Karaoke Forums

I just think too much is too much. NOBODY needs a million dollars. I think these billionaires, like the Koch Brothers are nothing but greedy bastards. Nobody needs that much money.

_________________
I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

I find nothing wrong with success. If I had something that would make me millions, damn skippy i'd be out peddling it!

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

I have no problem with success. I have a problem with excess. When you have 1% of the country controlling 80% of the money supply, that is a problem.

_________________
I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

I see no problem with that. I see a problem with the way government treats them tax wise so they don't have to pay the same percentage as you or me.

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

I highly doubt any karaoke bar owners are among the 1%.

That a new one on me. I never heard of Regulars in the crowd complaining about others not spending money while they wait for their turn to sing. I've heard them complain about all other things (like lousy Rotations, and "When am I getting up to Sing", etc...), but not about other people not spending any money. Personally, I don't think that would be any of their business (playing "Hall Monitor" to their own peers). That's the Venue's business (and sometimes it falls unto the KJ).

Maybe we've run up on another problem with karaoke here.... folks running a business who don't believe in making a profit. It's why rates have eroded, guys willing to work 4 hours for $75.

Profit is fine. OBSCENE profit is pure greed!! Sorry, I have never been a big fan of Corporate America, and I am not a raging Capitalist Pig!! You know what makes me happy? Having what I need to make the bills, feed the family, and have some extra to have some fun with, that's what makes me happy. I don't need an extravagant life.

My prices are contingent to where I am playing, what type of bar it is, and if the place draws a crowd. I live in an area that still hasn't recovered from the Recession. I may not make a lot off my two shows, but I make more than if I didn't have them.

_________________
I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

You make a valid point concerning the technology aspect, Brian. Let's say Karaoke starts at 10pm, I think a simple solution might be a policy that states: " We offer a wide selection of beers, wine and mixed drinks for you to enjoy. Including bottled water and bottled sodas for our non-drinking patrons after 9:30pm."

It lets the water drinkers know that the free ride is over, and that if they want to enjoy karaoke, they'll have to kick in like everyone else.

Having worked for private non-profit service clubs over the years I can say that three elements are needed to make a success. First inexpensive food is a must, $1.00 taco nights are big, they also run specials on burritos for two bucks, and other Mexican dishes. The food brings in the crowd, the karaoke is supposed to keep them there once they come in the door. The last element is the bar and usually they are running drink specials. These clubs do better business than the standard bars around here, they are non smoking and have a family atmosphere. Until lately during the week when it is slow I was doing three of these and doing quite well. It is a select group and generally there is not all the drama that is sometimes playing out at the local bars.

We had an Elks club that had karaoke every week for many years. Drinks and food at this Elks was very reasonable and priced for volume sales. Everything went well for several years until the water drinkers took over by the dozens. The profits went down so drastically on karaoke nights that they decided to stop it all together.

Then the karaoke "mob" went in search for their next venue to destroy with a large number of singers and very low sales. To top that, most had their own CD's. Then they found my venue and the owner liked the large number of patrons that showed up ...... until he closed the cash register at the end of the night..

It all ended one night when they had a "BIG" birthday party with 26 singers. On that night I had a total of 43 singers, so time between songs was over 2 hours. The mob ate only the large birthday cake they brought and a couple pitchers of beer. My wife takes pictures of everyone in the bar, but on that night she left the mob out of photos. Pure genius of my wife's part because they were well aware that their pictures were not taken on purpose.

They got the message and they have never returned. "The mob that never returned"

Ps I didn't mention that most were horrible singers and almost ran off our spending listeners.

Yep the days of $250-350 club nights are long gone. Guess we were all too greedy. I feel much more comfortable these days squeaking by each week from paycheck to paycheck!

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

Lon, I too love the challenge of stretching my dollar. It makes me a stronger person. My next my goal is ask the bar to cut my pay in half and see if I can still survive. I love a challenge.

I wouldn't want any one to think that I am "doing well"

If you expect to retire at 65 or earlier, you better have a $1,000,000 or more saved up if you want to maintain a relatively decent lifestyle. us ~50 year old will not be getting Social Security and the cost of living in another 15 years will be a lot higher than it is now.

-Chris

_________________
-Chris

Got ya beat.....just approached a bar this week and begged them to pay them $300/night to let me run karaoke for them....



-Chris

_________________
-Chris

I actually make $250 when I play for my buddy. I don't actually work for HIM, anymore. He used to pay me $100 to run it when I used his stuff. Now, that I have my own stuff, I work for the bar when he can't, so they pay me.

_________________
I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

Smoothe if you are ever planning on retiring you are going to have to get a lot greedier or become a politician. They want for nothing.

By support, I meant pay for bottled water, and tip when in a country where tipping is acceptable.

I would never be "that " patron.


What I meant in my previous post was that there really aren't many options other than juice or water for people who are health conscious, because few venues offer healthy/vegetarian food options or non alcoholic drinks that aren't full of sugar, corn syrup, and other things that aren't great.I can deal, but- It would be nice if there were more options. I usually spend at least $20 , which supports though it isn't a lot, but would spent more if there were more things I'd actually want available,when I'm in a venue as a patron.

All I can do is encourage people to eat and drink. If Bar Rescue is to be believed, people who eat stay an average of 52 minutes longer, right? Fresh salads ought to be plenty woman friendly and bottled water ought to help as well - you can buy a bottle of Ozarka for about a quarter and sell it for $2. Nothing wrong with that margin...

As an ex-owner, as well as past bartender, bouncer, manager, and everything else to do with the bar business:

First, that number ($128) would only be accurate if all highballs contained 1 oz of booze at $4 per pop.

Assuming that $4 is the cost of the drink: The average highball contains 1 1/2 ozs. of booze., plus mixer. Now that bottle is down to about $84, except the mixer costs money too. Figure a bottle will be at around $68 after subtracting mixer costs and overpours and freebies to bartender favorites, and that's being generous.

Now how long does it take to empty that bottle, and how much other stock must be bought in advance and kept on hand? While the drinking is being done, let's not forget that the bar must pay for staff, entertainment, electricity ( a BIG BILL), heat, cable/satellite, freakin' BMI/SEASAC, and whoever else claims to represent the artists. Then throw in rent/mortgage, taxes, liquor license, food and condiments, glassware and tableware, and a bunch of other stuff.

Yes, it definitely costs more to drink in a bar, because it has to. In return the patrons get (hopefully) ambience of their choice ( or they wouldn't be there) a place to gather with friends to party without having to clean up later, entertainment, and whatever else the venue has to offer.

Yes, it can be profitable, but a ripoff it ain't....

As for the OP:

If a water drinker/nut muncher is part of a group that DOES support the venue, then said WD/NM is just averaged in with the bunch- no problem.

It's the singles - especially divas who don't drink to "protect their voices"- not non-drinkers in general- and those who jump from show to show in one night for more air time that can be a problem. However, per my sig line, I don't cater to Divas ( No contests EVER, and I don't insert new singers in the order for this reason- they go to the end of the order).

I also work to project a "PARTY" atmosphere, and seem to do ok with it, so WD/NMs are rarely a problem anyway.

Also, whoever posted that bars shouldn't give away water and snacks is correct as well, except that in NJ, if a patron requests tap, they have to give it to them for free.

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

" Disc based and loving it..."