Karaoke Forums

From all the comments here on bar owners here I realize most here dont have a clue on what it takes to run a bar, or with others any business for that matter. I would love for a bar owner to post and present his opinion. My sister owned a small liqour store for a few years A discount liqour store that gets a discount at 25, 100, 0r 500 cases can sell beer for less than she could retail them for. In fact a dishonerst bar owner could but from them on a weekend if they ran out of a certain beer. Dont get caught youd be closed down in a heartbeat. We could sell whiskey to a bar but it was limited to somethinbg like one 1/54 per month...

Bars are the most mis-understood by the public gthat dont go in, they ate the most regulated. most watched and most harassed by any agency. They are the most failing industry other than garmers in this country. In the last 5 years over 1/3 have been run out of business. Well in fact most of the mom and pop operations have been put out of business.

Some of the laws here...
If somebody gets hurt the mgr has 3 minutes to call 911 or is subject to lawsuit.
If a fight breaks out either in the bar or parking lot the police must be notified
All bartenders must attend a certification course.. (state of course)

I could fill 40 pages with laws that pertain to bars only.. So if there is a little bar on the corner that pays their KJ $100/night and all their patrons is happy with the system and small selection Deal with it Go in and support the the bar and the KJ.. Be a pro and dont post here with your bitches about undercutters.. It is called bidding You put in a bid. The bid takers evaluate all the bids look at the qualificvations and accept the bid that most closely works for their situation. It is called competition people and those that think that karaoke is any different thjan any other businees will n ot succeed. If you are in a little burg then you own 3 cabs If yoju are in a big city then you own 103 cabs. Why does everybody have a hard time applying standard business practices to karaoke?

Any thread started on here on how to deal with bar owners/mgrs/drunks is quickly hijacked with inexperienced guessers and I would like to see one thread that deals with the meat of the situation and discusses real situations to real problems that we face.. Will the real KJ,s stand up and log in please....

I have had bar owners that gave me #300 for the night but those situations are becoming fewer and fewer.. How can we end these pissy arguments and guesses and get back to makin money?

_________________
Join The Karaokle Singers Social Network. Upload Your Music!!

Good post karyoker.    My bar has karaoke six nights a week.  I work two of those nights. I used to work three and needed to cut back.  Full time job and three nights a week were just too much.  The other KJ's that work in our bar get around only half what I get paid.  I don't consider them hacks.  And I'm not afraid of them running me off.  The owner pays close attention to the "nights" receipts.

Of all of us on the forum, there only appears to be one persons who is afraid of "Hacks." And I'm not so sure we would consider all of them hacks.   I also don't think most of us mine someone bidding lower than what we charge.  You are right.  Bidding is just a form of doing business. I  think what we do mind, is the KJ who uses illegal music.  Sort of like the Plumber or electrician works bids on a job without a permit or license. It would be nice if there were a way for a bar owner to not be able to hire someone who wasn't "legal."  But then we get into more state and gov't regulations which I am sure we wouldn't particularly like.

I think we can (@$%&#!) and moan all we like, but the success of business should be in how much money it makes.  If the bar doesn't make money they don't stay in business.  Our bar has a 2 drink minimum.  You come in with your shirttail down to your knees; you're asked to tuck it in or leave.  Those two things there that were put in place about 3 months ago have change the atmosphere of the club to better than it was.  We were starting to get what I call the "young arrogant attitude"  Of ALL color.  Those of you who like rap; I'm sorry.  I have been doing this long enough to find that rap and the majority of karaoke folks don't mix well.  Most of the kids who fell in this category, 1. don't spend any money. 2. They show no respect. and 3. They drive off the good paying customers.

Jimmy D's has become known as a good club welcoming a "mixed bag."  We've been voted best bar in Jackson for the last 2 years.  We just don't put up with  "stupid".

Just some thoughts.

Kelly

I have seen and worked for many bar owners in the last 14 years.   None of them knew how to make as much money as they could be making.   Which means they are stupid.   Call it what you want and I'll call it like it is.

