Karaoke Forums

I just bought a new Photo Booth Kiosk. My wife is going to help me run the photo booth while I Dj. Does anyone else have a photo booth and how do u do with it. It is very popular here in Louisiana. Just about every wedding is renting this so the guest can leave the wedding with a photo (wedding gift).

Are you a DJ or a karaoke host?

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-Chris

How does this work? And why is it popular? It seems most females and metro guys simply hold up their phone for a selfie or an usie.

Some do but most Photo boths have props and funny hats ect. and more then two folks can fit. 5X8 pics printed out right there and then.... The biggest thing is they take up a lot of room. So in a small bar good luck in finding the space to do it.

I've only seen them at weddings but they are very popular there. Groups or singles can go in and mess with the props or just do poses. I think each turn is 4 photos each with warning beeps before each one. The one I participated in had an on the spot sign up for facebook and they put your photos up on your timeline. Then even if you didn't order on the spot you could still order at any time. From time to time I get a "spam" from them posting photos from other events and they aren't limited to weddings. They seem to be constantly booked doing corporate events, concerts, fairs and business parties, etc. They are their own business and not associated with doing karaoke or DJ.

It IS a large setup so I'm not sure how it would do at a bar--not to mention that you might have a bunch of drunks going in splashing sticky drinks on the feather boas and taking photo after photo without actually buying any. But if you do weddings, etc. it seems like it would be a real asset.

One thing I am not sure about is how they make money when they put the photos up on facebook. Anyone could just copy and print their own????

Thanks for the responses!

I do DJ and Karaoke. The photo booth takes pictures at any event and print out for the guest to leave with the picture. Instead of brides and grooms buying party favors for the guest they are renting the photo booth and the picture the guest leaves with is the party favor. I also have a software where people can instantly send the picture from my touch screen computer straight to their facebook. Also u can charge an extra fee for props and also if the bride want all the pictures from the night on a sd card. You can also make a photo album for the bride and groom with all the pics taken from the night. It usually rents between $800.00 and $1200.00 for a 3 hour event with unlimited photos.

What brand or model did you get and is it simple enough to hire folks to run it for you with minimum training?

Most of the places where I go for Karaoke are small bars. As Ct Kirk Karaoke brought up, I agree that you would probably be hard-pressed to find the space for one of those Photo Booth Kiosks. Most of these places pay as little as possible for a KJ (based on the KJ's asking price vs what the KJ is willing to accept). Who is paying for those Photo Booth rentals?

Mostly wedding, class reunions, private parties etc I bought it from limelight photo booth in Oregon. The whole set up was about $7000.00 Not including touch screen computer. My hope is to rent the photo booth and dj the event and make about 1500.00 a party.

I already had to turn down 3 events because I'm still getting everything together I need. I should be ready to go in about a month. I am ordering a 8x10 canopy that has photo booth printed around the sides of it. I actually see me being busier with the photo booth than playing music.

OK... Now I follow what you're saying. I misunderstood, and thought you were asking how many KJs use a Photo Kiosk at their shows. I can definitely see the possibilities of that being rented out for use at a private function.

I don't see the possibility of this being a successful money maker. Aside from all the work of setting this thing up, we got a few negatives going on here:

1. Selfies are the thing today. It's quick, easy and fun. Take a selfie and send it anywhere including your social media sites in seconds.
2. Weddings are "usually" high class affairs held in nice banquet halls. Setting up a kiosk will take away that classiness and degrade the quality of such an event. Most DJ's doing a wedding will wear a Tuxedo or at the very least a suit. You wouldn't want him/her hosting your wedding in jeans and a t-shirt, would you. IMO the photo kiosk at a wedding would be an eyesore and of very poor taste.
3. This will take up space so don't plan on using this in the average bar.

I could go on but I'll stop here. I just think it's a poor investment. However, I wish audioprola the best of luck.

Cueball: How are you, my friend?

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Electro-Voice Evolve 50... Taking Sound To The Next Level.

Every wedding I've done for the past two years (7) has had a photobooth, and paying more for it than they paid me as the DJ. So it is a very viable business strategy.

Whatever. I still think that it's in poor taste and takes away from the "elegance" of the wedding, that is; unless your wedding takes place at a carnival.

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Electro-Voice Evolve 50... Taking Sound To The Next Level.

Alan, you are so right but why stop here...

How about a self-serve kiosk to eliminate the need for bartenders? Yup, step right up and get your own drinks!
How about a self-serve kiosk to eliminate the need for a DJ? I think they're called Juke Boxes.
Or, how about a self-serve kiosk to eliminate the need for chefs, cooks, waiters and waitresses. A food kiosk, automat style. That's right, put in your money and out comes your already prepared food selection. Wow!

Photographers? Think of the past, now. Who needs them to capture your once in a lifetime moments when there's a photo kiosk?

The point is, where do we draw the line? The photo kiosk, IMO, is a very low class option to be used on such a special day. I would never use one and given the option if it was my wedding, I would be embarrassed to have one displayed. But, that's just me.

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Electro-Voice Evolve 50... Taking Sound To The Next Level.

So does that mean that a photo kiosk is necessary for the guests to leave with a photo? Think again. Just about everyone at the wedding will either have a digital camera or a smart phone. Today's smart phones are capable of high resolution photos of 5 or more megapixels. So, as you can see, there's really no need for a kiosk when people can take and leave with as many pictures as they want. With that being the case, please explain to me the advantage of having a kiosk (for the guests).

But before you do, let me ask you a question... Do you feel you can do a better job as a DJ then having a Juke Box at a wedding? After all, a Juke Box is a kiosk, too. Just put in your money and choose the songs you want to listen/dance to. Doesn't the same thing hold true with the kiosk? I'm sure most people will get better pictures, than what the kiosk will give you. Not only that, but there is a feeling of pride knowing that YOU took the picture with Your own camera, and it looks great, and makes you smile.

I hate this photo kiosk idea.

There's a great song by Miranda Lambert that you should listen to; it's called Automatic.

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Electro-Voice Evolve 50... Taking Sound To The Next Level.

The wedding I attended that had a photo booth was an outdoor wedding and the booth fit right in. It was no more obtrusive than the catering canopies but they did have it set up well away from the ceremony area. It really got cranking during the reception.

It was extremely popular and the quality of photo was much better than a selfie. There is a nice background fabric and the lighting is perfect. If I remember correctly, you are able to see yourself as you pose to make sure you are all in the frame, also. There is just something fun about it.

Also, as mentioned, the booths are popular at many other events than weddings.

Alan B - Photo Booths at Weddings and private events are big money. If I did more private stuff I would buy one. Say whatever you want, people are making a crap load of money with them.

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-Chris

What? Only audioprola & cueball? No extended “well-wish” greetings to: brian, lonman, chrisavis, joechartreuse, & many others you butt-heads with? (& the hits just keep on coming).

Alan: how are you, my friend?

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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!