Karaoke Forums

In another thread, the word "competition" was mentioned. It's easy to let the word "competition" be a black and white definition. I prefer the word "coop-etition". KJ's are a part of a community that I believe is better served though cooperative competition. I know there back-stabbing, bad mouthing, drama, etc, but I prefer to acknowledge other great hosts around me that support legitimate karaoke operations.

As a for instance, I refer folks to Lonnie's show in Tacoma pretty regularly. on the surface it may seem like I only do that because our gigs are 20-40 miles away from each other. We aren't competing for singers or gigs or $$$. But I also I refer folks to shows/KJ's I absolutely "compete" with. I do so because I know the hosts to be great hosts in venues where people feel safe. They are also legal and do great things to support the local karaoke community as a whole.

There is one outfit in particular that I aspire to be like. They run 17-24 shows a week on a regular basis. The two business owners are great people and great hosts. They have built a successful karaoke business at scale and have shared success and failure stories with me. They have shows within walking distance of 3 of my weekly shows and we share some of the same singers from time to time. I have been to their shows, they have been to mine. I have even promoted some of their shows via my Facebook page. We are all "friends" on Facebook.

I imagine it is a little different in less populated areas where the word "competition" means you really are competing for shows, singers and dollars. But here in my neck of the woods, we seem to get along pretty well with each other.

-Chris

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-Chris

I primarily compete with three shows that are within about 5-6 miles of my bar, and I don't mind sending singers to any of them.

1) Whenever a singer asks why I don't have so and so song that just came out 5 minutes ago, or why I don't have 200,000 songs like the other guys, I send them down the road to the pirate with 200,000 songs that gets all the new stuff illegally. Of course, he's 78 with an oxygen machine, and his show has no atmosphere and no excitement to it whatsoever. Almost everyone I send over there comes back and appreciates what I do much more.

2) Whenever people ask why it takes so long to sing at my show, I tell them about the bar down the street that does "jukebox karaoke" five nights a week. With almost no waiting, you can pay $1.00 to sing a song off their jukebox. Of course, it's pretty boring without a host when no one is listening and no one is clapping, and it's no fun for the singers or the crowd when the same 3-4 people sing over and over again all night on a subpar system and no focal stage area. No atmosphere, no excitement. Almost everyone I send over there comes back and appreciates what I do much more.

3) Some people ask me, "where else do you do karaoke. I want to come to your Thursday show." I don't have a Thursday show, but I'm happy to direct them to the Applebees down the street that has a Thursday show. They actually have a pretty good KJ, but he's primarily a DJ, and has subpar equipment. Still, he does an adequate job, and I've had a good time there myself. Still, it's a stark comparison with my show, and I usually still see those people at my Wednesday or Saturday show.

Anyway, point being, high tides float all ships. I never talk down on other shows, but I let my quality speak for itself. If a singer isn't into what I offer or don't like the way I handle my show, they are welcome to go somewhere else, you can't please everyone all the time, and if they get what they want somewhere else, awesome.

The worst are those that want you to do this or that "like the other guy" even though you explain to them that you perfer to do it differently.

I had an arguement that went on all night last Wednesday with a singer who wanted me to pull up his song that I didn't have on YouTube. Of course, I refused, and explained the legalities, and of course he went into the whole "Johnny down the street did it for me," and I told him he was welcome to go sing with Johnny down the street, but I was running a clean business. This made the singer furious, and he said he'd never be back, which is perfect, because he was a cancer to my show.

Anyway, point being, offer a superior product for your singers that makes money for both you and your bar, and you'll always have a job without need to worry about the competition!

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C Mc
KJ, FL

The other set of legal hosts in our area and us get along, ccoperate, have covered for each other, etc. The rest aren't very trustworthy.

I don’t consider other kj's (pirate or legal) as competition either. I don’t badmouth ‘em, nor do I toot my horn & say my show is better. That would only create a negative atmosphere. I’d rather have friends than enemies. I just do my bit but at the same time always focusing on how I can improve, not thinking in competitive or comparative way. Let the customers decide. ‘Been hosting 20+ years, there’s always room for improvement. The old saying is still true: “You will catch more flies with honey (customers) than with vinegar.”

I also acknowledge the kj’s presence when they go to my show, always announce “______ is a fellow kj, hosting karaoke at _____ every _____night. Please check-out his show”. I learned that from my mentor, Peter Parker, owner of k/scene back in the day when he was still hosting, we go to his show & he always acknowledge kj's in attendance.

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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!

I get along well with several hosts/companies in this area. Many come to my shows regularly on their nights off. I often do referrals to them when I get shows I cannot do. Just referred 2 kj's last week for a couple shows that contacted me.

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

When I have done some shows, I have also acknowledged fellow KJs in attendance; however, I never announce that they are doing shows (or where). In general, venues where you are hosting do not like to hear announcements about events taking place at one of their competitors location/s. So, after the audience has been made aware of the presence of another KJ, they will usually gravitate over to them (if they want to find out more information).

Competition is competition. It's great that you get along with most of them.

A fellow KJ should be treated as an officer of the law when you are under suspicion of having possibly committed a crime.

Anything you say can and will be used against you.

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I'm not a cheerleader, but I paid for my pom poms with my own money!

Respectfully, Cue, the owner/manager of the venue where I host is definitely cool announcing other kj’s locations. Heck, if they come in earlier (or late at night) I’ll even tell my audience that they’re playing the same nights as we are. Competition? My manager & I are pretty confident competition is non-existent as evidenced by the amount of crowd we have compared to theirs.

I echo TopherM’s accurate assessment & I would be remiss if I didn’t re-quote his last statement above. He said: “Point being, offer a superior product for your singers that makes money for both you and your bar, and you'll always have a job without need to worry about the competition!” end quote. Thanks for your insight, Topher!

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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!