Karaoke Forums

"Do you have a following"?
Yes, but I have seven nights booked, I can't guarantee busy nights all the time. I can only use so many gimmicks and bribes, and nobody goes out every night. What I'd like to do is, engage your current customer base, add a few of my friends and when people walking by see the fun, they become new customers....

That's how I'd like the conversation to happen. A few months down the road it's this:
"There should be ten people here buying drinks before you even start, waiting to sing".
Oh certainly, I'd like that too. But this isn't a very good location, lots of crime...."It's not the location"....

I'm sure you've all been blamed for bad business. Sometimes bars that bring in karaoke to save the business are like couples that have a baby to save a marriage.
Please, share your stories so I don't feel so isolated.

I Facebook the bejeezus out of my shows, but try not to make my 'friends' hide me on there out of annoyance. I shake everybody's hand, smile, joke, take new song requests....everything. Every show I have, I was offered, because the previous KJ didn't pay attention to detail. The economy sucks, and although I do my best to promote my shows, (and several customers have told me this too) my job is to do karaoke, not promote.
In the end, when I've exhausted my resources, and the owner has too, I'm sick of taking all the slack when sales aren't satisfactory.

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If you're going to eat my mic, do you at least want some condiments?

you don't actually mean to say that a bar owner should take some of the blame?!?!? that's absurd
lord knows they ain't the brightest bulbs, but yeah, they do expect all of us to have all our friends and hundreds of followers there every night start to finish.
what i personally do to keep things like that from coming out of his mouth on slow nights is in my case, i talk to him throughout the night and ask where his people are, not accusingly, but like there is obviously something going on that he knows about, a party, ball game, etc. when he asks about my people, i can say " there are 34 people in her not including staff, i have 29 singers, none of whom showed up until 10 till 9, karaoke people are the only ones here." if he wants to argue about not enough people, i remind him that many people leave because the wait is pushing 2 hours on many nights, so our biggest problem is that as far as karaoke goes, we are too successful. but it shows him that without us there, he would have 3 people in the building. also, i take a private party once about every 6 months, and put in a sub host. one night of people coming in and saying "where are Bill & Leyla?" makes sure he remembers why they come in, and it ain't for the ambiance.
considering they tend to have the memory of a goldfish, they need that constant reminding unless you are in a high capacity bar. mine is a max cap of 86 so $150.00 a night takes some work for him to justify and he needs that reminder that we ARE doing the job. but don't forget, we can advertise, we can call, we can get them in more often, get them in earlier, and get them to stay later, and have a good time so they want to bring their friends, but once they are there and happy, the responsibility shifts to the bartenders to SELL the drinks. it ain't our responsibility, if it was, we should just open our own bar (someone here said that on another thread) so i also remind him that i can not sell booze, that can only be legally done by the bartender, and that is also their only reason for having that job in the first place....to sell booze.

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Paradigm Karaoke, The New Standard.......Shift Happens

I think the bar owner should find out from the beer makers how many people they contacted this week to come in.

Interesting how the bar owners seem to have a failing memory when the place is packed to the gills and you didn't make a dime extra. It all works out though, you'll have busy nights to offset the slow ones.
I always tell the bar owner that if I could guarantee I could fill their place every night, I'd own their club and make the money off the drinks too.

Michael - assuming you are offering a good karaoke show, it sounds to me like you are doing everything you need to do.

I have a bar that doesn't do near as good as they could. Here are the problems they have:

1) They use a gun to measure their drinks. They pour 1 oz shots! They also use RC Cola instead of coke/pepsi, among other generic brands. In other words, their drinks are not up to par. You can look down the bar at almost any given time and see only beer drinkers. The only people who drink mixed drinks are those who don't know any better.

2) The bartenders work hard, but nobody really likes them. To me, the bartender is just like the entertainment. Know what you're doing, bring your friends and make some new ones.

3) Service is kind of a problem. We're not really THAT busy most nights, so 1 bartender is believed to be enough. The bad thing is that there is generally no table service unless its REALLY dead (like early in the night sometimes). People don't want to serve themselves! And, karaoke night is the only night these ladies make any money, so they want the whole crowd to themselves and resist any suggestion to add another bartender or a server.

