Karaoke Forums

What do you pay a subcontractor for a typical karaoke show?

I'm just wondering what the norm is on here

I just had a guy the other night run one of my shows for me while my wife and I did a private party. I paid him $100. I normally pay $75 but it depends on circumstances. In this case I just wanted one of my best shows covered by an experienced KJ that I trust. My wife and I went ahead of time and set up and I came to help tear down later. I have heard of people paying less and people paying more but in the end it depends on how much the show pays in the first place. It is your equipment after all and your show so obviously you need to try to at least make half.
If my wife does a show all by herself...well that's a different story...she takes all the money!

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KLAM Entertainment..."Come Out Of Your Shell And Sing"

If they are using my equipment and don't need to setup or tear down, I pay them anywhere from $75-100 depending on the event. If they are using their own equipment, I typically give them the entire fee minus $25 for me.

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

I've practiced the same for regular karaoke gigs too!

Corporate karaoke events were a different story. 50% of the contract and they HAD to use my equipment and set up criteria.

I had a guy working for me a couple years back, he got 50% of the pay (usually $75-100).
I did give him a $500 Christmas bonus.
It was kinda nice, I just sat at home collecting $$$$$

Usually if I passed a gig over to someone it was because I didn't HAVE the equipment, so what I kept was more of a finders fee of sorts.

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

I am in this position now. We run 21 nights a week and I am the relief man. I miss running shows on a regular basis though so I may pick up my downtown Seattle gig again.

-Chris

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-Chris

Good idea playing as relief man....able to cover sickness, funerals, no notice quits, firings, vacations, scheduled nights off. And you are familiar with all the gigs and equipment so don't have to try and find someone short notice. I assume the wifey can do this also.....or is she strictly the set-up, tear down person? Do you use no-compete agreements and adhere to at-will provisions?

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"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

My wife has thus far resisted wanting to learn how to operate a show. She has more than made up for it in playing the part of marketing director though. But she has recently expressed a willingness to at least learn more about the gear in the event of an emergency.

I do not use a non-compete agreement. If someone wants to move on,, fine by me. Athena has mentioned before that most people realize the amount of work and expense it takes and think twice about trying to do it themselves. I treat and pay my folks well. That goes a long way toward keeping them around and happy.

-Chris

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-Chris

That's the key in keeping good talented people. Treat them with respect and courtesy and reward them reasonably with fair pay and occaisional compliments. That's really what most people are looking for in a work setting.

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"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT