Karaoke Forums

Remember me telling you about the KJ that gave me his card to refer him.   The picture on the business card of him holding the guitar by the neck, like a rubber chicken?    He came up this week and asked me how I get the songs going back to back so quickly.    Now he's been doing this for years, right?    He didn't know about using two machines.      This must be the week because another one just came up and gave me their card.   They were telling me about the really good cordless mikes they got for $59.   Two mikes with one reciever.    Sound just like my $600 ones.    On their Walmart system.    Now I know why you don't work, you can't hear.     They want me to borrow their mikes.    For what, pounding the dents out of my garbage can lids?    And everyone wants me to refer them because.....?????    No wonder nobody works.   The last thing I need is to have a referral come back to me saying I screwed them for sending them an idiot.    I refer very few KJs for that reason.    If you want to use my reputation, you better have one.    " I am the Great & Powerful Wizard of Karaoke (OZ).   Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain."   Just keep clicking your heels, you'll be back in the Karaoke unemployment line in no time.   Take this certificate with you, it's good for one brain.

you really have issues bigdog!  :roll:

Bark, Bark, Bark, Bark

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[shadow=deepskyblue]I'm impressed, I've never met such a small mind inside such a big head before.[/shadow]

So what did you tell this guy? Were you diplomatic or did you tell him his mics
and equipment are poop.

Bigdog - I am not disagreeing with you that subpar equipment is not the way to go.
But have you ever met a neigjborhood bar KJ that everyone loved so much that they looked passed the subpar equipment. I have known a few. I'm talking about KJs that only do their neighborhood bar and don't solicit big jobs. I am not offended by them.

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[shadow=pink][glow=deepskyblue]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

Any host who knows what they are doing can make crap equipment (as you call it) and make it sound very good.  Everyone has to start somewhere.  I've heard guys with great equipment sound like crap.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

Good point

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[shadow=pink][glow=deepskyblue]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

to the second power, Matt!!!!  

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[shadow=tomato]If you want your significant other to pay attention to EVERY word you say::
  TALK IN YOUR SLEEP   [/shadow]  

First of all I represent that statement.    Second I just take the cards and pretend.   Would you give a referral to someone if you knew that the person might be disappointed with your pick or end up mad at you?    Guess who they won't be contacting the next time they want a KJ.   YOU & them. (The one you refered)    Be honest.    Would you refer a jerk?    Or someone that couldn't handle the situation.    Your reputation comes into play here and don't think otherwise.    If I sent you to a jerk to fix your car (spending your money for nothing) would you be mad at me?   You people are missing the point here.    I have a really good deal on a bridge, any takers?   A fellow KJ sold it to me so he could buy some new equipment.    He said he would split the money with me.

If it was a person that did good work for me, I would refer them - how they did with you is a completely different story, it wasn't me performing the work I just know how they did for me - that's what a referral means - to me anyway.

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

I would never refer someone I had never worked with before.  You are better off just telling them to look in the phone book.

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Will sing or fish for food!!I'm not quite right!!

No I wouldn't refer someone who was terrible or I never worked with before.
I'm sure it is agravating to have this guy around. If he asked me to refer him I'd probably say I'm sorry I already have people I use for that, but thanks for the offer.

I'm just not in the practice of cutting other KJs down. People can find out for themselves if they are bad or not, by going to their shows. A lot of my regulars
will cut down area shows compared to mine. I just smile.

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[shadow=pink][glow=deepskyblue]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

OK,  I give up.   Who are you really ?  Surely a person with such an outstanding reputation would be zealous to divulge their true idenitity. Especially considering there are very few that can compete with a person of your stature, Let us have it oh great one

 :worship:  :worship:  :worship:  :worship:  :worship:  :worship:  :worship:  :worship:  :worship:  :worship:  :worship:  :worship:  :worship:  :worship:  :worship:  :worship:  :worship:  :worship:  :worship:  :worship:  :worship:  :worship:  :worship: .



