Karaoke Forums

_________________

Thank you Melly!  That was the exact answer I was looking for!

If that is what you are making, then you shouldn't complain about the money.  Private parties are great for the high $$ stuff, but they aren't regular, if you are making that per week, you shouldn't have any complaints.
You would NEVER get that in my area.

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

I was not complaining about the money...not sure when I ever said that...I said it wasn't much compared to weddings...I could make in one wedding what I get for 4 karaoke jobs...my point wasn't so much that...I was saying I do it for enjoyment more so than money...I WAS NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT MONEY!

My whole point was that I don't think it is ethical or displays any class bashing someone else.  Brag about yourself, sure, but you don't have to try to put someone else down, especially when they have packed the bar, and especially when you are attending their show.  If you want my gig, talk to the owner, tell him/her about yourself, and leave a card in case they ever need someone.  I don't need negativity or drama at my shows.

Like I said before, this particualr KJ has a very bad reputation in my area, and I was just a little ticked off that she tried to act like my buddy and all that, then bashed me a couple of minutes later for no reason.  Hey, maybe I'm living in Fantasyland, but I get along very well with other KJs in my area.

Again, just to further stress this point...I was saying I do it for enjoyment more so than money...I WAS NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT MONEY!  I don't need it.  I have a good day job and successful wedding business...just trying to call attention to the rats.

If I knew a place where a KJ was making $350 I would be trying to steal it too the average around here is $150 to $200 max

$150-200?  Wow, that wouldn't even get me out of the house...like I said though, I can do one wedding and make what I make for almost 4 karaoke nights.  And if you would try to steal it by badmouthing me, I would have no respect for you either.  Maybe that's one reason I get so much money (relatively speaking).  People can tell I have integrity and am not a sleazey person.  I've often had things like that said to me.  Also, the fact that I can take or leave karaoke (as a business, not a passion) also makes what I do more attractive.  Confidence, I guess.  I don't have to stoop to going to someone else's show and badmouthing them.  In fact, I plug other people's shows.  Things like that earn you respect among others, and in the long run, that's a good thing.  A bad reputation is not a good thing to have.  Can anyone argue with that?

Bad Rep will kill KJ's. Karaoke singers travel together, someone gets a bad rap they will go somewhere else.

If you can make $1200 for a wedding why are you not a full time DJ?

That is the top tier of the scale for the country as far a weddings are concerned.
I myself average 40+ weddings a year only about 20% over $1000. The rest fall between $750 and $900

Well, like I said about a dozen times in this string, I enjoy doing karaoke.  As for where I am, I market to a lot of well-t-to clients.  That is about the going rate for that sort of client.  Some DJs can get more.  Some get less.  As for the weddings, I am 41 years old.  I have a great Career in the IT field (401k, benefits, all that) and own some real estate.  I don't have the time or inclination to be a fulltime wedding DJ.  I get enough work as it is.  I don't see myself doing weddings for many more years.  Anyway, the whole point to this thread was the other KJ, which is why my subject line was entitled, "Unscrupulous KJ."  

Okay, let's review...karaoke= good, Unscrupulous KJ's=bad.

Thanks... you insulted the majority of the kjs here... I get even less than that!

You are clearly not a good canditate for winning the popularity contest here. Taking a crap on your own front porch was never a good thing to do.

Ditto to what knightshow was saying.

Same here. If I was to ask for more that what I get now then I would be sitting at home playing with... Let's not go there. If you are interested in my rates then search the forums. They are there.

Like I said before you would NEVER get what you claim in this area - even private shows it's getting harder to get more than $500 (for karaoke) anymore.  Average here is 100-150 these days for club work & $350-$750 for PP.
See when this is "A MAIN JOB" for some of us, you have to take what you can get, I am not a hobbiest, this is what supports me - TYVM!

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

I wasn't trying to insult anyone.  Some earlier in the string told me I was getting probably ripped off, so I just out out what I make.  It's the Philly burbs.  Rich area.  I can't help it I make that much.  Geez, sorry.  I was saying that I regard this as something I enjoy doing more than weddings, which I get paid a lot for.  Those are the rates around here.  I bring a lot of people in.  The bar jacks up the prices and makes a ton of money.  I do it on a Friday, which is a good night to begin with.  I have often though to myself that I money-wise, I should just stick to weddings.  However, I enjoy it too much.  Everyone else was bringing up prices as the subject matter.  I was bringing up the fact that someone else was acting unethically.  I'm not worried about her.  I'm just ticked off at it.  I don't do that to other KJs, and I often give them a plug when they come to sing at my shows.  Anyway, I spend a lot on equipment and updating CDGs, etc.  I pay an assistant (who is my best friend) $150.  I'd really be making out  if I did this other nights.  Of course, there is no way in hell I would get $350 on a weeknight.  Probably about half that.  Anyway, I don't exactly make out in the money department after all that is subtracted.  I just put a little spending money in my pocket, but at the same time, I am not driving down rates in my area either.  If anything, I would think other KJs would like the fact that I get that much.  It raises the rates for everyone.  That said, I would still do it for less, because I enjoy the hell out of it.  I am sure a lot of other people do it for the same reason.  I get a place I am comfortable at (it helps that the owners are related to a good friend of mine, which I didn't know when I got the job).  At my last place (which I would still be at if the owners didn't get a divorce and sell the place), the bartenders used to tell me that the owner said Friday nights carry the place.  I'm sorry if I ticked anyone off.  I was trying to make a whole different point than money.  Here's a good analogy.  If you likes sports, and you see millionaire ballplayers whining about money (which I'm not), you sometimes say to yourself, "I'd play ball for free."  Well, I don't have a wife and kids (pretty pathetic, huh), so I choose to take less money than I would get at weddings to do karaoke.  Like most of my following, my week is geared towards Friday night.  I look forward to it.  And when I am doing it, most times I don't want it to end.  I apologize that I am able to get that much money for karaoke.  In about ten years, when I am 50, I will be lucky if I am even working at all.  That's why I don't plan on quitting the day job.

