|
|
View unanswered posts | View active topics
| Author |
Message |
|
DannyG2006
|
 Posted: Thu May 16, 2013 3:35 am |
|
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2005 11:31 am
Posts: 5399
Location: Watebrury, CT
Been Liked: 406 times
|
earthling12357 wrote: Brian A wrote: Just an insight, no offense intended towards anyone.  If I’m a starting kj I would gladly pay $5k for a complete gem series. Kj’s here with 20+ yrs under their belts can identify with this. In its heyday sc disc were selling @ $30 a pop for spotlights (15 tracks) & $22 for p/picks (8 tracks multiplex). I have 1,250 sc collections, so a very conservative estimate $ value would be around - $30k maybe? In this day and age, if I were advising a KJ just starting out, or was just starting out myself, my preference would be buying music on-the-fly from any and all of the available download sites. A KJ today could start with zero music, purchased on-the-fly, and still be profitable within just a few shows. Considering the average number of songs that can be sung in a single show ( five hour show = 80 songs) multiplied by an average of $2 per song = $160 music cost for the first show. At least half of those songs are likely to be sung again on the next show cutting the new music cost down to $80. The third show would then cost $40 in new music and so on and so on. Every show would cost less than the last show in new music expense. In just a handful of shows the new music expense would be equal to that of a seasoned veteran KJ. We are living in a time when KJs no longer have to lug around a crate of karaoke discs, and they also no longer have to purchase a crate of karaoke discs to be viable. To a newbie KJ today, I would suggest what you are suggesting with one exception, since one doesn't know if they have internet capability in their location, to get Compuhost and KJ Media Pro. This way They don't need the internet connection at the show. Not to mention that there is only two download sites legal in the USA for commercial use.
_________________
The Line Array Experiment is over. Nothing to see here. Move along.
|
|
| Top |
|
 |
|
chrisavis
|
Posted: Thu May 16, 2013 6:52 am |
|
Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2011 12:38 pm
Posts: 6086
Images: 1
Location: Redmond, WA
Been Liked: 1665 times
|
earthling12357 wrote: Brian A wrote: Just an insight, no offense intended towards anyone. If I’m a starting kj I would gladly pay $5k for a complete gem series. Kj’s here with 20+ yrs under their belts can identify with this. In its heyday sc disc were selling @ $30 a pop for spotlights (15 tracks) & $22 for p/picks (8 tracks multiplex). I have 1,250 sc collections, so a very conservative estimate $ value would be around - $30k maybe? In this day and age, if I were advising a KJ just starting out, or was just starting out myself, my preference would be buying music on-the-fly from any and all of the available download sites. A KJ today could start with zero music, purchased on-the-fly, and still be profitable within just a few shows. Considering the average number of songs that can be sung in a single show ( five hour show = 80 songs) multiplied by an average of $2 per song = $160 music cost for the first show. At least half of those songs are likely to be sung again on the next show cutting the new music cost down to $80. The third show would then cost $40 in new music and so on and so on. Every show would cost less than the last show in new music expense. In just a handful of shows the new music expense would be equal to that of a seasoned veteran KJ. We are living in a time when KJs no longer have to lug around a crate of karaoke discs, and they also no longer have to purchase a crate of karaoke discs to be viable. I mentioned before that I have considered creating a songbook from the downloadable tracks listed on iCroons. Then download everything on the fly. Just as you mentioned, the upfront cost is zero and ongoing costs reduce quickly. It would make for some hectic first few weeks but I think the effort would be worth it. I could supplement from my existing library or track down requested songs that aren't available for download. I think this is a perfectly viable situation for a new KJ or a KJ that is expanding. -Chris
_________________
-Chris
|
|
| Top |
|
|
|
Lonman
|
Posted: Thu May 16, 2013 8:44 am |
|
Joined: Mon Dec 10, 2001 3:57 pm
Posts: 22978
Songs: 35
Images: 3
Location: Tacoma, WA
Been Liked: 2126 times
|
earthling12357 wrote: Brian A wrote: Just an insight, no offense intended towards anyone. If I’m a starting kj I would gladly pay $5k for a complete gem series. Kj’s here with 20+ yrs under their belts can identify with this. In its heyday sc disc were selling @ $30 a pop for spotlights (15 tracks) & $22 for p/picks (8 tracks multiplex). I have 1,250 sc collections, so a very conservative estimate $ value would be around - $30k maybe? In this day and age, if I were advising a KJ just starting out, or was just starting out myself, my preference would be buying music on-the-fly from any and all of the available download sites. A KJ today could start with zero music, purchased on-the-fly, and still be profitable within just a few shows. Considering the average number of songs that can be sung in a single show ( five hour show = 80 songs) multiplied by an average of $2 per song = $160 music cost for the first show. At least half of those songs are likely to be sung again on the next show cutting the new music cost down to $80. The third show would then cost $40 in new music and so on and so on. Every show would cost less than the last show in new music expense. In just a handful of shows the new music expense would be equal to that of a seasoned veteran KJ. We are living in a time when KJs no longer have to lug around a crate of karaoke discs, and they also no longer have to purchase a crate of karaoke discs to be viable. But then how do you print up a book or kiosk with stuff you don't have that might be available. I want people to at the very least have a good solid core of music to look through. Absolutely no way i'd run shows (or advise anyone to do so) on download per request alone (I don't download on the spot for anyone even now). Depending on your crowd, those songs might get sung over, but then for those that have crowds that do try new stuff often - it's a losing scheme. Even for a 4 hour show, say 15 songs per hour - 60 songs @ $2 is $120. The show pays $150. Not much gain here. 5 shows a week say even 40 new songs per night with 20 songs being repeated. 200 new songs for that week is another $400. Now that's $520 you spent that week in music. 260 songs bought. Your shows only bring in $150 each night. $750 - $520 = $230 to the kj. Rinse & repeat each week. _________________ LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!
