Karaoke Forums

Support the bar and the KJ, they both pay a price to bring you the thing we love the most......karaoke

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the prize taker

Amen MATT & RON, KARAOKE is a business not a free function. Those that don't get it are the ones who want it their way. Would you reach over to the next table of strangers or worse yet friends, and eat the food off of someone else's plate and drink their drinks up, that were ordered and paid for by someone else? That is what freelaoders do when they take they try to take up the time from paying customers in the club.

I doubt they can see themselves as this is exactly what people expect when they say they think they don't need to buy something for that evening's use of the karaoke, provided by the club for by and to attract paying customers.

Rationalize away, those who refuse to face the facts. Karaoke is an entertainment BUSINESS. We don't sit long hours behind the machine just for the fun of it. We are there to earn a livlihood from those patronizing the venue. If you don't have the money to purchase SOMETHING or the minimum allotment if there is a minimum for nonalcohol , food or alcohol stay home, or sit and listen nicely while those paying for and supporting the services use them as that service is being provided for them.

For the most part the club informs me when they have an abuser. I also have those I watch who are usually chronic abusers. These types usually get what they pay for in my clubs.

Nobody is arguing the case for water drinkers. I agree with everything that has been said about them!
My point is still that it is NOT the KJs responsibility.
I am there to entertain.
The Bar-Staff are there, at point of sale, to supply and monitor the supply of drinks to their patrons! They are in a much better position to do this!
Simple demarkation.
I'll do my job, they should do their's!

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Imagine!

Exactly Barry, we're busy enough doing our jobs, let alone someone else's.

Hooray! Somebody understands where I'm coming from!
Thanks, Timberlea.
It's not hard, is it?

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Imagine!

Easiest job in the world, all equipment and music is free, jobs just happen, the book fairy comes at night so our books are always up to date, equipment is indestructible. There is no fuss or stress and it makes us always happy. And most importantly we're paid a wheelbarrow full of money just for having fun. Did I miss anything.

And you guys don't seem to realize in a highly competibe area, the venue looks to YOU to explain why they're pulling in people who aren't spending a lot of money.

Now I'm not saying I walk around and point and do a "Invasion of the body snatchers" screem and yell when I see a water drinker!! ! Gimme a break guys. I have asked the bartender to point them out to me, though, and unless they're a designated driver, or have been a good customer overall, I WILL say that they can't sing in my venue unless they support it. The judging the good customer exception... well, THAT's the bartender's job, and I don't WANT it! !

But when you see obvious, blatant examples, yes, it IS my job to discourage people who would come in and sit down at a chair and take up space... space that a normal paying customer would use.

I guess I just don't understand why some of you are putting the blinders on saying it's not your job. hell, I would LOVE a gig where I'm not so accountable! In a highly competive market, the venues have the freedom to pick and choose. I hope and pray that you guys don't have to deal with this amount of red tape! I can't be the ONLY one either, or this discussion wouldn't have gone on this long!

Let's get real here!
I could easily say I was a designated driver or I was an alcoholic (too near the truth to talk about) but if you've got time to check out what people are drinking.......
Sorry! I'm too busy doing what I'm paid for!

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Imagine!

Barry,

If you were sitting at a table of drinkers, and they kept talking to you, DUH, of course you're right.

I'm talking (turn up your monitor, if you can't hear this! !) OBVIOUS EXAMPLES!!! The couple sitting off by themselves with a glass of water that has condensation running all over the table, and a p***ed off waitress that glares at them! !

Am I gonna have to separate you two! :wink:

Probably, because if the waitress is p****d off then she is aware of the situation and should deal with it!
It's not my job!!!!

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Imagine!

! I love ya man!

It's all good clean fun!

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Imagine!

I feel it is the ESTABLISHMENTS responsibility to set and enforce any policy on any minimum amount of money to be spent to sit their all night .
People can drink water ..I think they should pay to be there ..cost ..well thats up to the manager . Like some people said ...people drink non alcoholic beverages for various reasons ....Kj's need to concentrate on running a great show and keeping all singers and patrons happy and entertained ...Thats what we do !
(OF COURSE IF YOUR DEAL IS A PERCENTAGE OF THE BAR TAKE)
THEN you have every right to DISCUSS the policy with the management becuase it dirfectly affects your livelyhood...

So many operators who stick their head in the sand saying it is not my job are the ones who wonder why they don't stay someplace long. The reason entertainment is hired is to bring in and consistently hold a BUYING patronage. It is rare that an establishment advertises for the entertainment, and it the responsibility of the ENTERTAINER to take care of the PAYING customer. If that means missing the non buying audience so be it. Encouragement of these types can kill your gig, and have for many a karaoke company. Mine is NOT one of those.

