Quote:
Originally Posted by muzicman144
I can appreciate your reference to the illegals. I was not referring to them. I was speaking of the ones who want to attempt to become "professionals". I simply tried to imply that water seeks its own level so to speak.
Again, "professional" is simply a word that one would like to describe the level of his or her ability. My point is the results of one's performance increase the choice of pay and job choice for performing above the level of ordinary, irregardless of competition
muzicman144
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Their ability does not necessarily increase the choice of pay or job choice - it is completely dependent on the surrounding job market & what clubs are willing to pay. If the surrounding companies of now days are only charging $50 & the bars are used to paying that, there is no way they are going to pay someone $150, 200 or more even if their equipment, selection & personality is that good. Around here a GOOD company might be able to 'squeeze' $125 per night, but that's rare. $100 is average now because the clubs won't pay higher anymore - why, they don't have to. The cheesy companies that don't know how to run a good show can still draw a crowd (usually younger screamer crowds that don't know what good karaoke is) & the bars don't care if their karaoke is top notch - if they are coming in with crap equipment why bother paying more for good stuff?
I have a pretty good following - been in business 15 years, 6 years ago bought a complete system to do more mobile shows, not crap - the PA was stuff we used for running bands as I already had (JBL SR speakers tops & subs), Crown & QSC PLX series amps, Mackie mixer plus many processors), I just needed to purcahase discs which I did. Mostly Sound Choice, Chartbuster, THM, PHM - had about 5,000 songs (non dup) & the best price I could get was $125 (normally charge $175). I did a club that went from $200 per night to over $1000 per night, they wanted cheaper karaoke - they found a company that charged $100, didn't hook into any of the bar tvs, sat up their equipment on stage, 1 blown speaker. They went from the $1000 to less than what they were making. They dropped this company 2 weeks afterward. They had the gall to call me to see if I wanted to work for $100 per night, I told them no - I would go back for a minimum $150. They dropped music altogether.
Mine is not the only story, again, I have watched some VERY good companies fall or move out of clubs altogether - these were some of the most professional companies that I knew. Every one of them were booted out of their clubs for non-professional, undercutting & yes illegal systems that charge $100 or less per night.