Karaoke Forums

Ok, so tonight, after being away for the last week in Cancun, I was back at my regular Sunday gig for the first time since being back. (Got back late Friday night) Apparently, while my replacement host was adequate, they missed ME! My venu's owner told me at the end of tonight that he wanted me to up my price by $25 per night!
Who's ever heard of THAT!
He told me that my replacement was ok, but he didn't have my party personality and that he didn't create the atmosphere for sales! While I'm disappointed on the one hand, because I would like to see my host do well, I"m also pleasntly surprised thar I was missed that much!

Congratulations!!!

Tell him you want a $50 raise instead.

That's excellent news. I started a new gig this past week and anticipate that at the end of the eight weeks we'll be renegotiating my fee upward as well due to increased sales. First night we more than doubled their usual.

How was your trip, Diafel???? Back to the great white north. Can you believe this weather?
k

What will happen if and when you need to take another week off? Is that extra $25 just for you?

I've never had a situation where they've bumped the price specially for me, but have been whined at when I send in a replacement so I can take a week off -- I now try to explain to some of my bars that they're hiring my company's service, and not me specially -- Sometimes the schedule has to change and I need a night off -

_________________
Chuck
Powerhouse Productions
Live Karaoke Broadcasts Daily

Nice, isn't it? I always have to hear from my regs that I shouldn't EVER bring in a sub and even had a venue tell me that they were paying for my talent, not someone else's, and that it wasn't appropriate for me to bring in a sub. That's what you get for doing your job well, I guess.

Diafel

I don't know if your replacement was using your equipment or not?

Nonetheless... your discussion gives me the opportunity to reiterate, for the zillionth time, the FIRST element in creating a successful show is PERSONALITY and not equipment. And my business partner who works regularly and has been KJing for years and has excellent equipment has posted his concurrence, as well, in this regard.

There is, furthermore, one of our associates who is cute, bubbly, a great singer and has a great personality, who also works 5 days a week. Now my point in mentioning her show is that she keeps blowing her speakers. She borrowed a pair of 12" QSC's from us after she blew first one then the second of a new pair of speakers she had. She then purchased and worked with one 12" QSC. She eventually purchased a second QSC, and within weeks blew one of those two and is now back to one speaker. MY point is, she is not losing any of her audience even though she has effectively been working with but one speaker since last September.

So... while you maybe surprised about how the venue reacted to your replacement, I am not! Best of luck. Was that the venue you were skeptical about returning to?

This person's system needs a compressor to limit the sound and stop blowing speakers.

BFFL: I was very happy with the original fee I was getting and would still be happy with it. As I have stated elsewhere on these boards, I command, and get, no problem, one of the higher, if not the highest pay for karaoke in the area. The fact that he's giving me a raise is a VERY pleasant surprise and I would not think to ask for more than what he's offered as then it would be just sheer greed and would appear as such. Give and take.....
Karen: My trip was wonderful and was a much needed rest! The weather here when I came back was not so much a shock as a grounding to let me know that the holiday is over and it's time to get back down to business!
Chuck:The $25 is not just for me, but is for the gig in general. The owner is based in reality and knows that we all need to have lives. He did not lose business while I was gone as it was only for one week and everyone knew it. If the replacement host was on a regular basis, the venue no doubt would lose sales, but on an occasional basis, it would not be affected. Remember, this is the same venue that I built up Tuesday night sales by bringing in my pool league members after pool before I got the karaoke gig. He is smart enough to know which side of the bread the butter is on.
Eric: He was using my equipment. He has none of his own and is really just a singer form my other gig that needed a few extra bucks and I knew was dependable enough to actually show up to do the gigs. Unfortunately, it wasn't the gig I was skeptical about. I have not yet returned there since I've been back as I'm not scheduled until Thursday. I will get feedback from the head bartender when I go on Thursday as I had asked her before I left to let me know how he does.
And c.staley is right. Get the poor girl a compressor! Either that, or a higher wattage speaker set.

Diafel,

So, my suspicion has been confirmed --- your replacement, using the same equipment at you use, displayed just how much better you are than he in putting on a "winning' show! Good job!


PS:
My partner and I use the same QSC speakers and have about the same set up as "The Girl". We use Yamaha mixers and "The Girl" has a smaller Behringer. My partner has tried to educate the "Girl" as to the appropriate settings since she blew her very first speaker.... it's hopeless and while I don't think she's using a compressor, I doubt that it would make much difference. But please note, that during the month she used my 12's she didn't blow either; we put the fear of god into her in that regard! However, with her now "proven track record", I/we won't be loaning her any audio equipment in the future!

Ericlater wrote: "the opportunity to reiterate, for the zillionth time, the FIRST element in creating a successful show is PERSONALITY and not equipment"

ERIC is ABSOLUETLY SPOT-ON!

_________________
"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

congrats on the raise...

and yeah, I've heard of that! Means you're GOOD, and your regs missed ya!

Thanks so much, guys! I appreciate the vote of confidence. My BF is amazed as well. He's been working in this industry for much longer than I, for the last 10 years or so, as a DJ, and he's even amazed.
I'm just flabberghasted.
At the same time, I'm a little proud of myself.
Again, thanks!
Cheers!