Karaoke Forums

Dosen't matter if it is a private party, or public event.  NO tip jar for me.  I just find it realy tacky if someone is paying your wages, and then you want more.

Now it is different if I am not getting paid.  My normal public gigs run from 9-1.  IF there is enough demand I will have someone pass the hat for tips for me to play past 1 am.  The ammount of tips I get, dictates how long I go over.  But I do clear it with the bartenders first, somtimes they want to get out ASAP, and want me done ASAP.

But for a private part, I wil NEVER put out a tip jar.  IF they want me to play over they have to pay my contracted OT price.

I have a tip jar mainly because people were handing me money. I don't want people thinking I am taking bribes. I don't think it is tacky unless you are begging for tips. I never mention I have a tip jar. When I started out I didn't use a tip jar. I felt funny about it. The bartender told me I was crazy for feeling that way and made me one from an old beer pitcher. Since then it has morphed into a glass fish bowl.

I don't think I've ever brought my tip jar to a private party, anniversry, wedding etc... just bar gigs.

I feel like I put extra into my show and bend over backwards sometimes for patrons. I would do this reguardless, but it is nice when people tip you to show you they appreciate the extra effort.

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I'm having trouble with my computer lately - sorry about the double posting.

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TEE HEE HEE....Blonde is showing again.

But anyway, Even if you have a tip jar, in stead of just taking the tip in hand, I feel it still sends the wrong idea to the patrons.  Perhaps putting the tip jar in a place away from you, maybe on the bar, would be a way to handle it.   Or possiblty tell em all to wait til the end of the nite, and then pass the tip jar.  

I just feel it wil give to many peeps too much amo.  Say a guy puts in a $20 tip, and just happens to be the next person singing.  WOn't that look kinda weird to otheres that have to wait say 1/2 hour to sing?

I would bring them into private parties more than I would a bar.

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That's where the customer viewable rotation program comes in handy.  It displays all singers, when they sang last, when they were stamped in.  So if that happened to happen & someone came to question, I could just show them.  Never had a problem in that respect.  People have even seen me pull money OUT of the jar & hand it back to someone if they gave it to me in the hopes of being moved up.

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I don't keep the tip jar close to me. It is on a table at the side of the stage.
I would never pass it around. I'd feel like I was begging for tips.

I really think it depends on the show. Some private parties I'm sure it would be appropriate. You bet I put it out there when I did that benefit for free, but I ended up donating it all back.  LMAO Now that I think about, it is okay really anytime, it is just a jar and people have a choice if they want to donate or not.

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

Most of the time the host of the party gives me a fifty over my price, sure wouldn't want to lose that, for setting out a tip jar......another six of one, and half a dozen of the other situation......

Funny you should say that, because that is almost what happenned to me Saturday night....

As I said, at the last second I decided to leave the tip jar on the passenger seat of my car, and not use it. The people that hired me paid a pretty penny, and I felt that was good. At the end of the night, the host walks me to my car and shakes my hand with another $20 bill thanking me for the fun party! (The cops were only called twice, but that is another story....)

I don't think if I would have had a tip jar out, I would have gotten that much. Now I am more confused then ever on to use it or not....

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This last suggestion on the tip jar has got me wonderin'...since I'm the bar owner, and its my system and I'm doin the KJ work...I could put a jar out by the song slip desk "Unpaid KJ".  LOL  

I've already worked a deal out with the wife, I eat and drink for free on KJ nights. Besides, the eye candy sometimes makes it worthwhile. Just wear my shades..

Kinda seems tacky to me, but its an idea. I think I'll wait until I get a good steady following before any of these ideas get implemented.

                                                                                      bigjim56

I have no idea who you are.  I've only seen post bragging about how 'great' you are and how much 'others' need YOUR training.

I don't talk about you...  and feel free to come to my neck of the woods... I'll even give you DIRECTIONS....

Nothing scares me more than a 'self proclaimed expert'.


All that aside...

1. Forget the gong show idea... might work for a 'talent' or 'gag' night that would include karaoke but not for your typical karaoke night.
2. Remember what karoake is ALL about.  Each singer gets their 15 minutes of fame - approx. 4 minutes at a time.  Make those 4 minutes about the SINGER.  Give them good sound and talk them up.  It's about having FUN!
3. The tip jar is ok... sort of...  If you're in an a 'tourist' area then it's almost expected.  At parties where you're not being paid - like I did at the American Legion in Seward, Alaska - then it's expected and needed.  I generally had someone come up and grab the jar at some point in the night and walk it around the room.  I would usually make more money off tips than I would if I was paid by the Legion.
4. When I do a show (be it bar or private show) I bring a tip jar.  I keep it out of direct sight but I put it out.  If they walk up to me they see it.  In other words, if they require something special from me or come up to turn in a slip they see it, but I don't announce to the world that I'm taking tips (with the exception of the American Legion gig mentioned earlier).
5. I keep myself in rotation - even when there are LOTS of singers.  If I come up I simply skip myself.  If there is a problem with a singer I can give them my slot to correct a problem and not throw off the timing.  I have been known to give up my slot to another singer under a variety of circumstances.  I don't 'sell' it though...
6. I do have a note in my book - 'If you simply 'must' sing next because your dog is ill, or any other reason you can do so.  It's real easy - buy the bar a round, and for anyone that's not drinking pay them $10.  Once the bill is paid, and the bartenders tipped you can sing next.'  I've never had anyone take me up on it....
7. I do recommend that you watch as many karaoke shows as you can (both good and bad) before you jump in and start hosting.  The bad ones will show you what NOT to do... the good ones will show you what a 'good' karaoke show can be and occasionally you might just see a good host that shows you what not to do as well... and sometimes a bad host can teach you something that's pretty nice as well...