Everything I do is done to maximize the profit for the bar owners.   That is my number 1 goal.   They, on the other hand drive good business away.   Doing stupid stuff.    Like advertising the Free TV.   Everyone in the world has a TV.    They pay me to do karaoke.   Advertising free TV will not make them $10 a week.    Karaoke is what makes them more money than anything else they have going on.   I know what makes money for the bar.    I know what chases it away.   That is the very reason my song book is edited.

Bar owners have sided with out right a**holes over me.     Nobody comes in to see the A**hole.     It doesn't say on the sign A**hole night come sing.    A**holes chase away good paying customers.   EVERYTIME.      No bar can afford to have the slightest bit of a bad reputation.     The A**holes spend $1.50 a beer.    I bring in many hundreds of dollars more than all the A**holes will spend, in a lifetime.     Bar owners don't get it.

Is an unlicensed plumber a hack?

I went out tonight with some of my karaoke singers.   We went to a few different karaokes.     My reputation is totally safe.  LMAO  :whistle:  

One hack has one speaker in the air and the other on the floor, both have horns.   The distortion coming from the singers didn't phase the KJ at all.   Never made any adjustment.    Probably wouldn't know what to do and he may not have even heard it.      Using an illegal loaded hard drive.      One had 2 shoe box speakers.   One machine, he hummed during the loading of the next disc.    Went to the restroom during a no music pause.   Dead silence.    Sound was real low could barely hear yourself or the music.    Any bar owner that doesn't do their homework, by checking out the karaoke competition is a fool.     3/4 of the people in the bar could have cared less about karaoke.   They could have had Kartoons on the tv and it would have had more of an effect.    Yes these bar owners deserve the hack KJs.   You get what you pay for.    Screaming drunks at the one place.   Glad they don't know about me.     They can stay right with the unknowing, deserving bar they are at.


So laugh at me all you want.   I still know who the biggest dog in the pack is.    My competition sucks putty balls.   They don't have a clue.   They never will.   The singers out with me tonight verified that I was still the best KJ they have ever heard.  :worship:  :worship:

With each hack they hear, the respect for me and what I do grows.  :shock:  :O  :yes:  :hug:    I love my singers.  :worship:


Kelly, you may not worry about them, but you should.   They can still have a negative impact on your reputation.     Someone goes to karaoke on the night you are off and they walk away saying the karaoke at that place sucked.    You are part of that whether you believe it or not.   They don't know that you are there.   They don't know that you are better than what they just heard.   But they will make a generalization about the karaoke and you'll get sucked in to it.     Your reputation will take a hit for something you didn't even do.   I seen it happen and had it happen.   I don't play if they want 2 different KJs.    Pick one of us, but I'm not going to let the bar owner hurt my reputation from their stupidity.    The bar owners receipts don't help you when the singers say the karaoke sucked.     And it wasn't even you, they heard.    He made money he could care less if your reutation takes an unnecessary hit.  

Bad bartenders/servers can hurt the bar owners income too.   They don't understand that either.

You say bidding on a job is fair competition?      Yeah if you are using everything I use.   Not half an illegal system.    You should be very afraid of hacks.    They out number the good KJs by many factors.   It's the reason we can not get $300 a night and never will.     You gonna say you're not worth more money than you get now?    You don't want to get more money than you get now?    Ask for $100 more a night.   See who loses a job faster than a speeding bullet.   It's not because you aren't worth it.   It's because the unemployably hacks set the price we can ask.

Uninformed and uneducated bar owners help the low price.

Well then you should start your own bar!

_________________
[shadow=deepskyblue]I'm impressed, I've never met such a small mind inside such a big head before.[/shadow]

Waht a mouth.

Me and my wife run our bar. I bought the Karaoke system to help drum up business. Some people will want to put the hack label on me, but we COULD NOT afford the $150/night for the Karaoke KJ, things are that tight! I had $$ to invest and thought this was a wise decision. I will run the Karaoke myself (wife/daughter to be fill ins for days/times I'm not able to be there)- last night was my first trial run, and after a few flaws I was running a pretty good show. (for a first show) It will get better. And I did'nt have to sing, , nobody got gonged  LMAO and requests were flooding in!  :D Got there after work and was only able to play for 1.5 hours, but it was a learning experience. Some of the regulars greeted me eagerly wanting to sing. I wil run it again tonight, approx. 1.5 hours again.

