Karaoke Forums

Prechatcha. What's that?


Johnny, didn't know you were single again!

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

Have and always will accept tips. I work extremely hard to put on a great show and am very attentive to my following. They understand my rotation policy and have given up on bribes, etc. When the tourists pop in this time of year and want to be pushed up in rotation I politely decline and tell them them the deal.
Just last night I turned down over 50.00 in bribe money because I will not tarnish my reputation for fast cash. I consider "tips" a part of the entertainment industry and have often
given the singers, band member, comedian, dancer, etc. a few bills to show my appreciation for a performance well done.
It's ironic that I'm reading this topic because last night before work I had forgotten my tip jar and had to double back to get it. Almost said to heck with it, but did and am very glad I did so.
I feel that if people see that you accept tips, then they are more receptive in giving them to you. i also believe that if your customers see one person putting money in your tip jar then they are also more likely to do so. It's a win win to me.

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Sound Choice and Chartbuster Certified

they actually offer you women to be your wives?...what country you from, I'm comming to live there too....

Yes, if tyhere are 30 people in front of you and you tip and get a drink next.



Yes if you arive at the barber and 3 people are waiting, and you hand him a tip to get your hair cut next.



Yes, if you want him to come over on an "off" day and forget about his other customers.

True, most host (at least good ones) could accept tips, and not bump people. But it is about the perception that someone else might think that if you tip the KJ you get "special" treatment.

Just another thought...A tip IS a bribe a lot of times, when it comes to "regular" customers.

Anyone serving a "regular" customer, whether it is at karaoke, at the restaurant, at the barber shop, ect..... Most people tip at their regular places of business in hope that they will get the same great service next time they are in. An usually the server will go above and beyond if they know they are going to get a tip.

Basically a good server gives 100% for every customer, but for a tipper they give 110%.

But again, it is all perception of what happens after the tip.

No Johnny, I was at Sandals Lounge, northside.

With all due respect, twansenne – I beg to differ. I agree that it’s possible in the restaurant business wherein a food server will give certain customers 110% simply because they’re good tippers. Not me!

Regular singers recognized that I don’t play favorites. They all get the same treatment & service from me. It doesn’t matter if a singer put a $1 & the other $20 in my tip jar. I figure they waited long enough to sing their song, I will ensure that each & every one get the same sound & mix to make them sound as good as possible, tip or no tip. Peace, bro!

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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 don't see the comparison to the other professions- no bumps. Please note I said "Whether true or not...". It's just the idea people get around here. My regulars know I don't bumb, but it could make a bad impression on a newbie.

That's just why I don't do it.

At no time did I imply judgement on those that do. I don't worry about what others do.

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

This is very true. I used to give the bartenders $20 or so on great nights where I could tell they were really getting after it. I also could give them a snap and a finger swing and they would bring me another drink over.

There are three people that cut hair in the barber shop I frequent. I tip very well and they all know it. I don't ask for anything, per sey, when I tip but I am always "next" for the next one that's available (as if I had an appointment) as long as they do not really already have an appointment.

There are three waiters at the restaurant we frequent and they all know I'm a heavy tipper. We get way above average service compared to other tables and usually all three visit out table.

Tips are, in nature, performance based monetary rewards but they do sometimes have an above and beyond factor to them that can certainly be described as a "bribe".

My normal working hours are 9:00 - 1:30. During those hours when the bar is paying for me to be there, I typically get $10-15 in tips, usually for people who want me to play certain filler songs. I do turn down alot of offers for $10-20 to bump people up in the rotation, which seem to always come after midnight.

The bar is open until 3:00, however, so it is well known that it is pay to play after 1:30. I typically stay 15-20 minutes late on my own time to get the last few regulars in that stay all night, if I can. After that, though, I have no problems accepting money AND bumping people up for the right price. Everyone in the bar knows I set the rotation rules prior to 1:30, and they stay fair and consistent, but Andrew Jackson sets the rotation order after 1:30. There's still a fair rotation, it's just only those who are tipping after 1:30 get to be in it.

I have never had a complaint about this method once I explain that I'm not paid after 1:30, and basically will work for whoever pays me after 1:30. It goes by so fast that only a few singers get in anyway, and my regulars know I always take care of them during the regular business hours, and slightly beyond.

On an typical Saturday night, I bring home about $50-65 in tips, $10-15 from 9:00-1:30 and $40-50 from 1:30-2:30.

I do, however, work in a bar with mostly 21-26 year olds with very little disposable income. The bartenders make their $$$ on sheer volume, as most of the patrons are very poor tippers.

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C Mc
KJ, FL

As a singer, dollar for every song I sing, or 5 bucks for the night. "That's if" you don't make me sound like sh!t, make me have to scream into the mic to overcome a bad mix, walk away as I start(too early to insure good mix)....skip me, or stick singers that just came in before me........now if you consider that a bribe.......

I used to put out a tip jar, but don't anymore because I had problems with it. I had too many people trying to use their tips as bribes and I got tired of having the following argument:

TIPPER: "What do you mean I can't go up next? I dropped $20 in your tip jar!"

