Karaoke Forums

I've been lurkin here for a couple of years and finally need to get another opinion on my situation. I do a local bar 2 nites (Wed & Sat) and I do the local Officers Club (Fri) at the local Air Base. Basically workin' my a** off (I do work full time in the day too).

Another bar in town is running several nites as well with Karaoke. The guy that runs that gig is running multible shows using burns and laptop and now he is trying to go after my wed & fri gig. All my music is still on disc (originals) and thats all I play. This guy is also burning copies for his singers and they bring those disks to my shows. I don't mind playing them but half the time they don't load. I have been told that if I wanted any song that they will get it for me from him. I always reply that I cannot accept them since they are illegal. I had one guy get mad when I told him that.

Ok after all that, I'm just bout ready to shut this guy down, any advice?

I don't mind legit competition but this is too much bs.

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No venue to big or too small. From your den to the local club or event, we have the music most requested. Great sounding system!

As justified as you would be...it may have a backlash on you...when alls said and done your public (and his) just want to sing and sing the songs they want to sing. No matter what, you will be made to look (to the ordinary guy in the bar) like you couldnt handle the competition and they are likely to vote with their feet.
Like I said, you are justified but I am just crystal ball gazing

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"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

Welcome. Your dilemma is a common one. The idea of turning in illegitimate KJs is really enticing but realistically speaking you probably won't find anyone who can/will do that, sad but true.

And the other sad thing is, most singers don't care if a rig is illegitimate or 100% legit. They just want to sing. Sadly if you refuse to play his "burned" copies people bring in, they won't come to your show anymore in all likelihood so you'd be cutting off your nose to spite your face.

We know it's illegal, they know it's illegal, and it's probably one of the least upheld laws in the country. Best of luck with keeping the pirate from taking over your show. How aggravating!

I'm with you about it coming back on me somehow. I have seen his show and I know by my regulars that I do a better show. It shows with the feet on the floor and the a**es in the seats. It just get in my crawl that he could try to come in MY place with little investment and cut my throat with cheap equipment and a lower price. Gas prices up is causing the bar to slow down. [font=Andalus][/font]

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No venue to big or too small. From your den to the local club or event, we have the music most requested. Great sounding system!

"We know it's illegal, they know it's illegal, and it's probably one of the least upheld laws in the country. Best of luck with keeping the pirate from taking over your show. How aggravating!"

No Kidding!

Had it happen a couple of years ago at another bar, lost the gig and then the bar shut down. (not the same guy)

I'll just keep quiet and be thankfull for what I have!

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No venue to big or too small. From your den to the local club or event, we have the music most requested. Great sounding system!

or stick pins in the nether regions of a wax effigy
it may not prevent him from taking you, but it will be quite satisfying thinking of his willy shrivelling up and dropping off

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"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

Good luck! The saturation is so bad here because of this exact thing that the prices have dropped to the point club work isn't even a profitable market anymore & NO ONE has done a thing to stop it - even though these shows have been reported to the supposed powers to be . There have been maybe 2 busts in the entire state in the last 10 years & this was mainly because the bar wasn't paying their publishing fees (ascap/bmi/sesac) & THEN they looked at the system 2nd for illegal burns/copies, not the main reason.

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

I’d report him to whomever there is to report him; and I’d tell him that I did…

in the hopes that he’d get scared and try to get legal, which would cost him money and make him have to adjust his prices accordingly.

And just for the principle of the thing.

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Hate is like taking poison, hoping the other guy gets sick

Ask yourself..What is the real fear from this guy????

Better Library of Songs?
Better Sound ?
Better Equipment ? Laptop vs CDGS?

CUSTOMERS ---don't care if his songs are LEGAL or purchased off the back of a truck selling 500gig 100,000songs hardrives. NOBODY CARES!!!

Face your FEAR and just run a better Karaoke Show !!!!

KJ's running illegal rigs are like bugs ....squish one and 3 more show up to take his place!!! Clean up your show and the bugs will have no place to live ........

Only burns I wouldn't accept are ones that don't work, have major obviious flaws such as scratches and stuff...

I agree with others that trying to shut him down would be hard to do but here's an idea. Find out what songs these people are bringing to you that they want to sing and get the legally. That way when they bring his worthless disc you can say "Oh I have that", and can play it for them.

The other thing is if he tries to take over your Officers club gig go to the base commander and report him as illegal and let them take it from there.
They could even put any club he does "OFF LIMITS" to Air Force personnel as a club doing illegal activities. I saw it done when I was in the Air Force for various reasons such as a local store was selling what looked like "BONGS" and was put off limits even tho they were not a "HEAD SHOP". If you are in an Air Force community this could put a damper on his business.

Lone Wolf

I've got KJs all around me with several times the selection I have. But I'm still standing because I have a decent PA.

I haven't met a singer yet who would exchange sounding their best for a wider song selection. I am very fortunate that these guys in my area with 50,000 songs have minimal sound gear.

But when singers tell me that there's a song a another place they like to sing and I don't have, I get it as soon as I can. When I say that I'll have it the next time they come in I follow through to the best of my abilities! It's the only way to keep up with these guys.

When a customer brings in their own CDGs, I don't grill them about whether it's legal or not. If it plays it plays if it doesn't it doesn't (and sometimes they don't) and that's where I'm at with it.

Keep doin' what you're doin' rumbolt and you'll be OK.

I won't accept burns, and I've had some pretty good ones shown to me. One guy (who I know and get on with very well) i'm sure brings some down to test me. However on my rig, if i haven't got it.... I will buy it (eventually- making up discs to six tracks i'm missing and that people may at least consider singing is getting difficult now).

I know it's difficult i live in a highly saturated area, and i would guess 60%+ have hard drives full of songs and no originals. If you are a good host though work will come in and if you love karaoke and music as much as i do, you can get pretty quick at guessing what will be sung, before other hosts have even gone to download site. Most people who download illegal songs, are looking for an easy way to make money and have little care or understanding of the entertaiment industry, and the quality of their show is usually as good as the amount of discs they own.

Little Miss Marble "we had Rockstar in our books on it's UK release date..." Entertainments

Rumbolt - I'm sorry your having to deal with this. I know it would get under my skin also.

All I can think of to do is give your clientel what he isn't, you ! Good Luck !

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

From what I've seen a lot of these guys are using their newfound karaoke gig as an excuse to get away from the old lady, hang out in a bar all night, and drink for free. Providing a service for the singers is somewhere way down the list.

My wife hangs with me and I don't drink while workin' (My rule)

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No venue to big or too small. From your den to the local club or event, we have the music most requested. Great sounding system!

If the "pirate" has been talking to your venue owner, perhaps a meeting with him explaining why a pirate is a pirate and why it would be in his best interest not to consider his service. You also can explain the technicals of your equipment (power, sound quality) and why it's better than the pirate's as well.

Absolutely correct, lordy - it's an up sell. Not a ton of technical talk, but certainly suggest the difference between legal and illegal, and even though we know the ramifications are certainly nonexistent (there is NO enforcement), the possibility of it happening, and the establishment dealing with a fine, may be enough of a turnoff for them.

That could also solve your other problem. The owner of the bar you are working at may try and turn in the other bar. It's hurting his business too!

Good Luck,
Ken

Get a wireless notebook and you can download songs for your singers for a small fee. I think they are $2.

As far as stopping the guy...not going to happen.