After 1-2 months of ownership I realized that the most profitable nights were the Karaoke nights. BMI was hounding us for their $$ for the Karaoke entertainment license, our KJ said "you don't have to pay, nobody else does". I for one think the law sux on this point, its like paying the mafia to pay to play Karaoke 4-5 times a week. They already make $$ off the juke box/pool table/games etc., not including the TAXES that we pay. (rent fort the place alone is $2700/month)It's almost like they don't want you to succeed. I'm gonna pay for the BMI license - $397, but it pisses me off to have to do so. I figure I will make that back in increased clientele as long as the show is successful.
We have Texas Hold "em on Tuesdays - usually costs us $100/night for the operator, but at the end of the night it never fails to find one or two pint/bottles of whiskey in the trash of the bathroom. I was watching the prior KJ's very closely the last couple months (when I wasn't working my F/T job) and there always was the certain few that sat directly in front of the KJ performanc area. They were watching me VERY closely...I'd lay big bucks that they had illegal booze in their purses/jackets etc. I will be watching for this VERY closely when I KJ and when I see it happen, they will IMMEDIATELY get escorted to the door. It's not only the government that rapes you, but if you let them the some in the general public will too! I will recognize the true patrons and treat them 1st class, but the dishonest ones will get booted yesterday. Don't even mention theivery...if it ain't bolted down, its leaving. We got some real champions, they stold the scarecrow from right beside the front door last month...the wife was all broken up, I could give a --it. They took a Texas Hold "Em poster (Bud/Busch poster) right off the front of the building. I will be advertising Karaoke with very nice Bud/Busch posters, but these are relegated to the ROOF! The other side of building will be far above anyones reach.

Bigdog - your generalization that all bar owners are stupid is assinine, I can see why everyone dumps on you. You deserve it with statements like that. Somewhere along the line you must have been browbeaten by a bar owner, it's the only explanation for your behavior that makes sense. No one laughs at bigotry.

If there are anymore questions concerning bar owners, please don't hesitate to ask.
This board has helped me tremendously and I want to contribute wherever possible.
Our bar right now is losing $$, if things don't change in the next 6-7 months I will (hopefully) sell and leave. I hope it turns around, but it's discouraging with the laws/taxes/theivery/etc. that goes on. I hope I can drive out the bad and suck in the good. I will feel successful if that takes place.

Time will tell...

                                                   :)                         bigjim56

Bigdog, I don't worry.  I've been there for 5 years.  They advertise me on the radio.  They Have "Kellyoke" up on the billboard outside, "In lights".  They have karaoke listed for the other nights.  I think after 5 years if there was going to be a problem there would already be.

You have got to be the most arrogant person in the world.  You now tell us you are the only one that knows how to run a bar.

I still get mad at myself for even answering you.  You have proved nothing to any of us.  To everyone else,...there's only one way to quit wasting our time and other new people on this site.  And that is to just quit responding to ANYTHING you post or say.  From here on out. You don't exist.

BYE Bigdog!



Kelly

In Portland we have a place in SE  where the owners are the KJ's 5 nights a week for 5 hours each night. They also run 2 20 minute dance sets each evening as part of the regular schedule. They also have live bands from time to time. The place is ALWAYS PACKED and yes they do have fill music between each singer. They've built it into a VERY SUCCESSFUL business as owners/performers. So the owner/performer concept may be more common than u think.

_________________
"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

Kelly, you are missing the point and you just confirmed what I was trying to tell you.   The sign says "Kellyoke"   So everyone will think that you are the one responsible for all of the karaoke that occurs at that bar.  Do give the average person a lot of credit to figure out who does what, when.   It won't matter that you actually aren't.   If the people think the other KJ sucks.   They will assume it's you.   In big letters and flood lights galore.    That's what I'm talking about.    Your reputation will be the one that gets hit.   Your name is on the sign.   Nobody elses.    If you think I'm wrong that's OK.   It's your reputation.       As to running a bar I have seen plenty of examples of how not to do it.     Just like watching karaoke hacks.   Don't do what they do.   It's why I'm where I'm at.     And very happy and proud of that postition.