(besides,  these glass slippers are pinching my EEE width feet and giving me corns)

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

The answer to your question is "GOD's Gift to Karaoke."       Better straighten up or you won't make it to karaoke heaven.    I have some pull.       Now get off your knees, it's embarrassing.    :hi5:    I don't have time to go to many other KJ gigs.    Before I was in business and knew better, I went out 4-5 nights a week.   Like a real junky.   First of all, now they are all disappointing to me.   They can't mix or they sound crappy, or both. (Biggest reason for no referral)   Second I have been working 5 nights a week for a long time.    So I like to lay around on my days off.     Very rarely had a Friday or Saturday off in years.    Would only think about referring 2-3.    That would still take some thought about who could handle what.

I wish gig's in my area paid nearly as well as they do in your area.  I too am on the Atlantic coast.  Central CT to be exact. Bars are closing down around here, they're hurting do to many laws putting a strain on businesses that require sale of alcohol to survive. I wasn't a DJ, or KJ however. I played bars and lounges as a musician for many years.  Things started getting pretty tight however. Bandwork became tough.  I'm just wondering around what area you are in.  Are you in a fairly decent sized city ?  affluent suburban area ?  I can imagine certain cities pay reasonably, but alot of the suburbs are hurting these days. Naturally it depends on the location and bar.
If you are lucky enough to be in NYC, that's any entertainers dream.

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

someone's been doing it for years may not necessarily give you the same skills with a computer, rotation philosophy, etc.

It all depends on how they started, what they know about hardware and software, and their skills as a host. NOBODY knows it all.

The fact is, he did the right thing by ASKING how you do something. Yet you, Bigdog, do your thing by being judgemental based on their years as a singer or host. If you've been doing it for years on a single tray, guess what, you'll only be as fast as the one piece of equipment.

What's common sense to you or me is to have duplicate equipment, and yes, even two players working at the same time. With this, you can surely eliminate dead time. Having the next singer's selection ready to load up rather than waiting till they're at the mic before loading it is another. Now, that's common sense to me. Yet another host would do it differently, because they have a different upbringing. If they have an open mind, they'll ask if they see another way that is doing it better than what they do.

But that doesn't immediately discount them for being a fair and decent host.

For instance, Bigdog, based SOLELY on your latest posts, I think that you're completely full of it, and I wouldn't immediately trust you to do a show, because I think your attitude STINKS. Now, you may only be this way online, and it may only to prove a point.

But my first impression says that someone like you SHOULD NOT BE behind the mic serving the public.

My opinion only. I'd rather take a second look at the guitar holdin' guy you discounted so quickly.

If you have been reading all of the other posts from everyone else, then you will see that the majority of people in the "business" aren't where they would like to be.    Financially, with their business.    

Before I started my karaoke business, I went all around the area 4-5 nights a week.   I took mental notes of the things I really wanted to do and the things I definitely wanted to stay away from.  I set my goal.   When I told the guy (he has his own $100,000 PA system.  He does professional gigs so he knows what he's talking about) at the music store what I wanted to do, He told me nobody in the entire area was doing karaoke the way I wanted to do it.   I told him I didn't want to make a mistake and have to buy stuff all over again,   I said I wanted to do it right the first time.  He said you need this and this and this, etc.    I took out a loan and before I was ready to go on the road, I had $20,000 invested (before I ever made a $1) on equipment, discs, and a van to haul everything.(One complete system)   Yes I had to make payments.  It took 3-4 months before I had my first gig.    Over time I still kept improving the way I did things.   Too many people just jump in the water without checking how deep it is.    They aren't prepared for everything it takes.   I knew I could do karaoke better than everyone else around here.   I had the confidence to take them on.    I knew the enemy and I killed it.      :oh yeah:

If you will be honest with yourself, you would examine your situation and make an honest evaluation.     Sometimes it's hard to look at yourself and say I need to change this and this.    You don't want to criticize yourself.

