Karaoke Forums

How many here get people that come up to you and ask questions about your setups because they want to be a KJ? It happens to me all the time. Usually, they look at my setup and want to know how much it would be for them to create a simillar setup so they can go out and get work as a KJ.

The funny part is that I actually tell them how much each piece of my setup costs. The look on their faces is priceless once they find out how expensive my setup is.

The thing that gets me is that it's always people who are damn near flat broke who ask me these questions. Once they find out how much it actually costs, that stops them dead in their tracks. I don't know a single one of them who has purchased the necessary equipment and become a kj.

And this makes you feel special?? Makes you feel more manly?? What??

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

He's just relating that there are those out there who think you can go into this business for little or no money. Those who think it's a quick get rich quick/no work scheme and then get hit with the reality.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

My business started out as a hobby and it grew into a business. It was a gradual process and did not happen overnight, it is expensive if you try and purchase everything at once. Like any business that is successful you have to keep investing in the business, and look for ways to contain costs. The equipment while important is not the whole ball game. Just like having a certain brand of music will make your show, is not true. A successful karaoke service requires a person capable of wearing several hats. That is why there are so many B list hosts and so few A list. What appears simple on the surface is really quite complex and time consuming if done properly. Also the hosts have to watch out for the four cardinal sins of the unsuccessful hosts.

1. Don't be lazy.

2. Don't be greedy.

3. Don't abuse booze and drugs.

4. Don't try to use the show as your dating service.

Another one for me is remember the Golden Rule, treat others as you would want to be treated. Have a nice day.

Excellent post!

Now you post this...... too late for me....

Uncalled for.

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

excuse me i met my now current wife at karaoke!!!
and i'm thanking the host for that.. oh wait i was the host....

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It's all good!

I advertised, as the host, with the most........after a few dates......word got around......it wasn't true.....

Hey, I popped a woody, just reading it......

Not uncalled for. The attitude sucks. He sounds like your sleazy business type that looks down on those who have no money. I had no money, but put together a system, and am now starting to get gigs. I would NEVER look down my nose at anyone who wanted advice on starting their own business. I started with NOTHING. Granted, I don't have top of the line equipment, but my stuff sounds pretty damn good, none the less. Even if I had the best of the best, I am not one who would gloat about it, or where it as a badge of honor, nor would I shove it in anyone else's face. I don't like people like that.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

And I don't like people who ASSume too much and make rash judgements about people they don't know.

For the record, YOUR attitude is the one that sucks! You don't know a thing about me and you come off like a jerk!

You want to boast in here about how you started from nothing? Big deal. Does that make you feel special? Does that make you feel more manly? See how stupid that sounds?

NEWSFLASH for you, you pompass jerk! We all have to start from somewhere and I don't look down at anybody who actually has the desire to make a plan and put forth a real effort at making their plans a reality. Matter of fact, I applaud those types of people and I would have even applauded you had you not prejudged me and attacked me before getting to know me.

So until you put up an apology, just put me on ignore and stay away from my threads.

Thank you timberlea.
I thought it was very clear that that is all I was conveying, but it appears that someone had a huge chip on their shoulder and read way more into it than was there.

..."AND OFF COMES THE GLOVES" .....but seriously, I hope you guys can work it out. Good Luck!

I too have had folks come up and ask about the cost of becoming a KJ. Most are always surprised when they find out the cost involved. They are even more surprised to learn that when you have your own business it's NOT a 9-5 gig, but rather a 24/7 deal.

I have also had people come up and say to me "Man, you have the easiest job in the world!" What I want to tell them is "If my job looks easy, it's because I work my a$$ off to make it look effortless!"
What I actually say is "Yeah...I've been very blessed to be able to do what I love for a living. I hope you had a good time, and will come back to sing some more songs for me!"

BT Magic,
I can totally relate. Believe it or not, when I first created this thread, I originally called it, "I guess I make this look easy..." but then I changed it to "The cost of being a KJ."

I've just had so many people come to my shows and think that being a KJ is a cheap and easy way to make money quickly. I just wondered if anyone else experienced that from friends or customers.

I just got a youtube message a few days ago from a guy. His story broke my heart. He said he is divorced, has custody of his 2 little boys and is paying child support on a 3rd child. Says he is barely making ends meet and can barely pay his bills, but he likes karaoke and wants to be a KJ. He says he hopes that being a KJ will finally help him "catch a break."

I haven't responded to him yet, because I don't want to make him feel any worse than he already does... but I just feel sorry for him. If he's barely making it and can barely pay his bills and take care of his kids, how in the world is he gonna be able to start a successful karaoke business? Anyway, I will tell him what all is involved and wish him the best. That's all I can do.

This whole segment doesn't come off like a sympathetic person. It comes of like Mitt Romney. You even have a "laugh" at the end of the first sentence, like it's funny that these poor slobs can't do what you are doing. Maybe you should choose your words more carefully if you want to come off nice. I'm sorry if I insulted you, but I call 'em how I see 'em.

On your point, no, I do not feel special or more manly for my stance, but were I to create a thread like this, it would come off much different.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

I understood what he meant. I get that question on occasion, asking what it would cost to duplicate what I have - they always look shocked, but I explaing to them 'good' sound actually costs money. You can shortcut stuff and get sound, whether it will be good or not is debateable.
I don't know how many times i've had kj's invite me to their show because they tell me their sound is 'top notch' or 'sounds great' only to get there & have it ear piercing loud and distortion, lack of bass. Too much effect or none at all.
It's like watching Kitchen Nightmares - the chefs all claim their food is a 9 or 10 but when it actually gets sampled, it's more like a 1 or 2. They need a Gordon Ramsey of the karaoke world.

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

The reason I put at the end of that was to lighten it up. I actually laugh a lot in real life and online. But my laughter is not to put people down, it's to keep things upbeat. I'm sorry you took it a different way.

And to answer your question, no, I don't feel special or more manly because I have a successful karaoke business. It was so hard and so expensive for me in the beginning, but I never gave up. I never let the cost, the labor or the time it takes to pull this off stop me. That is the reason why I am successful.

However, there are a lot of people who look at my success and think that what I do is very easy and cheap. That's the ironic part of all this. The people who have money and could afford to do this don't ever ask me about it. It's always the ones who are barely surviving that ask me. I thought that subject was worth making a thread about so I did.

Jr, you left that sentence open to interpretation. “You’re the host with the most…….”

Song selections? that’s nothing to be about
Stamina? Endurance? Lonnng-evity? – being able to handle 4-5 hr shows with no problem?
Hmmmm, must be the big, huge sound coming out of your pa system.

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To be fortunate enough to derive an income from a source as fulfilling as karaoke music has got to be as close to heaven as we can get here on earth!