Karaoke Forums

Well, we've only been doing karaoke since 1991, but mobile DJ since 1983. And we won't work for less either... well not $100! We've been known to give a deal for the first 4 shows then the price goes up. And that worked great for one venue, we're on our 4th year there. The one that still pays $250.. we've been there 21 years. But they are only one night per week. My area is less than a 1/6th of yours at just over 100,000 people and in the last few years KJ's have been coming out of the woodwork. Most have inferior equipment and illegal libraries. I know one guy that has a friend in L.A. who he file transfers with.. he doesn't have a song, poof! His friend in L.A. yahoo's it to him! These people can afford to charge $100. And I'm fed up with it!

When I go to a venue to talk about doing a show for them... they always know who I am and the first thing they ask is 'how much'? They know that I'm worth more, but they just don't want to pay it.

I am getting really ticked by it. My reputation was always enough.. but the $100 KJ is just too much temptation for them. Just a few years ago, the KJ's here all knew each other and frequented each others shows... we didn't try to steal anothers gig because the balance was good.. enough gigs for all. But now, the influx of $100 KJ's is really hurting that balance. And as I watch my 30 year old business hurt after all the years of building it.. I can't help but wanna scream!

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k, I'll drop being offended. Bad day I guess Though I had a great weekend... Thurs Karaoke was one of the best (fun people, good music.. and great vibes in the room), Friday DJ night was awesome too... as well as last night.. so I guess I'm just tired

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And I hope you never do get undercut. It's pretty irritating! We were at a place for almost 5 years.. business was hoppin' even on a Wednesday night, and one KJ came in and said he'd do it for $175. The bar came to us wanting us the match the price (we were getting $200), we said no so the bar said..'well, what if you do a 3 hour show, how much would that be?' We told him ok... $175 for 3 hours. *shaking head here at the math* Anyway, that worked out fine for about a year.. UNTIL the $100 guy came in. I know this bar owner.. and we stood no chance against $100 guy. We were gone.

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It's the insinuation that I am the reason that I'm getting undercut by illegal KJ's that pisses me off. Jus sayin'.

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My apologies. It was not meant to be an insinuation, just a personal observation within my own experience. I can understand your frustrations. Tho I have not lost a gig to an illegal Kj, I still do suffer at their hands. They are regularly taking customers from me and hurting my bar's nightly totals. The ppl flock to them...not because they have more music, but because they can sing more than twice a night and they can get bumped up and they can have last song no matter what the rotation is.
I have always been a believer that if I am losing customers then There is a reason and it has to rest with me...even if I don't like it. I can come up with lots of excuses that sound good, but If I don't like the way things are, I have to change them, cause no one else will.
I have to find ways to bring ppl in everyday, it's not easy and it doesn't always happen the way I want.
My personal feeling about losing gigs is that if one loses a gig to a cheaper Kj (illegal or not) ...it is not the fault of oneself, it is that one is working for a cheap s.o.b. that doesn't deserve your business. Walk away and never, ever look back.

Lisa we were hit twice this year by undercuting pirates. One location we were at 5 years on Wed., the other we helped get his business up for 7 months on Thur. Both were young kids offering to do it for 1/2 our price, and they asked us to come down to there price...We picked up a club for Tues thru Thur, two weeks ago, our Chartbuster Certificate closed the deal. Problem is theres two other gigs each of those nights run by pirates in a small town of 70, 000... Where oh where are your P.I.'s Jim?

Jon

I'm beginning to think the small town thing makes things worse! There aren't enough gigs to go around and with the economy being so bad, the bar owners will save a buck however they can, even if in the long run they will lose customers. In my opinion (from 16 yrs as a bartender), bar owners are usually a tight bunch.
There are two illegal KJ's here that I know of.. and a couple more that I suspect. I was going to wait until I got my SC certificate but I think I'm just going to go ahead with the CB one and visit some bar owners (I hate this part of the business, am used to them calling us not the other way around!)... let them know what is at stake if they hire illegal KJ's. I bet most of them don't give it a thought.
And yes, it's an ego blow when a gig is lost. This one was only the second one we've ever lost. The first time it happened, it was a KJ that had worked for us previously... and she majorly undercut us. We'd been at that one for over 10 years. And now that place no longer has entertainment of any kind.
I do first look at myself for the reason the gig was lost... but both times I had to conclude that it was money, not me. Greed really... bar owner was happy with sales but thought, 'gee, why should I pay $200 when I can get the same thing for $50 plus a couple of beers'... little do they know.

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Maybe not money, but they could own a few bars!!

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Alan, I like your website.. very nice

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They didn't know the difference until we met. It's Sandra, her reputation is so good, and she's a born performer...Everyone loves her, they just like me...

Jon

Aw You're a lucky guy!

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Your link is broken.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

Don't start piracy discussions in this forum. If you want to discuss something like that, take it to the Piracy forum. I have sent some posts there.

We are getting dangerously close to the point where people are introducing that angle into every thread. Think before you post, and if it has to do with piracy or legal issues don't discuss it in the Karaoke Discussions forum, please.

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

Back on topic...

I charge $100 an hour for a private party, three hour minimum. I charge a travel fee for gas/tolls if over 50 miles which many are in my area (drove 80 miles one-way to a gig last Saturday in NJ). For a four hour, weekly bar contract I charge $200 for the night.

Obviously, i mostly stick with the private gigs for the $$$.

You should charge more for private gigs... Here, I could book you all day long and pay you $100/hr and still make a hefty sum for arranging it...

I've been considering it....

I live in a tiny Ozark Mountain Town. I charge 150.00 for a 4 hour show. Have been booked solid every weekend for the past five years. I have had a few of my places that got offered a much lower rate, by someone trying to compete with me. I cheerfully offered the venue a chance to try them out while I went on vacaction. When I came back, they were so relieved that they threw a few perks in just to get me back. This will be my last year. Good luck to all that carry the music on.

Hell now I'm starting to wish i lived near chip. The last person I tried to charge $100/hour for a private party actually physically threw me out of there office.

*shrug*

-James

I live in a little lakeside College town of 15,000 and I have never had a problem getting $100 per hour here for private gigs. However, My Karaoke Business (7 nights a week) is out of Tulsa, Ok, 80 miles away with 650,000 pop.
I can get $150 p/h there with no issues except from my regular bar customers that always want me to "hook 'em up" for a birthday or wedding.
The largest Dj/karaoke company in Tulsa is "Dj Connections" and they charge $500 for a 3 hr gig. They have several (more than 5 Dj's ) working allllll the time. They are not hurting for work and always hiring.