Karaoke Forums

Was reading the Thread about UNSCRUPULAS KJ and the most interesting Post's (at least to me) were the Post's about money. Im interested in learning how the money For A for 4 hour KJ show at a bar Varies around the states or the world even.

Please (for my ease) convert any forgien monie's to U.S. Dollars

Here in Gainesville Florida I believe the going rate is Between $150.00 and $200.00 per 4 hours.

Im not a Full time KJ I have a day Job.

I get $125.00 for 4 hour's doing KJ

$225 for my MrOctober Show ( an impersonation show complete with costumes)

In my area I am one of the more expensive KJ's. And that isn't a great thing.
During the week we get 20.00 per hour. Average night 5 hours. New job will demand that I only run 4 hours now. Graveyard shift.
Weekend rate 25.00 per hour. Run 5 hour shows. so I make anywhere from 80 to 125 per night. One of the major factors in wages is size of bar.
Percentage wise of the bars sales we are taking about 10 - 15%.

I only do it part time...as my hubby has a full time job..and i do at home work.
I make 35.00 dollars an hour. 4 hours. It makes my car payment...and leaves me more than enough to buy new stuff for my business.

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Wouldn't want to make a living as KJ, tyvm. It's a hobby, like collecting stamps. It makes enough money to keep the system updated and have same change for other things. We all get older, and trying to find something in the job market with KJ for 25 years onyour resume will not cut it.

I do take my hat of to full time KJ's, and wish them all the success.

it's so competitive here, I can't get other gigs, despite being hailed as one of the best in the area... whatever, that and a dollar will get you a cup of coffee...

I don't make a living at it, I'm only part time, and want to stay that way... $25 an hour on a good night!

Around the Pittsburgh PA area we have been getting 150.00 for a four hour show and that's been for the last ten years.   I think it is time for a raise I will go to 175.00 after new year.

For my weekend gigs I get $175 per night for 2 nights in a row and $200 for 1 weekend night. Weekdays are $135-$150 per night depending on size of venue.

Interesting to note that there are a couple of mulitriggers that are getting $200-$250 per night regardless of what night it is. One of them runs a contest almost every night and does well with it. That's not my style but it seems to be very popular with the young rowdy crowd.

On the other hand I went to a bar the other night where the KJ (her music and equipment) was working from 7pm to 2am and making $50 per night and she had to pay for her own food and drink. She had been working there for 6 months and has quite a following, had a good selection of music, small but adequate system and a beautiful voice.

Sheesh! I thought they had abolished slavery when Lincoln was president!

I'm currently making introductions for her at a couple of venues that will pay the going rate.

After she leaves I wish the bar owner luck in finding another KJ for that price!

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FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

the problem is twofold

1.) the KJ should NEVER have accepted that. That's not even $10 an HOUR!

2.) now that the owner has gotten that once, that's all they'll accept, and they'll make the next kjs miserable, even if the owner goes UP in price...

Which is one of the main reasons karaoke is losing it's steam as a money maker.

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

reminds me of a joke::: Linclon wakes up after a three day drunk and say's
" I freed who?"

thanks for all the post's it seems like we are all kinda close in the dollar making per show.
Michael

How about also comparing rates for private parties as well?  We don't have a regular bar schedule, and just do private parties.  Sometimes at a bar (that doesnt have regular karaoke), at banquet halls, club houses, and even outdoor/backyard (depends on how close the neighbors are!).  We have been going with $35/hour, 4 hour min for just karaoke and music.  We have been going with $40/hour, 4 hour min if we add lights and if we have to setup tent etc for outdoors.  

Since it is mainly a hobby, and only part time, it just barely pays for new music, updated books, and upkeep.

PP I usually get anywhere from $350 minimum for 4 hours & $50 per hour after that.  Up to $750 / 4 hours.

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

We charge 75.00 per hr for special events. Discounts avaliable for Churches, schools & ect..

Thanks for the feedback.  

We had been staying low, while building up our library of music, and getting more experience.  Sounds like time to re-evaluate the rates.  I still like the idea of setting a 4 hour minimum, and having a set price for overtime.  Seems like we end up doing extra hours at almost every PP.  Do others use the same rates for the basic hours as well as the 'will you stay a while longer' rates?

The other thing you have to facotr in is the cost of living.  Say a KJ makes $200 a night, that will translate differently if you're living in NYC, LA, SF, Philly, or in my case in Canada, Halifax (where I am), Toronto, Calgary, or Vancouver.  I'll guarantee my $200 in Halifax is worth more than it would be in Vancouver due to the cost of living.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

The newest thing is KJ's becoming Producers and Labels.  This is starting in the LA area becuase there is a company allowing people to sing karaoke tracks and sell the recordings to the public legally.  The KJ's are getting their people to go through them for the process.

Income will be unlimited as the KJ can really build up some numbers.

My Last Remaining Karaoke Gig I get $50 an hour and that is a Tuesday. My Dj Gigs I try not to work for less than $50 and hour weeknights. and $75 an hour weekends

My private party rate is $75 an hour with a $50 travel / setup fee so a 3 hour party is $275.

I charge $150 an hour for weddings, performance time only. Setup and planning is no charge. My min is $750 for a wedding.

I work Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and 60% of Fridays in Bars.
Private Parties are about 10 to 15 a year.
Weddings account of 40 to 45 Satudays a year.

This year Bar karaoke accounted for 7.8% of my gross income.
10.5% if you account private parties with Karaoke.

I think it would be very hard for one to survive on a single op KJ pay. I make my money as a DJ.

This is so true. Where I live, the median house cost is about $725,000. The average income is about $76,000. Gas is $2.90 per gallon. Parking for a hour in downtown cost me $7.50. So, there is no way to make a living doing KJ at $200-$250 per night.

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Seize the day and SING!!!

So how much do you need to earn? A house for $725k with a 20% down payment will set you back approx. $3.400/month. This mortgage payment calculates to $40.800/year. Deduct that from $76,000 (gross??) and you're in the red. How do people live there?

All Star, those are averages, not what he's paying.  Median houses around here are around $140-150,000 but i pay $600 in rent for a small two bedroom apt (heat, water, electrical included)

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You can be strange but not a stranger