Don't need to apologize twient. I am sure every one here is happy for you in making the rates that you do. Just don't say things like
while there are a lot of good fashioned, honest hard working people around here earning that and less per gig.

You wish, but that's not true either. You obviously haven't met the low balling SOB's with their burned copies playing @ $60/night.

Exactly, for $350 for a Friday night, you should feel LUCKY if anything that they even keep you because there are 1,000's in line that would feel GREAT doing it for HALF that.

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

I do feel lucky.  I am doing something I love to do and getting paid for it.  I must be doing something right, because I have never lost a gig yet.  If it happens and I lose it to someone cheaper or better, so be it.  Just go about it in an ethical manner.  That kind of nonsense make us all look bad.  Like I've said before, I am probably living in Fantasyland with those expectations.

You sure are. Consider yourself lucky if only one person is competing with you assuming the money you make is what many would consider an excellent income given what that particular market usually offers.  Almost all that have been in business have experienced those that compete by denegrading their competition, if this type behaviour is uncommon today, I'd be surprised. In this type industry, is it really considered "bashing" for a person to promote themselves by telling someone that's hiring, "I can provide you with a better service than he's giving you?", EVEN assuming she just sang at a show you hosted? I saw this type behaviour constantly in the entertainment industry, and although I find it ugly, it's all too common.  I can understand why many people don't like her aggressive self promotion and arrogance, but I don't understand what she's done that you keep referring to as "bashing" you ?  Competition is defined as "rivalry". To you this is a hobby and love, yet you've gone into the business world with it.  There are reasons we hear the cliche "A great way to ruin an area you love, is to turn it into a business". Some do well, but many end up miserable too.  People are often not "nice" in business, and competitors can be fierce. It's ALWAYS been this way.  I recognise that this girl is not a noble person, and I've stated that. I just find it surprising that although you say you are among the established and better skilled in an entertainment area and can "pick and choose your gigs in your geographic area while just sitting back", what she's doing appears to be at all surprising to you, and is even an isolated situation. Since when has competition in business (especially in the entertainment industry) become clean and mannerly ?  It's never been, and to wish it to be this way would be moot, and "living in fantasyland".

The bar that I work at has another kj  we show up at each others night and promote each other  I've gotten him some jobs as he has for me  that's the way it should work

Man, I can't believe some of the crap I'm hearing from this board.  it just lowers my opinion of KJs.  Did you people ever stop to think that I get so much money because I don't resort to those tactics?  I promote other KJs because I am secure in what I do.  I have had many of my following say they like me, not only because of my personailty, show, etc. but because they respect me.  I have earned that respect.  If you don't have integrity, people will know it and see you for the phony you are.  It is the same way with my wedding business.  I NEVER bash another DJ outfit.  If I think they do a fantastic job, I say so.  Have you ever seen, "Miracle on 34th Street?"  Macy's and Gimbels kept referring their customers to the competition and increased their own business by exhibiting outstanding customer service.  I know it's a movie, but i really do think that's one of the many reasons I command good money.  I will say it again, I am not threatened in the least by the person who is badmouthing my show.  I am secure in the job I do.  I could easily land another place.  The owner and my following like and respect the hell out of me.  If I were to resort to the lowly tactics I described, my "business" would suffer.  Word of mouth is a powerful thing.  A good reputation (which I have) takes a long time to build.  A bad one requires very little effort.

   Yes,  and I'm also glad they let Santa Clause out've Bellevue !   Best thing that ever happened for both Macy's and Gimble's !  We are talking about the real Santa Clause I hope ?  (The 1940's Macy's Santa Clause institutionalized for incompetency that is). Since Kris Kringle's Atty proved that Santa Clause was competent, the example you cite is a well founded one !  :O


   That aside, I agree that being a decent person, and treating others with the same respect you wish to be treated with is a nice way to be.  That in itself is an admirable quality.  I agree with only that much of what you've stated however. Regarding your referencing that as the foundation for the money you state you are currently making, I think your example is a poor one. Once again grounded in fantasy. I'm not familiar with a concept in business where pay scale is commensurate with how respectable a person is when referencing their competition. At least in the entertainment industry

    As to your analogy,  regarding the Dale Carnegie "How to win friends and influence people" concept, "Miracle on 34th Street" would be favorable for the Macy's Santa Clause that was sending people to Gimble's. In reality from an actual business perspective, Macy's should've kicked his sorry (@$%&#!) out've the store. Macy's wouldn't benefit by sending it's customers to it's rival Gimbles because it doesn't have inventory, or Gimble's "toy prices are less" (for identicle items), that's an absurd concept in the world of real competition. Macy's would make things easier for the customer in doing-so granted, and would also do-so while shooting itself in the foot.  Sending your customer to your competition is ludicrous and business suicide in the real world.