Karaoke Equipment???
- Thread starter DJ Cam
- Start date
Fred, I've heard this a lot, but the fact is that I've had a LOT more problems with drunks at private events than I've ever had with bars. Weddings are worse than ANY other venue for this.
Cam,
After my experiences, here's my (opinionated) take.... (Prepare yourself, Toq
)
"Inexpensive karaoke equipment" is a qualified statement. "Cheap karaoke equipment" is an insult. (Give me the moment to rant... please and thank you!)
I've worked 9+ years in bar markets that don't pay above US$150 a night. They don't give a (blank) what I offer for song selection or equipment.
I just had someone come to me from a former karaoke gig and ask for a song that is LONG gone. (Deleted from the SC catalog.) There's has a regular that's "not happy" they don't have song. (Gee, I'm gone. There's a longer story to this, but I won't go into it.) What is this worth? To the bar, d*ck, apparently, because 8 months on, their host is still there, but I'm not because I "cost" more.
I'm kinda like Toq, but... different. I'm not lucky enough to have a show where I can build equipment for one client. (I've had those gigs and they are N-I-C-E, but I don't have them anymore.) I tried to book myself on the fact that I have a Bose L1 sound system (that my regulars LOVE) and the most diverse song selection. It isn't worth anything to bar owners. (Compared to my current market, they have 2+-year-old selection of country, and.... ummm.... Country?)
I carry rock. I carry metal. I carry country. I carry music that's played on the radio. (Country, rock, pop... take your pick.) A lot of my singers show up to sing Priest, Maiden, Ozzy, Slayer, classic Motown, the Who, the Guess Who, the Clash, the Ramones, the latest country... I HAVE IT.
I tried to build my business on a US$2000+ Bose L1 sound system that my singers love & other hosts (and local bands) envy. I have my US$2,000 base karaoke song selection, and I tried to keep a US$100+/month catalog. (The US$700+ computer doesn't enter into it.) Bar owners don't want to pay for it. Why should I spend MY (business) money to make an annual loss when the IRS will tell me becomes a "hobby?"
I'm back to making money as a computer geek. I'm able to show a profit on my karaoke business this year because I stopped buying music for "everyone" and catered to my regulars.
My bottom line... why should I pay my money for "top-of-the-line" equipment and "song selection" when I can't recoup the cost? The average karaoke singer wants to sound "good." Not "awesome." Not even "professional."
I have musicians that show up at my shows because they sound "professional" to themselves and the bar. I'm not blowing smoke -- I hope. They ask me "Where's the next show?" I have none. I can't make any money, even at six night a week.
Why should I make the effort with "professional" equipment?
P.S. How am I like Toq? We take pride in our profession as computer-based karaoke hosts and we make sure that our music is legal. That's all.
After my experiences, here's my (opinionated) take.... (Prepare yourself, Toq
)"Inexpensive karaoke equipment" is a qualified statement. "Cheap karaoke equipment" is an insult. (Give me the moment to rant... please and thank you!)
I've worked 9+ years in bar markets that don't pay above US$150 a night. They don't give a (blank) what I offer for song selection or equipment.
I just had someone come to me from a former karaoke gig and ask for a song that is LONG gone. (Deleted from the SC catalog.) There's has a regular that's "not happy" they don't have song. (Gee, I'm gone. There's a longer story to this, but I won't go into it.) What is this worth? To the bar, d*ck, apparently, because 8 months on, their host is still there, but I'm not because I "cost" more.
I'm kinda like Toq, but... different. I'm not lucky enough to have a show where I can build equipment for one client. (I've had those gigs and they are N-I-C-E, but I don't have them anymore.) I tried to book myself on the fact that I have a Bose L1 sound system (that my regulars LOVE) and the most diverse song selection. It isn't worth anything to bar owners. (Compared to my current market, they have 2+-year-old selection of country, and.... ummm.... Country?)
I carry rock. I carry metal. I carry country. I carry music that's played on the radio. (Country, rock, pop... take your pick.) A lot of my singers show up to sing Priest, Maiden, Ozzy, Slayer, classic Motown, the Who, the Guess Who, the Clash, the Ramones, the latest country... I HAVE IT.
I tried to build my business on a US$2000+ Bose L1 sound system that my singers love & other hosts (and local bands) envy. I have my US$2,000 base karaoke song selection, and I tried to keep a US$100+/month catalog. (The US$700+ computer doesn't enter into it.) Bar owners don't want to pay for it. Why should I spend MY (business) money to make an annual loss when the IRS will tell me becomes a "hobby?"
I'm back to making money as a computer geek. I'm able to show a profit on my karaoke business this year because I stopped buying music for "everyone" and catered to my regulars.
My bottom line... why should I pay my money for "top-of-the-line" equipment and "song selection" when I can't recoup the cost? The average karaoke singer wants to sound "good." Not "awesome." Not even "professional."
I have musicians that show up at my shows because they sound "professional" to themselves and the bar. I'm not blowing smoke -- I hope. They ask me "Where's the next show?" I have none. I can't make any money, even at six night a week.
Why should I make the effort with "professional" equipment?
P.S. How am I like Toq? We take pride in our profession as computer-based karaoke hosts and we make sure that our music is legal. That's all.
Why?
1) If you do a quality show at the bar, you get hired for private events at big bucks ( Yes, there are karaoke weddings and corporate parties- I do LOTS ) and other bars, and you are prepared. From these events and shows come others.
2) Drunks? As posted elswhere: "HUH?" Not a lot of AA weddings and corporate shows in my experience. I have always had more problems with drunks at events than bars.
3) Who cares how well they sing? I'm not looking to sign them to contracts, I'm looking to give them a good time. Please see my signature- I MEAN it!
And to semi-quote Kayleigh:
We take pride in our profession as karaoke hosts and we make sure that our music is legal. That's all.