rate of pay around the country.

[alanross]

I'll just add this one bit of advice...

Never set the length of your shows to longer than you would want to do on your worse night.

When you've been doing shows for as long as I have - 12 years, seven nights a week for the first two years, five nights a week for 10 years with five employees doing shows as well, plus 17 years as a regular DJ before that - and you've been dealing with drunken idiots who have fallen into your equipment, broken microphones, spilled their drinks on the stage, swearing on the mic, etc., you will begin to wish your show wasn't four hours long (let alone five).

I love what I'm doing, but I swear I've been wanting to change our shows to three hours. Unfortunately, I've been doing four hours for so long, I can't now cut back without incurring the wrath of the seriously addicted Karaoke junkies.

Basic rule of thumb, what you start, you must complete. I started at four and I'll probably end up doing four 'til the day I die.

- Alan

[nreel]

4 Hours is the Basic Package, Monday thru Saturday, with start time at 9:00 P.M.

Sunday Shows start at 8:00 P.M. because Bars must close by 12:30 A.M.

Here, the Bars close at 3:30 A.M. Monday thru Saturday. So, there is the possibility to earn 2 Hours of OVERTIME Pay if your BASIC Package ends at 1:00 A.M.

I charge 50$/Hour Overtime. If 2 Hours Overtime is required, then I drop my rate to $35/Hour.

You really should start your Shows at 9:00 P.M. as I have found that the cut off time for Bar-Hopping is 1:45 A.M. It is, simply, too late to go Bar-Hopping past 1:45 A.M. Bar-Hoppers are taking a Big Chance hoping that wherever they go next will be better than where they just left.

I used to charge $35/Hour Overtime. But, the Bar was using my Karaoke to keep the Party going and, once the time past 1:45 A.M., the Bar would shut me down at 2:00 A.M. Now, being as it is too late to Bar-Hop, the Bar would throw on the Juke Box and make money off MY combination of Karaoke and Dance Patrons from 2:00 A.M. to 3:30 A.M.

So, you MUST stop your Show as close to Your Basic Package END TIME as possible to keep the BAR from earning money off YOUR labor.

I changed my Rate to $50 for the First hour and give them a Break to $35/Hour if I get the two hours, which equals $70.00.

In "Late-Night" Markets, I have seen KJ's start at 10 P.M. and go to 2:00 A.M. It may be possible that the Bar owners are doing this to Prevent having to Pay a KJ Overtime. So, Bar Owners, simply, start the Show later.

I, absolutely, do not "Pass a Bucket" to try to justify me going overtime. I DO NOT work for tips. That's what the WAIT STAFF do. I am NOT an Employee...I'm a BUSINESS OWNER.

[Island Extreme]

I started my business in L.A. where I was so connected that I never had to try. I played in a popluar band there for years and had a job that paid me well but worked me up to 60 hrs/week... I'm ramling huh?

I never charged less than $200/night and $100/hr for parties (not charging for setup time)

I've moved to Sacramento and want to this to be my only "job"

I've been going to bars that don't have karaoke and offering $100 for the first 4 weeks and then we can talk price (I let them know I was making $200 minimum in L.A.) just to get it going.

For the ones who have a host. I can offer one night at that price as a test drive and then I was keeping to the $200 minimum.

I'd love to hear your comments on that PLUS I promise to report back as things progress.

If you have any suggestions on things you did to get your foot in the door without whoring yourselves out let me know.

By the way I have 375 CD's (85% are the top brands) - and 1000 watt sound system (with all the right equipment of course) - of course using HOSTER on my Dell Laptop.

[bryant]

I've got a Dell laptop too, Dell 6000, what's yours? Do you use a plextor USB ext. writer as well? I have a built in writer thats works fine except for a few CB disks it doesn't seem to like. I use the plextor when importing at home.


In Central Maine, (pretty poor region with low pay rates), I am very lucky to get the 150 dollars a night I ask for. I think there are many others that work for 100 or less here but don't say it out loud.