Karaoke Forums

Alan, you don’t have to give up just because you can’t lift anymore. When that day comes then it’s time to consider finding a venue where you can leave all your gear, speakers & all. I did!

I can’t see myself still mobile going from one gig to another, set-up, tear-down hauling 4 qsc hpr122 @ 60 lbs ea, & qsc kw181 sub tipping the scale @ 130lbs. Doing that at my age, heck I’ll have a cardiac arrest. Been lucky so far to get permanent rig install, 5 yrs at Marie Callenders (chapter 11) & now going on 3 yrs at this restaurant/club. Just show up at the venue, turn everything on & I’m good to go.

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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!

Or you pay someone to help. I used to have a guy that would help me for $20 to help unload and set up & another $20 to help break down & load up.

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

I got off easy with a few beer tokens.......couldn't lift the 65 pound Yamahas once my partner was no longer there so I had to trade a few beers for lifting. But didn't want to count on that so now I have 27 pounders.

But I have toyed with the idea of how a young, attractive, strong male might be an asset if I could just afford one. Okay, minion, you have done the heavy lifting, now I will dip you in cologne and send you forth to flirt.

I actually hate strong cologne or perfume but I seem to be in the minority. Makes me sneeze, eyes water, etc.

I will quit when I am DEAD!

From now till the,, I will slowly do less gigs, but I will never quit 100%.

I'm contemplating quitting within the next 6 months.

The kids are growing up so fast and i'd like to watch every soccer game and take them to piano lessons and let our nanny retire already (she's 73 this year!).

Karaoke helps pay for our yearly vacations off-island but i can't go much longer with only 5 hours of sleep and little energy throughout the day. Gettin old

The entire family is pushing me to retire from hosting. Even the idea of playing live music earlier in the evenings hasn't been supported because i guess they want me home. That's a GREAT FEELING.

Family HAS to come FIRST in this situation...but no Disney World and Japan trips next year.

p.s. I 3rd the cologne comment! They love the (shhh gucci) cologne and some regs come to say hi just to get a whiff of it every show...just never tell them what brand it is

Time for me to chime in as I said I would..

My story is not unlike many of yours out there. I am not getting any younger, and the equipment and set up isn't getting any lighter. Health issues have given me reason for concern, and I would like to be able to spend some time with my grandkids while I still am vertical. The back, feet and lungs are seriously in trouble. I can't stand on my feet for longer than 30 minutes or so,, I can't lift anymore than maybe 20 pounds without it becoming an issue. I have NO energy anymore,, and can't keep up with the young crowds. I am constantly being asked to dance when I play some dance music,, and are unable because it just plainly hurts too much. This is no exaggeration, but I winded just putting on my shoes. I am a non-smoker and have never been, but too much time in a welding shop and too many times as a youth with pneumonia has left it's lasting marks. I am only 52 years old and I can honestly see myself being in a wheelchair in less than 5 years. ........ these are my "excuses" for wanting to leave,, but the real "reason" is,, I have lost my enthusiasm and I have no desire to get it back.

I share a venue with a very good friend of mine who does Saturdays,, and I do Fridays.. My Fridays used to pack the house until the owner brought on my friend for Saturdays... Problem is,, my friend isn't very dependable,, but she is very well liked,, more so than I am. People tend to want to be where she is, and I not where I am,, even tho 'technically' I am a better host than she is by a LONG ways,, but she is much more fun to be around, and I know that is the truth. I am friendly, fair and have a much better system than she does,,, but still,, they go to her show now instead of mine. All because I don't have the energy to interact with the party crowd like I used to.

My other show is at a place that I have a permanent set up, and only have to basically turn stuff on,, but I still have no energy to get out in the middle of them. I sit in my booth and push buttons.. That's what I have become,,, I push 'play'. Call it 'burn out',, or whatever you call it, but I believe it's time for me to move on. My two big concerns are: 1),, am I making the decision for the right reason,,, and 2) what will I honestly do if and when I stop hosting? Will I just stay at home and become a hermit? Will I just give up and crawl into a corner??? I dunno,, time will tell.

