Karaoke Forums

I was wondering how many KJ's out there get their gigs from a booking agent? We have this real Jerk in our area that has started a booking agent company. About a two months ago he called us asking if we were available to do a gig on Thursday nights and he lead me to believe he actually worked for the venue. Later when we accepted the gig he sent us an email indicating what our pay was and the percentage that was due to him for booking the event. We would collect our pay plus his cut from the venue than mail it to him every week. I informed him that I did not want to get into the payment processing business and that we never ask for a booking agent. If he wanted to receive a percentage we would leave his share at the venue and he could pick it up. Needless to say he is friends with the owner and just today he sends us an email informing us they are going in a different direction. This guy is trying to be the middle man for all of our area and he is a JERK. At this point we are extremely busy and our consider the best in the area. Is this something you would worry about or would you have broke ties from the beginning?

Unless they are reputable to begin with, don't use booking agents.  They usually tend to stick you in clubs that aren't the best to begin with or out in the sticks, generally will underpay plus make you pay them anywhere from 10-20% of the take - and that's only if they were being honest with what they were going to pay you to begin with.

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Thanks Lonman, The venue we were playing was very happy with us but he felt that acts/DJ/KJ's who payed their booking fees should be booked in there. Bottom line I would not agree to his arrangment so he wanted to show his power (Karaoke Mobster). It's sad because the regulars are the ones that will suffer. We ran across another venue that has him hiring entertainment on the weekends but we made it clear that we do not wish to work through him and they agreed. They said he has no contract with them and only hires the bands on the weekend.

We have a booking agent /production company out here that books all the BIG bands and ACTS for the states larger Clubs etc. - Seems you can't get into one of these laregr clubs without going thru them  :(  

Mostly BANDS - but I have noticed some DJ's and KJ's

I have never had a booking agent for karaoke, but for live music I used them often and have very few horror storys over all.  This guy however sounds like a complete jerk.  If the agent isn't willing to watch your back, you don't want him.  There has to be a relationship other than the exchange of greenbacks or an agent will book a Rap artist at a Klan rally if the price is right.  He doesn't have to deal with the consequences after all.

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Okay, who took my pants?