Karaoke Forums

I played at Marie Callenders’ Restaurant Fri & Sat for 4 years till they filed for Chapter 11 last year. Spacious room, full bar, dancefloor. My rig on permanent installation. No set-up or tear down. Easy work for easy money.

Recession claimed quite a few chains, some their numbers dwindled, others closed forever due to decline in sales: Tony Roma, Black Angus Steakhouse, Country Kitchen, Big Boy, Bennigan’s, Baker Square, Friendly’s. Applebees’ karaoke is another way to counter the recession & stay afloat.

Just glad I’m working again at a family owned restaurant Fri & Sat for same pay & same set-up. No tear down. Stationary / permanent installation.

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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!

Related story: Karaoke singer attacks Applebee’s manager over bad review:
http://blogs.findlaw.com/legally_weird/ ... eview.html

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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!

Under Florida law. Still, the battery charge carries a penalty of up to 1 year in prison and a $1,000 fine.

A bad karaoke review is never worth $1,000.

He must have watched that new "Killer Karaoke" show with Stevo.........I watched it Friday, and that would have really fit in...

Worked a few chains over the years. The only one that I can say that I truly enjoyed was Charlie Browns. Plenty of room, the right idea about karaoke, and no attempts to lower the fee.

The rest were pretty much the opposite......

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

some of the best karaoke shows I have ever been to were at venues that were so cramped it was standing room only.,

In fact, the restaurant was frequently fighting the fire department over the maximum capacity.

i guess it was because it was a really tight knit bunch of people. Kinda like visiting family without all the headaches.. *lol*

-James

At Marie Callenders’ Restaurant we were often visited by the Fire Marshal to make sure we comply with max seating capacity. At times it would require a staff be posted at the door to enforce crowd control, one out, one in. Located conveniently in commercial business district, happy hour @ 4-7 pm with discounted plates & well drinks. Start karaoke at 7, the place was already jam-packed, in a party mood & ready to partake in some hi-energy uninhibited karaoke. Miss that place.

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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!

They also have Karaoke at the Applebees here in Salina Kansas USA on Monday Night...it is a very small performance space..and they pay the KJ $200.00 a night for 4 hrs
The pay rate for Karaoke here is $150 -$200

Same amount $200 for 4 hrs @ M/Callenders’. Lucky I was able to get the same rate @ my current gig, Fri & Sat.

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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!

When I first started, my first gig was at an Applebees like chain restaurant. Same floor plan. It was AWFUL. I had to setup my gear in a booth and people had to sing in the aisle. There is rarely any open space to have even a small stage in many of these chain restaurants. They maximize floor space for dining, not performing.

...This was the point I was attempting to make. However, I wouldn't let a gig pass me by if I felt like I had enough space to set up my system and operate comfortably within the surrounding space. I thoroughly enjoy having large crowds at any event. Just always feel there's certain amount of space that will be needed for any event.

Its reverse @ Marie C. Ample space - six round tables for dining removed to make room for singing & dancing.

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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!

I know GeminiMALE40 stated the Applebee's pay rate in Salinas, KS as $200 for four hours. Anyone else know rates at other Applebee's locations?

Probably the same. A lot of Marie Callenders’ kjs comes to my show at the time, that’s how I know. Same rate - $200 by mail from the corporate office in TN, my guess would be it’s authoritative decision by top head honchos, not the manager chains.

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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!

I've done a total of 5 Applebees locations in the last few years down here in SW Florida. The pay is right around 50.00 an hour give or take. It is very difficult to set up even the simplest rig with the limited amount of space available.
The most successful location we had just recently cancelled because of a huge fight that caused major damage and actual injury to patrons and employees.
We still have two locations that are surviving but aren't exactly thriving. The late night idea for Applebees is a hard sell down here. Most folks do not associate "clubbing" at a bar and grill at midnight.

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Sound Choice and Chartbuster Certified

I used to have 2 Applebee's Locations. They had 6 month contracts and neither renewed after the 1st contract. I was paid $250 for the 3.5 hour show and my check came from the corporate office. I just couldn't get people there, so with a contract I just rode out the free cash. There is still one location here that has karaoke and due to the lack of other bars in that area it still does well.

I will say this much (based on my point of view as a Singer)... I went to an Applebees once for Karaoke (in my neighborhood), and I never returned. The show was an early show (run from 7 PM to 10 PM, 1 night a week). The reason I would never return is because I felt the drinks were watered down and over-priced. Now, at a restaurant, I can except the drinks to be over-priced (to a certain degree), but when you can't taste the alcohol in them, that's a completely different story. I drink when I go out to Karaoke, and I happen to be a mixed drinker. I don't really care for beer; however, I will drink Cider Beers or some of those Malt Beverages (like Smirnoff's Ice or Twisted Teas). But, restaurants like Applebees don't usually offer those types of Malt Beverages. I can't say (with certainty) that all Applebee's serve watered down drinks, but since I don't really go out to eat at Applebee's, I'm not willing to put that theory to the test.

On a slight tangent/footnote, there are certain restaurants where I will never order drinks (because they are watered down): Pizzeria Unos, Tony Roma's (I think they're out of business now), Texas Roadhouse.

The large chain of Mexican Restaurants locally that have a karaoke multi service operation manned by college students is Don Jose's, last time I was in there it was standing room only.

Long time ago (don't know if they're still there) In So.Cal Don Jose's in Torrance, CA. SRO Fridays & Saturdays, young college crowd, chicks galore, long rotation list. Kj on the take, singers singing more than once, singing in groups. But I keep on coming back - for the chicks (sorry, term chicks not pc correct).

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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!