Karaoke Forums

Thats exactly what he did...a nice new loaded hard drive with more songs than mine dunno about the quality I havent really looked at what he has in that direction but I pride myself in buying quality music not the sgb midi type crap. I bought SC CB & pioneer for the majority & have some dk (just ok imo) legends,zoom & a few others. But no garbage. So I guess people dont care what they sing along with anymore b/c theres so much garbage music out there they get used to it.

_________________
Kelley
Star Sounds Karaoke & Mobile Recording Studio


[shadow=black][scroll]You have to respect your audience. Without them, you're essentially standing alone, singing to yourself....KD Lang[/scroll][/shadow]

The dreaded "Loaded drive"

In the words of Michael Corleone, " It's not personal, it's strictly business.". If the club owner wanted to stick with your guy, and your guy could make more money from it, and they both benefited from the change then it's just business. They is NO loyalty in business today. It's not just Karaoke, it's everywhere. That's is today's world. Does it suck? YUP!! Like I said, I wouldn't do that to my friend, but some guy I was just working for? Yeah I would. If the owner liked me better? Why not. That is business.

_________________
I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

Week excuse. So the club wanted him and no one else? You don't just be a weasel & TAKE the gig, you be a man & work it out with the company that is currently hired in there. I'm willing to bet something could be worked out to benefit everyone without having to 'steal' the show - in other words, being a thief!

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

I would also bet the main reason the owner went that way is because the guy offered to do it for less which was easier to do with a pre-loaded drive. It's kinda stupid, really, giving someone the gig out from under a known when you don't know anything about the equipment or music the guy was going to bring in.

If I were an owner, I would look at it the same way I look at cheaters in a relationship. If a dude was willing to steal (cheat) on someone that gave them the break, why would I assume they are note going to steal (cheat) on me?

Smooth, I do agree that its just business and that's why people should not assume anything about anyone they are in a working relationship with.

My honor to give you your first "like" Kelley! If there's one thing I can't stand, it's a low life snake in the ground weasel!

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

It's not being a thief if the gig is offered to you. If there is no contract between the club and the other company there is nothing forcing the club to honor the other company. Now, I WILL say that this guy was wrong to do it with a loaded drive. That was the only shady part about it. Offering a lower price is not a crime. The two that left Kelly's company who were relations were the real snakes. You don't do that to family or friends. But the other guy, from what it sounds like, was just some employee.

_________________
I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

I'm sorry you feel slightly attacked. Was not my intention. The above is what made me think he was being paid peanuts and unhappy with the arrangement with your company. I'm not excusing what he did, just trying to understand why this keeps happening to you. I am only going off the info you provided.

Once again, this is the reason why I could not work for a company. Even though you provided the materials for him to do the work and paid him half of an already low wage, it just would not be enough for me. Just not worth my "time" in the long run.

I'm sorry he stole that show from you. I do agree that is not good business. I would never do that to someone who gave me an opportunity. However, if I was unhappy with the situation and the owners wanted to hire me away from the company, I would let you know, then I would probably just quit. That way, you can talk to the owners yourself and remedy the problem since it was your gig.

Nope, you are right, maybe there was no contract with the club. However, I think anyone with any kind of morals would at least have the decency talk to the person they are working for now to work something out - even if to just tell them face to face and let them know what was going on, slithering in on under the person that hired you like a little snake without any explanation, pretty messed up. Even if you quit a real job, most typically give a 2 week notice, not just up & quit.

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

Yeah, that would normally be the case, but you just don't know the whole story. There have been jobs that I have been on where I gave the courtesy of 2 weeks notice, but there were others that I didn't like how I was treated for whatever reason, and I found another job and up and quit the last one, just to screw the (@$%&#!) I was leaving. Some people just need to be taught a lesson.

Don't get me wrong. Nothing I have said here is a reflection on Kelley or her hubby, as I don't know them. This is just my opinion on the the whole thing.

_________________
I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

I think it's completely WRONG. Where is the integrity, honor, loyalty? The OP gives this douche bag an opportunity to bring in some extra cash with no money out of HIS pocket and this is how she is re-paid?
Tell you what you do....... Go to the venue he stole and drop off some piracy literature to the owner and let him know how Sound Choice, etc. are cracking down on illegal hosts in your immediate area. Get your camera and go the this venue the night "douche-bag" does his show and every time a sound choice track is playing take a shot of the lyrics screen and audience monitor (if applicable). Also, take pictures of douche bag and intimidate the crap out of him.
What he did is inexcusable and I would make him pay. I assume this idiot knew of your dealings with dishonest family members and yet still had the audacity to steal your gig.
Also, future point of reference: Stay in contact with your gigs. Even if you don't do the show you have to call every so often and make an appearance as well. Get emails, contact numbers, etc of all your venue managers, owners.
This will help create the NEED for you to stay around. Ask them how things are going, advise them when you get new music, books, speakers. etc. Drop a flyer off or bring in a group of friends on a slow night. They need to know that your the "oil" that makes the karaoke machine run.
I have a total of 5 dj's who do karaoke/dj, trivia, weddings, etc for me and most if not all have confidence in themselves. I know they must ponder from time to time how much more money they could make on their own or how lucky I am to have them, etc. This is one of the reasons that I stay in contact with all MY GIGS! They all know me by name and I try to make them realize that without the wife and I behind the scenes the machine would break down.
Good luck down the road and I hope things get better soon:)

_________________
Sound Choice and Chartbuster Certified

And why would you assume he has a drive full of SC. Only a total fool would do that. My hard drive has all the stuff I have bought, on it, but none of my Sound Choice on it.