ME: "Yes, and I appreciate your tip, but I still can't move you up in the rotation."

TIPPER: "But you still accepted my money! The least you can do is let me sing my song and get it out the way!"

ME: "I'm sorry, but I don't bump people up in the list. I appreciate your tip, but tips don't get people bumped up."

TIPPER: "What's the problem? Did I not put enough in there? Come on man! What's your price? I know your job is all about money. You're not doing this for your health. Come on... I know the game. What do I need to put in there so you'll let me sing now. You need another $20? Let me know, I got you covered."

ME: "No, thank you. It's not about the money for me. It's about being fair to everyone on the list."

TIPPER: "Bullshit dude! Don't feed me that crap! It IS about money or you wouldn't be here! Now come on and give me your price so I can sing my song!"

I really had that stupid conversation quite a few times here which lead me to do away with the whole tip jar here.

There have still been very nice people who have tipped me even without the jar because they appreciate me, but I just don't advertise tipping anymore because of my own experience with it. Hasn't been good.

I never tip a KJ that has a Tip Jar out for all to see. To me, it makes it look the guy is begging for tips, as if he doesn't put that JAR out there, no one would tip him.

It would be like my waitress at a restaurant "reminding" me that I'm allowed to tip her if I want to.

I tip when it's warranted; not when it's solicited.

As to Andrew Jackson determining who sings next.... I would never pay to get to sing another song. I typically spend about 40 to 50 dollars at a show between drinks and food. After I leave the bartender and waitress their tips, you think that you desrve a 40% rip on top of that to let someone sing another song??? OMG! I'm happy for you that you are able to fleece a few people every night but I would never be be one of them.

I'll just post the Punch Line to a very old joke. Most people will know the joke so that should be enough.

I already know WHAT you are. Now we're just negotiating on the price.

Johnny is the kind of singer that will test you.

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

I don't use a tip jar. Not against it, just never had one. If I did I would make it very visual that the jar is not to move up in the rotation. It won't happen.

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

Accepting tips, like many other aspects of hosting, is a personal preference.

I have a tip jar in obvious view with a (new) sign that says "New Music Fund" on it. My regulars know tips don't impact rotation and when necessary I announce it to ensure everyone knows the same. When I do announce, I also note the exception to the rule -

$100 and I will place you as the 2nd singer after whoever is on stage
$200 and you go up after whoever is on stage
$300 and I will let you pick your own song (otherwise I pick the song for the above two)

No takers......yet.

-Chris

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-Chris

You have it all wrong, at least in my case. I don't BEG or DEMAND tips, the singers BEG and DEMAND that I stay after my show is over. I don't feel like I deserve anything beyond my market value, but 9 times out of 10, the singers happily WANT to pay me to work after my show is over. The singers are twisting my arm, not the other way around.

The bar will absolutely not pay me after 1:30, no matter how packed the place is, and it usually is. They are kinda silly not to, because the bar clears out as soon as I start packing up, even though it's open until 3:00. I tell the bar owner that $35.00 extra buys me until 2:30, but he's only taken that option once in the last 2+ years since the bar has been open until 3:00.

I don't prostitute myself or do anything in the least bit scrupulous, as others have suggested. Simply, my show is over at 1:30. I typically stay until about 1:45-1:50 just to make sure all of the regulars get their last songs in, and I do that because the regulars respect it and it's good for long term business.

I remember being a singer and going to shows where the KJ begs for tips between every song, and it turned me off BIG TIME. I have never once in almost 9 years as a KJ asked for a tip..... but I certainly accept them!

I don't ask for tips, I simply state at 1:30ish when I'm done that my show is over, and if a singer asks why I can't stay, I tell them that it is because the bar only pays me until 1:30. If the singers then want to pay for the last hour, I am more than happy to stay. I don't have to beg anyone for anything, they freely ask me if they can pay for the last hour. Nothing funny going on there, IMO. I don't ask for or demand tips, I simply work until I am no longer being paid, then I go home, be it 1:30 or 2:45.

So, yes. If you come up to me at 2:00, after my show is over, and want to sing, then I'm going to say no, because my show is over. If you ask why So-and-So got to sing, I'm going to tell you it's because he gave me $5.00 to do one more song. You don't have to tip me, you certainly have the choice, but if you want to participate in after hours karaoke, it is no longer free just because you think you somehow deserve it. The bar pays for your karaoke entertainment until 1:30, after that, it's funded by the singers.

P.S., if you do happily work for free, let me know. You can run my karaoke gig and I'll just sit back and watch, then I'll collect the $$$ at the end of the night.

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C Mc
KJ, FL

One night a couple of years ago I had a fellow walk up to me as I'm shutting the lid on my laptop and asked if he could sing one more song for $50! I opened up my laptop and announced "I just had a big tipper and he is singing the last song". I took the money and had zero complaints. BTW he was a very good singer and chose a great song "Mony Mony".