Karaoke Forums

It just came to me that most hosts are in their 50's or older, at least middle aged. I have only run into a few that are younger, a couple of women, and some college students working for a multi-rigg operator. This brings up the question of are there really any hosts out here that do karaoke period to support themselves and their families? The majority of hosts I would think either have a regular day job, or the live with someone who does. Some might be on disability and do karaoke to supplement income, many are probably retired, such as myself. I wonder if there are any just stand alone hosts period. If that is the case it would seem simply hosting is not great career choice. It would be nice to hear from other hosts about this, and their experiences. Have a nice day.

I'm in my late late late 20's, started my own business in 2004 ... Currently only do karaoke, although I offer kids parties and cabaret and disco.

I live with someone with a "proper job", but ALL of our household bills are split 50/50. He earns more than me, so has more of his own gadgets and a motor bike which he pays for. I've taken control of the household budget and frugally spend any spare money I have.

I would concur it a terrible career choice: I never have holidays, don't get sick pay and no help towards a pension. But it's a wonderful vocation.... everything I WANT to spend my spare cash on is a tax reduction, except the cost of the dogs, a ten pound train set (which santa never brought me so I got one for myself) and nicoteen (which I'm considering giving up). I'm not a fan of clothes/makeup, posh phones, TV and rarely drink. I also love my job, most of my days are free and in my local area many of the jobs are minimum wage and part time.

If I ever decided to have children, the hours my partner and I do between us would leave a parent with them at all time: if we decided that me giving up work was a good idea, and I became a full time mum we would live on his wage and it would be possible to continue in karaoke when the kids were older.

I wouldn't have obtained a mortgage without my partner's income, but that is probably the same for many people my age. We also save by only running one car, we each pay 50% of the running costs...but pay for our own petrol usage. If I was single, I could survive on my earnings with the increase of bills, but would live in my thermals.

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'A genius is one who can do anything except make a living'. Joey Adams.

I would think it would be rather tough to survive solely on the income of karaoke. The pay has dropped considerably over the years and with equipment replacement, new music, etc. it's not cheap.
We have found that adding corporate events, weddings, live trivia, fund raisers (we get paid), dj'ing, etc. have added substantial income on top of our regular weekly gigs.
I have a full time day job and my wife handles all the marketing and scheduling for our business. It's become a passion for both of us, but it isn't for the weak of heart. Many long hours and the constant grind from venue owners, bartenders, divas, etc. can take their toll rather quickly.
I definitely fit the mold of the middle aged host (48). I hope to be able to sell my other business within 5 years and dj full time. In the end, it's what I really want to do.

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Sound Choice and Chartbuster Certified

I also DJ and in a way enjoy it more than karaoke, I feel I'm more in charge and able to control the show more effectively. Since I'm pushing 70 I'm definitely on the upper tier of hosts age wise. From what I gather from the two above responses, there has to be some driving force to keep a host doing what they are doing. That is why a host really has to watch getting burnt out, easier said than done.

I am 62 and have now received 2 social security checks (distribution of my 44 years of contributions, NOT ENTITLEMENTS). I had a job up until 2 1/2 years ago when I got let go of a job that I held for 23 years. I fortunately had 2 good paying shows per week to help me until my ss checks started coming. It would have been impossible to have kept up my home, cars, food and gas if I had to depend on karaoke. I could have done more shows per week, but my age and some serious joint pain allows for only so much.

Most of the hosts in my area are over 50 as well. Sarasota is a much older than average population so we might have older hosts in general.....I don't know that for sure. I do believe that most hosts around here use it to supplement their finances, and not live on it.

I am 47, have a full time day job (15 years), and a growing karaoke business. I am a multi-rigger and have found that there are all sorts of people who are interested in hosting for me. Several times I have posted ads on Craigslist looking for hosts and I have had people from 21 to 51 apply. But, most of the folks I have brought on at in the mid-30's or older.

Most of the "good" hosts I know are all in their 40's or older.

