Karaoke Forums

I have to admit I don't really like private parties.

In my experience this is what normally happens - One of your singing or even non singing regulars comes to your weekly bar Karaoke sessions and because they have a fantastic night out (good atmosphere, everybody singing and enjoying themselves) most weeks they think "yeah this would be great at my birthday or wedding do next month or whenever".

NO !!!

I usually accept the gig but for a start all your regular singers are not there - except the one who booked you. The place is also full of elderly relatives most of whom would never be seen dead in a Karaoke bar apart from old uncle Fred who used to sing in the army ! The venue is sometimes an old hall with the acoustics of a fish market.

Mabye it's me but I usually end up DJ'ing with seemingly hundreds of little kids jumping around on the dance floor all night.

That is of course until closing time ! Then the usual rules kick in. Everyone suddenly becomes a singer !!!!!!!!

Ah, when I do private bookings, it's nearly always as a DJ - not a KJ. On some occasions people want the KJ side too for a while, but DJ bookings are my bread and butter.

I just wanted to take one final stab before moving on from that coffee house argument. I'm all better now.

Oh my gosh ! I have a twin. I know exactly what you are talking about !

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

I know, too. Except that I enjoy bringing the latent karaoke singer out of people who don't know it resides in them. Not that I have always been successful with adults. But carry a Hannah Montana disk, a High School Musical disk, and plenty of Taylor Swift and I can guarantee you the kids will sing!

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Yep, very helpful, Joe:

I've got a new glitzier logo. I've got some great new software to create marketing pieces and websites.

I've started creating my copy.

I can't disagree with the assistance that a regular gig will be in finding private jobs, and I have begun to look for one or two.

Before ya know it, I'll be all dressed up with nowhere to go.

I'm just amazed how much great input came from a simple topic which I don't remember anyone bringing up before!

To be honest I have never had a Private Party that has been like the ones you describe. Normally they are a blast to host and most of the people there are singers and really get into it. The only time I put on DJ stuff is to get some folks dancing and to take a break. Otherwise it is wall to wall karaoke.

Perhaps it is the referral thing that makes the difference. People who are really into singing know lots of people who are into singing. Even at weddings karaoke is extremely popular once the reception announcements are over and the singing begins.

I have had tremendous response from people at private functions.

Corporate parties are a bit different and it requires folks to get a little liquid encouragement and then I have to work the crowd to get a few key people to get up and sing to break the ice and then from that point on it's easy.

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FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

I have posted my Referral techniques before and private parties have been discussed but there have been very few threads dedicated to the subject of Private Parties.

In my opinion I would rather do them as opposed to bars. I only do one bar gig personally now and I do it because I enjoy doing it, and it is no longer about the money. It is like going out to sing with my friends for the evening.

I have 4 private gigs in the month of December and I will make more from them than I will in my one night a week bar gig in the next 3.5 months. I will work a total of 20 hours including setup and tear down time for these parties- vs - 66 hours in the bars

I will also meet and be exposed to at least 150-200 new people that could possibly be interested in hosting a party with me.

I do agree that bar gigs are extremely steady and provide stable income. I'm not looking for that as my full time job provides all of that. Private parties allow me alot of flexibility in my schedule. When I was doing bar gigs 4-6 nights a week I was married to them. By doing only one bar gig myself that leaves my weekends free to do private functions. If I want the weekend off I don't book anything that weeked and it has been refreshing to have that control. Before I had no choice as I was married to the gig every week throughout the year.

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FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

Private DJ parties ? or Karaoke only?

That's a good question Jam. I find that some people will ask me if I'll do a private show for them and when they find out I do not DJ they change their mind. Mostly weddings fall into this category. It is sort of my way of wiggling out of doing the show. It is hard to tell friends and family I don't want to do their wedding or event. The truth of the matter is I'd rather be invited than to have to work it.

I would think if you're are getting into the private party business being versatile would help. Flipper would know more about this than me.

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

None of my private parties have any DJ component to them. Other than sometimes opening the night with a track or two I never have done DJ work. I don't have the library or frankly the mindset for it. It's for others.

I've never tried to survive on just private parties. That's why I'm wondering if it is a necessity to do both (KJ/DJ) to stay busy.

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

I guess there's more to consider in regards to DJ vs KJ vs both. The only private party i have done was earlier back in Mar and it was for KJ'ing

Having never done a KARAOKE only private party..What do you just set up and wait for someone to sing?

