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The venue where the company I work for has been doing Karaoke for the past 17 years has started a cover charge. It's only $3 but they take in about $400 a night. This bar does anywhere between $2500 and $4500 in sales during my 4 hour gig (most nights are at the higher end of that). Yes, it's busy!!! Crazybusy! I work my butt off and my boss gets decent pay ($250) for the gig (I'm paid $90). However, I used to get an extra $50 (of which my boss split with me) whenever the liquor sales were over $1200. They took that away a few months ago citing 'hard times'. Well, now they have the cover charge and when I mentioned that it was customary for the bar to split the cover charge with the entertainment they told me that yes, they would split it after tipping the cocktail waitress and doorman. The first night they took in $400 and I got $100. Since then I've received $60. Except one night they didn't give me anything, saying that the bar needed a new blender. I've also been told that since they aren't allowed 'spillage' that the cover charge covers that too. They insinuated that I shouldn't complain because they didn't ever have to split it.
I want to renegotiate our contract now. It seems to me that the reason they are making the money they are is because of ME! No other entertainment at that bar takes in as much as my gig. There is no cover charge at on the other nights either. I was thinking I'd just tell them I'll accept the door money as pay unless it goes below the $250 I'm paid now...then the bar would have to make up the rest so that my minimum pay would be $250. My boss says that he doesn't trust them to do that so he wants to keep doing things the way they are. Oh, I haven't told him yet about the night we got nothing. I am the assistant manager and take care of most of this type of stuff. But I am at a loss here. Do I keep my mouth shut? What do other places do with the cover charge situation?

3 of the 4 shows i have, do have a cover charge. Each of them do things a bit differently. I'll start with my tuesday show. They charge a $2 door charge, and the door person gets to keep that as pay. Only new customers and non-members have to pay the charge. (its a private club, members only). I get my same pay each week, no matter how busy it is. Next, my friday show. They charge $3 door charge, everyone pays, no matter what. If the customer total exceeds 50 people, then the bar and I split the difference. So I could make pretty good money when it's busy. But lately this place has been dying badly. Thats another story, see my other thread on "when it's time to quit a venue". ....Next, I split my saturdays between 2 different places. The one is a beer only bar, so no cover charge. But the other is also a private club, and they don't charge members, only new people $4 each. They usually don't make much on the door charges, since most of the people are members. It's just a simple way to control who is coming in. Plus it helps offset the cost of my services. But it only is a small part.

In my opinion, in your case, I think you are getting "hosed". You probably should re-negotiate your "contract". It actually sounds like they want to do anything they want, giving you nothing if it's in their "best interest". I don't believe the sales of the bar is any of our business as karaoke hosts, but how many people we draw is our concern. If you are drawing that many people, and they are charging a door charge, you should reep the benefits. Just my opinion.

the cover charge is customarily to HELP cover the costs of entertainment. For the msot part, all of it is so the entertainment doesn't come out of the true income of the bar.

They can rationalize it all they want. Bottom line, ya'all are gettin' paid!

That's the thing, the cover charge off-setting the price of my services is fine. But they are making over and above what they pay me. The first night was the only night that they told me what the door had taken in. But I know that's it's at least $400 each night because of the amount of people in the place. Capacity is 135 people. I believe most of the time we are over capacity, and frequently there is a line waiting outside to get in. If this was just a fluke and the crowd was likely to start going elsewhere, I probably wouldn't say much. But this isn't a fluke...this place has been busy like this for over 4 years...every thursday night, year round! I don't use 'house' equipment. The equipment is 900w QSC's with huge Madison subs (can't remember the wattage ) I have two Crown amps (one for mains, one for subs). The sound I put out is easily equivalent of a live band. My library is the best in the area and kept up to date as my time allows...(I wish I had more time to work on it).
So, if I get the chance to renegotiate, what do you think would be fair? Split the door...if so, what percentage. Take the door instead of pay? Then who pays the doorman? I think there might be a problem with me hiring a doorman since the bar wouldn't want my doorman to be responsible for checking ID's. My boss doesn't want to do the 'take the door' thing...he said something about not trusting them to keep track and give us what was taken in. Then again...I think he also doesn't want to anger the establishment ...this has been a long standing gig. But I do think the current situation isn't fair. Especially since they took away our 'bonus' and have indicated that they won't give it back. I really do work hard at this one...so much so that I can hardly walk the next day..poops me out until saturday!!

