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I currently work with a partner and we do different bars through out the week. One of the bars I work at (been there 5 years) wants to have my partner come in a work for me in hopes of changing the "Energy" to spice up Tuesdays again. The owner has heard one of the nights he works at another bar has been very successful and thinks he will bring those people. They have been very successful on Tuesdays for the past 5 years until the owner decided to get greedy and start charging a $5.00 cover charge which has run a lot of people off. On top of that they had a singing contest that the judges selected someone that had no business winning which in turn Pi**ed more people off. Im not sure if I should just let my partner do it and collect the money or Ditch the gig due to the way he has handle this especially after the time I had put in. My partner did not come on board until 1 1/2 ago. Thoughts?

First of all and hopefully, a moderator will transfer this out of "Tech" into general discussion.

As you may have expected, your question has generated more questions:

a) What is your partner currently doing on Tuesdays?

b) Has the owner at your Tuesday show actually been to your partner's show?

c) What has the owner said that he has "heard" about your partner?

d) Did the owner use the term "energy" in discussing the matter with you?

e) Do you care if you lose the job altogether?

if there's a $5 cover charge, I have no problems with that... as long as you get tokens or coupons FOR that $5!! Good for drink or food discounts.

And the big problem with partners is someone is going to like the other one. I was partnered with Tig for a long time... he had a phenominal show and his personality shined. BUT he also had trouble going into my long running gigs and pleasing everyone, too.

EVERY person hosting karaoke has their strengths and weaknesses.

Don't take it personally. Look at what your partner does to be successful and see if you can incorporate that into your own show, and your own take on it.

His motive is getting your partners clientele which wont work. It is the bars responsibility to get people in and ours to keep them there and coming back.

He made mistakes you didnt. I might give him 3 0r 4 (trial nights) to see how it works, during which time I would be discussing other options with him. I no longer accept things which effect my show unless it is discussed with me first. At times it's either my way ort the highway.

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I have a "partner" also. I own his gear, we both do booking and he pays me per show. there are some places that we trade off every 3 or 4 months. it does keep it fresh. you may have burned yourself or it may just be the foolish things the owner has done. either way its struggling. I would let my partner have it for a few months and see if it helps. you said you would collect money either way so I would give that a shot rather than just walk and make nothing.

In my area if a bar charged cover for karaoke you would be entertained by the sounds of crickets chirping and the coolers running. really, nobody would pay it. We here every day how bad the economy is, What is the guy thinking? A two drink minimum I can see, but not a cover charge. I have seen regulars who at times will come in with there friends and hang out, yet only buy a couple sodas cause they are broke. this may happen once every couple months, but other weeks they spend more than an average patron (weeks when they have it). A cover is going to push away this patron and then his friends will not come either. A MUCH better idea are the $10 bottomless mug nights. people buy the mug, and so they stay all night. then you get them on shots. also when two guys buy the bottomless mug there buddys call an want them to go to another bar they say no you come here. the bar wins in all those cases. there is big profit in the bottomless mug. especialy at karaoke where liquid courage is helpfull.

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the voices arent real, but they have some good ideas

Ouch ! Try not to take it personally. I know I'd have my panties in a bunch if someone told me they wanted my partner and not me after I've been doing the gig for a while. It sounds to me like the cover charge did him in and not your skills.

I'd go ahead and let your partner do the gig, but tell the owner that if business doesn't pick up he should consider the fact his cover charge has killed business. If he is bold enough to tell you how to run your business I'd be bold enough to tell him how to run his, in a nice way.

It is easier for him to blaim slow business on you than to look at himself and admit he's done something wrong. At least he isn't letting you go all together. Time will tell after you let your partner take over for a while. I'd ask him to consider the fact the cover charge is the problem if things still aren't working out with your partner taking over.

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[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

You know? I have no problems with cover charges,,,almost all my shows have one, usually 3 bucks or less. I view them like this: if you go to the movies, expect to pay for a ticket,,and if you want popcorn and drinks,,expect to pay for them as well. Karaoke is just another form of entertainment, just like a band. Would you expect to get into the movie for free? Probably not, even if you buy tons or no goodies at all, its the ticket for the movie you are buying. The bar has to pay you, right? So where does that money come from? In either over-inflated drink prices, or at the door. Take your pick, either way you are paying for it.

Now, my take on your question. I would definitely switch with your partner, simply to keep things "fresh" as others have suggested. A change usually sparks some new interest, and in these days, bringing people in is what it's all about. Who know? you might even like swapping him shows for a while. The other show might also benefit from a new face. Might be a win-win situation. Do not take it personally if the bar owner wants a change, he is in business for a reason, and its his business he is trying to make succeed. It is your responsibility to help him achieve success, cuz if he succeeds, so do you.

You know? I have no problems with cover charges,,,almost all my shows have one, usually 3 bucks or less. I view them like this: if you go to the movies, expect to pay for a ticket,,and if you want popcorn and drinks,,expect to pay for them as well. Karaoke is just another form of entertainment, just like a band. Would you expect to get into the movie for free? Probably not, even if you buy tons or no goodies at all, its the ticket for the movie you are buying. The bar has to pay you, right? So where does that money come from? In either over-inflated drink prices, or at the door. Take your pick, either way you are paying for it.