I know some hosts that only do weekly karaoke shows but I have to say that they all seem to struggle with some regularity. I have encouraged a few friends that host to branch out into Trivia, Weddings, Private Events, but they seem to be content with doing only karaoke.

I mentioned in another thread that I am diversifying and at least for me, I feel that is the safest way to go.

-Chris

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-Chris

I'm 68-going-on-35... and have been retired from my federal government job for 18 years. I had the luxury of being able to take an early pension, having joined our federal government (Navy) at age 17 for a total of 33 years of toiling for the feds.

I've always had a part-time DJ business specializing in wedding receptions, corporate functions, and the like, but along about eight years ago, I got the Karaoke bug, and gradually weaned myself off of the DJ stuff. For the past three years, I've been strictly karaoke... and lovin' every minute of it.

I firmly believe that Karaoke, with it's interaction with people, and other hosting activities is what keeps me young... hence the "going on 35" comment.

So, with my federal pension, old-age pension, widowers pension, and a couple of decent-paying shows per week... I don't have to worry about where my next meal is coming from. I'm not rich by a long shot... but I'm doing OK.

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Earl
(BS, PHD & Certified CurmuDJeon)

[font=Times New Roman]"Growing Old may be mandatory... but growing UP is still optional."[/font]

I'm 36 and my wife is 35 and this is all we do. 4 nights karaoke and one night trivia (going into karaoke afterwards).
had a day job but a few years ago, like others, it went away (so much for security with a job with a big company) and kept going with karaoke. Like Earl said, i aint getting rich, but we are living comfortably. i don't think we are in any more of a dangerous spot than if we worked for someone else.

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

I started hosting in 91 when I was 23. Got my current gig in 94 where i'm working it 7 nights (well I have hosts that work for me on 2 or 3 nights). I have had multiple rigs at times but scaled down when piracy became a main factor. This is all I do, never thought it's would turn into a 'career' per se, but is working out very well for the time (20 years now).

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

I am 45 years old. I really hate saying that!! I am trying to get my business up and running. The job market is pathetic around here. I am actually babysitting a friend's kids for extra money. After the holidays I will be making a serious push to get a few shows going, now that I have a decent amount of music and outlets to buy music on demand. My goal is to make a full time income out of it, if I can. Even if I can pull $450 a week I will be happy. I could catch up on everything with that. I'm not one who is looking to get rich. I just want to make a living.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

I just turned 40 last month . My wife is 38. Karaoke is all I do as far as "work" goes now.

I ran a somewhat successful entertainment company for nearly 15 years until i burned out..bigtime. It was time to move somewhere nice to DE-STRESS and semi-retire. Since i already had been doing karaoke at mitvahs and some weddings over the years, i found a few places that pay well and it's pretty easy.

I do get sick of karaoke quite often to be honest. I like to sing but get pretty fed up with our lot of divas and the entitled younger loud singers, but i keep on. The money goes towards the kids college funds and yearly vacations. Last year karaoke brought in $28k for 3 nights work. Not a lot of money at all, but it helps.

One of the venues just recently closed due to bankruptsy so karaoke will bring in less this year.

The wife makes great money thankfully, and i was fortunate enough and saved quite a bit from the corporate days and invested wisely through my stockbroker childhood friend. Fortunately the house is paid off and the toys too, so the only expenses are living and feeding the kids. Oh, and a new dog for them for Christmas.

There IS one lady in town that works karaoke 6 nights per week, and i've filled in for her 3 times so far. She is in her late 40's and she pulls in over $50k a year. That is all she does and it's decent money. Her 4 kids are grown and her condo is paid off. Too bad she has an alcohol problem and is developing problems with her liver functions this year.

I think i'll be getting out of karaoke by next year if things work out. My wife and i are planning on opening an italian restaurant with just live musicians. Hopefully all goes well.