So, maybe I just raise my price?? I think I should be getting paid in accordance with how well I do my job...which is very well!!

Most of the time a cover charge is there to cover the costs of the entertainment. Not blenders or extra pocket money for the waitstaff, although like Scott I've worked situations where the doorman gets a cut.

I agree that you are not getting paid correctly for your services. You seem to have no clout trying for some of the door on your own, so I'd suggest that your boss specifies it in his agreement with the establishment. Have him say that you get that money no matter what. Before anything else is taken out. That ought to work if they want to keep him around.

But I don't think you're getting enough from him either.

part of the extra cost is added help. The doorman, the extra waiter/waitress... and yes, even equipment upgrades. But the equipment I PERSONALLY feel should come out of their profits as that's a tax write off.

Now I'm no tax person, but I can assure you if they're using the additional money to pay for waitstaff and equipment, then they need to bring that additional money into their net income.

Either way, it sounds shady as all get out! !

If your boss doesn't trust their door count I'd take his word on this one. If you decide to go for the cover, the only way to do it is to put your own person with a counter along with their doorman .

Don't check ID.
Don't handle the money.
And definitely don't provide security.

Jut count heads.

No no no....they aren't paying for the equipment. This is my equipment. I set up and tear down each night. Point I was making was that this is not your 'run of the mill' karaoke equipment. It's high dollar and high price!!

Oh...should have mentioned...they raise their drink prices at 9 o'clock also...

In order to re-negotiate your contract effectively, you should be willing to walk if it doesn't work out, because if you don't, anything you say or do in the future will hold no teeth. Having said that, what I would do, is negotiate the door take. ALL of it. Without you, they have no door take, and it really isn't costing them anything. If they agree, DO NOT let them have their own person work the door. Make it part of the contract and INSIST that you have YOUR people work the door. Have someone you trust take the cover charge as the people come in. Maybe pay them $25 a night or something like that. This way, you KNOW what the take actually is and you won't get ripped off.
As for their excuses about needing a new blender, etc, why is that your problem? It's THEIR cost of doing business, not yours. Do they pay you extra if you need a new microphone?
You deserve to get paid fairly and equitably, but it sounds like the owner's been hit by the greed bug and you are the first "expense" to cut. Happens all the time. The secret is to not allow it. Unfortunatley, you already have, so I suggest getting on top of it as soon as possible, before it gets way out of control.
Another suggestion is to ask for a flat $400 per night fee. Yes, I said $400! They are making that much off the door nightly, and again, it's not really coming out of their pocket. Even that amount is cheap for what they're getting. What would they have to pay a full band? More than that, I can tell you! And you have a bigger draw!
If you are willing to give a little lee-way and they are as well, you should be coming out of it ahead of the game. Plan ahead what your arguments are going to be (one of them being that bar expenses are NOT your problem! ). Decide what the lowest price you will take is, and DO NOT tell them it! Just be sure that you will not take less than that and walk away if they won't meet your demands. Start high ($400) and work your way down to your lowest price, but try to keep it as high as possible. Also, a secret I learned (from here, I think!) is to never name your price first. Let them name it. If it's ridiculously low, like say, $275, THEN you name your $400 price, but make them state a price FIRST. The theory is that the first person to actually state a price will lose. It woked for me last time. I got my price.
Good luck, and let us know how it goes.
Edit: Your person wouldn't be responsible for checking ID's, only collecting the cover charge. Make sure that's clearly laid out. It's done like that aorund here all the time.

by equipment, I meant the blender. If they have to have better cooking or extra equipment at the BAR/Restaurant to help with the added customers...

Question: Is there a 'standard' for the industry on how this is handled?

OH! sorry yes, you are right!! I thought that 'blender' thing was pretty lame! The bar manager told me that she'd never get it out of 'corporate' so she used the door money. This is a corporation...hotel.

Thank you Diafel...I will remember your words of wisdom! I do hate asking for raises, but this situation just doesn't sit right with me. Especially since they took away my bonus.

