Karaoke Forums

That would be ok for most jobs tim, not being a KJ or DJ. You just can't go through the motions, at least I can't. When I felt it was time I hung up the speakers. True I take them down once in awhile, but for the most part my serious working days are done. I have no debt, I own my home and have money in the bank and invested. My health care is covered, I can take a trip when I want, what else do I need? My parents were children in The Great Depression. My dad and me survived wars, I consider myself very lucky. There are so many in the world that have much less, sometimes I think Americans and large American corporations are quite spoiled, and forget the principles this nation was founded on. This country has not always lived up to those principles, but we have tried to grow and improve.

I don't want a Mercedes either, but I won't do gigs for less than what I believe I am worth. What I believe I am worth is what I bring to the game. I also know that we increase numbers for the bar and they should reward me for doing so. Especially if I am the one doing ALL of the work.

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-Chris

The trick is chris convincing others that you are worth that much. I can see smooths point about the area you are in to a certain extent determines what you can expect. You have to be realistic about what is reasonable, considering the area you are in. If you are in a small town where venues are limited and there is competition, you can't price yourself out of the ball park. If on the other hand if you are in a densely populated area where incomes are high, and competition is low, you can ask for more. Just like you have to play to the crowd, you really need to think about the area you are in. If you can't make a go of it, then it is time to think about moving. Some hosts complain that they can't find work, is it because there is none, or is it because they have priced themselves out of the market?

This same topic is in two threads now. In my opinion you have to differentiate yourself from the rest of the other KJ's. Even in a depressed economic area, if you can pull the crowds in from other bars, then you have a reason to ask for $10, $16, $25 more a night.

It's not like I am charging twice what Smooth charges. All of my new business is $175/night regardless of night of the week. I print clean new books, we offer buy on the fly service, our customer service in all aspects is beyond reproach, our hosts are fun and energetic, we have an amazing selection of desirable music, fantastic sound, and where I can, we have great lighting and more......

If I rolled in doing exactly what the guy down the street is doing, then I can expect no more than the guy down the street.

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-Chris

Chris, while I agree with everything you said, I'm not sure there are enough entertainment dollars in Bobby's area to support higher prices. It's a low-population economically depressed area. People aren't buying $5 beers and $8 cocktails. It's $2 well drinks and $1 cans of PBR and Schlitz. The entertainment business is about getting people to part with their money, and you can't do that if they don't have money to begin with.

I understand that as well. So then it becomes a volume play.

Karaoke is usually about volume anyway. There will usually be a core group that spends the same X dollars per week. You get the occasional person or group that drops some serious coin, but they can never be counted on. If we are really good at what we do, we attract and retain more regulars paying smaller amounts.

The way this picture is being painted, it seems Bobbie will have to try to get folks from other karaoke bars to come to his *or* attract net new people to the bar that would otherwise never come in. The former will likely be easier than the latter.

That again boils down to doing something the other folks don't and making sure they know about it.

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-Chris

What makes being a host any more special than any other job? Because you're in front of an audience? I think not. After a while many jobs become routine but if there is good money in it most will stick to it. There's nothing special about doing it.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

I would go so far as to say that there are a lot of KJ's that started out in the 90's when money was good and ended up stuck here when money stopped raining from the sky because they have no other marketable skills.

What we do isn't rocket surgery. Literally ANYONE can become a KJ just about overnight. Longevity in this industry can be attributed to being really good at it and also being stuck here because there is nothing else one can do for the same amount of money.

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-Chris

Tim jobs only become routine when you loose your interest in them. True many people do jobs only to make a living. Is that why you are a policeman, to make a living, to get a pension? Some people go into law enforcement to make a difference. When I had a job that I worked to make a living, I was looking for a job that I would enjoy doing as a change of pace. Old age and ill health were the main reasons I gave up hosting. Inside the passion was still there, physically it just wasn't possible anymore.