Happy New Years Everyone. In advance. -john

I remember when the wife and I started karaoke we hit the ground running. 6 nights a week was the norm and usually a private party thrown in every week. We had boundless energy then, Fast-forward years later and we're still hittin' it pretty hard but have become much smarter from a business standpoint.
We have several part-time dj's that work for us as we have three legal rigs on the streets. It's not all karaoke as we have 4 live trivia shows per week and 1 dj night.
I still work 4 or five nights a week, but usually gravy pick the gigs I want. Three hour karaoke shows, gigs close to my house, trivia, etc are much easier for me than 4 hr karaoke shows and driving 30 minutes one way.
As I get older I am starting to realize that I enjoy private and corporate events much more than weekly karaoke shows. Obviously, the pay is better, but not having to worry about people spending money in a bar and dealing with the crappy bartender or server attitudes is pretty cool as well.
Overall, you still have to enjoy what you do and I really think it's a great profession. It certainly is much tougher than I thought it was gonna be, but at the same time, it's more rewarding as well. I have learned so much in such a short time.
As long as my body holds up, I can see myself doing this a long time. Time will tell:)

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Sound Choice and Chartbuster Certified

I'm 34 been at it since 1996. Karaoke has gone up and down. Currently I'm at 3 shows a week. I rather DJ I make better money and work in better bars. I still enjoy it, but my days of working more than 5 days a week are past me. Years and years I worked 6 and 7 days a week, It's just too much. I do nothing but run my entertainment company for the last 9 years, I don't see that changing anytime soon, I plan to retire at 45 at my current rate.

I am 43, run Karaoke 2 nights per week but I also DJ once or twice a week as well. We hit the wedding market pretty hard, actually high end weddings are what I strive for. I love the weddings, happy people, we hit the "lighting" department pretty hard and its very rewarding to change the look of the hall and see smiles from the bride. I do have a full time job during the week, I am self employed mechanical contractor (heating, air & plumbing) so it does get tiresome at times I will admit. But I see myself dropping a day or two in the next few years and focus that time more on the DJ/KJ business. My body is feeling the effects of my hard physical work and I see this as a great way to relieve some of that.

I am very happy and fortunate in that we are able to get $250/ per Karaoke gig & $350 per DJ gig (bar settings) when the average in our town is $125-150.
So as it stands we pretty much average $850/week on this business alone. Obviously more when we add a day, private party or wedding on the weekends

i am 52 , I run a computer company during the day and my wife owns a Veterinary Clinic. I have two large library rigs that are out for 6 shows a week and a small library rig that is used for combo shows 2 nights a month. I work it 2 to 3 nights a week, and the people that run shows for me are a wedding specialist that is 56, three male kjs that are 49, 40, and 30 and a 24 year old female KJ.

48. My Karaoke business is my second job. If I lost my "real" job, could I do it full time & survive? Yes. Would I like it? Probably not. I like doing 2-3 gigs a week for extra cash/fun.



SOCIALIST!

I'm out the business, but one friend of mine, has been in the dj/kj business for only two years, but already has 10 people working for him with multiple rigs. I asked him what the average age of his employees was, and he told me 42 years old....he said he likes to hire them right out of high school....

I'm 39 and do karaoke strictly "part-time" now. For some period I was up to 4 nights a week, but then changed to working a full-time job (second shift). I do karaoke one night a week (Saturdays) and also have rental systems for home parties.

I'm 38. I've been doing this just over 10 years now. I've worked as many as 6 nights a week, but over the last 5 years (since I've been married), I limit myself personally to 3 nights per week, usually that is 2 nights in the bar and one night doing private events. I do have other DJs that run 3 other shows for me. My wife works and we have a 9 month old baby at home, which I take care of during the day. With the cost of child care, it doesn't make much sense to go to work (i.e. day job). We'd love the money, but don't NEED it. I'd rather keep things the way they are (for now) because I really enjoy spending this much time with my son.

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

How long have you been hosting in Sarasota? I hosted in Bradenton for about 5 years.