|
|
| Top |
|
|
|
chrisavis
|
Posted: Thu May 16, 2013 9:25 am |
|
Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2011 12:38 pm
Posts: 6086
Images: 1
Location: Redmond, WA
Been Liked: 1665 times
|
Lonman wrote: But then how do you print up a book or kiosk with stuff you don't have that might be available. I want people to at the very least have a good solid core of music to look through. Absolutely no way i'd run shows (or advise anyone to do so) on download per request alone (I don't download on the spot for anyone even now). Depending on your crowd, those songs might get sung over, but then for those that have crowds that do try new stuff often - it's a losing scheme. Even for a 4 hour show, say 15 songs per hour - 60 songs @ $2 is $120. The show pays $150. Not much gain here. 5 shows a week say even 40 new songs per night with 20 songs being repeated. 200 new songs for that week is another $400. Now that's $520 you spent that week in music. 260 songs bought. Your shows only bring in $150 each night. $750 - $520 = $230 to the kj. Rinse & repeat each week. A kiosk would be problematic, but with a small amount of effort you can grab all the song data from iCroons, dump to a spreadsheet, and print books for everything they list. In the short term it seems expensive. But so is starting up any karaoke show. Spend $3000-$5000 on a GEM and you get a good solid base and may not have to buy much very often after that (totally depends on your geography) As earthling noted, the longer you go on, fewer and fewer songs will need to be downloaded because you already have them. We know our particular customer and areas and also know that a solid core of 1000-2000 tracks would satisfy 95% of the singers we service. I do download on the fly and I now get 0-3 requests per weekend between Fri/Sat night. I have found that it builds a strong link with singers and they tend to come back if you can satisfy their request on demand. I make sure they know that I don't have it, but I am downloading it now for them at my expense. That is a customer service point that my singers seem to respect a great deal. I have had a few people that have become once a month regulars because of this capability. -Chris
_________________
-Chris
|
|
| Top |
|
|
|
Lonman
|
Posted: Thu May 16, 2013 12:30 pm |
|
Joined: Mon Dec 10, 2001 3:57 pm
Posts: 22978
Songs: 35
Images: 3
Location: Tacoma, WA
Been Liked: 2126 times
|
|
I get repeat songs are going to be done. But say you only needed even 10 songs per night after the initial 60 song buy. On that 5 day a week work schedule * 10 is what 2400 songs throughout the year. Time $2, is about $4800. I'll still stick with the GEM for $5000 (or cheaper when on sale) for 6000 songs. Then buy an occasional download - the initial cost would be covered in less than a year of steady work.
_________________ LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!
|
|
| Top |
|
|
|
Kirks Karaoke
|
Posted: Thu May 16, 2013 1:45 pm |
|
 |
| Super Poster |
 |
Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2013 12:39 pm
Posts: 735
Been Liked: 99 times
|
Lonman wrote: I get repeat songs are going to be done. But say you only needed even 10 songs per night after the initial 60 song buy. On that 5 day a week work schedule * 10 is what 2400 songs throughout the year. Time $2, is about $4800. I'll still stick with the GEM for $5000 (or cheaper when on sale) for 6000 songs. Then buy an occasional download - the initial cost would be covered in less than a year of steady work. And there is the rub. Steady work. You that have been in the business for a long time will have already gotten the STEADY work to pay for your shows. I found this line late and have to work my way up all over again. I don't want to spend all my retirement monies on maybe making some of it back. I do want to have fun being a KJ and I do. I just don't want to have a full time job to have a good time. If SC was more affordable I would have it. I've never had one person ask for SC by name. I find that I only have to down load 4 to 5 songs a show to make everyone happy, That's about no more then $20 out of Pocket per show. That I can do.
|
|
| Top |
|
|
|
Lonman
|
Posted: Thu May 16, 2013 2:36 pm |
|
Joined: Mon Dec 10, 2001 3:57 pm
Posts: 22978
Songs: 35
Images: 3
Location: Tacoma, WA
Been Liked: 2126 times
|
|
It's just a dumb business move money wise IMO. The after costs are going to be FAR higher eventually than just getting a nice core library initially.