When the time does come to stop pushing 'play',, I won't be selling my music. I will either pass it down to my daughter in law who has shown some interest in doing what I do, or I will just keep it at home and add it to my collection of other music and media. But either way, in case some of you wanted to know and ask,,, well,, don't ask, because I won't be selling it. However, I will be selling my gear to whomever can come up with enough cash to start their own mobile show. We will see..

Thanks guys for your input so far. I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart. If you would like to put your two cents worth on my own situation,, I wouldn't mind that at all either.

i sympathize with your current situation Mr. Scott.

Bad or declining Health is the hardest thing to deal with daily and affects every aspect of one's life.

But you CAN'T STOP and "curl up into a ball in the corner" because the pain will INCREASE and your health will suffer even more.

Optimism prevents a lot of medical problems as well. Telling yourself "there ain't no way in heck i'm gonna end up in a wheelchair 5 years from now" and being proactive will lead you in other directions you didn't think were there.

Many peoples' lives i know personally with serious physical ailments have been changed by Yoga, Pilates, Meditation, Water aerobics, diet changes, and much needed emotional support from family and support groups.

Glucosamine and daily stretching helps keep my back and knees from feeling 100 years old. A daily walk and the sun and fresh air adds years to your life. By losing 20 pounds 3 years ago, i feel less stress on my knees and i can run much faster now.

Don't give up Mr. Scott!

Anything Bose, as awesome as the brand is, costs a couple of arms and legs, and at LEAST a first born child.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

I have been blessed with incredible genetics from BOTH parents that would make Khan from Star Trek jealous.

Therefore, the only reason I would quit is death by supernova or kryptonite.

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

Mrscott,
I understand your perspective.
I was forced into retirement recently do to injuries sustained in a car accident (no alcohol involved – just an idiot behind the wheel of the car that hit me).
The time I spent immobile after the accident in recovery triggered a resurgence of the rheumatoid arthritis I have been treating since I was 29 that had been under control prior to the accident (I’m 54 now). My back, neck, and just about every joint in my body are a mess now, and it feels like I consume more pills than food these days. In spite of my physical limitations, I still love karaoke and manage to get out regularly to sing. I found that doing the things that I truly enjoy in spite of the pain helps to distract me from the pain.

If you no longer enjoy what you are doing than I would encourage you to consider what it is that you would rather do. I understand the confusion, uncertainty, and concern for the future, but you must conduct your life toward the future you desire for yourself in order to achieve that goal. If your passion for hosting is gone, don’t waste your energy trying to get it back. Discover your new passion and you will find you have more than enough energy to enjoy it to it’s fullest potential.

P.S.
I once tried to fit into the norms of modern society and found it to be exhausting and unsatisfying. Then, I met a woman who turned me on to taking a nap in the middle of the day. I discovered that my body is much more cooperative when rested. Now I no longer live by a clock. By sleeping when I’m tired instead of on a schedule, I find that I have more stamina in my waking hours. Try making time for a short nap before your shows and you might find yourself energetic enough to interact with your crowd to the point that hosting becomes fun again.

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KNOW THYSELF

Thanks earthling ,, that's the best advice I have gotten yet. I have to say this, I still love karaoke, but the desire to host is gone. It's like when I played softball and decided to give that one up. I was out there on the field, and all I could think about were the projects I had going on at home that I needed to be doing. My mind was not in the game, therefore the game was not the focus of my passion. Time to move on I said to myself. Same thing here with karaoke. I am tired of the battle, I am tired of not getting the due respect I have earned,, and I am just not there when I am there. I would rather be doing something else. Now, that 'something' else is the question. I still have all those nagging projects at home. I haven't been fishing much at all in the last few years,, and my grandbabies deserve to have a grandpa that can dote on them. For the last decade+ I have devoted and dedicated my life to karaoke, and it really has given me nothing back in return. My day job has taken a hit because of karaoke. I haven't given it my full attention either.

My passion my entire life has been music,, but sadly I am not gifted in that area. So, passion and ability don't go well in my case. My dream was to actually have my own recording studio and find 'talent' anywhere I could find it. I thought (mistakenly tho) that karaoke was doing something to take me in that direction, however misguided a direction it might have been. At least it was in the music field, so that much was a common ground. I never had the finances to make my ambition come true, so I settled for what I could get. I do have a great 'ear' for hearing talent when I come across it, which has been rare at my karaoke shows. Mostly it's been drunken noise.

