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Old May 14th, 2002, 06:01 PM
ARTHUR ARTHUR is offline
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Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 4
Angry rates

THIS HAS BEEN A VERY SORE SPOT FOR ME IN THIS AREA. I WAS THE FIRST KJ WITH A PORTABLE SYSTEM AROUND HERE AND STARTED 11 YEARS AGO. AT THAT TIME I HAD NO PROBLEM GETTING OVER $200.OO PER GIG. AND AS THE POPULARITY OF KARAOKE ROSE, SO DID THE NEW KJ'S THAT HAD NO IDEA OF HOW TO RUN A SHOW OR WHAT TO USE IN IT OR HOW MANY SONGS TO HAVE IN THEIR SELECTIONS. (MOST HAD AROUND 1500 SONGS AND OF A POOR VARIETY) THE ALSO HAD A CHEAP SET OF PLAYERS AND SPEAKERS, SO THEIR SOUND WAS AT BEST MEDIOCRE. THESE BEGINNERS WOULD GO FROM BAR TO BAR AND SELL THEIR TIME FOR WHATEVER THEY COULD GET AND NEVER LAST VERY LONG. MOST OF THEM ARE GONE, BUT NEW ONES ARE TRYING TO GET INTO THE BUSINESS EVERY DAY. NOW THE AREA IS SATURATED WITH NOVICES AND LOW COSTS, SO MUCH SO, THAT IF I WANTED TO MOVE TO A NEW LOCATION I WOULD HAVE PLENTY OF TROUBLE FINDING A GIG THAT WOULD PAY ME WHAT I FEEL THAT I AM WORTH. THEY SAY..."WELL, SO & SO ONLY CHARGES "X AMOUNT" SO WHY SHOULD I PAY YOU WHAT YOU ARE ASKING?" MY ONLY ANSWER TO THAT IS...."YOU GET WHAT YOU ARE PAYING FOR. IF YOU WANT QUALITY & QUANTITY, YOU NEED TO PAY FOR IT. IF NOT, SO BE IT."

I AM NOW PLAYING FOR A LOT LESS THAN I WANT TO BUT I HAVE A GREAT CROWD AND THE LOUNGE OWNERS TREAT US LIKE FAMILY. PLUS, I CAN LEAVE MY EQUIPMENT SET UP AND NOT HAVE TO TAKE IT WITH ME, WHICH IS WORTH QUITE A LOT TO ME. AND THEY GIVE ME AND MY WIFE ALL THE FOOD AND DRINKS WE REQUIRE WITHOUT QUESTIONS.

MEBBE IN THE FUTURE THE OWNERS AROUND HERE WILL SMARTEN UP AND HIRE THE QUALITY KJ'S AND PAY US WHAT WE ARE REALLY WORTH. (BUT DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH)