Karaoke Forums

Kj's, have you used or use contracts when booking with a bar? If so, do you use a lawyer, draft one yourself, or use a software progam to write up the contract?  :D

I use the common sense contract WHEN I can use one. Problem is, most bars nowadays don't WANT to use one!

Most bars WON'T use them.  You can occasion get one to sign, but if they let you go for any reason, it usually costs more to go after them than it's worth & from what i'v heard from many is that generally the entertainment don't win.  
Contracts in private parties are a must.

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I agree with Lonman. I don't have much use, or need for a contract in a bar situation. I've always had a gentleman's (or gentleperson's) agreement and it's usually worked out pretty well. I might offer a $25 discount for the first 6 weeks IF the owner agrees to give me that much time to build up a crowd. After that I work at the pleasure of the bar owner. If you're pulling in business the bar would be crazy to let you go, and if you're not, they would be crazy to keep losing money on you.

Weddings and private gigs are another matter. You need a contract to make sure you have all the accomodations you need to set up and perform your show, and to protect you from liability and your equipment from damage. It doesn't happen much, but there's just no pleasing some people, and you don't want a bride who is having a bad day to sue you because you "ruined" their wedding reception. A contract can protect you, somewhat, from getting sued and also keep parties from canceling at the last minute, because their friend's cousin is a dj and he'll do the show for $100 less, or whatever.

I have a contract that I stole from another DJ company that I used to work for, and I just modified the language a little to suit my particular situation.

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[highlight=purple]The Truth is out there. ... Way, way out there![/highlight]

I have never used a contract for weddings, class reunions, anniversary parties or bars.    Never took a down payment for such or required one.    One time I had a girl call me to do a wedding the following weekend, her DJ cancelled, probably a non professional that got a better offer $$$$$.   Some people have no professionalism to their name or reputation.    If I book a job for someone, it's as good as gold.    I'll be there unless I'm dead.   Don't care if I get offered 10X the money.   Anybody that would stiff someone for a better cash offer is a FREAKIN' JERK.

I used to go on a handshake at all my bar gigs, but after getting burned one time for about $150, I started contracting with them.

Having that contract signed has saved my bacon probably 4 times in the last three years.  I've never had to go to court with it, but I was able to avoid problems by pointing out the different clauses in the contract where we were having disputes.  

I don't do any work (unless it's a charity gig) without one anymore.

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Spreading the karaoke gospel

Handshake is good enough that way no problem if they let you go or if you decide to leave yourself. I've left a couple of bars because all they were interested in was the cocaine sales and my customers were at risk so bye bye.

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ROBDOG *WOOF WOOF*

I wish I had a signed contract with the bar I'm in now, but I sort of
inherited the job. I used to sub for the old KJ and he slowly just stopped
wanting to work. Through the years I have battled with the owner, but we are at an
understanding now. He pretty much ignores my exsistance and I his.  LMAO
I don't tell him how to run his bar and he doesn't try to tell me how to run my show.

Contracts to me aren't so much about the money. I have it in writing exactly what I expect them to provide and what I provide, so there isn't any misunderstandings. I expect to be paid before I leave, a bouncer should be provided if needed, no one has say in the rotation, but me, I have the right to bar anyone I see fit from singing, if equipment is damaged from patrons the bar owner is to be responsible for half of the damages, starting and ending times in writing with clauses for slow nights. There is a show up fee of $50. If I show up and the bar owner for what ever reason doesn't want me to have a show I am to be compensated $50. <very important. Ex: I go into a bar and a band is scheduled the same night, if the place has no electricity, if there aren't enough patrons to have a show, if there is a championship game on the tv and they decide that is more important. All things I've had happen. If I am booked as a show and show up I should be paid.  

These are most of my pet peeves from past experiences. I just like to avoid having these discussions after they've happened. If it is in writing there is no dispute. If the bar owner doesn't want to sign a traditional contract I at least have them sign a contract of understanding. I just explain to them this type of contract is to avoid miscommunication. They usually will sign it because it is a nice compromise.

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Sure you don't need a contract, untill you don't get paid, or someone gets hurts, or or or....

IMHO....CONTRACT ARE A MUST with any gig.

I don't think I could add anyting that BABS hasn't said.

For me I drew my own contract, then had a lawer double check it.