Bigjim,  My comments were not directed at you, personally.  :hug:   I don't know you.   But from the 14 years (over 16,000 hours working with bar owners) of doing karaoke at many, many different bars, I can say without hesitation that bar owners are idiots.    All the ones I have worked for.   How many hours have you owned a bar?         They do not know how to make all the money they could.   And they make very stupid financial and business decisions.    From the caliber of the hired help, to siding with A**holes in stead of the quality people.     To karaoke night when we have to hold up karaoke for an (doesn't matter out come, no one cares and the roster isn't even finalized) exhibition game.  Chase away all the loyal regular steady customers to cater to a few hard core idiot sports fanatics, that aren't here on a regular basis.   Not having karaoke on the sign out front.    I can go on and on about the many stupid things I have seen by bar owners.     You get the point.    

When I work in a bar I treat that bar and act like I am the owner of that bar.   I have mopped up drinks and filled soap dispensers.   Put paper towels and toilet paper in.   Helped with plumbing and electrical problems.     Built wooden ramps and repaired broken things.   Everything I do as a KJ is well thought out to make the bar owners maximum income.   But my efforts are only as good as the bar owners.    Their stupid decisions counteract my plans and end up costing them money.      There is nothing more stupid than hurting your potential income with stupid mistakes.     If you are smart you will go back through some of the posts about the other stupid things bar owners have done and you will not duplicate them.


Hire a $100 a night hack that can't even afford a whole system.     That kind of quality you can get anywhere.    I am a quality person, with quality values and quality equipment and experience.   That only has the bar owners best interest at heart.

As to you having 20 different people acting like KJs......    Mixing and such isn't childs play.    It takes a trained ear and knowledge of what needs to be applied to achieve the best sound possible.    I think you are asking for trouble.     Then again the crowd you attract might not care.     I saw that last night, with the very noticable distortion coming from the microphones that the hack KJ either didn't hear or care about.   Just because you have a machine and some discs doesn't make you a KJ.   I'm telling you this to try to help you get what you want.    Too many cooks spoil the soup.

If the bar owner doesn't make money I take it personally.    I feel it has an effect on my reputation.   So I want them to make all the money they can.    I want the bar to be as full as possible.    When they make money, I make money and my reputation gets a boost.    Any KJ that doesn't help and want the bar owners to make as much money as possible and doesn't do everything in their power to bring that about is a hack.    That should be every KJs #1 goal.    Your good reputation will come after that.  

So call me a hack and say I know nothing about anything.   It's not my income you are hurting.   My income is very secure.   I planned it that way.   You should have a KJ like me working for your best interest.    And other KJs should pattern themselves accordingly.    I know I sound like a total know nothing inexperienced hack.    It's not what the others on here think of me, it's what I know for certain, that bothers them.    Be careful who you take your information from.   Find out if they walk the walk, like a Bigdog or stay at home with the porch puppies.

You are definately correct in saying not all bar owners are the same. You have good ones and bad ones just like any other business. I hope everyone realises that when I speak of them it is just my general experience. I only get frustrated with my bar owner when he does things that hurt my business which in turn effects his cash register. Most people that know my bar owner dislike him greatly. He is not a people person! It is hard for him to keep staff because of this too. I could tell many stories of things he has done to hurt business, but again that is just this one bar owner.

Here's a small ex. of his ineptness - He was putting up a sign to advertise the upcoming events at the bar. He waited until I got to the bar before he put the lettering in because he didn't know how to spell karaoke  LMAO . sometimes you just have to laugh.

For the most part I am happy where I am at. He is who he is I can't change his personality. I just tell myself it could be worse.

