Karaoke Forums

Hey guys. I'm going to be renting a karaoke setup soon, and I need to find a bar or club gig. I have no idea where to start! I keep thinking of that scene in the movie El Mariachi where the mariachi goes from bar to bar, begging for work. Any advice?

You're going to RENT a system to do club work???

Couple questions: How much are you going to renting it for, what does it come with - equipment & discs & how many songs, are you an experienced host with knowledge of the art of mixing sound & what do you THINK you are going to make per night???

These will all be determining factors in where you can work & how much you might be able to make.

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

come up with a plan first and try to find your gigs BEFORE renting the system...

also, the rental of the system may be so much that you won't make beans... most are close to $100 - $150 per night!

This post reminded me of a Steve martin bit I once saw where he had purchased a gasoline nozzle at a rummage sale for $10 because it seemed like a good deal despite the fact that he had no gas pump to connect it to. He then followed that up by saying, "But I bought some dumb stuff too."

Renting a system is only gonna make one guy rich--the guy you rent the system from!

Work your day job a little longer and save up to buy your equipment. Or, max out the credit cards if you are so inclined!

Do your homework. Go to other shows and talk to the KJ. What are other KJ's in the area making? What kind of song library do they have? What about their equipment? Is there a good karaoke market where you are? Is it on the up or the down swing?

I ran booking specials to expidite my equipment purchases. I pitched my show this way:

"If you book and prepay for 4 shows, I'll throw in a fifth one for free!"

That way you'll have gobs of cash on hand to buy equipment with, and you can let rental guy keep dusting his stuff off from time to time!

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Spreading the karaoke gospel

I agree, to a point, with all that has been said but, judging your post as it stands, you don't have much of an idea what you are doing and it will probably benefit you to hire a rig for one night to see if you are up to the job.

Unless you are very experienced, don't buy anything because you are planning on entering an already over-saturated market where only the best survive!

Karaoke is not 'easy money' and the work load (compiling and printing books, request slips etc, moving and setting up the gear, performing, stripping it all down at the end of a long night, moving it back home, unloading the van, buying new discs often.........

I think I'll give it up myself

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Imagine!

Sorry if my initial post was too vague.

I have about 20 hours of experience hosting and mixing sound. Granted, I might slip up a bit on my first few gigs, but i'm getting there. I'm also familiar with the workload, and while it seems a bit daunting (I certainly wouldn't call this work "easy money", Barry--it would probably take more time and effort to learn how to count cards than it would to start and maintain an above-average karaoke setup), the work is rewarding enough that I still want to pursue it.
I can't afford to purchase the system quite yet (Big Mike, you gave me some great advice with your "if you prepay 4, i'll give you the fifth for free"--thanks), but now that i've thought about it some more, i'll probably just wait to do that. Thanks for the replies.

20 hours? That's about 4 or 5 full nights of experience? I think I would work with another company for a little while & get a couple months of experience under my belt before I took any kind of leap into getting your own stuff yet. I'm sorry, you can't learn to mix sound correctly in a week. I train all my hosts on sound at least two months, before they can even go solo.
Unless you are just the best host, you are going to be going into any club with no following (which most clubs WILL ask for).



With no system, I wouldn't be going around booking clubs with a deal like this. You aren't going to make enough even with 4 nights of pre-payment at say $200. This is only going to give you about $800 (and that's a higher than norm scale in most places) which will get you maybe a small mixer & a cheap amp.
Figure out what you want your system to consist of first then talk to us. There are other alternatives to get into some quality gear at lower prices.

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

There is a former KJ I know of in Nashville who still does this.. he rents his 2nd, & 3rd systems out complete with books & media out for $50.00 cash up front a night. Of course most NEW Kj's there are lucky to pull down there anywhere $120.00 + tips on up, a night to start now unless they are well connected or Just do it for Tips. And probably make maybe 60.00 a night doing it that way. As of my latest conversation with a good friend who is a long time KJ, Now a partner in a nightclub there. It hasn't changed much around that part of the country, maybe gotten worse but not much.

So there are People out there that do it..

Some just rent the Sound systems, and you need the video and the karaoke players, Songbooks & Media.

Personally, I Don't rent out any of it.. I just bid really High.. and put on "First Class Shows" and pay my bills.

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Brian D.
(BHB)

Talking head...

After almost 13 years behind Live Audio Consoles mixing, and now doing studio recording, and Broadcast Production. I'm still not "World Class" Although I have seen my name in print in a couple times in a couple of audio trades for Projects I have participated in.

But in no way at all am I discouraging you to do anything your heart desires or to fulfill your dreams to become a KJ/DJ. If you wish to try it, I totally encourage you to please give it serious thought to secure appropriate financing and seek more opinions. The people here that have responded including myself have owned many systems and Lonman is extremly qualified to give you the appropriate advice.

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Brian D.
(BHB)

Some good advice here - need to work out the financial end for sure. For gigs, I would suggest getting familiar with some of the bars in the area, and definitely where karaoke is happening and not. Then, simply seek out the owner/manager, whoever can get the decision to do karaoke if they aren't already and it makes sense to you for them to try it out. Price competitively (intro discount for a trial period is okay to me, others might disagree).