Every karaoke show I go to I try to learn something... it's called continuing education.  I try to catch other shows at least once a month....

Hi, Karaokemeister. I've done some karaokeing down your way a few years ago. One place was called, I think, Bamboo Willies(next to Hooters). Anoher was called something with "Live Bait" in the title. I also karaoked at the Radisson in Ft. Walton Beach. My wife and I enjoyed all of these places, and were very sorry to see all the huricanes come through, and do so much damage. I sure hope all of the fine people in your area, have a full, and speedy recovery, and I pray you never have to deal with such a lousey part of nature again. We sure want to come back again, but I assume it has changed quite a bit.....take care and God bless.........jj

, jeez kinda greedy.  Get tips at the bar, get tips being a KJ, get the money from the till.....

Perhaps you need to tell the wife shee needs to [pay you to do karaoke.  LOL
 LMAO  LMAO

It is very poor etiquite for an owner of an establishment to take or ask for tips.  Check Emily Post or Miss Manners on this.

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twansanne/timberlea,

Have not yet made a dime off this bar, still in debt and the debts getting BIGGER.
I will not ask for tips or allow someone to bump in line for $$. My own $$ has went into many repairs around this bar...

1) kitchen exhaust hood - bearing crapped out, bought/repaired myself
2) hamburger grill thermostat crapped out - $600 repair, paid myself
3) window broken on break in (6' X 8' tinted) - bought/repaired myself,
   still paying on $400 loan to reopen. $600 stolen.
4) Go in on off days to help in kitchen/bar/beer orders etc.

Yeah, I'm greedy. Tell it to somebody not in the know.

I would ask the wife to pay if she could afford it, but its obvious she can't, so I won't.  Its looking increasingly like this is a failed effort for a business. We will hang it out for a few more months, but its not looking good. All the licensing/taxes/government regulations/BMI etc., they are the greedy ones. Whatever happened to the home of the free? We're slowly being overtaken by the greedy ones, its just taking some of you longer to see it.

                                                                                           bigjim56

I assume the classifieds on this site is where I could sell the KJ equipment when needed. Have not visited there yet. Anyone bought anything from there?

Damn, didn't realize it wass that bad Jim.  I was just ribbing ya about getting tips, ment no offense.

Yeah, I know how much it costs to run a bar.  I was trying to buy one about 6 moths ago, and the insurance, lisencing, and all the other crap, it  takes a ton of cash to run a bar/resturant.  I backed out when the landloard of the place wouldn't sign a long term lease.  I dind't want to buy the bar only to have to move it in 2 years.

SO a couple young kids (25 yo) bought into the bar with the current owner to get him out of debt.  WHy they would want to be partnered with a guy who ran a cash cow into the ground,  and got over $10,000 behind in taxes, utilities, and rent, I have no clue.  Plus they will have to relocate in a year.  Makes no sense to me.

I am convinced a tip jar is okay in almost any situation. It is just a jar. People can make their own decission if they want to put money in it. It is only tacky when you beg for tips.

Bigjim - I think the way to handle your tip jar is put a note on it that says what you need it for - I would find that comical and the patrons would know what the money is going towards that will make their bar nicer.  
For instance: New bathroom toilet fund  LMAO

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

twansanne, no offense taken, it is that bad. We're starting to look for a buyer already, if no buyer we will lose almost EVERYTHING invested (82K). I will be able to sell the KJ equipment though...for how much I don't know. I'm really trying to make it work, but its one hoop after another. Just found out today the insurance requires that ALL of our bartenders go to a liquor handling school. WTF?!  I will NEVER EVER try to ba a business owner again. Its not worth it. Like I said, I have not made one dime. The wife works her -ss off, and has to borrow $$ for rent. That's where the debt is getting bigger. I put low watteage fluorescent bulbs EVERYWHERE, cleaned all a/c & refrigerator coils etc. Really cleaned the place up, but there's just no business coming. You do all this work and the utilities still send you an ESTIMATED bill. Their estimating on the last owners power/fuel usage. We're being MUCH more frugal. We don't heat the place at night, use pipe warmers on water lines to keep them from freezing, and they still send estimated bills.

My Karaoke is still in its infancy, but that won't be enough to save it. I just hope to plug the hole in the dike, until we can find a new owner. Hopefully wave the KJ setup in their face as an enticement. We will sell our current home (too big) and downsize to a much smaller home it looks like. I'll make it, just takes me a while to figure out my course of action. This place really has a lot of potential, the basement would make an excellent banquet center with just a little work, but I'm broke for now. The only $$ left (investments) is for home moving expenses. My wife will have to get a regular job and pay back the loan. She does'nt like it, but she will like the 8 hour days again, no paperwork at home, gettin her life back, etc. I will enjoy gettin my life back too. Its like I told her today, you don't own the business, the business owns you.

Babs - we could use a bathroom makeover, maybe I could use it that way. Good idea. May try that, thanks.

                                                                                   bigjim56

P.S.  I'm keeping my bike!