Bigjim - you are soooo smart by doing what your doing. Not only will you save money by doing it yourself, you will build a great repor with your clientel by being the karaoke host. And boy are you right in saying you can see what's going on. I'm usually the first to notice when something is going awry. You also make yourself available and approachable by the patrons, so you can get a good feel for what they want.  :hi5:

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

Jeeze, you know this thread as most here on the KS started out with the best of intentions. But as usual it gets shredded by the one and only Bigdog.
Okay I'm gonna go out on a limb. Bigdog, your words not mine, 'I've worked for many many bars'
Just how many bars have you worked at? And how many are still open? If you're jumping from bar to bar every time something doesn't go your way, I think this says more about you than you're willing to admit. If I were a bar owner and someone like you were employed by me, your arse would have been gone a looooong time ago.
No one likes to have a know it all constantly telling them how to run their business.
It's just not worth the hassle no matter how much money they tell you they can make for the bar. And speaking of, if you make as much money as you brag, why haven't you opened up your own place and run it the way you want to. I find your comments along the lines of guys who brag about getting laid all the time, when the truth finally comes out, you find that they aren't getting any at all. Guys who are getting lucky, don't kiss and tell, they don't have to. Guys who constantly brag about their conquest are not going to have the respect of any decent woman. Same goes with the bar business, shutup and show me what you've got, don't stand around bragging about past conquest.
The past is the past, let's talk about the present.
You've managed to pi$$ everyone off here at the boards, it's almost like you do it on purpose. I use to go to another message board and the owner of that site had someone like you, always stirring the pot. The owner didn't do anything, because the controversy kept people coming back. The guy would talk stupid crap about everything and everybody. It was fine and dandy till someone let the cat out of the bag, and the person in question ended up getting the living crap beat out of him one night. So I understand why you don't let anyone know where you're at. It's not because you don't want folks stealing your secrets, it's because you don't want your well deserving arse kicked. My only problem is, all of your comments are cut and paste, it's the same ole dribble every time, no variation at all. Which makes me believe that there is no such thing as the Bigdog show. No $600 dollar mic, no superior sound system, nothing. It's not that your story is consistent, it's just that if you keep repeating yourself, you don't have to think of what to say, you just post the same junk over and over again.
And as a final note, your words not mine, you said last night you went to a hacks show? What about your show, shouldn't you have been at work yourself? You keep talking about all these hacks, but the funny thing is, you're at their shows the same nights that you keep telling people your suppose to be working. And while I'm at it, if you really want your crap to be believable, start watching your post times. You've been slipping up lately and posting at times you're supposedly at work. Don't let the little things trip you up. Someone who claims to be as smart as you are, should be smart enough to watch the times when they post. It's things like that, that are a dead giveaway. We've seen you ask silly questions about how to hook up your amps, how to set your speakers, ignorant things that a total newbie who's never done Karaoke before would be asking. So as far as I'm concerned, the jig is up. It's not guys like you who are out protecting us from the hacks, it's guys like you who make it so miserable for the bar owners that they finally decide to do it themselves rather than put up with all the drama.  
I am the only independent in my area, all the other bars own their own systems. When I ask them why, it's always the same answer. They got tired of wannabe know it alls constantly running their business down with their superior know nothing attitudes. The hacks should give you a kickback, because your actions alone secure their ability to have jobs. Sorry to bust your bubble and KS's own personal Jerry Springer show but enough is enough. In fact if I were you, I'd save myself the embarrassment of even responding to this. I know I swore that I would try to be more understanding around here and not go off on folks, but the past couple of days, your ignorance has reached an all time low. I've tried to reason with you, ignore you, humor you. But when your comments could possibly affect a newbies decision on how to run a show, it's hard to sit back on the sidelines and see them get possibly the worse possible advice anyone could give. Just stop it already, the only person you're fooling is yourself. I mean you've told these same ole BS stories so many time, you're starting to believe it yourself.
Nuff said,

James

_________________
I serve no man and am loyal to only one God.

Being critical of a person's success in any respect speaks volumes about the lack of your own.

Love as though you've never been hurt, Dance as though no one's watching, Sing as though God Himself were listening.

SwingcatKurt - we tried a live band, they were very good (soft rock/country), but there was hardly any clientele. The day before it was shoulder to shoulder, but the day of the band it was hardly a show. One of the regulars that swore he would be there, said he fell asleep. We charged a cover, and it turned some people away. The prior owner said to raise drinks .25 for the night, but we did'nt. It was advertised in local paper also.
There's even been some slow Karaoke nights, that's what makes you concerned. The KJ still gets the same, even on a slow night. I wanted to minimize loss and maximize chances of profitability, thats what made me decide to go w/Karaoke.

