Karaoke Forums

Well It finally happened to me tonight, after 4 months of running 5 gigs a week I had a family emergency and I missed a gig. My cell phone was dead and I couldn't get in touch with the owner until I was already 3 hours overdue. The owner of this particular venue was a tough sell to begin with and the gig had just started to pick up over the last month after 3 months of struggle. I talked to the owner for a brief period tonight and he was none to thrilled. He said there were actually a lot of people there most of which left very disappointed. I offered him half price for the next two weeks to make it up to him, but having never run into this situation before I'm not sure if that's enough or too much or what. Not to even mention how to win back the hard won crowd. To be honest the thought that this could happen never even crossed my mind. What do you guys think. I'm sure this has happened to some of you guys and I'm sure you found a way to make it right. Thanks for your advice.

Since I'm just getting started, I haven't had this happen to me - yet. If I'm lucky, it never will, but that's just wishful thinking.

My opinion? Each situation is different. If the gig is important to you I'd do whatever you need to do to keep it going. That aside, I think the half price gigs are a good start. I'd probably have done the next one for free (instead of next two half price) and I'd make sure the place was packed by putting up flyers or something.

On a side note, I'd also try to find someone that could fill in if it happens again. One place I go to often has a backup KJ he calls if there's a problem. You can let the owner know that you're making a contingency plan to insure the show is ALWAYS covered in the future.

As for the crowd, most are understanding and will likely come back in a week or two as long as there aren't any more problems.

Dude your cell phone died.????!!!! My FATHER died and my family insisted that I must keep my commitment and sing that night. It was the worst gig I ever did but I did it. The only gig I ever missed was the day I had my ACL knee Surgery and the demerol suggested that I might sit this one out. I have the greatest club owners in the world who love me like family but would FREAK if my excuse was a dead cell phone. Believe me I've had my share of family emergencies , ( single father raising two girls on my own ). Get a back up plan and implement it . Jeez with 5 gigs you think you whould have been prepared. I hope everything is all right with your family they diffently come first. You should always be prepared for the worst because it WILL happen. peace,love karaoke. p.s cell phones, pirated discs undercutters I hate em all....

Ya live and learn.
The bar owner didn't have to pay you for the gig that you missed.
You offered him a deal for the next 2 weeks, didn't you?
Don't beat yourself up over what can't be undone.
Dead cell phone sounds like a thin and hollow excuse.
Haven't you heard of pay phones?
You need a better plan for when problems arise.

Good Luck!
Kojak

Did you say you DID get paid for a missed gig ? That would NEVER happen around here , As Metal stated...Have a backup plan ALWAYS ! I personaly would rather lose a gig , than lose my regulars.. Many years ago I was a regular "follower" of a KJ localy here. Whenever he had to miss a gig , I would stand in for him. usually at half of his normal pay. I still got to sing , have fun , see my friends ,and learn while being payed. The system was for the most part on site full time (except for speakers and of course software) however so that made it a bit easier. well in any case ,Good luck

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Gotta' Sing , Gotta' Sing !!!

for starters. i am prepared, my cell phone is NEVER dead, if it is, i find another cell phone, i'm not too proud to ask.

I have never missed a gig, yet.

My business partner died on a wedneday, I was there when he died on the floor from a massive coronary on the floor of the title office (don't ask) watching my mother do CPR before the medics came to get him.

i got a call from another KJ who did thursday and friday night at the venue, and said he would cover my gig, and not take the money, I said no, and played saturday night.

I keep a list of other hosts i can get in my cell and in my palm, not to mention in my head. We all help each other out when disaster strikes (house fire screws up your JVC)

Don't know why you were three hours late calling the venue. I would have found some way to reach them before then

Totally! I am the same way! I have two friends that I cover for in Dire emergency when they possibly can not find no one else to cover for them. I may not have a lot of experience running a show, but the couple times I have covered, I got lots of support from everyone, escpecially the regulars as I am a regular at their shows, and the KJ's still had their shows in the end, and one time I even got to be on TV when I was covering

There is nothing wrong with training a friend you trust to be your backup.

And as for your regulars.......most of them understand, as long as you let the bar know! I mean, (@$%&#!) happens. One girl I know had a flat tire on the way to her show, but she did everything she could to let the bar know she would be late, and the server was sure to tell all the crowd the situation. No one was mad, and karaoke went well that night when she did finally arrive.

Ouch though, good luck to you!

first of all, I think all the "I would NEVER" bit is a bit too much guys. His plan failed... no sense beating him up more than he's beating himself up!

Now, as to a recovery:

Don't worry about what's too much in any given situation. If your bar is a tough sell, then go ahead and take it up the yin yang to make them happy. in the long run, your bar will remember that you were kewl with them.

And now you've learned some valuable lessons.

As to the whole thing about the father dying and then doing the gig... never f*n happen! Family is first over any friggin' karaoke show! How friggin rude of them to be SOoo inconsiderate. I'd have done the next show for half price, but if you tell people "His father DIED" they'd understand!