I'm not trying to brag, but I know what the heck I'm doing. I'm like you - I shake a lot of hands and befriend a lot of newbies on my facebook to keep in touch. Plus, I know I run a good show. But, in this case, I am doing 2 nights a week at a bar that wouldn't be my first choice. But, its close to home, no set-up/tear down, and I actually like the owners. I just don't like how they do some things.....

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I'm not a cheerleader, but I paid for my pom poms with my own money!

Seven nights at the same place?.....I know of only one man that could pull that off......

I'd buy mixed drinks at that venue any day of the week!
In Canada, it is the law that you can only serve 1 ounce measures. Free pouring is illegal, so it's no difference to me (or any other Canadian). Yes, we can get doubles, but again, they are NOT free poured, but are measured shots.
As for RC Cola, I consider that a premium! I actually prefer it. We used to be able to get it when we were kids as it was available everywhere. Now, it's very hard to find, so when I do see it, I grab it up!

I drink RC alot, although wouldn't consider it a premium, that is dollar store cola along with Shasta. It taste more like Pepsi than Coke. Now I do mind paying premium prices for a drink poured off a gun though!

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

I know it's not a real premium and I would never pay premium prices for it, however, it is so hard to find around here that when we do, it's real treat!
Kind of like Pop Shoppe, if anyone remembers that!
Lime Ricky, Black Cherry..... Now those were flavours!

Still love Cherry Coke.

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

We had a Pop Shoppe bottling plant by where I live. It had glass walls on three sides and we loved watching the pop being made.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

Whenever I'm asked to play a venue, I take control at the onset by asking MY OWN questions before they do. I first explain that I'm willing to share with them what has worked, and what hasn't worked, and also WHY! But first I ask them these questions to get an idea of what type of mindset I'm dealing with.

1). What kind of advertising budget do you have?

2). What kind of clientele do you have, and what type are you trying to attract?

3). What are you willing to do to get that type of clientele?

4). Are you willing to do radio, print as well as social network advertising?

5). Does your establishment have a website, Twitter or Facebook page?

6). Do you update consistently? If not, are you willing to do so?

7). Is your establishment neat and clean?

. Is your staff friendly and professional, as well as neat in appearance?

9). Does your staff like karaoke?

10). Do you understand that it is NOT my job to bring people into your place? That is YOUR job! It IS my job to KEEP them there!

11). Are you willing to run 1 beer, 1shot, 1 mixed drink and 1 food special to help me help you to build your clientele?

12). Are you willing to give me the same commitment that I'm willing to give you?

13). If I agree to play at your establishment, are you prepared to back me up with staff members or patron(s), should the need arise?

14). Should you for any reason become unhappy with the service that I provide, will you do me the courtesy of speaking to me personally in an effort that I may make any necessary adjustments, or improvements?

Some folks may say that this may be a bit forward, but believe me. I have learned from past experiences that most bar owners are under the impression that all they have to do is put "KARAOKE" on their crappy little portable signs in the parking lot (which most people ignore anyway), and that people will come out in droves to their establishment.
Well, those of us who've been down this road, know it just ain't so.

I feel by doing this, the owner gets a sense of that I know what I'm doing, and I'm willing to help their business grow in any way I can. As I always explain to them "If YOU'RE successful, I"LL be successful!"

This has worked out pretty well for me in my area. I hope there's something others can get out of this, too.
BT

black cherry.. *drool*

Damn u all, now i really want a pop..


I had problems with promoting as no place i was hired wanted to help at all. I'm not the surprised that my efforts alone failed.


-James

To answer an earlier question mark, I have 7 nights at three locations.
And BT, I LOVE that you do that. It kind of puts the owner in their place subtly before you agree to anything.
However, I am the type that will take those gigs no questions asked, absorb the blame, take the money, then come on a karaoke forum to vent about it. Bank is bank to me.

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If you're going to eat my mic, do you at least want some condiments?

I only book bars that already have a established crowd. I just make it better.

My goal is to increase existing sales, if it does not work out I move on.

I work on a % of sales if I'm not making $200+ a night it"s not worth me being there.

If sales are low, it's not cause you are not running a good show, its your not in a good location.