Whats involved w/dance sets? Dance lessons? Dance music for interested dancers?

Kellyoke - your the smart one  

Babs - Thanks!  New Avatar!   Even cuter than the last!!   Love those dancin' kittens.
          I've been seein' whats been going on for a while, a persons instincts are 90-
          100% right. I sat at the table directly kaddy-corner to this group (drinking,    
          and listening to the singers) They was watching me intently...you'd a thought
          I was violating THEIR space!  I think they got the hint, they came back for
          another Karaoke night, but left early when I showed.
          As far as the owner not knowing how to spell Karaoke, I did'nt either at first.
          He coulda' looked it up, but my guess would be it was a conversation
          starter/pickup line. You must be a Babe! (excuse the generalization)  

Maninblack - You said exactly what I'd been thinkin' bout Bigdog. The sexual
           conontation was exactly what I thought too. He may as well be married to a
           nun.  LMAO  
           He does bring up a good point though...just tbecause I have the system and
           discs, it does'nt make me a KJ. He's right. I'll have to work hard to make
           it work, but I still feel its a job that I can do and do well. My first night was  
           getting better as time went on, it was beginning to be fun. Then we had to
           shut down because of the law. I was ready to go longer, but could'nt.  

Bigdog - I'm not offended, its just I would'nt protect you in a bar fight...'cause my
          feeling is you probably deserved it.
          It's not 20 people working the KJ equip. 3-4 tops and  I'll be monitoring
          everything closely. My last few $$ that I'm willing to spend on this place is
          going on this gamble, I'm not about to just let anyone grab the helm.
     
          I've not watched the timing of your posts...wonder if maninblack has a point?

If we've learned anything from this post, I have at least learned one thing...
Bigdog is at least 14 years old!          :hi5:


                                                                                      bigjim56

[quote="Babs @ Sat Nov 25, 2006 8:31 pm"]You are definately correct in saying not all bar owners are the same. You have good ones and bad ones just like any other business. I hope everyone realises that when I speak of them it is just my general experience. I only get frustrated with my bar owner when he does things that hurt my business which in turn effects his cash register. Most people that know my bar owner dislike him greatly. He is not a people person! It is hard for him to keep staff because of this too. I could tell many stories of things he has done to hurt business, but again that is just this one bar owner.

Here's a small ex. of his ineptness - He was putting up a sign to advertise the upcoming events at the bar. He waited until I got to the bar before he put the lettering in because he didn't know how to spell karaoke  LMAO . sometimes you just have to laugh.

For the most part I am happy where I am at. He is who he is I can't change his personality. I just tell myself it could be worse.

Gotta tell you, Babs....you could never work for me.......you're someone I'd want working WITH ME, not for me..........ps.....and as pretty as your new avatar is, you're still prettier......Perry said that I was in love....lmao....he may be right, but luckily....Karen loves you too........muhahahahahahahahahah.....

Bigjim56, you've opened up my eyes to the importance of being intimately familiar with all of the local laws that can impact a bar.

When my wife and I retire, we have thoughts of opening an establishment where karaoke would be a permanent fixture.  Towards that end, we have been amassing the necessaries for putting on a show.  We are not set on the type of establishment we intend to own, but a bar seems to be a natural venue when one speaks of karaoke.  However, in my area there are other venues where karaoke has become a staple, including  restaurants and coffee houses.  The nice thing about owning the show is that you don't have to pay a KJ and can run it every night if you like.  Then the show, for whatever it draws, it a constant plus to your business.  I am not suggesting, though, that as the owner one shouldn't be trying to put all of the ingredients in place to have a first-rate and enjoyable show.

Dancing, that I know a lot about.  What did you have in mind?
As to Bigdog -  EVERY PROBLEM GETS EASIER THE FURTHER REMOVED YOU ARE FROM IT!

Bigjim, I wish you all the best. Our local watering hole has a club-owned system. With a conscientious owner such as yourself, it will not be a problem.

I wish I could offer some sage advice, but my expertise is not club ownership.

One thing, though, that I have learned is that a small business owner should assign himself the tasks he most enjoys doing--if you would rather mix drinks, do that and hire someone else to run the show. If your heart is in the sound booth, hire a bartender. You get my drift, I am sure.

I offer you a belated welcome--sounds like you are already one of the gang! Come to Dallas and visit the Texas Idles!

_________________
[glow=darkorchid]Musica delenit bestiam feram[/glow]

The laws are cumbersome...3 liquor licenses, not one, THREE. State  of Missouri, City of St. Louis, City of Maryland Heights...its legalized robbery. Then BMI wants their $$ for Karaoke. Make sure to discuss with local officials all the licenses that are required, it may change your retirement plans. I think its the liquor that sets people off on singing Karaoke. They lose some inhibitions when they get a few under their belt. Stay with the alcohol menu if Karaoke is to be played...not a bad idea w/the coffee shops...we have coffee, but hardly anyone drinks it. BMI charges you for the occupancy (158 my occupancy) of your place. Here's the formula for my costs...

$2.40 + 0.35 = $2.65   $2.40 for using CD's or other digital audio, 0.35 for having Karaoke 2-4 nights/week.   It's 0.25 for 1 night or less, 5-7 nights = 0.50

The $2.65 above X my occupancy of 158 = $418.70 for one year of Karaoke permit for 2-4 nights/week. They give you 10% off if you pay lump sum $418.70 - 41.87 =
$376.83.  Thats the check I'm cutting tomorrow. I'm gonna make a copy of this bill for next years reference...they originally were asking well over $1000...we told them there was no way in hell we could pay that. I argued about using occupancy for their calculation, NEVER EVER has our bar been at capacity...but yet your paying for capacity. "We have to have some figure to base the calculation on". Then they tell me to get the local fire marshall to reinspect the premisis so as to lower the occupancy number, effectivley lowering my next years bill. I'm sorry, but my belief in government response/capabilityright now is at an all time low. I'll just keep my hard copy and confront them again next year..if I'm still there.

Texas Gigi - Thanks for the kind words, I really enjoy music, so doing the Karaoke myself is putting me right where I ought to be as far as your suggestion that you should enjoy what your doing. I was beginning to have fun Friday, but the law put a stop to it...1:30 am closing time. I can't bartend...my breasts are'nt big enough  :)
I've already tried cooking and still do some, don't really like to cook though. KJ'ing will allow me to energize the crowd...extracate the low lifes and hopefully put on a show that will increase clientele.
Hardly travel at all anymore, camping in state is the best we can do for now...being a Navy guy, we would revisit Virginia Beach almost every year before...got an xshipmate that lives on a boat in Gloucester, Virginia. Have been on 4 cruises...those are a blast....Granduer/Voyager/Mariner forgot the name of 4th ship, but all were Royal Carribean...excellent cruises....BIG SHIPS!  

                                                                              bigjim56

Jim, thanks for the insight.  Would you be so kind to look at the thread "Karaoke for the non-drinker" and see what you think?

Perhaps they should consider one of the SSRI class meds such as Paxil, Zoloft or Prozac.  That's a terrible form of OCD to have.  I should know,  I myself am a reformed "Putty ball sucker",  used to get the worst compulsions to suck putty balls at least 4 hours per day.  It's a terribly difficult obsessional trait to transcend without behaviour modification therapy and medication for those acute putty sucking periods. I wouldn't wish this on even my competition  :(    Funny,  I was just talking on the phone about this very subject literally 4 minutes ago.

_________________
Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Remember you need to pay for ASCAP & I believe SESAC as well.  BMI payments only cover BMI published songs.  If ASCAP came in they could fine you for not having their songs licensed as well.

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

I'm familiar with ASCAP  and BMI.  What's SESAC?  Does each differ on how they assess their fees these days.  Does anyone know how ASCAP and SESAC do it? I dealt with both ASCAP and BMI  30 years ago over a radio that played in a retail store chain I managed, but can't remember if the assessments were different.