Karaoke Forums

A local restaurant in a landmark location has changed owners and is now an Irish pub. Years ago, the place had and was known for karaoke, but there hasn't been any show there for a least 2 years. The new owners, who just opened, want to start karaoke with the new year.

I believe that the targeted demographics is "20-30 somethings". That being the case, I would expect the show to start at 9 or 10! However, the crowd that has been drawn to that location over the years has always been older. So, I wouldn't be surprised if it is established as, or becomes, a "dinner" show beginning at 7 or 8

The owners have plenty of money. So.... what do you recommend, aside from newspaper advertising, that I suggest we do for a marketing campaign to inform and excite the public to attend? Any special ideas to attract folks particularly for the first show?

Please note, local ordinances prohibit much in the way of banner signage other than during a grand opening!

Being an "Irish" pub It look like the owers have a "niche" market already.
Local Police and Fire usually have IRISH clubs and there are plenty of other IRISH type organizations to start with. As far as Karaoke ..get you hands on every Irish Karaoke Song you can find. Besides the "Irish" market , just the traditional paper and Local Radio advertising if they have the budget. Are there any local COLLEGES around for the 20-30 yr olds??

Being a RESTAURANT I would imagine the owners don't want to run that business out the door too early with LOUD music. My experiances wit that type of venue is LOW volume to around 10PM and then by then the Family crowd is gone.

Good Luck

First of all - congrats Eric !

You are fortunate to have an owner who will advertise. I'd say advertise in the local entertainment magazines.
If they are having a grand opening it's nice to have the mayor come out and do a ribbon cutting. You usually get free advertisement that way. They do a little article in the paper about the bar and what they offer.

Good luck !

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

You didn't mention it, so I am wondering if you have an e-mail list of singers. Also, I have found that texting (with the textee's permission) works much better. You might also list on www.karaokelistings.com Just click to your state and list. It's free, and the site gets loads of hits. I get several calls per week with it...

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

I wouldn't just throw away the restaurant's existing patronage. Banners INSIDE the venue or table tents or postcard-size flyers delivered with the check announcing that karaoke is coming could help you get things off to a good start.

Setting up a MySpace and Facebook page will reach those "20-30 somethings". Search for "(your city) karaoke" in profiles and you might find other local karaoke venues' pages. Simply use their "Add Friends" tool to invite all their friends to be YOUR friends YOUR page! I might also go to other nearby karaoke/entertainment venues and flyer the parked cars surrounding it.

By the way, no one under the age of 40 reads the newspaper anymore in any great numbers. But you can buy web banner ads on the local newspapers' web sites (including any alternative entertainment weeklies) or even CitySearch. Consider buying Google AdWords for terms like "(your city) karaoke" and "(your city) karaoke bar". Be sure to buy all the surrounding city names too. Chances are it will be less than 10 cents per click. Send clicks to your MySpace or to a dedicated karaoke page on the bar's website.

Good luck!

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[font=Lucida Console]DangerousKaraoke.com[/font]
[font=Lucida Console]"Sing for the day, sing for the moment, sing for the time of your life!"[/font]

I would definately build toward a grand opening night for the establishment and get people who come to fill in an entry form to go in the draw for a prize (can be as simple as a free meal or something larger if the budget allows) on that entry form should be all contact details...bingo you have a ready made database to work from. From there you send out newsletters or regular phone calls/emails etc.

Run a referee program too that works as a points system...for every person who dines and mentions the friend who recommended the establishment, (or sings) that referee gets a point...so many points = free meal etc

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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."

To start my current gig on saturdays, I created some half page flyers, and went to all the places that have karaoke in the area, during karaoke hours. I put these flyers on the cars in the parking lots of these places. My next show after doing this was good, and has been good ever since. It's better than putting flyers on cars in a mall or something, because you already know that the cars you are putting the flyers on, likely like to karaoke.

Felix the KJ

Uncool. How would you like to lose your crowd to someone who did the same thing? I know I wouldn't. That is as bad as going inside and talking about it to the customers while karaoke is going on.

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The Line Array Experiment is over. Nothing to see here. Move along.

Uncool. How would you like to lose your crowd to someone who did the same thing? I know I wouldn't. That is as bad as going inside and talking about it to the customers while karaoke is going on.


Putting flyers in a parking lot of a place that has karaoke only on wednesday, for my show on saturday shouldn't offend anyone.

If you lose a crowd to something as simple as a flyer on a car window, then it was never your crowd in the first place. Worry about being good at your job, instead of what someone else is doing. If you are good, and people like your location, then you have nothing to worry about. If someone is better than me, then I will have no crowd. I do have a great crowd.

I am a KJ, but first I am a singer who goes to many shows. No flyer, or someone inside the venue has any impact on whether I will return to a show. I bring my own musice, so what is important to me is a efficient KJ, with a great system. Nobody but me determines where I choose to go sing at.

GET OVER IT! IF YOU DON"T SUCK, the people won't go.

Felix the KJ

I don't have a problem with the promotion, just the method. It's littering. Putting something on my car is not only rude, it is illegal in many places.

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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.

It just pizzes me off to no end ---when people leave crapp on my windshield. Just that much more garbage.

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"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 would love to get a flyer telling me of any new karaoke gigs in my area. The more places to choose from, the better. I could see where a KJ might be offended though if someone left advertisements right outside of his show.

I think you have a point there. I forgot he said they were targeting the 20-30 something crowd. I know in my area kids go where the specials are and pick up the entertainmnet mags in the bars to look for new places. We have great entertainment mag that gets delivered to all the bars. They come in on a regular basis and take pictures of the people in the bar and print them in the mag.

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

I say have some type of "theme" party for the grand opening. Maybe like a Winter Beach Party, and give out prizes for best contume, etc. Also, maybe have free beer, and like free tacos, something that doesn't cost alot. Other ideas, pajama party, toga party, (these are 20 somethings), any excuse for a PARTY!!!!

Rosario