Karaoke Forums

I visit other shows and I have had other KJs come to my show as well.

In general when they claim that they "Used to run a show" is a big red flag. Those people tend to be hypercritical about various details. I figure if they know how to do so much right they would still be running a show. I have had annoying conversations with more than a few of such DJs, and I rarely see them a second time.

Others who currently run shows (especially if they have been doing it for some time) tend to be more complementary. Generally every long running show may be doing something right, there usually is something to learn from them. Some of them who are not traveling have become semi-regular visitors to the show.

As for me I try to learn from other KJs, If I see something I don't like about the show I generally keep quiet about it. If I enjoy the show I generally go up to complement the host and tell what I like about the show.

Ive had some visit me before. Most just came for a couple hours of Karoake and went on their way and Id met them before or been to thier shows etc. So it was nuetral. Havnet really had any "Heckler's", except for one who tried to RECRUIT people to come KJ FOR HIM!!! He didnt try to steal any custies--just recruit for a KJ position in his KJ company. So I thougth that was kinda bizarre!

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"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

One of the KJs that visits our show told us last night he has gotten some job offers that he can't take due to his day job and he wanted to know if he could give them our card. Don't know if it will work out but it was a nice gesture.


We have offered to let the nicer visiting KJs mix their own sound if they didn't think we were getting it right but so far no takers. One guy said he thought we sounded good. Thank you, Yamaha.

I get 2 types. Friends out to have fun ( like Cueball), and I enjoy having them, as most sing well and help pump the crowd.

And then there are the prospectors, bottonfeeders, etc... who will walk around talking trash about you or your system to anyone who will listen, leave cards everywhere, or tell the owner how much cheaper they would do it. Kinda pathetic really. From what I hear, this sort of behavior pretty much just makes them look bad........ I don't worry about it, but it's still unpleasant.

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

Great thread. The only other show I visit is my brother-in-law's. He can't hear or sing too well & he mainly KJs to hang out with his boozy friends. It's tough to tell him anything with regard to better sound, equipment upgrades, or running a show. But once in awhile he'll do something that I know he learned from watching me, and I learned most of what I know from the forum .

As for KJs who visit my shows, there have been a few (including the brother-in-law) but they haven't said too much to me about my show or tried to hijack my gigs. However, I agree with the assessment of some here who said that the best visiting KJ offers a kind word, doesn't complain about the rotation or suggest improvements, participates in the show and is a positive contributor WITHOUT trying to take over as host or advertise their own show.

There are nights when I have had 6 KJ's at my show. I know and like most of them. Many of them helped and supported me when I first stated. I figure I must be doing a good show if other KJ"s frequent my show. I know I don't tollerate bad KJ's. Never had any of them try to help or take over my show. I think once, one of them wanted the mic louder, but I had to tell him no, due to limitations set by the owner. Like me, when they are off, they just want to sing like everybody else.

I don't announce that they are KJ's. Most of them worked where I started at one time, so all the regulars already know. When I go to others shows, I really feel uncomforable when they anounce me as a local KJ. I just want to be a regular guy singing. I have never felt compelled to go to another show because he was anounced as a KJ when I went out singing.

I had to ban a guy from my show once, for many reasons. One of the things he did is decided he was the karaoke welcoming commitee. He would "Talk" to new and regular people until they felt completely uncomfortable, and just wished he would leave them alone. People don't appreciate the loud fat illiterate guy invading their privacy. I know that don't sound like much, but there were many reasons, and I don't care to list them all.

When a KJ tells me I have a great rig and do a great job, I appreciate it. Had a couple come in trying to steal my gig, but if you do a good job, you need not worry.

Felix the KJ

Now THAT'S funny!

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

I am thinking about starting my own karaoke business and I was wondering what you all thought about someone like me approaching a KJ asking them questions such as how is the market out there, and I do not want to undercut anyone so ask them what a fair rate would be to charge clubs, reassuring them that I do not want to try to steal their business I just looking for some guidance maybe if I get good enough I can pass shows that come my that I am unable to do because of scheduling and visa versa. Do you think that would be a bad idea or a good idea, if you think it's a good idea how should I approach them and what kind of questions should I ask them that dosn't intimidate them?

