Karaoke Forums

I'm a kj, and I would like to throw a karaoke contest to bring in some peeps to a club I am at. I really don't know the best way to throw one. The owner is not willing to put up any funds ( low life) oh well, but I want to build up my rep. And it's no fun when there is no peeps in the seats. I have had crowds of standing room only , my peeps say that they love my set up and sound, etc. So I'm guessing that's not it, the fact that they don't come in anymore, now the seats are sparce. When it was standing room only, the owner procastinated about putting me in the big room where there were more seats, but not soon enough. And I don't blame them for not comming back, who wants to stand all night,, daaaa....
So I'm wondering is there people out there that will sponcer a contest ? Like maybe a beer company or something like that. I certainly don't have the funs to do this. Let me know if there is any good advise you could throw my way, Really appreciate it. " The Club has a huge room besides the bar that I play in to use for this , and is a nice place with plenty of parking. "
If things don't change, I'm gonna have to consider quiting and finding a new club. I've been there 4 years

They passed some laws, not sure if state or national, but here in Idaho, beer reps can only sponsor events that they attend in person.

Ask the bar manager for contact# for liquor / beer reps. Reach out to them. Let them know what you want to do. they often can come up with some cool give aways.

You can have a party without prizes? Have a theme night... those go over good if you can get the word out. 70's or 80's with encouragement to dress up.

Everything is cyclical. You may want to spend some money on adds. It might be easier then finding a new gig.

FYI, I don't know what you mean by "beer companies." The actual manufacturers won't sponsor your karaoke show. They don't do those kind of small potatoes. They sponsor super bowls, not local karaoke

Who you want to talk to is the distributors. They are always willing to help. You need to find out which distributors serve your bar, and they can help with some swag. Your owner that actually has an account is the one who needs to speak to them. They won't give you anything.

Once you find out who your bar's distributor is, call them or check on their web site, and there will be a sponsorship form to fill out. They typically ask for 3-4 months advance notice.

Once you jump through all those hoops, though, they are really generous in sponsoring events.

Good luck!

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C Mc
KJ, FL

Over all, it has been my experience that a contest drives more people out than it brings in. People come to do karaoke not listen to it.

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Okay, who took my pants?

It's been my experience that if a beer distributor sponsors they will want a return in advertising. Our bar had several nights "sponsored" by a beer rep. The rep wanted to do all kinds of stupid stuff and contests throughout the night and it totally threw the nights out of whack. It might not be as bad for a contest.

First impressions are important, if you have momentum going your way and you lose it, it can take a long time to reestablish itself, sometimes years.

3-4 months notice is excessive in most markets (probably not Tampa), but around here, 4-6 weeks works fine.

Many reps don't interfere too much with events or "take over" with proprietary contests and such. They just wanted recognition, our name announced, maybe some specials for our product and our logo on your advertisements. Like many things, it depends on your distributor and how they work... (I worked as a tobacco rep for several years over a state territory). Again, large population areas would be a different world.

I agree. A contest is the "last" thing that you want to do.

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Electro-Voice Evolve 50... Taking Sound To The Next Level.

It brings in the DIVAS that think they're the best thing since sliced bread and that if they didn't win then the whole thing was rigged and as soon as the contest is over, they leave never to come back until you hold another contest.

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

No Danny... Depending on the type of prizes (usually big money), it brings in the RINGERS!!!! Nuff said!

Here's the basic formula (round numbers, your #s may vary):

You have 15 karaoke regulars and their friends and a few stragglers, equaling nightly crowds of about 40 people at your bar.
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You throw a karaoke contest.
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There are 80 people in the bar the day of the contest. The normal 40 from your bar, and 40 more people, mostly the karaoke ringers and their friends and family.
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NO ONE from your bar's typical client base has any chance of winning the contest. The contest is all about the ringers, and your regulars pretty much feel ostracized and looked down upon.
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After the contest, you have 10 regulars and 30 people at your bar. The ostracized portion of your normal base never come back, and 95% of those that just came to the contest will never be seen again.


There are exceptions, but this is the majority scenario for karaoke contests. Don't say we didn't warn you.

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C Mc
KJ, FL

This may be the case if it's a karaoke night once a week. You can run a contest successfully with no ill effects if running multiple nights of karaoke & pick a dead night OR do the contest on a 'non' karaoke night or earlier in the day as to not affect the regular night. There are plenty of ways to do so without alienating your regular crowds and make it work!
Bigger the prizes, yes you will get your typical contest hoppers (ringers). You want your prizes big enough to draw people in but not so big as to make it worth while for the ringers.

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

I think you are both right. It will bring in the ringers that you will never see again.... of which don't spend any money at all.

So as you can see, a contest is more of a negative with no benefit for you, your regulars, or the bar. I've done a contest twice and will never, ever do one again. The winner of one contest, not a regular, was never seen from again. And the other contest, a lot of hurt feelings and lost customers. If you're trying to establish business, a contest is NOT the way to go.

I know that some KJ's run them successfully and that's good but for me, there's just too many negatives and ego's getting shattered and hurt feelings.

Karaoke is about having fun.. EVERYONE. Not only does a contest stop that from happening but it brings out the low self esteem in a lot of singers or making them feel that they are not worthy of a contest or just aren't good enough. People don't need to feel that they're worthless pieces of (@$%&#!). But, that's what a contest can do. Usually, someone wins that shouldn't creating even more animosity. They're usually never run fairly you know.

I hate contests with a passion...

Let's make karaoke about fun for everyone... Yes, everyone! That's what karaoke is all about. Add a contest and you've just taken that away.

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Electro-Voice Evolve 50... Taking Sound To The Next Level.

Contests in karaoke are absolutely NO different than ANY other thing in this world that was originally meant for 'FUN'. Contests are part of anything that can be actively done. Beauty, bowling, quilting, spelling, ANY sports, modeling, singing, flower growing, the list is endless - if it can be done, people WANT to compete. If a kj cannot make it work, then yes THAT is a problem. I run contest all the time since 1992 with no ill effects.

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

I'm glad that you've been successful with your contests. I believe that they DO create ill effects. I respect your feelings but stand by mine.

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Electro-Voice Evolve 50... Taking Sound To The Next Level.

Anyone who tells you that contests can't work, or don't work, or will ruin your business, or always create ill will, has ZERO credibility with me.

We have been running two major contests per year for the past 9 years, and added a third earlier this year... and every one has been a success. EVERY one.

Have the contests hurt my business? Well, let's see... I average anywhere between 35 and 45 singers at both my weekly shows... so, I don't think so.

Do they cause a lot of hard feelings? I must admit, I've heard a smattering of gripes... but the bitchin' is few and far between, and usually come from family or friends of contestants ... Strangely enough, those people return year after year, so it can't be that bad, or they'd stay away.

Our contests always produce packed houses... in fact, standing room only during the semis and finals... making the venue and sponsors very happy indeed. And we are a small town of less than 10K souls.

So, despite what some self-proclaimed experts will insist, contests CAN be successful... CAN be a positive addition to your business... CAN bring lots of new warm bodies into the venue... But they can't be "thrown" together. They take a lot of planning... with clear cut rules... competent, credible judges... decent advertising... and so on.

Granted... some contests are failures, just as some people are failures, but that doesn't mean that all people or even most people are failures. Same thing with contests.

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Earl
(BS, PHD & Certified CurmuDJeon)

[font=Times New Roman]"Growing Old may be mandatory... but growing UP is still optional."[/font]