We do both - I have regular DJ gigs which initially cost to get started but the pay is pretty decent. I have an annual DJ/KJ gig coming up that is mostly DJ until the liquid courage starts to flow - interestingly it's for a medical group that spend almost all their time doing colonoscopies and endoscopies so you can imagine the humor ... Ug...

When I say DJ, for us that means bringing equipment and playing music only - I don't do all that annoying DJ chatter that the diaper squad loves and is so attached to. But I am knowledgeable about music, all eras, all ages - it's a full time job keeping up with it. Having really good equipment that is quick to set up really is necessary. When I get DJ calls I ask if they're interested in having karaoke too - some say yes, others say no. It's their call, I charge a tiny bit more. I also offer lights for DJ and KJ but most of the time it isn't necessary.

Won't do anymore sweet 16 parties - that was a real shocker. Do lots of weddings, mostly just music, and most are themed (or should I say predominantly pop/rock or country, seldom both it seems).

I think being able to offer both is a real advantage. Now all I need to do is get a license to perform wedding ceremonies...have considered that.

For one of my Xmas parties I'm playing piano during dinner and then opening the room up for karaoke after speeches. For another I'll bring the karaoke stuff but may not do any of that at all. It's a tux thing at a country club (done this one before) and I play and sing usually.

I played piano bars for years and it's one of my comfort zones.

The third one I'm not sure what. But they hired me at the bar and I told them "This is what I do... WYSIWYG..."

HOW I DID A KJ ONLY PARTY WITH AN UNKNOWN CROWD

I developed a plan/an approach and had the equipment to facilitate getting folks up to sing:

- Most important, I had 6 cordless mics and four corded ones with me!

- I brought two TV's (the room had none, as I expected)

- I brought enough song books so that at least one, along with slips, was on every table

- Until someone actually got up to sing, I faced the two tv screens towards different parts of the room where folks were seated

- While I was prepared with a few songs to "wow" them with, most of what I had on my playlist to sing were numbers that I believed people would join in on. Such as Doo Wah Diddy Diddy.

- As soon my wife saw someone mouthing or singing along, she gave them a cordless mic; few refused them! I handed those closest to me a corded mic!

With this approach it didn't take long to get people singing as a group. Soon they were forming their own groups and soon individuals were handing in slips. Once people were up at the "stage", I turned that TV around. And before very long I had a never-ending list of singers! Individuals and groups.

Some singers never left their seats, but that was fine.

Most all of my private gigs are Karaoke, If I do a private DJ gig I rarely ever mix the two unless they ask me to.

I have never had one party where I did not have at least 5 singers to start with and then usually end up with 15-20 singers or more. It is usually start to finish karaoke for 4 hours. I have never had a private karaoke party that was not successful due to lack of singers.

I did a Bat Mitzvah for 100 16 year old kids and they impressed me with their singing skills. Many of them would sing 5 at a time but they really had a kickin' time. Dad paid me an extra $100 to go over for an hour because the kids were having so much fun.

Again, most people who have karaoke parties are INTO karaoke bigtime and along with that comes their friends that are addicted too. So finding singers is not a problem. Once they break the ice the Non Karaoke types come out of the woodwork and they generally start singing with everyone and end up popping their karaoke cherry that evening.

I would not recommend doing Private Parties only for my sole source of income but it can be done and one can be quite successful.

With the liquor laws becoming stiffer and the cost of drinks and food on the rise, it is an excellent option for folks who have other friends that karaoke. They just kick in a $20 bill and bring their own bottle. IF you get 10-12 people to do this you have yourself a great at home party and you get to sing for hours.

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FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

I limit my DJ gigs to Weddings, Yacht Clubs, Corporate and Company events. Etc.

My target audience is 35-70 and my music is diverse I have basically every song that was top 200 in all genre's from 1950 to 2008 in my library. I have a good mix of music that appeals to all ages but 35-70 somethings love it.

Being a DJ is a nice change and is by far easier and It usually nets me more money but I'm a KJ and prefer to stay that way.

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FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

I agree with this. I quit doing shows for relatives or even close family because your family just reduced your standing to hired help status. My own mother was very upset with my decision to never DJ family weddings and anniversaries. I want to party and hang out with the family, not work. I just refer them to my friend and he gives them good rates.