If you don't like to take responsibility then wring your hands and cast your fate to the winds. This is so like the arguments that the club should pay to promote the show. I look out for my gigs as I am in BUSINESS and will continue to operate as such. All things are connected in the great circle of life. Those who choose to say NOT MY JOB, so be it, it is definitely your choice. I have been at this for 7 years now. I have seen a lot of shows come and mostly go. I do have an excellent track record of constant consistent employment, and an excellent business reputation. TCB is a business mantra. Business is making sure you have paying customers using your services, the club should let YOU know. (So in that part you are correct.)

I have been at one of my venues for over 8 years and the subject has never even been mentioned!

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Imagine!

I agree that it is the bar owner, bartenders etc. job to monitor what (if anything) the patrons are drinking or not drinking. If we have time to monitor what they are drinking, then we certainly are not busy enough.... and we are usually lucky if we have time to take care of what we are drinking, much less what everyone else is drinking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We just did a show recently that we have been doing for about a year every Saturday night, the owner asked US if we could brainstrorm to find out why $$$ was down that night......Some people had told us that he had jacked up prices of mixed drinks, yet he didn't seem to have a clue that raising the prices instead of having a special on them might be having an affect on sales!!!! Also slow barmaids that would rather talk to each other than get you a drink will not help matters.

It isn't our responsibility to tell him how to get the people to drink, we just put BUTTs in the seats and keep them there, it's his job to get them to spend money!!!!! My husband encourages them to drink up, by doing toasts occasionally, but he can't make them buy more.....

If he wants us to do his job too, then he should just SELL US THE BAR!!! and shut up about it!!!! "then it would be our job"

from CONNIE

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http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/kalter ... /my_photos

it's interesting to read about the 'it's not my job" responses... and those of us that feel otherwise.

To me a job is about whatever it takes to stay in business. I think Deb made a fine point, but I don't think what she said is entirely accurate. SOME places don't have a trouble with water drinkers. SOME places don't have a problem with competition so severe as I've mentioned in here. SOME places have a staff that does their job accurately and appropriately!

Some don't.

We can like it or hate it, fight about it or shrug our shoulders and say "i'm the karaoke jock" when the answer comes to you about why you're costing the owner money. Yes, the idiot that gets greedy and charges out the yin-yang will blame everyting else but his high prices!

I know when I was tossed out of my last venue, they complained about water drinkers and not making enough. I pointed out time and time again how their servers were the problem... they DEMANDED tips, would do sporadic service, and refused to put out a quality effort. Once we were gone, they brought in a competitor that was an out-and out drunk! This guy probably costs the bar his own salary in booze every night! Yet, for some strange reason, the customers not only didn't care, they brought in more of their friends, and the place picked up in business!! All too soon, the bar realized they did indeed need more servers (because of the complaints about service!), and once that happened, business picked up. Now, the karaoke is total crap in this joint, but the venue owners are very happy with the end result. PROFITS.

I could scream and yell to the heavens how I got dragged over the coals..., yet, was I wrong?? I might be putting on a better show, much higher quality ... yet they didn't need that. They got what they wanted.

Nowadays, yes, I'm busy, and on really busy nights, I barely have time to wipe the sweat from my brow! But I pitch drink specials to the crowd, give out kudos to the bartender and the cooks, and suggest drink games...

because the success of the bar IS my business!

I'm only one cog in the chain. If you don't work with the others, you will sit and spin accordingly!

My thoughts only! No need for agreements or clarifications. This is how it works here, for me. It may not apply to anybody else at all!

Matt

Here Here!

To keep this thought going, the Diner I have been at for over 3 months now (which is amazing since they never had anyone last more than 5 shows there and I do 2x a week), just hired a regular of my show to bartend. Prior to that they just had a waiter from the floor go behind the bar, AND still service the other side of the Diner.

Since they put in a "REAL" bartender, we haven't gained any new regulars yet, but the place went from grosssing around $120-150 a night to $200-300 a night off the same people.

Now since this is a diner, water drinkers aren't as much of a concern, because they will usually order food if they can't drink alcohol, but there are still the free loaders.

Here's my question, when starting a gig in a new place, is it more important to have bodies there, regardless of what they drink/eat, or to havew fewer people and usher out the freeloaders?

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Let's Kick the Tires and Light the Fires!