If you are worried about the competetion taking over your town and putting you out of work.    Ask this?

Why is the competition getting the jobs they get?  Now write down what they have and what you have.   Do an honest evaluation of your business compared to theirs.    It's pretty simple.    They must have some or all of the following.

1. They have a better system.
   a. They sound better because of the mikes, speakers, effects, lack of distortion,  two machines for back to back music (KJ 101)etc.
2. They have more songs.
   a. People like to have a selection with variety and current songs.
3. They aren't jerks.
   a. They are more professional.   In the way they conduct all aspects of their business.   They have better business techniques and experience.   They know how to get and maintain (entertain) a crowd.
   b. I have seen many KJ's that are rude & ignorant.   They care nothing about the customer, or the bar.   They chase business away instead of bringing it in.

You have to start out with the necessary tools.    Know how to use them and follow some kind of a plan.    Most new businesses fail within 5 years.    Because of poor planning.    You should have planned for competition.   They were there before you got in the game.   There will be more coming behind you.    Have you started out with everything you need, in place.    Not just good enough to get by.   I'm talking about good enough to give the competition a run for their money.    Do you know your competition?    How they work and do the things they do?    What you wouldn't do that they do?     What can you do to get ahead of them.

If they get the jobs because they're cheap, they don't have any of the above, so they won't last long.  Being cheap is the only thing keeping them in business.    If they don't do any of this stuff.    If they did, then you will have some honest competition.    I don't share anything with someone that could turn out to be an undercutter.

Now what is it?    Remember the guy that thinks his system is second sounding next to mine.   Here's $1000 that says I can put his whole, entire, complete system in [highlight=crimson]one[/highlight] of my 18" sub speaker boxes.    I talking about his two speakers, poles, mixer, amp, machine, song books, 2 corded mikes, all his discs.    Now you tell me how his system compares to mine.    He's my competition only because he's a"KJ", with a machine and some discs.   Not because of his wonderful sounding system.    I'll give him this though, he is very good looking and the girls think he's a sweety, he sings well and people like him.

Just because you own a machine and some discs, doesn't make you a KJ.   Have you ever watched any professional doing any type of a job?   You watched for a while and said to yourself "Boy I can do that, it's not that hard".    Then you tried it and found out it was way harder that you thought?   That person was so good, so professional at their job they made it look like it was very easy.    I tried that with some block laying.    I really respect those guys.   That's the way it is with some of these KJs.   Oh boy, I'm a kJ, I have a machine and discs.   I can start making money tonight.   Let's see.... since I'm new and don't know anything, I'll charge $75 a night.   If they don't have a clue they will fade away.  Because they haven't prepared for the long haul.   They bought cheap stuff that will need to be upgraded real soon.   They will upgrade or die.    Make your business and your time worth more.    You will never go wrong improving the quality of your entire business.  I don't have all of the answers, I'm still learning things to improve my karaoke.

Well, obviously your competition is better than you, if they keep getting the jobs and you don't.    You have two choices.  Climb out of the hole or drown in your tears.    Figure out what it will take to improve yourself and your business, be it an equipment upgrade (spend $10 more and get the $49 mike) or more discs or improving how you act and treat people (Fair rotation, making them sound as good as possible, more business knowledge, etc.)   If you don't think you need to change anything then don't, but you are not being honest with yourself.      
I don't care what you tell me or call me.   I'm not afraid of any of my supposed competition.    My business is right where I want it and right where I put it.   It belongs where it is.    It wasn't an accident    I planned everything.

Now, instead of putting everyone down you should be looking for the ones that have the level of business success, you want to achieve.   There aren't that many and I won't name names because I might leave someone out.   Start taking and using advice and suggestions instead of thinking you already have it figured out.   You should be glad that there are people on here willing to share FREE information, secrets and tricks of the trade with you.   Their successes and failures, their sweat and mistakes.   Bad decisions and lessons learned in the school of hard knocks.    No.... you just think everyone is lying, exaggerating or bragging or making fun.    No wonder the competition is ahead of you.    You're too busy thinking, you're already there.   Instead of fixing the problem.    YOU....   Anyone that can't make a decent living in their chosen field of expertise, must not be too good.   Sell cars or insurance.    You're not a KJ.

