rate of pay around the country.

[tonedeaf]

Touche Jwear
My feelings exactly.
Iv'e been in the business for 10 years, and at times wonder am I charging to much or to little.
I base it on the venue, if a bar or night club is trying it for the first time I tell them that consistency is the most important way to build a regular customer base.
I always charge less for this until they (bar owner) are making the money to where I can charge my regular rate.
Have a great musical day
Jeff

[SteveWalker]

Even the best KJ's making the most money are still making only peanuts so it's just not much worth the time and trouble IMHO.

[jwear]

All great comments... Alan said more clearly what I ran on and on about, and made some other greatly insightful points about "costing yourself out of a job".

I have seen this several times and even sold off a few of my rigs to bar owners. If you charge too much, even if the business you have built yourself supports your rate, bar owners will begin to consider buying their own equipment and getting one of their popular "singing waitresses" a shot at your job. Happens all time.

Here's an interesting approach to making more money and absorbing some risk. I took a gig at of all places a "Lesbian Bar". This was a different breed of audience, I can assure you, but by snapping into character a bit a good KJ/entertainer can work with just about any crowd.

On traditionally one of the slowest nights of the week (Sunday) we pack in approximately 150 people and have a rotation of about 30-40 singers throughout the night. The bar agreed to pay me absolutely nothing. I agreed to build them a successful Sunday night for 100% of the cover charge of $3. Yep, on a Sunday night I take in over $450 at the door and about $200 more in tips. Due to the type of venue, I decided to hire a female co-host and can easliy afford to pay her more than she'll make anywhere else.

Most bars however won't handle a cover charge, but venues such as these are accustomed to them and they are "Cash Cows!" If you can handle the pressure and the risk of building the business, they can pay off well!