_________________
I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

He's foolish enough to buy a 'loaded' hard drive to begin with. Don't matter the content - that in itself is out & out piracy, however I am willing to put money with any kind of odd in your favor that he's stupid enough to have SC on it! And i'm SURE he'll be honest enough (since he's already displayed that to Kelly) to delete the tracks he doesn't own ........ I almost couldn't say that with a straight face, i'm sure he'd seriously delete his entire hard drive!

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

Karaoke Kelly
I am so sorry to hear this happened to you. Having multiple rigs myself and hiring"help" I have had this happen two times over the last 20 years. Having a non-compete clause can keep honest people from running out, starting up and stealing your gigs, it however will not stop those without moral fiber. If you intend to hire anyone in the future spend plenty of time finding out who(and what) they are. We have helped a number of those who were our "help" enter the business in a legal manner as well. Most find that they would rather be "the help" after a short time in the karaoke world. Half the pay for less than 1/3 rd the work and no out of pocket cost makes economic sense to them. Best of luck to you

Guaranteed this jerk's got a loaded sc library. To think otherwise would be ridiculous. All I can tell the OP is that Karma is real. I had a karaoke business partner when we first hit the ground running doing karaoke years ago. It was a very short-lived partnership because she was very deceitful and ruthless when it came to business.
She justified everything she did and wound up destroying everything we worked so hard for. The split was pretty bad and she wasted no time spreading rumors and false innuendos are way every chance she got. Well.... fast forward 3 or 4 years later and she is paying the price for her cheating and lying ways.
Good things happen to good people as well. Keep your head up and fight the good fight.

_________________
Sound Choice and Chartbuster Certified

I feel for you, so many people have no moral compass anymore. And bar owners could care less about how great your system is, what kind of mic that is or if your disc based or ebay hard drive junky. Sad but true fact! This guy will get his in the end, one form or another, and I'm sure he will then (@$%&#!) about how he was screwed somehow. We recently lost a gig of ours after only 4 weeks . New venue in which I helped tremendously in the setting up for karaoke, lights, stage, concert type set up. I lost it to a guy that came in and offered 6 hours instead of my 4 and also $50.00 Cheaper. No loyalty, morals or integrity out there anymore. Sad

The reason why you do not see 100's if not 1,000's of people posting on this site is because it supports the fact that the people willing to be fully committed/engaged in something are the minority (minus the rare few that come here to engage in battle). No different than a retailer putting their heart and soul into genuinely helping a consumer and they turn around after all your help and find a cheaper price elsewhere. People with morals, convictions, principles are outnumbered by many who do not think twice about the effect they have on you. More cases than not, the owners of these clubs are the ones looking to cut corners and plant the idea in the kj's head to jump ship or in some cases bar owners have a level or resentment that you have subcontractors doing your work (not fair, yet proven stories).

Clearly her kj had every last moral obligation to never do this to her. Yet the circumstances which are not fully known propelled them in that direction. A real shame.
We feel terrible knowing this happened to you. Our company has invested a lot of money/time/heart into building this business and we are continually dumbfounded by those that ride a wave that you built and then attempt to knock you off your board.

Example; Due to years of loyalty to a city worker, we had the opportunity to supply a dj host for the a high profile 1.5hr. gig. $600.00. The host was struggling to find jobs so we felt bad and gave this dj priority to help him out. The dj received 50% of the proceeds. (In truth, should of received $150 for less than 2 hours and that was more than fair. Instead, gave literally 50% of the money to him).

The person who cut the check gave it to him and he noticed the $600.00 bill. Never thinking once about the insurances, equipment, years of relationship that even afforded that opportunity, etc. He quickly challenged us as to why he did not get more. It simply goes to show the lack of regard to all that you do. Mind you that this dj most often was
only paid $100 doing a 4 hour gig for someone else. We went above and beyond and was shocked to hear this. This shows how narrow minded people can be. The lack of appreciation shown when they cannot truly comprehend the larger picture. It is that type of thinking that leads to stories like this kj stealing her shows.

The kicker is that most often, they never feel they did wrong. Our heart goes out to her struggle and others like her.

MADPROAUDIO ~ EX MILITARY DISABLED ~ FAMILY OWNED COMPANY

_________________
MADPROAUDIO ~ DISABLED VETERAN ~ FAMILY OWNED COMPANY

Did they steal your songs?
Report them & the venue to piracy...

What comes around goes around...They'll get theirs in the end.

Indeed, if they not only took her gig, but also spent time stealing her music. Then please pull out all the stops and fight back on this one. Including approaching the bar owner and giving them the opportunity to fully understand the money you invested, the heart you gave to your profession, and the trouble this kj will cause for them. If you collect enough information, you may even be able to file an unfair competition suit. Fight it on principal alone if nothing else.

MADPROAUDIO ~ EX MILITARY DISABLED ~ FAMILY OWNED.

_________________
MADPROAUDIO ~ DISABLED VETERAN ~ FAMILY OWNED COMPANY

I don't believe you are accurate. The show taker did not steal her music, but bought a loaded drive.

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