I agree that a contract should be a must, but I found it isn't always that
easy. Sometimes sorry to say I'd rather take the job without having a contract
than not getting the job. Bad Babs, Bad Babs

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Babs. I've never encountered any of the problems you have, and at one time I was doing Karaoke 6 nights a week; at one club on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and at 3 other bars on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
These are pretty much a given. I had one bar owner pay me in checks, so he could claim the cost as a business deduction, but I always got paid the night I did my show. Owners have made requests for songs or for me to let someone sing, but nobody has ever told me I had to do this or that.



This happened to me one time during a blizzard. I was supposed to play from 9:00-1:00 (although I usually played 'til about 1:40 (cause it's so much fun). There were about 6 people in the bar. Around 10:00, out of the goodness of my heart, I volunteered to quit at 11:00 if the crowd, didn't pick up, and the bar owner would only have to pay me $70 insted of $100. I gave him the option of letting me stay for my normal fee, or letting me go early and saving some money.

I've never had a band scheduled on karaoke night, because the bands around here get $250-$400 and I bring in a bigger crowd for about half the money. If there was a "big game" on tv and I had to start late I still got paid the same amount.

If the bar owner didn't pay me on the night I worked, I wouldn't work again until I got paid for the previous show (but I've always gotten paid). He would be losing more money than I would.

I've always been fair and reasonable with bar owners and they've always been fair and reasonable with me. I don't know, maybe we do business differently here in Topeka, KS.

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[highlight=purple]The Truth is out there. ... Way, way out there![/highlight]

If a bar stiffs us (this has never happened) without a contract, we just say bye-bye.  If there is a contract, you will still have to play and then go to court to get your money for it.  Playing for free more than once at a place is stupid, but if you have a contract, you're locked in.  Now those of you who say you have a contract will say you can go to court to ge your money, that's true, however be prepared to wait a long time for the wheels of justice to spin.  Time wasted to prep and go to court (and no you will most likely not be compensated for that time).  Even if you do win you may have a fight just to get the actual money.

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I've never had a contract in the 8 years that I have been doing bars. I have never been stiffed....just lucky I guess.

Although I pick my venues carefully and get to know the bar owner and management before I accept the gig. I believe that's a major contributing factor in having long term gigs.

No contract also allows me to move freely if the bar is not holding up their end of the deal. So far I have only had one bar that was a pain in the a** to work for and I pulled the plug after 60 days. The owner was ticked at me but I just reminded him of our verbal agreement....Let's give it 60 days and then if we are both happy then we will continue, no strings attached.

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FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

I would cost you more than $150 to get your $150.

Do I get paid in full or partial if I show up, but get cancled/cut short casue the bar is closing early (snow storm or such

but....It's not just about the $$$$.  
It also defines who is liable incase of an accident.  
Do I get paid if I show up, but get cancled casue the bar is closing early (snow storm or such), or do I get paid full amount if the bar closes early.
States who is responsible for lisencing, and outdooor preformance waivers and such
Also allows me to sub in a host, just in case someone is sick (THIS HAS SVED ME)
It also defines what possible dammages could be if the venue owner tried to sue me.

It would be like having your house painted, but with nothing in writing.  You come home from work, and your house is GREEN AND PINK, and you wanted blue and white.  Well it wasn't in writing, so how are you going to prove that you didn't want PINK & GREEN, it is your word vs. his/hers.

Sure contracts are not a necisity (untill you need one), but I also feels it shows a bit more professionalism having a contract.

My insurance will not cover any event that does not have a signed contract. There are insurance clauses that need to included with the event contract. Therefore every event bar, club, or private has a contract. No to mention there is never an issue with getting paid.

I have never been stiffed doing karaoke. Knock on wood.

When I was in a band we had people threaten not to pay. One was a
outdoor festival and the guy was drunk insisting he wouldn't pay us unless I went to breakfast with him. Thank goodness the guys in the band took care of that. The other time it was a wedding the father of the bride said we played to loud. Our manager threatened the music union on him and he paid up. But as we all know the
music union would have done nothing.

I agree having a contract or being in a union really does nothing for getting paid, but makes a nice threat. Let's all face it - it would cost more to take them to court then to
just forget about it and never work there again.

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That doesn't mean I think you shouldn't have a contract - it is a nice
back up in a dispute. But I don't count on it for a sure way to get paid.
Beleive me being a girl by myself a bar owner will think he can push me around.
I've learned and am still learning not to take crap.

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If you get paid [highlight=green]"cash"[/highlight] (follow me here) no 1099s, no checks no one knows, why would you want a paper trail?

good for you...