Karaoke Forums

We all have guide lines we abide by to run a reputable consistant
show. You have different people hiring you for different kinds
of events, so sometimes different rules apply. I am used to this, I speak with
the person ahead of time to make sure we are on the same page with what is expected to happen.

But sometimes I have patrons pay me to stay an extra hour after a bar gig. This is
a different kind of stuation. They sometimes get the attitude that they paid me, so
they can sing as much as they want and dictate who will sing next. I have had this happen several times. I want to keep them happy, but they need to understand I
have to keep a fair rotation for everyone. My reputation in the bar is more important
to me than the extra money. How do I get these people to understand this?

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[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

Quite frankly, if someone pays you to stay over the normal bar hours, the singing should last only as long as the money comes in and should never encompass a normal rotation. The bar's normal rotation is over and done. If they say, here's money for an extra hour, then you would need to set guidelines right then and there as to who will sing and it should be understood by the audience that you are into "overtime" and are taking tips for extra time. Some will disagree but that is the only real way to handle these things. Peeps in the normal rotation will come to the KJ and ask why they are not up if it is not made clear that the music is over for the normal rotation.

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Who loves ya baby?

Do you discuss these details with them too?

Was it a group collection of money or one person paying the total?   If it was a group collect, then the group sings.  If one guy paid you because he wants to use the entire time, then he sings.  With an explanation to the crowd.  If he pays and says the rest to them can sing, then they sing.  

Some of this should be discussed with the owner and the bartender.   Are they going to continue to sell drinks?  Will the bartender still get tips.    If it's after last call, the only one making money is you.  The bartender and the owner could be losing money.    They both have to do additional work.  Splitting the money 3 ways might be an option.   It's not EZ being a KJ.

I did let them know that I have to keep the same rotation going.
Although they have paid me to stay it is still the owners bar and the
patrons expect to be able to sing. I have a reputation of running a fair rotation
and would like to keep it.

I think it is opening a can of worms to change the rules at the end of the night.
I will have way to many unhappy posibbly drunk people not understanding
what's happening. Plus how do you tell people who have been tipping you all
night that so & so gets priority because he paid me to stay. Sometimes they
collect money from several people to have me stay - now I have 5, 6 ,7, or more
people who think they are the boss.

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[shadow=pink][glow=deepskyblue]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

I usually will run overtime (if bar time permits) until I finish a rotation, no more than that - I just do it, for customer relation, no pay required.  
I have had several nights where people have paid me to start early so they (their group) could sing - I consider this a private party & then they will be the only ones to sing & I will let the rest of the club know this & any slips turned in NOT from the paying group, will begin the rotation at the regular starting time of the show & the private party would be considered over at that time & anyone from that group would get pulled out & they would need to reinsert their song as they would any regular night.

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Then you shouldn't take the money. No one expects to pay to sing and then wait for a normal rotation to clear and then "maybe" they will get up. It's very normal for people to pay to sing after the karaoke hours have ended.

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Who loves ya baby?

It totally depends on the situation. Are they drunk?  Nope Im done see ya next week thanks for coming in. Usually its a group that has taken up a collection. And most of them go through the mgr bartender and they realize its samo until the end. One night I had an hour left and a couple of singers had asked about recording before. Most everybody had left I went through my closing chatter and told the crowd thanks and then informed them we were going to do a private recording session. I charged them $150 and they were the only ones singing but after a recording we were listening to it. That was the only time I "sold out" to a few but it was well understood by the bartender what was going on. It put a few more dollars in the till and btw she got $25...Usually if I'm busy I'll refer them to the bartender anyway SHE IS THE ONE WHO IS IN CHARGE And any extra is a mutual agreement. Ive done private parties and extended an hour for free... Whatever generates furure business If I have a big crowd and im not scheduled till last call Im not gonna quit Ill mosey up to Donna as say how we going to handle last call? She knows im staying till the end. she says Ill let you know.. Ok... I get compensated no questions asked..

I've done it where they paid to continue the rotation AS IS.

I've done it to where the customer that paid me, basically owned me for the end of the negotiated time period.

BUT when folks complained about so and so singing so much, my response was always "Talk to them... THEY paid me for this extra hour!"

That will usually shut up folks right then and there!

 We will run overtime for free sometimes too but can't always fit in the entire rotation.  

That's interesting regarding charging before the show starts... I'm sure it makes it alot easier for the rest of the crowd to understand then after a night of drinking..

Babs, I'll bet that is quite a dilema, especially if other people have tipped you during the night "just cuz".  Has this affected those people and their tips?  

I don't think this would work for us but I'm curious to see how it works for you!