I think I will renegotiate our contract. I don't think we've raised our price to them for the entire 9 years I personally have been working this gig. Time to talk to my boss again!! And yes...a raise for me personally would be nice also!!! Average in our area is $50 for the KJ though.

well, 250 a night is good pay around here, even better for a weekly gig. in my opinion you are getting hosed by your boss. when I rented out my system I was happy to get $100 a night in rent on the system, and it is a top notch system. if i read right you do the library, and use your boss' PA? this is a long standing gig and your boss is doing quite well getting steady income from YOU. he needs to pony up. in his shoes I would be really happy to have the host take half (assuming you do transport and setup). A good KJ witch you must be if your gig is busy week in week out is worth paying well.

Bars do what they have to to keep making money, overhead is crazy in a bar. on the other hand they should take care of who brings in the people. If you feel your worth more go ahead and try to renegotiate. I would agree with your boss that working for the door is a bad idea.

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When I said I set up and tear down each night...I really meant my boss does. Iam too old to lift those huge speakers etc...the amps alone kill my back!! I do keep the library up-to-date, print and stuff the books etc. My boss pays me more than he pays our other dj/kj's to compensate for the extra work I do. But I agree, I think I am worth more. I'd like that 'more' to come out of the bars pocket though. My boss works himself to death to support his family, I wouldn't dream of making his life more difficult. He treats me well...I treat him well. Part of my compensation comes from the DJ jobs...weddings etc. He pays me half of what he takes in for those gigs. BUT those gigs are more stressful and I do (with hubbys help) set up and tear them down.

I agree with diafel on this one. Totally. You should be willing to walk away. But is your boss who owns the karaoke company also willing to walk away? or just put another KJ in your place? Talk to your boss first BEFORE you do anything at all.

Have a person who just sits at the door and counts heads will be more info to you and the company than you know. At my friday show, there is one person that works the door sometimes, that I simply don't trust. She lets people in for free, and that his hit me tons of times in the wallet. I have never said anything, but I know it happens. So getting one of your own people to watch would possibly help the bottom line. That is , if you actually do re-negotiate.

I would NEVER do anything without my boss' blessing first. and No, my boss wouldn't be willing to walk away.... But I'm thinking we just tell them that we are raising our price to 350 period. I, most certainly, doubt that the bar would hire someone else. My shows are the best in town and they know it. No other KJ around here does what I do, has the library I have...or uses equipment necessary to handle the sound I put out. My boss did this gig for 9 years before I started, I've been doing it for 9. This place knows a good thing...as well, we know this gig is and has always been a good thing....

I thank everyone for their input. It's nice to know that I'm not off the mark by feeling that the bar should be 'sharing the wealth' so-to-speak....

Cover charges don't necessarily go to the entertainment if a bar charges one. It can help offset their entertainment expense, but unless it is in your contract with the club that you are entitled to a cut of a cover charge - if any applies - then I would be concerned about headcount. They are charging this on their own accord & don't have to share it at all. Sounds like the karaoke company you work for is being paid adequately - around here that is unheard of, be lucky to get $150 for 'good' pay.
If the company was working like bands that play in bars for cover, then you set the cover $$ & have a head count at the door with stamped hands and all. As far as the $90 you are getting, I think that is a little low for a host when the company is making that much. $100-125 should be a closer ballpark - especially since you are proven.
If you guys plan on raising prices, be prepared for the "Take A Walk" response - great show or not.

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There really isn't. It's just a matter of who has the power.

If a KJ or band has avid regulars who will follow them anywhere, they have the power.

If a bar has regulars who show up no matter what, they have the power.

And often it's perceptions over reality, with inflated egos getting in the way (not yours Lisah! You seem to be getting the short end of the deal).


Tell your boss! He may be thinking that the room is taking care of you and still providing you a cut.

OK think about this approach. The room has already accepted the idea of giving you a cut of the door. I'd approach them with your boss and try to get it nailed down so that you get it no matter what.

It may be just $60. But that would mean that they are paying $310 for four hours of karaoke, which is a pretty darned high figure for karaoke no matter what kind of business you guys are bringing in.