I don't think it's unreasonable, when a kj approaches a venue, for the bar owner to expect you to have SOME type of following, especially when the kj approaches a room that is virtually dead on a given night. I mean, we're not Aerosmith, but we should have a <few> ppl in our back pocket to help us out. Why should the owner just let you walk in there cold and think that he's gonna do all the work to get asses in seats spending money? You, yourself, have to be somewhat of a draw. If you're a good host, that shouldn't be a problem.

It's also not unreasonable for you to expect the owner to advertise, run specials etc. But if he doesn't, and he blames you for low sales, then you have cause to be upset.

There's hosts that could entertain circles around others with just a "Singing Machine" vs those that hide behind gobs of equipment and only know 4 words (clap for... up next...).

If you're established and sales go down, there's reasons for that, too. You or a bartender, pissed a customer off. Bad news travels fast; it's seasonal; the cops stalk the establishment for drunk drivers (stalk... being the key word there).... etc

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DJ Don

I'm in the city, and there's a lot of competition around. People complain to me about other hosts. Perhaps they complain about me, but I try my best to avoid that. It's been about a year and a half since I started and I've adapted a very engaging KJ alternate personality. Guys give me fist bumps on their way in and out, girls give me hugs. I don't have WiFi at most gigs, so they see me busting my (@$%&#!) to get downloads on my phone, then uploaded to the laptop. They appreciate this stuff. I ask them face to face what they would like me to order from Australia. They know it costs a pretty penny, and when they offer me money for any new tracks, I respectfully decline and tell them it's part of my job, don't worry about it.
I've heard a couple of bar owners call me 'the best'. I was sick a few weeks ago for the first time, and had to find a replacement. The owner pretended he got the replacement, but I'm the one who did all the work, called the replacement, etc. The following week, the door guy told me it sucked because singers had to look at the host's laptop screen for the lyrics. The owner never mentioned it.
One thing I've learned is this:
The bar owners DON'T want you to think you're irreplaceable. I've been lied to about sales, customer opinions of my shows and success of my competition.
And I see why, they want to keep me on my toes, light a fire under my butt. Can't say that I appreciate it, but I do understand.

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If you're going to eat my mic, do you at least want some condiments?

While it is certainly a combination of the VENUE, it's STAFF, location, etc- PLUS a good host to make a show, others have addressed the venue situation.

I'm going to address your promotion.

You mention that you "Facebook the hell" out your shows. Damn near worthless. Same with posting them on your website. The first because it's a national site, and needs to be accessed by a patron to get the info. The second also has to be accessed, and singers may be scrolling through all of your competition before they hit your site.

I hhave developed 2 lists for my work. E-mail, and - with permission- texts.

E-mail is direct to the customers, as is texts. The benefit of texts is that while some people MAY open their e-mail in time for the show, virtually everyone opens texts as soon as they are received.

Every night I have a show I send out a group e-mail and group text.

I also used to advertise in the local free entertainment magazine, Steppin' Out. Virtually all markets have something similar. It's the bible for LOCAL bar and club hoppers.

You may also consider listing your shows on free sites such as www.karaokelistings.com which lists by state and town, and has done wonders for me.

You can't do much if the venue and/or it's staff/location sucks, but you CAN improve your promotional techniques and TARGET your LOCAL customer base.

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

"engaging KJ alternate personality"......I like that, can I use that line..........no disrespect, but maybe you should try just being yourself........people give me hugs and bumps all the time, but it's because they feel sorry for me......

people just usually ask me if the bumps are contagious...

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Never the same show twice!

I believe it goes to personality. As far as honesty, integrity, and fairness, I'd rank Bar Owners at the bottom. Only oportunistic, profit centered, manipulative individuals seek to earn a living selling a controlled substance. They would fail miserably any standardized test for conformity to a 9 to 5 routine. I would not classify the Tavern keepers trade a mainstream societal endeavor. A hard charging, agressive, risk taking, type "A" personality is what it takes to be in the business. Most will rationalize, justify, minimize, intelectualize, all of their decision making belief system. A powerfull Ego prevents taking responsibility for any apparent shortcoming. Blame is always couched on others. A well honed, carefuly thought out argument that defys logic usually wins the day for most of them. When you enter into any kind of service for hire agreement with them, it would be wise to remember, "You knew it was a snake before you picked it up".........Cheers!:)