Karaoke Forums

Does anyone use contracts with bars? My business has been pretty good for the past 5 years. And there have been times the you get approached by other bars, for more money of course. And me (because of that unwritten loyalty) turn it down. Why? What if it don't work out? But..... lock it in for 6 months or so under contract. Is that a wise idea? I know that there are some Kj pro's here. What are your thoughts???????

Dave Snow
makeyourpartysing.com

I doubt any or few bars will do contracts simply because they don't know if it will fly or not. They don't want to get locked down if there is no return.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

I'm not too sure about that. In this area, bars call me before they call anyone else. And if I am going to give up a sure thing in a whim, then I think that its fair to get some kind of guarantee going in. I think it also gives the bar the incentive to advertise on their on instead of counting on the advertising that I already do. Which they don't pay for.

Very few bars in the 20+ years of working in karaoke have actually even agreed to a contract - and even then, a couple that did sign, dropped us (the other company I was working for) due to low sales (they claimed). The other company took the bar to court & lost - even with a signed contract winding up paying court costs & legal fees. Not worth it IMO. I personally have never used a contract for club shows. Private events - yes.

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

Ok Lonman , with that being said. How would you handle another bar that offers double what you have been getting on any given night?

If it was on a night I was already working, I would try to get another rig somehow (I know several kj's I could probably rent from) or buy another system outright & take the job as well either with me or one of my hosts. And if that wasn't an option, i'd refer the gig to one of the other companies I am in good relations with. If the club I am working doesn't seem to be making it for whatever reason - I might just talk with the manager/owner & part ways.
If it wasn't a night I was working - i'd take the job with my existing system.

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

What Lonnie suggest is how I started out. I had an existing bar and another bar called me. I bought a new set of equipment and music and hired a host to work the nights I wasn't able to work.

I have only left Bar A for Bar B because of money one time. That was when I left the first bar I ever worked after being there for a year an a half. I was making $100/night one night a week. The other bar offered $150/night for 2 nights a week. I asked for a matching wage at the first bar but they declined. I gave a two week notice and we parted ways. I am now back at the bar I left and now working for $175/night two nights a week. I am also still at the other bar and it is now $175/night as well.

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-Chris

Never had any need of a written contract. If we are contacted by a new venue offering more money and are fully booked we will advise them of other nights we are available and see if they will switch nights... if not we refer them to other legit karaoke companies in our area. We have never walked away from a successful venue over money issues.

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"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

Funny thing - There are a few hosts in my area that do contracts with bars. Just so happens they are also the unscrupulous ones and have a history and reputation for bar jumping and low quality shows.

One of these people tried to undercut me, offered to do some shows for free, promised to bring in a huge crowd every karaoke night, etc, etc, etc but also wanted a 1 year contract. The owner showed it to me at the time. I don't remember the specifics, but there were all kinds of clauses favoring the karaoke company and basically allowing the karaoke host to walk away with no obligation but requiring a payout of the contract if the host were terminated.

I will notify bars of policy changes with printed communications from time to time. For instance, this year, New Year's Eve is a Wed night. We have 3 concurrent shows on Wed nights. I have already notified the venues that our rate is double that night. All but one have agreed and that one was already considering bringing a band in.

Along these lines, and to the OP - keep an open line of communications to the staff, venue manager, venue owner(s). I speak to most of these people almost every week. Once a month I try to meet with the owner/bar manager for a beer and/or meal just to shoot the breeze. This alone will do wonders for maintaining a show.

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-Chris

I've been hosting karaoke in bars since 1996. I've never asked for one, never have been asked for mine, nor ever been asked to sign one from the venue.

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DJ Don

I've been at the same bar for almost 10 years two nights a week, so no contract there.

I did pick up an extra gig last December. I offered to work for $125 a night 9:00-1:00 if they would sign a year contract. They didn't want to sign the contract, but offered me $150 a night without the contract. I ended up being dissatisfied with the gig after about 3 months, so I ended up being able to quit the gig and made more weekly than if I had done the contract.

I also had a bowling alley one time that wanted me baaaaaaaad to quit my longstanding gig and come work for them. I make $175 at my longstanding gig, so I was very honest with them and told them I wouldn't work for them for less than $225 WITH a yearly contract. Their best offer was $200 with no contract. Not worth $25 extra dollars to give up a stable gig for something that could disappear after a few months.

Anyway, point being, I would demand a contract to provide stability in order to leave my stable gig, but otherwise, definitely wouldn't make it a rule. It really doesn't make sense for your average karaoke bar to sign a contract, so you really are limiting yourself if that's a mandatory part of you taking a gig.

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C Mc
KJ, FL

Tried the contract route years ago. Bottom line: if they break it how much time, money, and effort are you willing to put forth to try and get it enforced?

Not worth the effort.

Here in NJ, anything under 2500.oo ends up in Small Claims Court, which means even if you win they don't enforce it.

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

I've found that the simple conversation about contracts can yeild tremendous insight into the type of people you're dealing with. I had a guy tell me "I don't do contracts." before I even asked. I thought nothing of it at the time, but as it turns out, he simply wasn't the type of person who would honor any kind of agreement. We ended up getting screwed and learned our lesson. The contract itself isn't all that important, but if someone isn't willing to write down the terms of the agreement, then you shouldn't be in business with them.

Isn't that a contradiction unto itself? If the contract isn't important, than what is the purpose/point of writing down the terms of the agreement (isn't that a Contract)?

BTW... Most Bars that I know of in my area REFUSE to sign a Contract agreement for a Karaoke Show. Everything is done verbally. So, are you saying that the KJ who wants to solicit his/her services should not be in business because he/she can't get an agreement from the Venue in writing (aka a contract)?