Karaoke Forums

Ok, nit picking again. And if that's the case, they aren't using CB or SC... their library, IMO, sucks and the other 'legal' KJ has a bigger step up on them. I'm not discussing a particular KJ's business .. this is hypothetical.

If you're referring to me saying that someone that uses a purchased pre-loaded hard drive is 'illegal'.... I should say only if it has CB and/or SC on it? It IS illegal if the disc's weren't purchased also. Other manu's have the no-shifting, pirating thing too... they just aren't suing. No guarantees somebody won't sue at some point though. (if ya wanna split hairs)

You don't have a problem with pirated hard drives?

_________________
SoundChoice Certification coming soon!

I'd like to know which song is 'messed' up on most pirated drives also. I have it from a good source of a certain KJ here is using a pirated drive.. would be cool to check out that song on his hard drive ... then notify the owner of the suspicion. I may have gotten more work in the last couple weeks... but the slow period I had will be long to recover from. I'm angry that 20 years of building our karaoke business has been hurt by pirated drives.

_________________
SoundChoice Certification coming soon!

I do have a problem with pirated drives, it is illegal to steal. It is not illegal to media shift if the company (as several have stated) does not have a problem with it. If you know they are operating with karaoke they obtained illegally, call Harrington and his investigators, they'll be there to promptly sell (rent) them a GEM series and then you'll have no problems at all competing with them.

I know most of the computer users around here have no discs to back up their library. Some do, but most have only been doing karaoke for a couple years & have the 100K 'everything out' libraries. I know one restaurant here that took the kj's hard drive (yes he stupidly left it) and copied it. Then fired the kj the next, installed his own PA & surprise had the same library. I know this happened because the other kj is a friend of mine & one of the songs in the restaurants 'new' library is one the KJ made for his former bands original tune.
One of the kj's that worked for my friend was actually approached by the restaurant owner to work for him. He did - one night. Brought in a blank hard drive & at the end of the show - swapped it back out for the copied drive.

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

there are many tracks "messed up" on illegal drives...the problem is since there are more than a few "source drives" nationwide it is hard to give a set list for each area. Here most of the illegal hd's are from one of 2 source drives and we have seen a lot of them so we can just about tell what songs are f*^&$d up. IE Bene drives have bad files different from KJ Bill bad files. Listing them on a public forum would just make it easier on those with the illegal drives...enabling more piracy.

Blessings
Athena

_________________
"Integrity is choosing your thoughts, words and actions based on your principles and values rather than for your personal gain."
Unknown
"if a man has integrity, nothing else matters, If a man has no integrity, nothing else matters."
Lee McGuffey

They're so cheap. Maybe I should get one just to look on it (not to use it), to have this knowledge to know who is a pirate and who isn't. The ones I talk to "we have all the disks"...well, you should fix some of your rips then! So many with bad graphics. One is a "top tunes" song one guy regularly does. Are there "top tunes" tracks on these drives?

You don't need to pick up a pirate drive to have the "knowledge", Just go to a suspected show and pay attention to the errors on screen, then go to another show and sing that same song looking for the same errors. If the errors are identical, you may have identified two pirates. Of course it's possible you may have just encountered a couple of KJs who own the discs but were too lazy to rip the discs themselves (either way - unprofessional behavior). My point - There is no need to reward a pirate with a purchase to gain the "knowledge".

_________________
KNOW THYSELF

Back on topic.... Just got another call for yet another gig! They want two nights, but sadly we can only give them one!! Yippie!! (I hate feast or famine though!)

_________________
SoundChoice Certification coming soon!

There are members on here who have time and time again reported pirate KJ's and even had others in their area report the same pirates. Years later still nothing.

I live in Texas and the nearest suit to me is several states away, do you really think reporting them would do any good? (They have been btw.)

I'd be willing to personally drive them to the Pirate KJ shows in my area. I'd even negotiate the purchase for a pirated hard drive for HL, SC, CB and all to use in a case against them if I thought it would do any good.

_________________
My statements, opinions and conclusions are based on my own personal experiences, observations, research and/or just my own $.02. I'm not a "cheerleader", but that doesn't make me a Pirate.

