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Ok here's the story. I was just recently asked to replace a KJ who had been at this casino hosting a show for several years. I had only been to this particular show several times because i am busy hosting my own shows thirty miles away but i like to support other shows. Well they fired these guys and asked me if i wanted the job and I did because i knew i could do a much better job hosting this show. Well, these guys have talked their supporters into not going to the show and now i have a rotation of about 5 singers and these ex KJ's also still come to the show not to sing but to intimidate me. Question: Have any of you other KJ's experienced this? and if so how did you handle it?

Ignore the old KJs. You're going to have to build your own crowd anyway. Explain to the management that it will take some time but you should be up an running at full strength within a month. Be yourself, no one is better at that than you. Personally, I bully the crowds into singing when I have to but I doubt that would work for very many people.

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Okay, who took my pants?

Your story seemed vague to me so let me ask you a thing or two. How did you acquire this show? Were you approached by management, pass out business cards, or did you inquire directly? Why was the original kj replaced? Was this gig slow when you went there?

When I start a new gig I always get as many of my regulars to help me as possible. Offer to buy them a drink, food, etc. Make it sound enticing so they wanna come and sing with you. Facebook everyone you know and tell them about this great new place your hosting at. Tell them you wanna "showcase" their talent at this new venue. Regulars love to sing at new venues:)

As far as the old hosts giving you the evil looks, etc. Fuk em'. As long as you got this gig legit and didnt undercut or tell lies about them so be it. Diplomacy works wonders in these instances.

I must say it seems odd you would drive 30 or more miles to another karaoke show several times and just swoop up the gig. You make it seem as if the manager just walked up and asked you. I find that hard to beieve. He must know you host. How?

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Sound Choice and Chartbuster Certified

My question as well. Were the previous hosts fired, and THEN the venue called you, or did you go into an existing show and grab it?

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

Same question! It's different if the venue called you, however if you contacted them, it puts a whole new spin on the way you aquired the club - to the singer the did support it anyway.

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

We had something similar happen because a new venue hired us and the existing hosts in the town felt they should have gotten the job. We started off so well that the venue added us a second night. People said that we had a much better set-up, better sound, didn't skip people for our friends and were the only ones who would get in songs they wanted. Then one of the other hosts popped in and told our owner that we didn't know what we were doing. He took a quick look at our equipment and then left. Then we started having people come up to us and say that we would make them sound bad, that they had heard we had no reverb, etc. We even had one explain to us ahead of time that she would require special mixing for her voice/singing style. Now I wonder where that came from? Oh--and we do have reverb/echo and even autotune.

We were asked why we came into their town to take jobs from locals. Our posters up in the venue's bathrooms were torn up and thrown on the floor. Singers would come in and yell in the middle of their song, "Your songs suck!" and walk out (we had a clean version). People were warned that the venue was dangerous, even though there was a stabbing at the other one. Rumors were spread about us and the owner. We were even called unprofessional because we had props and wigs available. People were called traitors if they came to our show. We had (and still have) a few who would travel a half hour to see us at our other venue but they didn't come in the newer one anymore.

We still had a loyal core but when one of the other hosts got a casino to start a show against us and the first FOUR drinks were free plus they had drawings for $300 prizes we were wiped out in 2 weeks. We were at a regular bar and couldn't compete with casino resources.

Part of it was also management as she kept wanting to just take the high road and wait it out--and not pay us until things picked up again. We couldn't afford that. We thought she should have been advertising to attract a new crowd plus have a grand opening to show it was new ownership and a clean, safe place but it just never happened. There were probably people out there who were turned off by the scream and puke show and wanted something different so we needed to develope a new crowd and not compete for the existing one. We advertised, ourselves, but we just couldn't make things happen in time.

I know. Just do a better show. But in your case, if you are at a casino, see if they will promote you with free drinks and prizes. Free drinks can overcome alot in this economy.

No matter what the circumstances were, nobody should be allowed to intimidate you.

No matter what the circumstances were, nobody should be allowed to intimidate you.

Yes agree.
I know leopards show and it is awesome.

You have to realise that being the best does not always mean you are the best in the eyes of the judgemental.

My personal policies,

1. If I go to someone's show as a singer, I will never offer to host it nor will I take the position if they fire the other host (of a show I have gone to as a singer).

2. I will never "drop a card" at anyone else's show trying to pick up business regardless of who they are, pirate or not. With the exception of it being someone who has undercut my show and taken it. In that case I will offer to do the show for free at every venue they have, once they have been driven from the area I will drop those shows and refuse to work there again.

3. Aside from number 2 above I do not solicit shows (go looking for them) I simply wait until I am contacted by a venue then go and talk with them. If I or June are available on that night I will take it "if" they have not had karaoke before, "if" they had a KJ who quit (not fired), or "if" they fired the previous KJ, he has been gone for more than two weeks.

It is simply my own personal ethics, but it has worked for me for many years and has kept me with good honest KJ friends, that I can depend on if I need them.

For anyone who suggests that I dropped a card or tried to get this show undermindedly, dosen't know me. So stop there! They called me out of the blue simply because of my reputation of running good shows. I'll just have to be patient and build a new crowd. Thanks for the suggestions.

[quote="musicman488"]Ok here's the story. I was just recently asked to replace a KJ who had been at this casino hosting a show for several years. I had only been to this particular show several times because i am busy hosting my own shows thirty miles away but i like to support other shows. Well they fired these guys and asked me if i wanted the job and I did because i knew i could do a much better job hosting this show. Well, these guys have talked their supporters into not going to the show and now i have a rotation of about 5 singers and these ex KJ's also still come to the show not to sing but to intimidate me. Question: Have any of you other KJ's experienced this? and if so how did you handle it?[/quote]


I think it is important to realize that you have inadvertently stepped on the toes of the other DJ, not that you meant to but you are the new guy that replaced him. So, I would approach him and let him know you are just the new guy and not the one that came in to take his job. Let him know that you feel for him but it is not your fault he is 86ed. Your just the new guy! If he doesn't follow along, just inform the owners that hired you and ask him to be removed if he keeps harassing you!

[quote="Thunder"]My personal policies,

1.

2.

3.

[/quote]

This should be the Karaoke Kode! I live by these rules too. I always get people saying "Dude, you need to take that show over there form that guy cause he SUCKS and you are AWESOME!" Well, I'm not about to step on any ones toes on purpose. Ill take the gig when the venue owner calls ME. Not the other way around! So I appreciate this set of rules and think every KJ/DJ needs to follow them! Thanks!