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Sounds Great! Entertainment
Bartlett, Illinois

Ease up on the new kid boys and girls. I remember when I first started out. I won some local contests and ALOT of the kj's were hopeless. I figured I could do better than these idiots. Bought the bare essentials and played anywhere and everywhere. My first playlist consisted of the WHOLE KJ Powerized setup. HA HA yep 10 whole disc's. Did the pizza parlor scene for 50 dollars and 2 large specials for 3 hours of thee most kick butt karaoke money can buy. Now 9 years later I'm on top and lovin every moment. Its alright to start small just do your homework and keep growing. The tech stuff will come to you with practice and patience. And remember undercutters and pirates are the scum of the earth......peace love karaoke

Metalgod,
You are my hero!!! Can I buy ya a slice of pizza and a pint of beer?

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Brian D.
(BHB)

metal, solid words...

what some of us were trying to say is that RENTING the system and only having a few hosting days of experience may not be the wisest of choices... but I have seen people get into it with ZERO experience and they're doing fine. Some were excellent singers, some were excellent sound people, some were like myself with some of both and a great idea on HOW to run the company.

No matter what, I wish the man well!

ALOT DEPENDS ON WHERE HE LIVES TOO....I AM IN ORLANDO, WHICH IS OVERSATURATED, OF COURSE....MY BROTHER GETS 2 1/2 TIMES OUT IN THE COUNTRY, IN OHIO, WHAT WE GET IN ORLANDO, AND THE UNDERCCUTTER CUT THROATS HERE WOULD MAKE YA CRY...

ALOT OF GOOD ADVICE WAS POSTED HERE FOR HIM THO...THESE FORUMS ARE GREAT READING...

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When I was young, I used to believe in the concept of one best friend,  then I became an adult  and  realized  that if you allow your heart to open up, God would show you the best in many friends...

On the rental is it a deal of rent to buy? I could understand the desire to start out that way albeit a bit on the EXPENSIVE SIDE in the long run. It is hard to get out there and compete with operations like mine and others that have become established with better equipment and song selections. there is no guarantee you will make it so this way at least you may not have a lot ties up in an investment that may not work out. This is a very tough and competitive business. Few make any money let alone a living doing this. I have been very fortunate to have had a knack for karaoke, many don't. You have to be able to wear manybusiness hats, be great with people/take care of the customers First, etc.

Best of luck on whatever you decide. Hold half of your money/earnings back if you rent for your own rig. You will have to have more music as you go as well. You never stop having business expenses in karaoke so remember you HAVE to spend money to make money.

I personally can understand how the bar and club seen would be a lil more demanding on quality and quantity of music and sound but what about small gatherings such as reunions, graduations, or engagement parties that take place in the back yard or the local small town civic center. I only ask because I have recently aquired a karaoke/digital music set up but I am not looking to perform in bars. Im trying to make a name for my self but sometimes I wonder if I have the proper equipment to satisfy the customers. Seems like you could never have to much (music, lights, speakers, etc.)

As you may or may not know, I'm just starting out as well. I bought a Fender PD-250 to do small rooms and it works well. I'll make the money back on the system, player and discs in about 8-10 shows. My total investment to start is documented elsewhere, but figure $1200 or so to start in equipment costs (not counting discs).

If you want to do non-bar gigs there are plenty of them out there - you just have to look for them a little harder or even put the idea in someones head. Talk with church groups about dances/mixers. Talk to local organizations (Lions, Elks, etc) about doing fund raisers. There are plenty of karaoke gigs to do without going to a bar they're just a little harder to find.

I don't have any 'real' experience behind a sound board and I'm an average singer. I have a good understanding of the basics of mixing and while I'm not ready for a studio by any means, I didn't drop over $10K for a month+ long class either (like a friend did when he got out of the military). Spend some time w/ someone behind a board or get your own system and work on it. Even if you just get a small mixer you can mix and record w/ some basic equipment. I recommend reading up on mixing and just trying different things in your spare time. Don't learn while doing a show - the singers sound like crap and the show isn't as enjoyable.

Any time you start a new business you have to decide where to spend the money first. If you land 5 gigs and the system isn't available to rent on one night you could be hosed. Do you tell the client, sorry, I can't do Friday because I can't rent the sound system? That would not bode well for your starting business. Even a small system can be upgraded slowly as the gigs start to come in. I'm fortunate to have a day job that pays the bills so 100% of my money goes into more equipment for my business - if you can do the same I'd recommend it to get off the ground quicker.

If you're really interested in starting business and don't have any experience on how to approach the DJ/KJ business I recommend sitting down and figuring out the marketing side of your business. There are some basic books on marketing out there, and even a guy on eBay who sells 'marketing' documents for KJ/DJ's (no, it's not me!). There's plenty of gigs and money to be made even if you're not doing the bar thing. Give it time and think through your business decisions and you'll do well.

Good luck in your new venture.

Well restaurant karaoke parties are quite popular.You can offer your for services to restaurants with a bar for prebooked parties in the restaurant bar.The restaurant gets the booking then lets you provide the karaoke at a set cost which you arrange with them.

I do this at my 3 night a week gig. I am permanently set up there. I can do it cheaper as I have no set up. They call for availability at the supperclub. The club charges their price and the people hire me separately. They pay me. Since it is normally on a karaoke night, I do the party til 30 minutes before my regular show starts. I take the break before a long evening and It gives regular karaoke people a chance to sift in. It is easy money compared with the alternative. I usually do several of these a month.

Collect YOUR money YOURSELF. The bar may give you one thing and then charge the party more. Most of my parties are birthday parties, it gives a chance for a few extra and special songs then people sing in regular karaoke. My wait is usually long as rotations tend to be large. I may do a two hour to just a thirty minute preshow party (6 to 7 songs).