The opportunities have been scarce around my neck of the woods as well, so I have come to the end of my karaoke journey. Time to pass the torch to the next willing slave to the biz. I will probably finish out the year, but that will be about the extent of what I want to do.

Thanks everyone for your words of support and kindness.

"Peace be your journey"

Scott

I am pretty much in the same boat as Troy. My wife left me 1 week ago today.
On my day job I work 6 days a week. My karaoke shows have slimmed way down to almost none and the one regular Karaoke show that I did monthly switched me from Karaoke to just do DJ work. The Karaoke crowd was around my age and I am 56. The new DJ show is made up mostly of wild middle aged women mid 30's up to a little younger than me. The wife has stated that she knows that I am not cheating, but it might happen down the road. She also stated that I do not pay attention to her and to be honest between the day job and DJing or Karaoke shows every day off as well as running the business I have regretfully ignored her.

Like Troy my wife has made it clear that if we do get back together which she says if highly doubtful, the business has to go! On the other hand if we do not get back together I have no choice but to book more shows just to live on. If this was not a factor, I would not quit until they pulled me out of a show feet first! For me there is no better high then the energy of the crowd, the music pounding my body and the lights doing their thing! All I can really say is that I love the entertainment business!

Bill

Not true, but enjoy the thought.

While smoking is less prevalent in the outside world, bar drinkers are oral people who want their butts. NJ banned ( illegally- {NJ Supreme Court ruled bars are PRIVATE property with public access, as opposed to PUBLIC property paid for with tax funds like libraries, municipal buildings, firehouses, etc...the choice SHOULD have legally been made by the OWNERS}after bribing the casinos not to fight it by allowing it there) smoking in 2006 and the bars STILL haven't bounced back. Yup, I happen to like a non-smoking atmosphere ( no goo in/on my equipment), but it slosed many bars for good, and caused others to short sell, then fail with the new owners. Keep in mind that the average smoker does so about twice an hour. Therefore, those who still come to the bare are outside 1/3 of every hour, costing the bar 1/3 of previous sales in drinks and food.

No, a quick bounce-back it ain't.

Oh yeah- the waitress that complained about second hand smoke? She's on the street looking for work because of all the bar layoffs- which also cut liquor deliveries from once or twice a week to every other week prompting layoffs there too, the restaurant supply folks layed off due to lowered sales, the same for food distributors, all meaning less local disposable income.

Yup, definitely a good health move- and a terrible business move. No? Prior to smoking bans, how many successful non-smoking (by choice) bars were opening in YOUR ( in the general sense) area?

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

C'mon. Are you seriously going to claim that NJ bars are still suffering from a smoking ban seven years ago? Do you believe that if it was eliminated today, the bars would suddenly overflow with smokers who had been staying away in protest?!

There are so many assumptions here. Not all bar drinkers smoke. Not all smokers drink. Many who AVOIDED bars before because of smoke now go to bars.

This may have hurt temporarily in 2006 when NJ enacted the ban...or even for a year or two. But today in 2013 it means nothing. Smokers till smoke. Drinkers still drink.

The smokers just go outside for their drug fix.

And now you have the "vapers" that for the most part have been able to skirt the smoking bans. But some cities and states are already addressing vaping. The FDA recently announced they will be evaluating the health risks of E-cigarettes. Expect to regulation in the future.

-Chris

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-Chris

No,, I actually can agree to a point with Joe,, very similar thing is still going on here. Smoking ban caused people to go outside to smoke. A huge percentage of the bars were "land-locked" and unable to build porches to accommodate the smokers,, hence putting them onto the sidewalks and parking lots. If they are able to go outside to smoke and actually reach their cars,, they can access the stash of booze in their cars and drink for a lot less,, making the sales go down inside the bars. It used to be the law that if you left the premise that you could not return inside the club. But, with the smoking law, they conceded the fact that some bars could not enforce that because they had no way of building a smoking section/porch outside. So, as far as that is concerned, yes,, the smoking bad still affects sales,, and it's not in a small percentage either. I believe it could be as much as 50% sales decrease,, but that is just a guess.

I hear from the customers all the time that they are doing exactly that,, drinking before they come,, stashing a bottle or case of beer in their cars and drinking there while smoking. Nothing that can be done about it either.