Karaoke Forums

You want to red flag yourself, having something you can't afford is a good way to start. Don't believe me? Ask members of organized crime or other criminals who are doing time. One can't live in a million dollar home if they have no visible means of support or their occupation doesn't equate their means of living. But then again I'm sure "someone" will argue my point.

_________________
You can be strange but not a stranger

We're not talking about a million dollar home...or a Maserati...

What we're really talking about is fear. Fear that makes it okay to cast an air of suspicion on anyone that might be a threat to you. And for some manufacturers, playing on that fear is a great way to score a few new customers.

You want to say that anyone who thinks that this whole guilty until proven innocent atmosphere is wrong is a pirate supporter? I disagree.

There is nothing good about this "Monsters are Due on Maple Street" attitude. It doesn't seem to bother anyone that you might be pointing fingers at what may be totally innocent people who worked just as hard as you to pay for their music. Yeah, you might snag a few real pirates, too...

It's kind of the same attitude they had at Abu Ghraib.

_________________
Birdofsong

Mary, please excuse me for not giving the previously mentioned answers much credit, but I've been at this a LONG time. What I discovered, after facing competition from undercutters ( with or without legally acquired tracks) is they can't touch me or my business- simply because I run a much better show, using skills I took the time to LEARN.

Cheaper host/KJs have always been there. The ONLY way to defeat them is simply to do better and be more profitable to your venues than they could be.

Unfortunately, there are many KJs out there who simply don't have the skills, and are dependent on the same libraries and equipment that anyone might acquire, rather than the actual SKILLS needed to be successful. These hosts are the ones that may fail if someone cheaper comes along, simply because they have nothing better to offer.

My suggestion is to visit the worst shows in your area, find out why they are, and don't do the same. Then go to the most popular in your area, find out why they are, and incorporate those thing into your show.

Also, take the time to learn a bit of electronics in case of emergencies, know your equipment, and then compete using the skills that you have and others don't. Believe me, the pirates will fall by the wayside- if you take the time and do the WORK.

_________________
"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

Thanks everyone for your comments. I'm sorry if I dug up a dead horse, but I really wanted to know what others are doing with the pirates. I truly believe he is a pirate simply from his character as a person. Hopefully he'll run the place in the ground (as he seems to be doing) and I won't have to worry about him any more.

Thanks ALL. Keep up the good work!

I've noticed pirates tend to brag about the number of songs they have. They seem not to care about bringing the heat down on themselves. Guess it's because, as far as a good karaoke show goes, it's all they have to offer.

Yep gotta argue with you.

I know a couple of people that live in million dollar houses and can't show any visible means of support....How that mainly because they are Billionaires and live off investments so no visible means of support, never go to work, play all day, do what ever they want.
Lots of em here in Texas although I only know a couple.

_________________
I like everyone when I first meet them. If you don't like me that's not my problem it's YOURS!
A stranger is a friend you haven't met yet

What I discovered, after facing competition from undercutters ( with or without legally acquired tracks) is they can't touch me or my business-

Oh yeah Oh yeah Bring out your dead.

My suggestion is to visit the worst shows in your area, find out why they are, and don't do the same.
Duh. Never thought of that one.

" Disc based and loving it..."

Uh, i'm not dead yet.

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

Jerry12x???? You didn't tell him yet?....

Lone Wolf, living off stocks, inheritances, lotto winnings, allowances from trust funds, etc ARE visible means of support under the law as there is a money trail. The guy living in a ghetto, driving a Ferrari, eating at 3 star restaurants and is not working or working at McD's is definitely waving a red flag as the toys do not match them means, the same as someone using a computer with 100,000 titles is a red flag.

_________________
You can be strange but not a stranger

I didn't know it was illegal to keep your financial business to yourself.

I'm sure that if I were to pack up and move to a different city, get a few gigs that the "established KJ's" there would be reporting me for "appearing on the scene with LOTS of titles." When in fact, it would be none of their business.

Sounds like there's a lot of paranoia out there.

HeeeeHeeee
a reformed pirate???????

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvNeDW5MbS8

_________________
"Integrity is choosing your thoughts, words and actions based on your principles and values rather than for your personal gain."
Unknown
"if a man has integrity, nothing else matters, If a man has no integrity, nothing else matters."
Lee McGuffey

This is the problem that I've had all along. Your claim to be "fighting piracy".

1) Kurt has stated here and on other forums that fighting piracy is NOT HIS PRIORITY. His priority is making money. I have no problem with that- it's why companies are in businsess. Of course, I DO have a problem with what I consider an unethical way of doing so.

2) What my- and from what I understand, Chip's- definition of a pirate is someone who STEALS MUSIC WITHOUT PAYING FOR IT. Now, if you and SC were actually limiting yourselves to those people, there never would have been a problem between us.

Unfortunately, you and SC have been using the "Trademark Infringement" hook to attempt to get money from each and every PC based host you can, regardless of whether said host is a thief or not.

You are claiming that since a host may never have asked SOUND CHOICE for permission to media shift, they are liable.

The funny part is that SC and all the other mfrs. state on thier own sites that they do not have the authority to grant permission to media shift granted to them from the music publisher/owners. What SC is REALLY saying is that the host didn't ask SC to IGNORE the media shift- which is, of course, not required at all.

Whether admitting it or not, SC HAS released tracks for download, which negates the need for 1:1 with disc.

Whether admitting it or not, SC HAS caused problems for KJs who actually HAVE all the discs corresponding to their drives, simply because they never investigated prior to causing said problems.

Whether admitting it or not, SC has named KJs as PC based trademark infringers who are actually disc based.

Whether admitting it or not, SC has named KJs who were never working at the venues in question.

In short, SC has never ever been in any way fighting ACTUAL pirates ( track thieves), but merely developing a new business plan based on litigation or the threat of same used for intimidation in hopes of receiving "settlements". This is an alternative to what USED to be the main income of SC- karaoke music production, which has been ignored for a few years now.

Therefore, accusing others of possibly being pro-pirate simply because they disagree with SC's current business plan seems to be, at the very least, disingenuous. In practicality, in my opinion, it's an insult and a slight to the integrity of those you name, and in my opinion, a distraction technique used to divert attention from the actual facts at hand.

_________________
"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

So you think I'm wrong?

How about if I phrase it differently:

Since anyone can acquire a library and equipment, if you can't go into a venue and clearly explain why YOU are a better host and can bring in more income to the venue, describe YOUR unique skills, and possess the sales skills to explain why YOU should be paid more for these unique skills, then you really are the same as each and every other person with the library and equpment, and therefore have no way to compete. You are telling the venue that you have no more to offer than anyone else, so if another KJ is cheaper, by all means hire him.

If that's the case, might I suggest going into, say, the aluminum siding business?

_________________
"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

ditto on this entire post. well put Joe

_________________
Paradigm Karaoke, The New Standard.......Shift Happens

Double ditto....

Why? Has he been convicted of and jailed for aggravated assault or something? Maybe arrested for contempt of court? Or was he found by a court to be mentally ill when repeatedly failing to follow court orders? Or was it all of the above? Why wouldn't you believe everything such a person says, like others here do?