Now, my take on your question. I would definitely switch with your partner, simply to keep things "fresh" as others have suggested. A change usually sparks some new interest, and in these days, bringing people in is what it's all about. Who know? you might even like swapping him shows for a while. The other show might also benefit from a new face. Might be a win-win situation. Do not take it personally if the bar owner wants a change, he is in business for a reason, and its his business he is trying to make succeed. It is your responsibility to help him achieve success, cuz if he succeeds, so do you.

sorry about the double reply,,computer has a mind of its own sometimes...

I'm a little confused from reading your post.


Quote:
"I currently work with a partner and we do different bars through out the week. One of the bars I work at (been there 5 years) wants to have my partner come in a work for me in hopes of changing the 'Energy' to spice up Tuesdays again."
End Quote

Is the Owner asking to have your partner come in and do the show instead of you, or with you?


Quote:
"Im not sure if I should just let my partner do it and collect the money or Ditch the gig due to the way he has handle this especially after the time I had put in."
End Quote

Are you sharing everything equally, or are you each getting paid separately for each gig you do?

While I don't disagree with anything anyone has suggested, I asked my questions of the OP to try to get a better understanding of the total dynamics of the situation. It maybe best to give the job up? I dunno.

Let's remember, if nothing else, that no info has been provided on what the consequences would be to both partners if they did, or didn't make a change to placate the owner in question.

And while it's undeniable that the "energy" would change with another host, why would the owner think that the change would be beneficial? That's why I asked, for example, what first-hand knowledge does the owner have regarding how the other partner runs his jobs?

So while I have ideas about what's going on, I'm reluctant to offer advice with so much of the specifics missing. What we heard most about are the changes that the owner felt were necessary to make to a 5 year old gig. Why?

That's the first time I agree with you.

I too would accept a cover charge, if they give it back in coupons or anything similar. That would at least keep the "just water and no tip" people out.

Mrscott - I never thought of it that way. I think you made a point for a cover charge especially since it has worked for you. Some areas it is the norm, but for other areas I don't think it would work.

By going by what Micbob said I do think it has hurt the show. A $5 cover charge when they never had one before would be a shock to customers. I would think with this economy the way it is, it would be the last thing people need.

If it happened to me I know I would lose a ton of customers. We don't charge a cover charge when we have bands either because of this.

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

The owner ( and you, for allowing it) shot himself in the foot twice, and wants someone new because he won't take responsibility.

Did the owner of your partner's venue have a contest or add c a cover?


We all KNOW contests are venue killers. As for a cover, since the entertainment is THE CUSTOMER, why should they pay for themselves? They already do that at the bar....

For future reference, if your shows are successful, why allow a bar owner who is not versed in hosting karaoke run your show? YOU own your business. Specify this when you start a venue.

Now, to be more specific: Your partner won't save this venue, since the way YOU do things didn't hurt it- the owner did. I would move on.....

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

Babs,
If the bars that you do your shows at have no cover charge, more power to them. If it ain't broke, don't fix it,,,,thats the way it should be. However, I am then to assume that his drink prices reflect the "no" cover then. That's cool in my book too. Another way to view cover charges is this,,,,take me for example, I don't drink alcohol, ever, and I even don't drink soda pop anymore, I only drink water. A cover charge in my case, and others like myself, would offset the costs for the bar. Some places don't even offer much in the way of food, so the bars have to make money somewhere, to pay for our services. So, again, my opionion is, if people want to sing some karaoke songs, expect to pay for it , one way or the other. I believe it's still just another form of entertainment, and yes, WE ARE SERVICE PROVIDERS. And I for one, would never expect NOT to pay for entertainment, and I would like to think people aren't so "cheap" that they can't as well. Even if they aren't used to it at the moment, they would understand in the end. That is if the bar isn't trying to "gouge" people's pocketbooks by overcharging on the drinks, overcharging at the door, or in general just being greedy.

Another thought had occured to me as well, compare a new door charge to having to pre-pay for your gas. We never had to do it before, but it time, it has become the "norm". Not saying that I really like cover charges, but I see the wisdom in them, too. Just food for thought.

There's a point missed there. With gas you are buying someone else's product,and they dictate the terms.

A karaoke singer paying a cover is paying for something they already own- their voice. THEY are the entertainment.

Not the same as paying for a band, or other entertainment. In this case it's as if a band plays a venue and is charged a cover to walk in.....

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

I'm in completely agree with this advice. If it were me I would tell the owner that if he wants a different KJ he will have to go with another company.

I would make him aware that his decisions in the past regarding contests and cover charges are the primary reason business is off and has nothing to do with you. I would let him know he his heading down the wrong decision making path again and that you do not want to take responsibility once again when the results of his decisions do not meet with his expectations.

Karaoke is your area of expertise and he should respect your input. If he does not then it's time to move on down the road. If you cave in and allow him to run your show you will end up taking the blame if and when his decisions fail.

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FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

[quoroad.te="Flipper @ Sun Nov 23, 2008 2:08 am"] If you cave in and allow him to run your show you will end up taking the blame if and when his decisions fail.[/quote]

Should have mentioned that. Thanks Flipper. You WILL take the hit, because of the damage he's already done.

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

Not quite true... Your logic is somewhat flawed. A Karaoke Singer is NOT (as you state) paying for something they already own. They are using someone else's Music and Mic in order to use their voice. The singer/s might be the entertainment, but the singer/s requires the use of other equipment that is NOT his/hers/theirs.