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I am being paid to provide the entertainment not be the bouncer. The most power I have is the power not to let them sing. If I feel that the bouncer or the bartender isn't aware of trouble then I will say something to them. But I don't insist they get 86'ed, that is for the bartender or bouncer to decide.

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

Um...as a big guy myself and a size acceptance advocate, that comment was thoroughly unnecessary.quote]

I didn't even think that it deserved a response, Dan. Some folks just have no class and some folks will find fault with EVERY single opinion I have. I don't sweat the small stuff or the small minded.

Update -- we have been asked to come back, with changes. They agree that we will have proper security for personnel and equipment, recognizing that we won't work if we feel threatened. My other occasional host has agreed to do the show again for a while, and we agree to do it on a week-by-week basis until the end of January at which time we will renegotiate price and whether we add a second night (?!!?).

Everyone agreed that they could have done better -- no harm, no foul. We will see how it goes for the next month, then re-evaluate.

The word is that the regulars heard we were leaving and were a bit up in arms. We were routinely packed SRO, and they were making good money. They called me every day until they could reach me (I just happened to be out of town for the holidays and unavailable).

I will try to take to heart what people with experience here have said. I am not sure I agree with all of it -- if I feel threatened, I need to be able to rely on some security to protect me. Bars are bars, and we have people and thousands of dollars of equipment there. They agree that we need this, and that if we need help we will get it right away. I am reassured, and hope to begin again. If it doesn't work, we can walk on a more measured basis in a month.

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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.

Mcky - That is great news !

Did the bar owner call you or the bar manager? Was it discussed how the bar manager totally ignored there was a problem?

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

In this situation I think Mcky did the right thing----go back with a cool head and get everyone on the same page. Management has agreed to make improvements, the fill-in guy will try it again and possiblity of a second night has emerged. Good outcome from a possibly ugly result. Well done!

As to KJ's having this or that power----KJ is NOT A BOUNCER OR SECURITY. KJ is the ENTERTAINMENT. KJ can go and tell bartender/security to remove a troublemaker. 86'ing permanently is up to management. KJ can EXPECT a safe and secure work enviornment without heckeling, harrasement, equipment damage and/or troublemakers. If mgmt is unwilling or unable to provide that then KJ is free to and should drop the gig.

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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

That's great news, mckyj57!
Best of luck to you!
As for a KJ having the power to demand that someone be ejected from the bar, I don't think that should be the case, however, the bar SHOULD be responsible for taking care of the trouble maker and ensuring a safe work environment, particularly when they are told of the problem.
To me, I don't care what they do to solve the problem, as long as it's solved.
If it means that the woman gets told to sit in another area of the bar and be quiet or she WILL be removed, and if that does the trick and I'm not bothered by her again in the night, then I'm happy.

Your approach is of a true professional Micky. There's a job to do here. Let's do it!

Best of luck.

It was the bar manager talking to my other host, then me. He had booked the gig originally.

Basically, the bar manager didn't like or trust my other KJ much and didn't want to believe him over the woman and her friends who she had known a long time. We investigated a bit more, and the woman did assault him. I am not sure it would have gotten that far with me there, partly because I am 10 inches taller and 100 pounds heavier than the other fellow, but if it had and she had done the same to me, I would have demanded action and the same result would have pertained if nothing was done. Heckling is one thing -- you have to handle that stuff. But I simply will not allow people to lay hands on us. If they do, the show will stop until they are gone. That is not going to change, but at least now it is fully understood that they are gone for the evening should it ever happen again.

(Again, my use of 86 in the first place was wrong. I never was going to insist she be barred permanently. I just wanted her tossed for the rest of the evening.)

The show has started as we speak. There were already 8 people with slips in a half-hour before start time....

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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.

I weigh 413 lbs, so I'm allowed.