As far as books, the I-croons library would be worthless for generating a book as well, it does list manus that do not have any download capability (disc only) - only SBI, karaoke-version & selectatrack for sources - nothing from Digitrax or All Star - two key manus IMO, most of my newer stuff is off All Star. So people see a song only on disc and want it, makes you look bad when you say you can download anything but in fact you cannot.
_________________ LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!
|
|
| Top |
|
|
|
chrisavis
|
Posted: Thu May 16, 2013 2:59 pm |
|
Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2011 12:38 pm
Posts: 6086
Images: 1
Location: Redmond, WA
Been Liked: 1665 times
|
Lonman wrote: I get repeat songs are going to be done. But say you only needed even 10 songs per night after the initial 60 song buy. On that 5 day a week work schedule * 10 is what 2400 songs throughout the year. Time $2, is about $4800. I'll still stick with the GEM for $5000 (or cheaper when on sale) for 6000 songs. Then buy an occasional download - the initial cost would be covered in less than a year of steady work. Lonnie.....I believe your software lets you pull a history of all the songs that you have used over a period of time. Take the last year of songs and use that for your calculations. I am betting few of us play 2400 completely unique tracks over the course of a year. -Chris
_________________
-Chris
|
|
| Top |
|
|
|
Lonman
|
Posted: Thu May 16, 2013 3:33 pm |
|
Joined: Mon Dec 10, 2001 3:57 pm
Posts: 22978
Songs: 35
Images: 3
Location: Tacoma, WA
Been Liked: 2126 times
|
|
I just did a compilation from when I started tracking how many times songs were done. Since Sept 8, 2012 (9 months), I've had 3580 individual song titles done at least 1 time.
_________________ LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!
|
|
| Top |
|
|
|
chrisavis
|
Posted: Thu May 16, 2013 4:36 pm |
|
Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2011 12:38 pm
Posts: 6086
Images: 1
Location: Redmond, WA
Been Liked: 1665 times
|
Lonman wrote: I just did a compilation from when I started tracking how many times songs were done. Since Sept 8, 2012 (9 months), I've had 3580 individual song titles done at least 1 time. I stand corrected then. Though I also suspect that having been in the same place for 20+ years that you have people that sing a huge variety of songs. I have only been at my place for a bit over a year and don't really have regulars so much as walk-ins. I can pretty much bet I will hear a handful of songs every Fri/Sat night then it widens in scope. I have done a LOT to encourage people to go for variety but I probably won't ever have as much as you as long as I am at this particular place. -Chris
_________________
-Chris
|
|
| Top |
|
|
|
DannyG2006
|
Posted: Thu May 16, 2013 8:57 pm |
|
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2005 11:31 am
Posts: 5399
Location: Watebrury, CT
Been Liked: 406 times
|
chrisavis wrote: Lonman wrote: But then how do you print up a book or kiosk with stuff you don't have that might be available. I want people to at the very least have a good solid core of music to look through. Absolutely no way i'd run shows (or advise anyone to do so) on download per request alone (I don't download on the spot for anyone even now). Depending on your crowd, those songs might get sung over, but then for those that have crowds that do try new stuff often - it's a losing scheme. Even for a 4 hour show, say 15 songs per hour - 60 songs @ $2 is $120. The show pays $150. Not much gain here. 5 shows a week say even 40 new songs per night with 20 songs being repeated. 200 new songs for that week is another $400. Now that's $520 you spent that week in music. 260 songs bought. Your shows only bring in $150 each night. $750 - $520 = $230 to the kj. Rinse & repeat each week. A kiosk would be problematic, but with a small amount of effort you can grab all the song data from iCroons, dump to a spreadsheet, and print books for everything they list. In the short term it seems expensive. But so is starting up any karaoke show. Spend $3000-$5000 on a GEM and you get a good solid base and may not have to buy much very often after that (totally depends on your geography) As earthling noted, the longer you go on, fewer and fewer songs will need to be downloaded because you already have them. We know our particular customer and areas and also know that a solid core of 1000-2000 tracks would satisfy 95% of the singers we service. I do download on the fly and I now get 0-3 requests per weekend between Fri/Sat night. I have found that it builds a strong link with singers and they tend to come back if you can satisfy their request on demand. I make sure they know that I don't have it, but I am downloading it now for them at my expense. That is a customer service point that my singers seem to respect a great deal. I have had a few people that have become once a month regulars because of this capability. -Chris A kiosk in the traditional use of the word would be problematic. However there is one kiosk method you haven't considered. SongbookDB is software that can act as a kiosk using smartphones instead of a second computer.