Susie

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Karaoke with Full House Entertainment

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Not a problem with us we play until closing time, .  Just because you're paid for your services, doesn't mean they own you.  As long as you're up front with what services you provide, you're not required to do anything else.  Try telling your plumber, lawyer, or other professional for extras and see how far you will get.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

No I normally can't do an entire round, but I will generally be able to finish out any current round (unless the night was absolutely slammed).



It's also nice for the bar usually too.  I just did an afternoon private party in the club I work (hey it's always set-up), I got $300 for 3 hours from 3-6.  Usually they will just ask for an hour or 2 before a show.  One time I started at 6PM for a paying group (as a matter of the same group that did the afternoon party), they paid $300 + tips, ended up making almost $400 for those 3 hours alone.

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Wow!  I like that!  It's a win/win/win situation...  Definitely something to think about..

Susie

_________________
You do it in the shower,
you do it in the car,
Ccome do it with us,
and be a star!!!!

Karaoke with Full House Entertainment

[scroll]Just because I have a short attention span doesn't mean...... [/scroll]

They never own me, but they have been able to rent me, in the past.

I work until bar time every night (1:30 AM, bar closes at 2:00, 30 min to get everyone out!!), so I have never had to deal with this situation, but I have some thoughts on the matter.

First, even if they paid you to stay extra time, you are still using the bar, its facitities, representing the bar and its employees, etc., so I would say you are still on the clock with the bar and must make decisions that are best for the bar. As such, I think you should give the group that pays extra for your services SPECIAL CONSIDERATION, but you still have to act as if you are working for the bar. SPECIAL CONSIDERATION may be letting them sing twice for everytime you let a regular par patron sing or something like that (seems reasonable enough). BUT, of course, you would want to explain to the other patrons WHY they are getting this special consideration and spin it in the most positive way possible so that everyone comes out ahead. Something like "This group has been nice enough to throw in some cash for me to stay late tonight. Instead of singing every song, though, they would like to welcome yall to go ahead and join in the fun!!"

If they want to have a PRIVATE karaoke party all to themselves for their money, then it is also up to them to provide the venue!! You can't walk into a bar with your own KJ and just start going and tell everyone else they can't participate!!

I think the KEY to this special situation, as with ANY such special situation, is to lay down the ground rules, which should also be approved by the bar owner/manager, BEFORE you take their $$$. That way everyone understands what they are paying for and no one can complain! BUT, if they want their own private karaoke show, the can schedule you to come to their house!!

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C Mc
KJ, FL

Ooh I like Lonmans idea for before hours parties - I may have
to use that - thanks Lon  :worship:

It is so great to hear all the advice. The funny thing is sometimes
the bar will pay me to stay later, but he waits first to see if the patrons
pay first. He's no dumby.

I really have a hard time changing the rules for the last hour of the night. But after
reading this I may make some exceptions. Like announcing I'm letting so & so sing an extra time to thank him for paying me to stay later and have everyone give him a big round of applause for he is the reason I'm there. If the money is collected from several people I'm keepig the rules the same.

My bar is open to 2am on Wednesdays - My quitting time is 12:00. There is no way I'm going to work for 2 hours free. I have a full time job also. I love my regulars, but I wouldn't ask them to work at there job for free. They understand this - that is why they offer to pay me.

Thanks for the suggestions

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[shadow=pink][glow=deepskyblue]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

How many people are at the bar early?     Is it worth starting that early?    Start later and play later.

Ive done it a few times for kids only, recording, to showcase a certain singer etc.

Another tack I use that hasnt been mentioned.. If they are serious I'll tell them I'm not busy tomorrow If you would like to setup a private party here tomorrow I can cut you a deal cuz I wont have to teardown and setup I can just leave it here. If they act interested I give them a quote then have them set it up with staff. It doesnt have to be a full 4 hrs .....

That's a good idea too. i should push the private party thing in the bar more.

Most of the time they just want me to stay because they are having fun at that moment and don't want me to go.

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[shadow=pink][glow=deepskyblue]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

Sometimes I will stay late if asked, but the regular show just keeps rolling on for that extra time.  Usually I'll say that so and so was nice enough to buy you folks an extra half hour (or whatever it is) be sure to say thanks and buy him a drink.  

The other thing I have done (which will make your favorite bartender absolutely LOVE you) is that I'll give the bartender 4 or 5 blank slips that I have marked with a colored stripe or something so that when the slips come in I know they are the ones I gave the bartender.  

Then I will announce at the end of the show that I'm all finished for the night, yadda yadda yadda, BUT if anyone REALLY REALLY wants to sing, go see the bartender.  He has 5 song slips in his sweaty little hands, and those slips are for sale for $10 into his tip jar.  They always sell out,  a couple singers get an extra song, the bartender takes home an extra $50 and my bar tab for the night mysteriously disappears!  Talk about your win/win situations!

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