Karaoke Forums

Having a NEW Saturday gig which in its 3rd week is slow growing.
The question is basically for singers but hopefully get a good mix of suggestions .

Q- What would make you cross the street to another bar to sing Karaoke with an unkown KJ? - Assuming you're some what satisfied with your current show and your only complaint is you wish you could sing more ?

What do I have to do to get you to cross the stree and try me out ?

Curiosity number 1, word of mouth, a new convient alternative to the same old thing, give a new place a try, try out thier food. Also if I knew the KJ and had been singing with him for a LONG TIME---customer loyalty--that would be a big one too.

REAL LIFE EXAMPLE: One KJ here in Portland Ive been singing with for years---hes been at MANY venues---but Ive followed him from place to place since Im most comfortable with him(also he plays live sax behind me on my blues songs-so its kinda like singin with a live band)-anywhere from a 5 min to 35 min drive.

Wether I returned would depend on all the usual things u look for in a good Karaoke bar.

If I were that owner I would attempt to make my place be as DIFFERENT as possible from the other one---creating a CLEAR CHOICE from the other. I.E Mexican food vs burgers and steaks, setting---modern, up to date vs older and more worn out, etc etc, Country focus vs hard rock or hip-hop. Give the custies a CLEAR choice--not just more of the same or a duplicate of the other. ALso possibley target advertising towards a diffrent crowd segment than the other place---competing yet not competing.

As far as the KJ actions---jsut do anything that any other sussessful KJ does: fair rotation, courteous, welcoming and supportive personality. Good selection. Listen to and accomodate customers wants and needs(IE order songs they want). Maybe have a slightly earlier start time than the other. Perhaps some promos, raffles, a contest here or there. Offer something more that the other guy isnt. Show and prove that yours is a superior offereing and the custie is more welcome at yours.
The basics of customer service in a competitive situation. Maybe have special theme nights or a single night where they get to sing 2 songs in a row(a slow weeknight for that one). Perhaps have karaoke follow a bar show(IE beer disributor have a new product tasting party or a dance contest or bartending contest). SOMETHING, ANYTHING that the other place doesnt do. Ask for and build a customer email listing to keep them updated on events. Do the usual or unusual promotional advertisements---local bar rag, sandwich sign on sidewalk, banner on side of building. Become the host of a weekely LIVE RADIO SPORTS SHOW during happy hour(Invite a sports station to come and do a segment once a week live from your bar--they love that kind of thing).

Be Creative and think out of the box(or KJ Booth)!!

_________________
"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

I hope this will be of help. It is very hard without being there in person to appreciate the local conditions. Be happy, though, that there are singers directly across the street when your show is in progress. It appears that you indicated that your working at a bar. If not, consider something similar to what I have described below.

It is, IMO, unlikely that some of the singers are not already travelling back and forth between the two shows. Try to get the owner to provide a "free" drink card that you can give anyone who is accompanied by a new "singing guest". This will reward one of your "regulars" for mentioning your show to someone new. Hopefully that "someone new" will be from "across the street". And, furthermore, hopefully that "someone new" turns around and brings in someone else who is new to your show.

You have to be a little flexible in determining who is "new", and it's worth it because free drink cards work - don't be stingy with them!

Do not try to attract drunk singers. With 10-15 good singers get a crowd of 100-150 a night. Everybody here thinks a successful show is the amount of rotation. My gig is just about to get $200/night.

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

$200 total bar register ring?

_________________
"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

I get $175 now. I have a host and I dont even have to be there.. The bar makes 2-3 grand /night. When we are there... bands dont do it.

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

I love the drink card idea.

The issue here is getting them in the door. You can entice them with drink specials etc... But they need to know about them first. Is there a sign out front you can advertise on. Maybe you can have the bar owner put a banner out front stating something enticing. "Coed Naked karaoke with Jam"

If I saw a sign that caught my curiousity I'd have to at least go and check it out.

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

Advertising is a big key in my situation. I'll have to take the time to really look at the outside signage etc. I know INSIDE the place they have signs plus a moving LED sign all promoting KARAOKE SATURDAY NIGHT etc. I think some advertsing outside the place might bring people in. PLus maybe some local news paper etc.

Besides KS is there any web based LISTS of SHOWS, there used to be few but the ones I knew of are all closed.....

Set up a Myspace site for your show or something similiar to it. Then list the link on all flyers, posters, banners, the songslips and maybe and insert page in the song books at the very front. List it on EVERYTHING. Put a place for email addys on the songslips and nicely ask people if theyd like to be on your mailing list
(RECRUIT THEM).

Also make a showbill with a pic of your happy smiling mug on that says in big bold letters KARAOKE SATURDAY NITE WITH_____your name, along with times dates pic of a singer and the crowd in the background and the website link. Should be nice and large at least 8 1/2 x 11-larger would be better.
If you need help making one---PM me and I can help u with it.

Post it in a nice glass frame at the VERY ENTRANCE of the bar---just like a band would--as the featured entertainment.

You can also make small hand size ones and go around to nearby grocery stores and banks and anywhere else they have business card board where people tack up theire local business cards---put one up for your bar and your karaoke!! Why not?? People look at those boards!

_________________
"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

Just check local laws first, some states (like ours) it is illegal for bars to give free drinks. Discount drinks is something different and may be an option.
What would make me go across the street?

