideas

Karen
The best way to get out of the burnout blues is this...Go to your regular show and set up as usual and start your show . then you wait for that one singer to show up who always gets under your skin..you know the one .. you cringe everytime you see them in the audience ....you wait for them to hand in their request slip with the same song they sung every week for months ...you remain curteous and profesional and cue their song in the proper place in rotation. Once it's their time to sing and the song is all cued up.....ADJUST THE KEY UP OR DOWN 6 STEPS EITHER WAY ..AND JUST SIT BACK AND WATCH THE REACTION .........JUST GOT TO LOVE BEING A LITTLE DEVIL EVERY NOW AND THEN TO GET RID OF THE FUNK....

Jam you're such a little devil !

I would suggest changing things up a bit, but I'm not brave enough to pull that one.

_________________
[shadow=pink][glow=deepskyblue]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]