Congrats LisaH...Happy dance...Happy dance

Blessings
Athena

_________________
"Integrity is choosing your thoughts, words and actions based on your principles and values rather than for your personal gain."
Unknown
"if a man has integrity, nothing else matters, If a man has no integrity, nothing else matters."
Lee McGuffey

So you're willing to supply SC with sales leads and they won't accept them? That's their business model now. Maybe they're just working so many other sales leads they don't have time for your's hiteck. Just hang on, they'll get around to you. They've made 3 separate sweeps in my market and they still didn't get them all... it's a process.

They better have LOTS of time on their hands as TX is a VERY BIG state and we have Tort Reform and Frivolous Lawsuit Laws.

_________________
I like everyone when I first meet them. If you don't like me that's not my problem it's YOURS!
A stranger is a friend you haven't met yet

hmmm......frivolous lawsuit laws and no investigation or suits in TX......hmmmmm

_________________
Paradigm Karaoke, The New Standard.......Shift Happens

Actually, that appears to be credited to me and it's not my post. Regardless, the one instance that is burnt in my mind is a business with two owners that do charge less. They've got very little invested. Illegal drive, cheap updates, PAs that crackle and pop and vocopros that imo sound like crap! They will take bar gigs for $100 and do private parties for $150. I charge $150 to $225 for bar gigs and my normal private party price is $350. Of course, that doesn't mean all pirates follow that trend but they can afford lower priced gigs due to their investment.

_________________
KingBing Entertainment C'mon Up! I have a song for you!!! [font=MS Sans Serif][/font]

and this is the part that kills me................these shows (at least out here) are always busy.
and the bar owners have no reason to change, why pay more when the show is hoppin with le' pirate? almost seems the singers care even less about sound than the owners long as you have the song they want.

_________________
Paradigm Karaoke, The New Standard.......Shift Happens

It sounds to me like they would have a low value show even if they paid for their music.
I just don't think a pirated library plays that big of a part in the price these days.

_________________
KNOW THYSELF

we need to be able to see the dividing line concerning crap-i-oke and piracy...one does not equal the other. I have seen quality shows ran by pirates and crap-i-oke shows ran by legal hosts...they are 2 different battlegrounds.

Crap-i-oke is much easier to defend against legit or not in most situations. A pirate that runs a quality show can only be defended by the manu's bringing suit against them. When they are forced to pay for the music they use the prices DO increase and the venues suddenly have to start to accept re-training on what a show costs.

Athena

_________________
"Integrity is choosing your thoughts, words and actions based on your principles and values rather than for your personal gain."
Unknown
"if a man has integrity, nothing else matters, If a man has no integrity, nothing else matters."
Lee McGuffey

and that does what? 4 suits in AZ and............
maybe if they went after the pirates it might help. not like there are not enough reports about them.

[quote="KJAthena]
When they are forced to pay for the music they use the prices DO increase and the venues suddenly have to start to accept re-training on what a show costs.[/quote]

again......4 sweeps in AZ, dozens of defendants, and...........

_________________
Paradigm Karaoke, The New Standard.......Shift Happens

sorry the lawsuits are not helping in your area Paradigm...we have had 7 sweeps here and the process IS working. I have to wonder what the difference is between the areas ?...maybe more "troops on the ground"? maybe the lawyer handling the cases? maybe differences in the Law? sorry I don't know...if I did I would be happy to give you the answer. All I can do is really hope things change in your areas soon.

Athena

_________________
"Integrity is choosing your thoughts, words and actions based on your principles and values rather than for your personal gain."
Unknown
"if a man has integrity, nothing else matters, If a man has no integrity, nothing else matters."
Lee McGuffey

i know you mean well Athena, and this is not a dig at you in any way, but i have heard "just wait things will get better" for too long.

someone can go pay $150.00 for an audit to not get sued, report pirates to SC to no avail as those reports get ignored, ask anyone here who has reported and those are all still nunamed in suits. then get posted on a site that is mostly viewed by hosts and divas (a few others go to the SC site, but not many) then for that fee you get the privilage of spreading the word to venue owners using the information supplied (for a fee to you), to the laughter of the owners, with the result of verifying what the uncertified hosts have told them and solidifying their place in the shows. all in the end to sell another GEM.

there is no one benefitting from this but Kurt and Harrington.

_________________
Paradigm Karaoke, The New Standard.......Shift Happens