_________________
The Line Array Experiment is over. Nothing to see here. Move along.
|
|
| Top |
|
|
|
Lonman
|
Posted: Fri May 17, 2013 1:55 am |
|
Joined: Mon Dec 10, 2001 3:57 pm
Posts: 22978
Songs: 35
Images: 3
Location: Tacoma, WA
Been Liked: 2126 times
|
|
Doesn't matter, I use smart phone technology for my books as well, but what database do you use if you are just using downloads? It could literally change from day to day. I have SEVERAL tracks from selectatrack that do not exist there anymore.
_________________ LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!
|
|
| Top |
|
|
|
mrmarog
|
Posted: Fri May 17, 2013 7:01 am |
|
Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2008 5:13 pm
Posts: 3801
Images: 1
Location: Florida
Been Liked: 1612 times
|
|
I have found the best way to get people to find and sing new songs (new to them) is to REQUIRE songs to be written on SONG SLIPS with information gotten from SONG BOOKS. A song book or smart phones with song books, or a kiosk, is absolutely necessary to stimulate a singer to find new songs. The KJ's that don't have song books and brag about "just come up and give me a song.....I'll probably have it" more than likely have the same singers give them the same songs every night. Of course we all know the reasons behind not having a song book.
The only singers I ever get asking for SC are the primadonnas that have been around for a long time, everyone else could care less.
|
|
| Top |
|
|
|
Cueball
|
Posted: Fri May 17, 2013 4:09 pm |
|
Joined: Sat Oct 20, 2001 6:55 pm
Posts: 4433
Location: New York City
Been Liked: 757 times
|
mrmarog wrote: Of course we all know the reasons behind not having a song book. Yeah... The KJ is cheap and lazy 
|
|
| Top |
|
|
|
mrmarog
|
Posted: Fri May 17, 2013 4:16 pm |
|
Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2008 5:13 pm
Posts: 3801
Images: 1
Location: Florida
Been Liked: 1612 times
|
cueball wrote: mrmarog wrote: Of course we all know the reasons behind not having a song book. Yeah... The KJ is cheap and lazy And 100,000 other reasons 
|
|
| Top |
|
|
|
chrisavis
|
Posted: Fri May 17, 2013 4:19 pm |
|
Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2011 12:38 pm
Posts: 6086
Images: 1
Location: Redmond, WA
Been Liked: 1665 times
|
mrmarog wrote: cueball wrote: mrmarog wrote: Of course we all know the reasons behind not having a song book. Yeah... The KJ is cheap and lazy And 100,000 other reasons Could also mean the KJ isn't a dinosaur  -Chris
_________________
-Chris
|
|
| Top |
|
|
|
TedJankowski
|
Posted: Fri May 17, 2013 7:09 pm |
|
|
| Senior Poster |
 |
Joined: Sun Nov 18, 2012 10:46 pm
Posts: 135
Been Liked: 5 times
|
|
earthling12357 I was thinking of adding that type of availability to my hosting. On the fly downloading. What sites would you recommend that are legitimate downloads. I downloaded alot from Karaokedownloads.com and I don't believe they are in business anymore. and I don't have any proof of what I had purchased from them. I should have put all that stuff in it's own folder I never expected them to go out of business. I've got about 4000 from imported discs. But I'm a bit leary of downloads with the Sound Choice Scare.
|
|
| Top |
|
|
|
earthling12357
|
Posted: Fri May 17, 2013 8:08 pm |
|
Joined: Sat Jan 08, 2011 11:21 pm
Posts: 1609
Location: Earth
Been Liked: 307 times
|
|
| Top |
|
|
|
timberlea
|
Posted: Fri May 17, 2013 9:46 pm |
|
Joined: Wed Sep 04, 2002 12:41 pm
Posts: 4094
Location: Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
Been Liked: 309 times
|
cueball wrote: mrmarog wrote: Of course we all know the reasons behind not having a song book. Yeah... The KJ is cheap and lazy Nah, it's the difficulty of translating the titles into English from Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. 
_________________
You can be strange but not a stranger
|
|
| Top |
|
|
|
Cueball
|
Posted: Sat May 18, 2013 12:12 am |
|
Joined: Sat Oct 20, 2001 6:55 pm
Posts: 4433
Location: New York City
Been Liked: 757 times
|
timberlea wrote: cueball wrote: mrmarog wrote: Of course we all know the reasons behind not having a song book. Yeah... The KJ is cheap and lazy Nah, it's the difficulty of translating the titles into English from Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Are you sure that it wasn't all those Buds you drank?
|
|
| Top |
|
|
Who is online |
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 696 guests |
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum
|
|
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
