Karaoke Forums

Ok, I gotta get this off my chest. I just started a new venue a couple of weeks ago. I'll cut to the chase..... Another local kj showed up at my venue and of course I did everything I could to accommodate her. She is a sweet lady who has a lot of tenure down here in the business and I frequent her shows all the time because she is a decent host and I like the bar.
Anywho, after a couple of hours I notice her going around to differennt tables and after a while discover she is telling everyone to come out to her shows this weekend. IS THIS PROPER???????
I have been to at least 30 of her shows over the years (10 of them I was and am currently kj'ing) and yet I never solicited any of her patrons. To me, this is pretty classless.

AM I WRONG??????????????

As you said, she is relatively famous in your parts. When I go out singing, there have been many times where someone there recognizes me as a local KJ from my shows or parties. They often ask me where I am gigging, and when. Of course I tell them. As long as the KJ isn't outwardly solicity your customers, and they are going up to her, it is ok.

If they are trying to steal customers from your gig, then yes, that is classless.

Felix the KJ

Your not wrong, that's pretty desperate and classless on her part. I wouldn't do that and I wouldn't like someone doing that.

The KJ's that have visit my show and I their's, this doesn't happen that I know of. But I did have one try to get my show one time. But it didn't worry me none.

When I first started doing gigs I went to my regular shows to sing and told them about my new gig. I was careful to not mention it if there were a conflict with the location I was at. I look back on it now and can see how classless this was, but I was excited and who better to share the news with than fellow karaoke folk?

I'm careful now not to do that. However it seems a couple of the KJs and I are certain to queitly advertise our competitors shows to our regulars so they'll go to a show we like when we're not playing that night.

Her advertising her show to your customers is suspicious. You telling them she does nights you don't is magnanimous.

totally class-less. If she's so famous, she shouldnt' be going to their tables, they should be going to hers. I HATE people trollin' for singers... THAT's desperate!

Well, maybe she didn't go to their tables to drum up business, maybe she is just a people person.

However if she was advertising her show, even if it is a different night from your show, I'm sure the bar she was advertising at wouldn't totally appreciate it.

I went to a DJ show a week ago and I told the DJ there were 4 persons in the bar I wanted to give my business card to. I told him I felt a little uncomfortable doing this during his show but it's people I know and don't see often. He was totally cool about it. I was upfront with him and kept it to those 4. I should clarify, I know the DJ as we are both engineers for the same company and he has been helping me with a few technical questions and fixed my wireless mic and he showed up for my first show.

She was most definitely soliciting for business because two of the tables she swooped in on were my family and relatives. It appears that maybe this "seasoned" kj is feeling a little threatened and is throwing her weight around.
It really bothers me because I truly like her and respect her as a professional. I'm so tired of all the karaoke drama down here in my neck of the woods. Its getting pretty cut-throat.

I've never felt comfortable with the idea of going out to a bar/club and soliciting business for my shows.

I am a kj and I also play in a band. When I'm not working and I go out I like to go to the venues where I work. I think it shows the owners I'm supporting them the way they support me.

Because I'm known in those places people often ask me when and where my next show is or if I'm playing on specific date. But I never bring up the subject. By the same token I will sometimes hand out a business card someone shows some interest.

Entertainment is a competitive industry and we're all trying to work as much as we can. But I don't see any reason to cut somebody else's throat to do it.

In my case it's probably not such a big deal because I don't do my karaoke shows or my band gigs at the same place every week. I play most of my venues about once a month or in some cases several times a year. In this area there aren't too many places that have the same band or kj every week.

If you have a successful show you probably don't have much to worry about. Your singers are going to continue to come to your shows if they are having fun and if they are comfortable. Why would they leave for an unknown if you are a known quantity and they like your show?

Still, somebody doing that at my shows would leave a bad taste in my mouth, especially if it was someone I knew.

Larry

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"Life is too short for diet soda and lite beer"

When I go out, I NEVER mention that I am a KJ. I've fairly well known in the area... I don't have to. If someone comes up and ASKS me of course I will tell them where I'm at on a particular night.

Frequently, the KJ will plug me unsolicited... its very nice... but I don't ask for it. If I go to a show, I'm there because I like the KJ, and am there to enjoy singing what I want to sing, and listen to other great singers... without the KJ pressure...

Totally lame on her part. My respect level for her would plummet tremendously.

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Good music, good friends, howling good times!

That's really lame and tacky on her part.

I agree - Totally tacky and shows a lack of respect or professionalism.

I used to own a pub and the same thing happened on 2 separate occasions where a regular of ours and then a regular couple both took over rival pubs nearby. I could see them going round all my regulars to try to poach them to their new venture.

In the end it didn't matter a) Because the majority liked our place so would never leave anyway and b) They would have found out pretty quick anyway that so-and-so had just taken over whatever pub if only by word of mouth.

But at the time it did leave a nasty taste.

If she was answering questions about where she was, that was one thing. But if she were the one bringing it up or adding that she had more songs or better sound, then that would be low.

Some friends of the KJ at the bar down the road have come into our venue for just one beer and sing one song. While they are waiting to sing they mention to people that there is a bigger party next door or drinks will be half-price between 9 and 10. Unfortunately, the latter works.

Well it's pretty tacky on her part & pretty sad more off if she has to go to other shows to drum up business for her own.
Now on the otherhand (not condoning) is it in direct conflict with any of your shows on the weekend? If not she may have been just trying to let people know where else to sing when you aren't working - still tacky but might be a little more excusable since you already go to her shows, but if it does conflict with any current show of yours for the same nights - it's in really bad taste.

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Reminds of a story someone told a while back. They said a karaoke bar down the street had put out fliers on all the cars of the karaoke bar they were working at. They had someone go gather up all the fliers and printed on the back of them "good for 1 free drink with this flier" and went the next night & passed them all out on the other clubs cars.

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I would let that FAMOUS KJ know how you feel and that you don't appreciate it

A while back I came up with a poster that listed ALL the shows in Salina... mine included.. most of the bars didnt mind hanging them as long as they were on it ...so everyone knew where karaoke was for the week..this is a great way to work together as KJ ..recently i suggested to have a city wide contest and include all the bars that have Karaoke...each bar would hold their own contest the top two winners from each bar would ..battle for being the ..SALINA IDOL

BATTLE OF THE BARS. Like a Battle of the bands. A la Karaoke.

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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

Pretty much like the Evergreen Country Idol held up here every year where many bars in Western WA compete. We used to get our club into that one, but quit doing it a couple years ago. People lost interest.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Sadly professionalism is something that's difficult to teach. People either get it or they don't.

I've always thought that professionalism had much more to do with attitude than skill. Some people just have a lousy attitude.

Larry

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"Life is too short for diet soda and lite beer"

Doesn't concern me if another KJ is trolling at my show. If for any reason they can actually take a job from me, then I need to reevaluate what I'm doing wrong.