Karaoke Forums

But see, you never answered my question. You can't charge $250 just because you have the biggest and best equipment and song selection in the area. It boils down to the bar owner MAKING more money off you than he pays you. So on a night when he is paying you $250 and 20-50 people are in the bar, how much profit do you figure he is making?

Based on the answer to THAT question, I can get a ball park as to how much my bar owner is making when I bring in 150 peeps, and if I deserve a bigger piece of the pie for being the 2nd biggest cog in the equation (the bar owner is the #1 reason there are people there, so he obviously gets the lion's share, but I think I should at least be making about what the waitresses make!!).

BTW, I also have to pay my tab every night AND have to haul my equipment back and forth all the time. I do really like working at the bar, and would very much like to stick around for a long while, but my pay has been CUT the last two years even as I am bringing in as many, if not more, people than ever!!

But, like Babs, I am scared to ask for the raise!! I don't work on a contract, so if he tells me he'll find someone else to do it cheaper, then even if he is making a mistake, that's the end of me!!

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C Mc
KJ, FL

Yep and chances are, he would lose SOME business but it would average out with the lower cost to the cheap company - unless they really suck eggs.  Many singers today don't care about the quality.  I've seen shows that use SGB as the core, 10-12" speakers, underpowered amps & distortion city - and they are still packed!  People don't give a rip about the quality of the sound anymore because they hardly ever hear it - a handful out of 100 companies probably have decent sound & these are where the singers that care how they sound will end up.  Most shows i've seen with these crappy set-ups get the screamer type singers that can't carry a note in a bucket.  YES I KNOW karaoke is all about fun, but it should also sound good to IMO!

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The bar that my freind owns makes extra with me there than on a regualr Sat. Nite.  I would assume that it would be an extra $100-$300 depending on the ammount of people there.  $100 may not seem like much, but it will pay his electric bill for that week.

AS for the others, they must make more profit, otherwise I assume I would not be working there.  BUt I could be wrong.  I know there are more people there when we do gig there, as compared to nights that we aren't there.

Karaoke in this area is practically non-existent. A little bit of history The county commisioners have been bought out by developers and a big housing boom has been going on several years Big cities have bought farm land for water rights This last summer they turned off farmers irrigating (everything here is irrigation only) wells and they lost more and more money because their crops burned up in the fields. Nobody that bought the big houses can afford the price of gas to commute to the big cities.This area has the highest mortgage repo rate  in the nation. Small businesses esp bars are closing.. The towns have big deficets due to lowering of tax input.

Dont mean to be gloomy but if you see the signs try to prevent them.

And the only half way decent karaoke sucks because the audience and half the singers are outside smoking so you are standing there singing to yourself...

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There is still one BIG determining factor in how successful and how long karaoke will be popular in any particular area.   QUALITY, PROFESSIONALISM and REPUTATION.

Can you draw a crowd.     Does it sound better than all the rest.    Your track record.

One of the biggest comments I always hear from new people is, the quality/talent of the singers.   And how good everything sounds.     They aren't talking about screaming drunks.   Because there aren't any.

If you think you can "cheap" your way through it, good luck.    It takes money to make money.   Always has, always will.     My investment has been very well worth every penny.    It shows in my longevity and annual income.     Nobody around here has worked longer or more consistantly than I have.   I expect it to stay this way, until I quit or die.  :shock:  :yes:

I just heard two different stories about two different KJs.   They both start and end the same.  They have jobs currently.   They are both losing their jobs.   Nobody wants to sing on their systems.   People sing one song and they don't want another.   Very strange for a bunch of karaoke junkies to not want to sing all night.  One can't get hired and there other is being replaced by my newbies.     CRAP equipment and a cheap price may get you in the door, but it will not keep you there.    LMAO      

Humming....... "another one bites the dust.... and another one gone, another one gone....  :yes:

mwhaaaaaaaaaa big dog  :wave:

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"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

I had stopped going out for karaoke at all around here because of 'cheap' KJs with laptop systems that played only single selections that didn't hold a match, let alone a candle, to the Pioneer laser disc versions I was used to.  They did use the bar's existing speakers but without amps big enough to create decent sound.  Of the three venues that do have decent equipment, one is so packed that I could expect to sing maybe two songs a night (mostly Sound Choice and Chartbuster discs), one scrapped their laser disc system, brought in the least expensive CDGs they could find, and hired a new young female (gender doesn't really make any difference so PLEASEdon't flame me ladies  :pray: ) KJ who doesn't know how to use a mixer or audio effects and plays favorites, the third one has a KJ that also plays favorites on weekends and would stop karaoke for half an hour to play disco/line dance/hard rock music twice a night.

I just recently joined an AMVETS Post with good music equipment and a KJ that is really into making the customers happy.  I'm even lined up to sub for him if he's ever out sick or takes a vacation.  I usually get to sing ten songs a night and I am very, very  :oh yeah: happy!!

The city government here just made smoking within 50 feet of any establishment with employees smoke free effective next July.  We don't know the effect that will have yet but I don't think it will be good for any of the bar owners.

Topher

If they have 150 people in there on karaoke night.....trust me on this....they can afford to pay you $250. Asking for a raise in pay is always an unpleasant task but if you notice they occasionally have to raise drink prices to adjust for their cost of doing business. You are a business and have to keep an eye on your bottom line as well. Have your expenses risen over the past year? What effect does that have on your profitability? I doubt very seriously if they would dump you for $25 a night if you are bringing in a good crowd. If you have a good relationship with the owner just level with him and say my expenses for running the show have increased over the past year or so and you need to have an adjustment in compensation. You have put it off for as long as you could but an adjustment is necessary for you to remain profitable and a mere $25 per night would make up the difference .....heck I spend that much in food and beverage at your establishment each night.

There is always a chance that they may say no but if you are doing a good job for them and they feel the increase is reasonable chances are you will get it. If you don't then you have lost nothing except that you know that you have hit the top of your pay range there and then you need to decide to move on or stay put. If you really like this place it may be worth it to stay. You can always keep your eye peeled for another gig and when the time comes name your price.

I find that it is much better to name your price "Going In" and stick to it. Once you prove you are worth it then they will have no problem paying the higher price. So basically I ask for the money I want up front and then I do not have to negotiate for a raise down the road. I've had bars say "gee that sounds a little high" and I just nod my head and say your getting a Professional with 8yrs experience, top of the line equipment, with about 30K invested in music alone. Along with that experience comes a solid following of loyal customers that follow my show. Chances are the business from them will cover my expense for the evening. Put a couple of signs up outside and promote karaoke with your customers and you will be a happy camper.

Usually I have an advantage going into a gig as they are the ones calling me because of a referral from another bar owner or a good customer of mine. I have been fortunate over the years as I have never had to go out and market myself.

My suggestion is go ahead and ask for the extra! Nothing ventured Nothing gained!

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FlipSide Karaoke
Scott