VikkiJean, I'd be very careful about who you get advice from & what you ask them. People tend to get defensive in that situation.

+1. Just get started and you'll figure it out. Don't do things for ridiculous prices. Stay above $100 if you're a beginner.

for that matter, why not apprentice yourself under a karaoke company, so you can learn the ropes

that sounds like a good idea, How should I go about apprenticing myself?

Sell yourself to them. No one way would I recommend.

I started out by being a partner to an existing KJ, and he began to teach me. Soon, I found myself at odds with his style of hosting, and we split amicably as friends, but I never could get into the way he did it. He always had a successful show, so who was I to criticize???

I'd sit down with a kj company, tell them you don't want to compete, but that there's room for the both of yo in the town. Say you'll work for free or very LOW money in exchange for them showing you the ropes, negotiating tactics...

Like any apprentice would do to a journeyman... study at the feet of the master!

To be brutally honest, if I knew that a host I was about to hire wanted eventually compete with me, there's NO WAY I would even consider hiring them.
Even though you say you don't want to compete, that's EXACTLY what you will be doing whether you like it or not.
The reality is, most won't hire you if they know you want to go off on your own.
Look at it this way: why would or should I spend the time, effort, and money (yes! it WILL cost me) to train someone, only to have them eventually taking gigs that I might otherwise get?
As for someone asking me how much I make, I clam up real fast. I consider it a rude invasion of privacy. That's personal information I share only with my tax preparer (me!) and the government of Canada.
Personally, I like Bill H's advice. That's how I started.

they wouldn't be taking your gigs if say you apprenticed in another city nearby, or in the cities I live in, there's ALWAYS room for some healthy competition!

But you're right... some karaoke companies wouldn't want to train their competition! So why hire anybody to come work for them? It doesn't take a genius to figure out that a house kj isn't getting the profits, only a paycheck... and eventually he or she will wise up and form their own company.

This person is just being HONEST about the situation.

I started out on my own and learned as I went. The audio mixing I learned on the way but it came naturally to me. The hosting style came from watching several other Hosts run their shows and taking note what was good and what was bad about their style and tried to mimic the good stuff and changed the bad stuff to the way I wanted to be treated as a singer. I was also lucky that I found one KJ that wasn't threatened by the fact that I had my own equipment and supported me in trying to get my own shows but also allowed me to work for him untill I could establish myself. If I were you I would attend various shows just to watch the host in action.

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The Line Array Experiment is over. Nothing to see here. Move along.

In my area, it wouldn't work, but I do see your point.



Why hire someone to KJ? Because Although the person may have some DJ/KJ skills, not everyone has all the equipment required.
I have the equipment, business skills, and booking know-how.
The reality is that the average hired DjJ/KJ really can't afford the outlay of thousands it takes to get enough sound equipment, never mind a library.


Yes, they were, as was I.
I still say, though, that if I knew someone was only wanting to work for me so they can go into competition with me, I would move on and find someone who wants to work with me and STAY. It has its own rewards, trust me. I'm very good to work for and loyalty gets rewarded.

Diafel, exactly. I could have gone out on my own years ago but my feeling is together we make a good team and therefore a better show. We each have our own areas of responsiblity. I manage, am the keeper of the library (books). He hosts, procures the discs, and does the actual hosting. If we're double booked, he takes the special show and I cover the regular show. We both for the most part share the setting up and down. I personally like this arrangement.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

I guess you all are right maybe apprenticing may not be a good idea but I do plan to go to a few different shows and just observe the different styles. If you all don't mind me asking what is the average to charge clubs and do you do any kind of introductory rate for the first show or the first few shows just to get your foot in the door. I am in South Carolina so I don't know if there are different rates in different parts of the country but I don't want to over charge but I don't want to under charge either.

It really varies from region to region, state to state, city to city. Some places, the average rate for a KJ is $250 for a 4 hour show, and other areas, it's $150. One thing you won't have to worry about is overcharging.... The Bar Owner/Manager just won't pay for it if he/she feels it's too high. If you can command a high (or higher) fee, then more power to you.

Also, another suggestion I have for you is to check out www.craigslist.org in your state/city. Sometimes other KJs are looking to hire on someone to run their equipment (or work for them), and they advertise there.