Your first priority should be, to make as much money for the bar, as possible.    By bringing in new people and keeping them coming back.

You should want to provide the best karaoke you can and promote karaoke to the fullest.

If you do these, then you will make money.

It is not what you said.... but how you said it...

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I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott

No question that the referral system can be a little tricky ... there IS a certain amount of YOUR reputation that you risk when you  make referrals .. no doubt.  

BUT ... what we've learned after nearly 15 yrs. in the business, is ... NEVER judge someone elses competence or effectiveness on the "names" on their equipment...or based on their business card (for goodness sakes, how ridiculous)...  'cause we've heard some very sweet sounds come out of not too high quality speakers... etc.  Lots of ways to mix/process music before it comes out the speaker... for SURE.  And.... we've witnessed someone with an extremely impressive "business card" .. be a complete jerk when executing a show.  

We've also seen some KJ/DJ's try to be the STAR of the show ... vs ... the FACILITATOR of the show.  Nice person or not ... THAT can make a really big difference in whether we give a referral.  Also... we have some DJ's that we'd refer for lets say a wedding... but not a karaoke show ... or a fireman's field day. Every business is different. What size show they can provide varies.. and while someone may be really good as a DJ .. they may not be so hot as a KJ... and vice versa.  

What we have done regarding making referrals is .. when approached... we ask them to get in touch with us when they are going to do a KJ show or a wedding... or whatever... and we go and watch for a while.  We listen to how they DJ.... if they have a decent sound ... and ... if they WORK WELL WITH THE PEOPLE.  Recently.. we went to a wedding .. and the DJ had top shelf equipment... great lighting... and was a complete IDIOT on the mic.  He isn't someone we have on our referral list... though he "looked and sounded" pretty damn good.  As Matt has said... ATTITUDE and PEOPLE skills ... are extremely important in this business .... and if THAT isn't there... their name is NOT on our referral list.

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[shadow=tomato]If you want your significant other to pay attention to EVERY word you say::
  TALK IN YOUR SLEEP   [/shadow]  

I don't feel like anyone here is my competition, my goodness I
don't even think anyone here is even lives in my state.  LMAO

What I love about KS is I can talk to people who do what I do. They
understand what I go through doing a gig. The support I've received
here has been great. I have taken a lot of the suggestions here and put them
into practice. Some suggestions don't work for me because of the type of gigs
I get. I'm always learning more everyday about what I do and don't for a minute think I know everything.

Knightshow and others have helped me learn how to deal with some pretty
rough situations, but they have never put me down for not knowing in the first place.
There are some things you have to learn the hard way doing this job. I don't think
anyone is prepared for everything that can happen in a bar.

Maybe you are just misunderstood Bigdog. I understand you are proud of what you have built, but there is more than one way to skin a cat. There is no reason to feel offended when others don't agree with your ideas. What works for you may not work for others. Name calling and saying you are better than everyone else isn't a way to get your point across. It is hard to know in a post how you are meaning something to
sound because we are just reading not hearing the emotion behind it. Maybe you are just misunderstood.

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[shadow=pink][glow=deepskyblue]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

You missed the point.  I don't care what business you are in (this just happens to be a karaoke site and it's something I know about).   If you can't find work, for the amount of money you want to make, then something is wrong, with what [highlight=crimson]you[/highlight] are doing.   If you don't evaluate the problem and fix it, you won't work.     [highlight=crimson]Don't blame anyone else.[/highlight]
FIX THE PROBLEM.   You have to know your competition.    And be better than them.   GM can blame every car maker in the world for their problems, if they don't fix them...... it's... bye bye.   Their "system" is broke.   And they need to repair it.