Jeez, I'd have quit that gig that night!

Hey Night , I don't see that anyone said "I would never" except that I said around these parts the club owners that I've worked for in the past would never pay a KJ for a show that didn't happen, there are always gonna' be times when ya' must be away for one reason or another , I agree. As far as family is concerned , it wouldn't take something as serious as a death , I't could be just about anything ( as long as it doesn't involve "MOVING" ) , but I always have more than a few people I can turn to who will be there to take my place in a few hours notice if need be including family members. That's one reason , like you (I believe ?), correct me if I'm wrong. I keep my system fairly easy to opperate. Almost anyone can use an amp/mixer , and I use a 400 disc changer , that you just have to hit the numbers on the remote control to load a track ( ie ) disc 236 - enter , track 03 - enter = fire in the hole ! Everything is racked , so setup involves only - plugging in the power strip ,setting up the speakers and pluging in the mic's and speakers (1/4 in jacks on the side of the rack) not many could botch these instructions if they tried, hehe.

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Gotta' Sing , Gotta' Sing !!!

To get there early is to be on time, showing up "on time" is late.

Anyone running 4-5 shows a week should be ready to expand their business to at least 1 more system, not to mention the fact they SHOULD have someone fully trained and ready to go at a moments notice or at least within a couple hours if an emergency happened. There should NEVER be a time when a bar/club etc., should have to go without the scheduled service....even if it meant calling the competition and asking them to cover for you. I was in a situation where my player (JVC 3) died on me as soon as I powered it up, (it was 3 yrs old). There was nothing I could do but call a competitor and ask them to rent one of their players from them. It took them 15 minutes to get there and the show went on without a hitch. Now, I'm not trying to compare that with a death of a family member, but you should have someone ready to take over and cover for you in a situation like that. Me personally, I wouldn't do the show...........I'd pay someone to run it for me.

Thanks Knight I was really starting to feel like I set myself up for further beating here. I Think It's gonna work out ok. I talked to the head bartender today and she told me that he really wasn't that upset and originally he wanted to cancel labor day weekend because in his area everybody goes to the beach. The only reason he didn't cancel was because he didn't want to upset me. So now he's just trying to angle to get more out of me. I'm glad I stay in good with the bartenders where I work they are always great insight into what's going on with the owners. Thanks again guys.

As for saying if you run 4-5 shows you should expand, I disagree. We do six shows a week and quite content with that. As a single op we don't have to worry about other rigs, hosts, venues etc. For some people they might like multi-rigging and kudos to them. Others like us just like things the way they are.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

As to expansion - it's up to the person/company. If you're doing that many shows a week you should have backup equipment and personnel at the ready and work to maintain a good library (no sitting on the laurels).

But if you have 4-5 regular shows a week why would you multi-rig? To leave the equipment at the venue? It would be a convenience and a costly one at that. So you don't have to haul everything? I broke my equipment out so I only grab the cases I need. If you were looking to handle more shows it would make sense, but if you're content w/ the 4-5 a week it doesn't make sense to drop the coin on an extra rig and media IMO. If you have other reasons to multi-rig I'd be glad to hear them - especially since I'm new to KJ'ing... and am working to line up gigs all the time.

pkircher - I tried not to beat you up and I understand that family comes first. It is hard to believe that you didn't have access to a payphone and phonebook for 3 hours - even in Alaska it would hard to belive as long as your car is running. In the end it appears the venue didn't have that much of a problem with you missing it, and that's good. Hope all is well with the family now and things are ok with the gig.

I actually did have access to a payphone but no access to the number which was store in my cell phone. I know, why didn't I call information, because I'm a bone head that's why. Let's just say I probably was a little distracted.

On the multi-rigging front. I am actually new to this myself and don't get that part of it. Personally there's virtually no one I would trust with my equiptment and I know for a fact my setup is way overly complex and I couldn't just hand it off to anybody and have them figure out how to hook it up anyway.

I get doubled book frequently and I just set up the other gig and have my worker do the job. After the show I pick up the equipment pay my helper his 10 dollars an hour . Yeah its alot of work but well worth it.

move on and get another

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned this yet...

Join an association.

NAME, (National Association of Mobile Entertainers http://www.djkj.com/ ) and the ADJA, (American DJ Association http://www.adja.org/ ), have chapters all over the Country and have members who karaoke as well as DJ...networking is the key to success!

They have programs in place to offer the security of knowing that somebody can be found to cover a gig in times of emergency...equipment and even music libraries can be loaned on short notice...

Networking is the key to success!!!

If you contact either one of these organizations, tell 'em DJKen sent ya!

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Keep on Rockin',

Ken


USMC '82-'85, 0811/5711
"UNITED STATES MARINES, WHEN WE DO OUR JOB RIGHT, PEOPLE SHOOT AT US!"