Karaoke Forums

Anyone done this? I've done it twice. The most recent was with my daugter and her friends for her 13th birthday... I was the "cool dad", ... and it was a lot of fun.

A few months ago, I visited a very friend out in the country, and we threw one hell of a party. It was kinda fun to cut loose a bit with the syste.

_________________
Good music, good friends, howling good times!

I've done some parties with my friends or for someone I know special occasion with my big system & it's always been a hit. Actually booked several gigs off of those free shows for fun!

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

Yeah, I did get a gig off the one in the country, and I might get something off my girl's party. All her friends want me to do their party now.... heh, heh.

As much money as we put into these things, its neat actually just open it up for your own entertainment...

_________________
Good music, good friends, howling good times!

I did Karaoke for my daughters 16th. Yeah, we can't afford one of those super sweet 16s they show on TV these days. It's nuts what some people spend. My daughter had a good time and her friends really enjoyed the party. My daughter is into drama and choir at school so many of her friends are also band geeks so I didn't have any trouble getting the kids up there to sing. It was a great time.

Yea I even let them search my mp3 list and save the playlist for other parties. Most of the time I will have a kid running the computer and having a blast. When you are in it long enough the kid is one of your regs at the bar.Very polite and dont give you crap like some of the oldtimers.

_________________
Join The Karaokle Singers Social Network. Upload Your Music!!

I have done a couple of parties for friends. One was for a wedding present -- they are a karaoke-singing couple and wanted karaoke for the reception after the meeting. I brought my big rig, as it was outdoors, and it went off great. Singing must run in families to some extent, because the bride had two sisters that were as excellent a singer as she is.

I did it for a couple of other friends. In both cases, they saw what I brought -- more and better equipment than any local karaoke show -- and wanted to pay me when they saw how much work it was.

If I were really in the business, I think I would be looking for opportunities to do parties. I get plenty of inquiries. As it is, my wife has decided that I can't be gone every Friday and Saturday night. And I support her. I don't need the work, I need the time off more. Still, I like to do gigs and I do a number of volunteer/charity deals. Plus about 10 paid gigs a year (one-offs at a couple of local places).

_________________
[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Yes I did and I'm doing another one at end of May, a surprise celebration to a 40e birthday, we will also be doing karaoke! I'm trying to find a case to fit my mixer and I would also need about 8 rack space... Please, feel free to share where I could find

Lucky you, I wanted to do one last summer for my daughters 16th but I never did it, I really regret it now

Yeah, I've done several parties either at my house or at a friends. I recently did a 60th birthday party for a friend and we did at his mobile home community clubhouse. It's a 55 yr or older community so I was pretty worried about the sound, etc. However, the oldtimers there asked me to crank it up all night long (I left at 2:30am). It was a blast and it paid off in getting 2 gigs for holiday events at the very same clubhouse. Go figure!!!

I think I made a good decision on my part. Leave the weekends open for private parties and advertise like crazy. my outside gigs can last until the wee hours and we get $100/hr for staying. You do have to learn how to throw all the rules out except abusing the gear but it is fun and lucrative.

BTW I will be doing our annual all nighter out at the farm and all here are invited.

_________________
Join The Karaokle Singers Social Network. Upload Your Music!!

I have booked, and do, a lot of parties. Corporate, Birthdays, Communions, etc... I no longer accept weddings. I find them annoying, and corporates can pay just as well without half the hassle.

I don't do parties for friends or relatives, but have done my own at the house.

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

Can you spot me the plane ticket so I don't have to do the 17 hour drive?

_________________
KingBing Entertainment C'mon Up! I have a song for you!!! [font=MS Sans Serif][/font]

I have done a number of private karaoke parties, and all were fun. I think the main thing to tell people who ask about this is, make sure that's the right kind of theme for your party guests, and make sure they generally all like to drink; or they will probably not have a good time. Also, just like a busy night at a bar with a young crowd, mix music and karaoke, and bring plenty of cool lights if the venue has anything approaching a "dance floor." It's not quite as automatic that the guests will have fun as doing a bar, because the bar patrons came there to drink & sing where the party guests are there because their friend/boss/family member invited them.

The nice thing about private parties is, well, it pays more. I don't do my own bookings but if I remember correctly, we charge $75 - $100 per hour, and I charge $100 per hour to stay later. These rates are pretty much the same for music, karaoke, lights or no lights, whatever; anything except charity stuff that we do real cheap or free sometimes. If you compare that price with a cover band, you will be paying $1000 to $2000 to hire an average cover band for a private show.

_________________
Jeff Wheeler, moonlight DJ/KJ

Often a guy just has to step up..

Here is one party that was fun to do..

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23747121@N ... 126739514/

I too have done a number of parties with friends for different reasons. My son's and daughter's birthdays were two pretty good times. Had a lot of their friends over and a lot of ours, set it up in the garage complete with every piece of gear I've got (including backdrop, fog machine, etc). I've got one coming up too, my parents are having a party at their place with the extended family and wanted to know if I'd bring the Karaoke rig along.

I also do private parties for hire and I agree one of the nice things is that they pay more. What I think you do have to be aware of if you've never done one before and are planning to start is you're never just a KJ at a private party. You're the emcee and you need to have the ability to go beyond the Karaoke and really be an entertainer. Think about what a DJ does at a wedding, it's well beyond just being a DJ. The same expectations apply in just about every private party case.

_________________
DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke