Karaoke Forums

Thanks everyone....you too BD...  for the info on all of this. Actually, I never mentioned that the place I go to usually has drink specials until midnight, like......$2.50 Coronas....or, $2.50 Capt. Morgan & coke....or whatever.
I used to drink the Coronas just so I could tip the bartender more. But that was getting old....so I just went back to my Bud Lights for the same price.....wait a second....that didn't make any sense. I was cashing in on a premium beer for less dough, and went back to pi$$ water???  LMAO  :no:

I agree with the rotation concern of ericlater, though I've never really given it a thought before. I'm usually there until closing time and beyond anyways......sometimes, I'm one of the "hurry up and get the f**k outta heres" you drunks.....  LMAO  LMAO


It doesn't seem fair that bar hoppers get special privileges.  :wave:

PCornell, something you might want to try sometime if you like Corona's.  Take a regular Bush beer in a bottle; NOT Bush lite.  And put a lime in it like you would a Corona.  Close your eyes and take a taste and see if in your opinion it doesn't dang near taste the same.  Someone put me on to that many years ago.  I have tested it (blindfold) on several people and they either guessed wrong or couldn't tell the difference.

Kelly

Frankly, I will drink whatever I'm in the mood for that night.  If its only soda then so be it.  If the bar owners have a clue, they know what revenue run rate they're dealing with on various nights and priced their stuff accordingly.   And, often times during the week they run cheap drinks anyway and can have small crowds (sometimes).  so a soda is likely to cost close to a beer or well-drink anyway.

That said, I will buy/drink what I'm comfortable doing and won't feel like a mooch.   If I happen to be singning by myself on a weeknight, I'm certainly not going to spend as much as when I go out with friends/familiy on the weekend-  And that can be a significant tab.

_________________
For those about to rock, we salute you!!!

I completely respect your point of view and agree with it. I know a lot of KJs who won't add people in the middle of a rotation so as to discourage bar hoppers.

I have been known to dring bottled water faster than beer because I have no fear of getting drunk on bottled water like I do on beer.

Sunday night I had nobody when it was time to start.   Then they started to filter in.   I had a good rotation of about 15, when 8 more came in pretty close together.    I put a new singer in after every 2 old ones.   The last new singer still had to wait 45 minutes to sing.     I want to make sure everyone gets to sing at least once during the night.      But I have a knuckhead that goes to another karaoke bar and wants to waltz in late.   He thinks he's going to sing all night.   WRONG.    He had one song.  He still had the balls to come up and ask for another one, that he actually thought he was going to sing.    After you have been at some hacks karaoke across the street and spent all your money there, I should put you ahead of my loyal singers?    Did you fall and bump your head crossing the street?     I'm on to his game.   I put him very close to the end, so he will never come up again.    He did come in and buy a few drinks.    Where do you draw the line with a paying customer?    Get the hack to put you up again, they need the business.

His money still went in to the register.     Once it's in there, it all looks the same.

BigJim - When I used to work as a doorman (some called us bouncers) at three different bars we had a "day price" that covered normal expenses and overhead and then a "night price" that was up to $1 more per drink that covered entertainment.  Night prices went into effect an hour before the entertainment started.  (Some bars advertised it as "Happy Hour" from 10 AM to 8 PM )

Customers have to pay for the entertainment.    What are you going to do charge the bartender and the KJ?  


It's the way free market business works in the world.   I have a business, customers pay for everything I sell.    Capitalism at work.   You're not a Commie are you?

You work for an employer.   Do you pay him to go there or does he pay you for your time?   Everybody pays except the moochers and free water drinkers.

I AM a non drinker, I think if the bar is having trouble keeping drinkers drinking or having people come in soaking up the free entertainment MAYBE ( I stiil dont like that idea too much )charge a cover charge. Or...hike up the soda & water prices. Why punish those that ARE drinking with a per song fee. I dont ever feel like dead weight b/c I drink & pay for my soda & tip & sometimes eat if they have food there.Soda profits are extremly good so they make their $ off me believe that !!

We did a weekly gig for a resturaunt, alot of the people were there to sing not eat or drink unfortunatly,  the owner got upset b/c they were just soaking up the  entertainment BUT would give FREE drink refills for the people to be sitting there singing AND drinking SODA... FREE... We informed him that he should charge at least half price for refills but he refused...hes outta business now after only about 6 months of being open. Stupeedo !!

_________________
Kelley
Star Sounds Karaoke & Mobile Recording Studio


[shadow=black][scroll]You have to respect your audience. Without them, you're essentially standing alone, singing to yourself....KD Lang[/scroll][/shadow]

I think it all comes out in the wash. Every bar is gonna charge what they want for alcoholic/non alcoholic drinks.... every bar is gonna attract people who are there for just music and socializing, and wont buy any alcohol. They're still making a killing. I would never go to a place that had a "cover charge" for karaoke, that's insane. Too many free places to go sing. I did go to a place once (and ONLY once) that charged per song to sing.... never went back, end of story.

The two places I sing at regularly don't charge for water.  :roll:  That's good for me, especially since I quit drinking alcohol.  :D One place I go gives me free sodas if I'm the DD, the other place does not. I say.... whatever floats their boat. When I go out, it's usually with the intent to spend money anyhow. Now if only they'd give away free *seasoned curly fries*, I'd be all set:)

>was I on topic?<

.

_________________
♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥

You don't watch TV for free.    You don't go to dances for free.    You don't listen to bands for free.   You don't play a jukebox for free.    Why doesn't anyone want to pay for karaoke by purchasing a Freakin' drink.    Cheap people won't help the bar owner stay open.    With or without entertainment.

Yeah I have a few regulars who have made comments that they think the bar owner should pay them to sing.  LMAO

At my bar when karaoke starts the drinks go up 25 cents.

My opinion on non-drinkers is simple
* They usually bring drinking friends in with them
* They may help fill a bar that maybe look emptier other wise
* If they are a regulars they make for the designated driver for many - I've seen
non-drinkers chauffeur singing drinkers several times a night.
* They may not drink, but they buy food or put money in the pool table or dart machines.
* It's a bar - most people do drink. The few that don't aren't going to make or break a place

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

What do you do if the non drinkers all show up on the same night and nobody buys anything?     Take a cut in pay?   Since you won't be playing you could drive everyone home.     After you buy them all drinks until they can't see straight.

If all of the bar's patrons are non-drinkers, the owner should call it a restaurant and enjoy the less restrictive laws.  LOL

Oh, and I do not mind paying for non-alcoholic drinks, such as water. That is not an issue; I am buying a product. ANd I think day pricing vs. night pricing is easily justifiable if there is entertianment at night. I just don't like it if there is one karaoke night a week and the drinks cost more on that night only. I guess just like everything else...whatever works best for the bar is the best answer.

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

                                                                               

                                                                             

Yeah I have a few regulars who have made comments that they think the bar owner should pay them to sing.  LMAO

At my bar when karaoke starts the drinks go up 25 cents.

My opinion on non-drinkers is simple
* They usually bring drinking friends in with them
* They may help fill a bar that maybe look emptier other wise
* If they are a regulars they make for the designated driver for many - I've seen
non-drinkers chauffeur singing drinkers several times a night.
* They may not drink, but they buy food or put money in the pool table or dart machines.
* It's a bar - most people do drink. The few that don't aren't going to make or break a place[/quote]

Babs.....I normaly don't drink coffee at night, but I thought I'd try one at the end of the night, the last time I was by PSP......they wouldn't charge me for it, and I had to leave a tip on the bar, because the bartender didn't want to accept it......Starbuck's would have charged me four or five bucks......what's up with that......also, the owner or the bartender bought me my last beer.....is there something I should know?...
Should I be watching my arse...

Ummmm.... actually, I do. Regular TV doesn't cost a dayum thing BillyBob. Cable or satellite, sure, but not regular TV.



Once again, yes I do. Never been to a dance that costed me:)
(unless I drink and the drinks cost)



And again.... yes I do. Lots of places have no cover charge for bands.



Errr, sometimes I do. All it takes is flashing a silly smile at Danny the cute bartender, and putting on a "confused girl" smile, and saying "Danny, I can't get this thing to work right for me"..... and he puts on my requested song:)
Geez, BillyBob, you gotta get in the know about these things.



Looks to me like most people here say they do. And I often do. I'd most likely croak if I saw the figure of how much $$$ I've spent on alcohol at bars over the years. But never once did I begrudge the ones sitting and drinking free water so they could drive people home safely. Free drinks to a DD is a smart thing.

Karaoke is a gamble for a bar, so is a band. They take a chance that the bar will be full and that they will sell alot of drinks..... they have to be ready to have good nights and bad nights.  They should learn a little risk assessment, and hire good KJ's (and/or bands) who draw a crowd. The money will follow.

Should all karaoke be "karaoke for alcoholics only" so the bar will be covered as far as how much money they take in?  :no: Silly dog.

.

_________________
♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥

Look, let's not get "sidetracked" by the question of "designated driver".  And if the place serves food, the DD can eat.  And is the DD singing Karaoke?

I believe, and I'm sure to be corrected if I'm wrong, that the issue has to do, really, with HOW DO THE KARAOKE SINGERS support their karaoke venue?  I'd never question what those in the "audience" spend when they have not accompanied one of the singers .  Those folks can go anywhere they want, so I feel they should be welcomed no matter what they spend.

And the "Menu", of course, is a factor.  Is the place just a bar?  Can it serve liquor or does it just serve beer and wine?  Does it have a limited menu or a full menu?  The amount spent by any customer, on averge,  will vary based upon those factors.

So.. let's say that I go to a modestly priced restaurant with a full bar for karaoke and arrive before the show to eat my dinner at a casual pace.  Let's say my wife (who doesn't sing) and I spend $30 on food.  During the dinner and the course of the rest of the evening, we spend $20 on drinks.  (excluding tax and tips)

Let's say that the show starts a 9pm, and at 10:30 a couple comes in (both singers) and orders coffee.  Now the place has wonderful appetizers and desserts, but they order coffee (with refills).  And let's also say that both are DD's?

What do ya think?

I'd say that is good business. Not to mention, I'm obviously not the only person that thinks you and your wife are pretty cool!

I think the only time non-drinkers seem to call attention to them selves is when a bar is having a hard time making ends meat. I feel bad for these bars and if they can find a way to make an extra buck charging for water - I say go for it. But I don't believe the non drinkers are the problem. If you aren't making it as a bar I don't believe kicking out the non drinkers is going to help.

I know our bar owner used to complain about nondrinkers (we only had a few). When he realized that they actually brought in business by the people they brought with them and they helped bring several people in who wouldn't of other wise come in because they didn't want to drive and drink, he changed his mind.

I have never seen a bar filled with nondrinkers, not even half full. People usually come to a bar to drink. I am a nondinker myself, but usually when I go out end up buying others drinks, buy food etc... I always leave a tip even if all I drink is coffee.

Another point is if you have a small group of good looking girls that don't drink come in - don't you think that would attract more men to come into the bar. I'm sure the guys wouldn't complain the girls weren't drinking.

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

From the sounds of it, there are many CHEAP people on this site.    Nothing is free unless you have t*ts.    Everyone else has to pay.   Entertainment is not free.   Why do you think the bar owner should provide free entertainment and not be able to show a profit?


If any business doesn't show a profit it will soon disappear from the face of the earth.   If you don't want to support the bar and the entertainment stay home.

Maybe if the KJ was a high quality KJ, the entertainment would be worth more?

Bars raising the drink prices on entertainment night has always been the norm.     Get over it and support your local business people or they will be gone.     If you're that poor stay home, the kids need milk.

I have t*ts and I am willing to pay for quality entertainment. What is your point?

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

So what is your solution? Are you saying we should kick out the nondrinkers or make them drink?

If you have that many nondrinkers and you think it's hurting business. Maybe it should be a coffee house instead of a bar. I'm being serious. Or maybe sell more things that would appeal to a nondrinker like nonalcoholic specialty drinks, hot chocolate, nachos etc...

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