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OK... Here's a new one that I've never heard before. I still can't believe it!

A fellow KJ that I know was doing a regular show on Sunday nights at some local Bar. She was there for several months (at least 6 that I can recall... probably longer). She had replaced another KJ who was there on that night for about 6 weeks. I've been to that particular show a handful of times. Last month, she was replaced by another (new) KJ.

This particular Bar has been through several KJs over the past year (since new owners took over). They have had Karaoke there on Friday and Sunday nights, then canceled the Friday night show, then added a Wednesday night show (and canceled it 2 weeks later)... you get the idea.

I just heard (from one of my friends), that the KJ (who was just replaced) started up a petition to get "Her Gig" back. She does 1 other show during the week (at some local (over-priced) restaurant), and she had some of her regulars harassing the others to sign the petition. From what I heard, 1 woman followed several other women into the bathroom, and tried applying guilt tactics to get them to sign (saying things like, "aren't you her friend?" or, "if you were her friend, you'd sign it."). I don't know if she had one of the guys doing the same thing.

This KJ has got about 10 - 15 people that come to her show regularly. Not all of them stay for an entire show. Not all of them come to her shows every night. The Regulars that usually hang out at the bar, don't usually participate in the Karaoke (they just have their drinks and leave when they feel like it). This is just laughable (in a sad way) to me. I don't know what this person could possibly be thinking or hope to accomplish with her petition. This is a business, and she was replaced by someone else (I do not know what the circumstances were regarding that). If I were the Bar owner, and you came up to me with a petition to hire you back, I would probably just trash it. Really!!! What does she expect from this!!!??? She has no written contract with the Bar (most of us in my area are unable to get an establishment to sign a contract for our services), so what could she possibly think she'll get from this.

Me personally, I would NEVER sign a petition of that nature. I am one of those people who will sometimes follow a KJ from one show to the next (only because they might be my friend), but I also do not really care who is doing a show at a particular place as long as there is a show there (and the other usual standards that we've come to expect are in play).

It's unprofessional and I would never attend another show hosted by her.
Plus, I would tell any venue owner where she was hosting exactly why I was leaving.

I actually had that happen to me once, not from my host that I got rid of due to circumstances, but it was actually from one of the customers that used to come in. They had withi a week of getting rid of him almost 500 signatures wanting him back, the owner looked at it & talked to me about it. I eventually hired hime back because the thread of losing customers were greater then working with a new host. When he finally quit on his own accord I never had a problem again, from that group that still comes in. They just did not want me getting rid of the other host over the circumstances that I did originally. It wan'ts like I could say screw them either as they spend over $500 per night within their table of 5 alone. Now that the new host is in effect, they are up to almost $800 per night for a table of the same group plus 1 or 2.

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Lonnie,

Frankly, it surprises me that you had to not only deal with that kind of pressure, but that you brought that person back.

WHATEVER the circumstances, any employee you have that doesn't merit your trust or faith, you should have the freedom to not have them work for you. You have an entire livlihood invested. The singers have a kj they liked for whatever reason.

Ridiculous!

There's nothing wrong with petitions. It's one of the freedoms we have. Just because a petiton is signed doe not mean it has to be followed. HOWEVER, it does give a person some idea of what is happening. It can be a very useful tool. Now harassing people to sign one is wrong, but if it is out there for free will signature, I say no harm. As to Lonnie's employee, we don't know why his employee was released nor will I ask him. An employee can be released for several reasons. Would I bring back an employee? It would depend on the circumstances with the exception of criminal behavior (will never be rehired).

In my day job we have employees at different places. If one place doesn't like one of them, do we get rid of them? No, we send them elsewhere. personalites is a big part of it. An employee who doesn't work out in one place may be highly praised in another.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

Ditto's.

I agree, there's nothing wrong with a petition in and of itself.
However, when it is done in the manner that this was, with the host initiating it, and then getting her friends to use coersion tactics to try to get people to sign, I find it totally reprehensible. Either ONE of those circumstances would impede me from signing it.
If it was just a customer who started it then and got people to sign it without pressure, then fine.

BINGO!!!!

I would like to add to the above that her regulars only consist of about 15 (maybe 20) people (enough to keep a constant rotation of 1 hour throughout the night). The KJ who replaced her has some of the same people coming to her show (as well as a few of her own people), so all of the factors are equal in the place (as far as Management is concerned). Neither KJ has had a packed house. As to my statement of, "what does she expect from this," it's not like she's going to come back with a piece of paper filled with 100 (or even 500) names on it. And, she can't guarantee that these people will be there every time that she hosts a show either.

I agree... there is nothing wrong with starting a petition (just not the way this KJ is doing it), as long as you can back it up. She can't.

You nailed it Timberlea


This is an odd situation. I can't imagine wanting to still work there if I was fired. Not to mention the owner sounds a bit off. It appears as if he has control issues showing everyone I can do what ever I want. I can change what nights I have karaoke, I can hire and fire karaoke hosts at the drop of a hat etc... I don't know the whole story of course, but from what you described the owner is odd.

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