Well if I am completely happy with my current place, love the sound, selection, atmosphere, drinks, prices, etc...not much would entice me to go somewhere else.
May go once for a curiosity like Kurt stated. But all other factors would have to be in place. I don't necessarily go to karaoke to sing every song, if I know a rotation is long & I may only get a couple in, then i'm good. I am there with friends & partying. Sure I may get a lot more across the street, but all other factors would need to be equal or better - and even then it may not become a regular haunt.

How are the two place in comparison to each other? Are they about the same size? Drink prices & the pour - this is usually a bigger factor among the younger singers, more for their buck. Do either serve food? Barstaff? Atmosphere & comfort, hard bar stools or nice comfortable padded/cushioned chairs.
Outside signs/banners are big at least in attracting new singers, even if you don't lure them from across the street - chances are there are plenty of singers for each bar. Again discounted drinks are also a big lure, make sure that is advertised as well - incorporate it into the karaoke itself, 10% off for all singers (of course the bar would have to agree), you stamp their hand when they sing - you may even get new singers trying it just to get their discount ? I know a club that offers 10% off any tab over $100.

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

Lon, the question is more hypothetical - I know there are some KARAOKE bars in the area and my point was IF the singers are satisfied there ..it may be near impossible to "get them to cross the street" without maybe a GIMMICK or enticement of some kind. OF COURSE if the KJ 's and selection and sound at the other bars were horrible , people will naturally cross the street for something better.

I think if the bar advertises NEW KARAOKE SHOW where you can SING MORE it may entice people to try it out ..until it gets BUSY and then you know what happens

Babs

I might have to try the naked karaoke thing ......just not when the kitchen is open

just be carefull with the naked karaoke. im pretty sure it will draw the 50+ crowd. I just don't wana see that!

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

It may have been hypothetical, however that was an answer from 1 singers point of view - mine.
If I liked where I was, it wouldn't matter if I got to sing more - that is not the all out reason I go out to karaoke anymore, I know the good places you aren't going to be able to sing as much.
Again unless all things being equal or better, then I wouldn't go to another place. What I would look at as a singer - how do the places that I currently like compare, comfort, atmosphere, sound/selection, host personality, the way they run the rotation (do you insert new singers (preferred by me) or do you you use another method where I may have to wait through an entire block of new singers - avoided by me), drink prices/pours, etc. with this new show. I know the place I go I can get a GOOD drink for a reasonable price, I know I am going to sound good over a kickin system, I know they have the songs I want or will get them if requested, I know the crowd. Am I going to get the same at the new show?
I may be the only one who looks for specific things, but if I like a current club, not much is going to make me move to another. Check it out, maybe.

Best thing to do again is to get outside banners/signs outside advertising the karaoke. Get an ad in the local paper nightlife section or if you have a local karaoke paper, put an ad in there as well with either a drink coupon or a discount when the ad is mentioned.

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

The coupon idea also serves another purpose----if they are kept by the barstaff when they are redeemed---it gives you clear numerical feedback on the effectiveness of your mag adds. Ie--how many people actually seeing your add and how many bringing your coupon so u have an accurate gauge of effectivness and monetary value of your advertising.

_________________
"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

I'm 54 and fat. I was thinking of coming to your show as Jabba the Hut!

How about the plus 60 crowd? I take that as an insult. There is not a karaoke show that I cant walk in and take it over.

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

Most singers can be kept by treating them nicely when they walkin and when they leave, and giving them good sound the rest of the time.

If you have two shows across the street from each other, my guess is they will end up having different customer bases, with different styles of music.

If you really think that providing an opportunity to sing more will help, allow those who come in early to sing two songs during the first hour of the first rotation. And include that in the advertising that is done, where appropriate.

I had assumed that you already had banners and the like outside of the establishment. That's why I say it's hard to give a thorough answer to your question without visibly seeing the establishments and the shows themselves in action.

At one of my shows, rather than drink cards, we had a raffle drawing at the end of the evening which awarded a "free bar tab" to the winner. To participate you had to sing. Every time you sang, you got an entry into the drawing. That even encouraged bar regulars who had never sung before to get up and give it a try!

One place, not where I gigged, paid out $50 in cash to the raffle winner!

Most places around here charge around $3 for a beer. I went to a "NEW" place last night and a beer was $5. Add the $1 tip and the 5 beers that I had cost me $30. At the place I usually got to, I could have a bite to eat along with my beverages for the same price or less. The "new" place wasn't across the street from my usual place. It wasn't even close to my usual place. It took me twice as long to get there. The "NEW" place lost out to the old place for multiple reasons. I probably got to sing a few more times at the new place than I would have at the other place but the distance and the high prices were enough to turn me off to the place. I understand that most places jack up their prices a bit to pay for the entertainment but I thought $5 for a beer was a bit steep when there are many other venues charging $3 or less for the same thing. Heck! there are places that have $1 Draft Beers on karaoke night around here and others that let you bring your own mug up to 32 ounces for a $3 Beer. Karaoke is karaoke. I don't need to do it in a fancy restaurant. I actually prefer going to a local bar that has a pool table when I go out to sing.

Who is Jabba the Hut? Any relation to Javva The Hut from Star Wars?