Karaoke Forums

OK so I get some info that a new almost local bar is looking for someone to run their karaoke. So I give them a call and talk to him. I found out that he has his own system and is just wanting someone to run it. I told him I would like to stop in and see his equipment and we set an appointment.
So i go in there last night and met up with his bartender. She walks me over to a desktop compaq 1920's ( ) computer and says "here it is" . I asked her what all they had on the hard drive and she says about 30,000 songs. So i asked can i see the original disks. She says they dont have any originals.
So now the guy calls the bar while I'm there and we talk.
I told him i was not comfortable running his equipment but would be more then happy bringing my equipment in if he would like me to run a show for him. he said that he justs wants someone to run his stuff. So I asked him about the music originals and he said that he bought the system off a guy that comes in once a month and does his music updates for a monthly fee and that since he is paying his monthly membership cost to ( I cant remember the name of the company but one that bars have to pay to play music and tv) that his karaoke was covered.
So I finished my beer and left.........
That computer was screaming PIRATE at me as I walked past it to the door.

Me? I would thank them for their time, and turn the gig down.

Even if it WAS legal music, I wouldn't use somebody elses crappy gear. When you look/sound like crap and the crowd is small, they don't blame the crappy equipment. They blame YOU!

I would print this KIAA flyer & cover letter & present it to the bar owner to educate them.

http://www.thekiaa.org/kjs-avoid-losing-your-shows.html

My newest gig, the owner wanted me to run his stuff. I told him I don't work that way and that I prefer using my own stuff, especially since I keep my library updated. I never even bothered to look at what he had. I got the gig and I still h aven't seen what he has. Personally I don't really care since it's not being used. At least not by me! As for the guy you dealt with, I would have told him flat out, that unless he had the original discs in his possession, it was a pirated system and that, no, ASCAP and BMI fees do not cover STOLEN music. Also, before telling him this, I would have asked him who, exactly, it was that hes was "renting" this system from. Then you would at least have the name of the "head pirate".

I would have asked what do you plan to pay me? If it's my normal rate I would have said sweet, I don't have to carry anything just show up and host! This is a great gig!

Of course you would have to wonder every show whether Sound Choice would send someone in, and then name both you (personally) and the bar as defendants in a lawsuit. Suddenly the gig is not so sweet.

Most bars with their own systems pay $50-$100 night tops. The whole reason they bought a system was so they can just bring in someone to "operate" it. I've even heard many bars with such a setup believe that cocktail waitress pay + tips is sufficient.

I wouldn't have even stayed to finish my beer, but ran to the nearest exit and cursed on my way out for this huge waste of time.

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[font=Lucida Console]DangerousKaraoke.com[/font]
[font=Lucida Console]"Sing for the day, sing for the moment, sing for the time of your life!"[/font]

I said normal rate. I currenly don't work for less than $175 My normal is $225 - $250 I have my disc at home I wouldn't worry about a few songs. Thay can only get you for the songs that they can prove you have meaning they would have to sit there night after night after night to get more than 100 or so cg+g's and at that point I can't think of anything sang that I don't own the CD+g.

Man you would HATE trying to find a job around here. $175 is usually OVER the top scale these days - $150 is pretty much the high side.

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

But you would not just have to prove the 50 or so songs that was sang but also the other 30,000 that was on the hard drive that they took with them.

If you were the "operator" of the bar's illegal equipment, I'm not sure you'd be the one liable. I don't think the operators of multi-rigs are being prosecuted, just the company owners. They are the decision makers who TOLD their employee to use that particular equipment.

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C Mc
KJ, FL

Yes. The operators are not at risk unless they admit
they knew it to be illegal.
They are a simple employee being paid to do a job
like thousands of other operators.

fa-shoo! Why take a chance? I wouldn't have let the door hit me on the arse on the way out. We have a couple of those bars around here. Sound sucks, hosts don't have a clue and it just doesn't have the professional touch that any of ours shows would have.

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

They are not the police there is not a legal way for them to obtain the hard drive.

Ah but they do get the hard drive when they look thru it for their own stuff. It says that in the audit form that they want you to sign. Look it over again. They get to look at it ALL. Not just SC stuff. All they have to do is tell you what other manu they are looking at too when they sit down to 'audit' and not before. They will also look at reciepts and song books. Do you really think that they will not look at every song and listing? Like I said in a different post, I bet when they sit down to 'audit' they will tell you that they are not only looking at SC but whatever other manus are in your book so you better be prepared to prove everything that you have!!!

How they do it is you send them a copy of your book. They then will ask you to show corresponding discs for certain songs. It is a random sampling.
*** This is how SC is conducting their audits. Other manus may choose a different way once they become involved, if they become involved.