Price of karaoke shows.

[bryant]

Originally Posted by wildnights1

I charge $300 for a regular once a week gig, or $500-$800 for private gigs, depending on the size of the crowd expected, and have had a couple of corporate gigs which I got $1200 for.
I don't negotiate prices, if they don't want to pay what I charge, they can get someone else.

WOW! But let me say, however, in Central Maine, you would never have any work. But then again, as I've said before on here, the most expensive drinks in most bars are less than 3 dollars, you can still get an apartment for less than 400 a month, and, taxes on any house worth less than 200,000, are less than 2,000 a year. It seems that in your ara, a lot is required to live comfortably. So, it's all relative, I guess.

[wildnights1]

The corporate gigs were a while back when I lived near Vancouver and Karaoke was really growing, but for regular DJ shows here at this point in time, they charge between 6 and 8 hundred for a 4-6 hour gig, so I'm right in the neighborhood with my pricing, and yes, I have all the discs to back the computer drive, no pirate booty here.

[madjim- with the Lord]

I've entertained alot of "Snowbirds" from Canada in my life and they all tell me that things are more exspensive in CAnada that here in the states.

Jim

[alanross]

We've been in this area for 14 years (Outer Banks, coastal NC) and we are the most prolific entertainment company on the beach. We have more weekly and private shows than any other band, acoustic soloist, DJ, open mike or comedian. We've even been voted the area's "favorite night out", but still, the best we can get is $300/night (4 hours) during the summer tourist months for a weekly show.

Regularly, we get $225. But next year, our regular customers are aware we have to raise the rate to $250 in the off-season (September thru May) and so far, everyone seems willing to pay it. They've learned that they can expect professionalism and punctuality from all our hosts.

However, there's been a new little puke in town for the past two years who bought a pirated system who is only charging $100/night and he is trying to move in on us. Fortunately, he runs a terrible show, and has only been able to book himself three shows because around here, word of mouth is everything, so we've been able to maintain all our shows, but he presents a real threat to the places that are just now deciding to try Karaoke. We still buy every disk, but he doesn't have that overhead. It's little #*<@$ like him that have always prevented us from making better money.

But for private shows, we can charge $300/hour if they want me personally. I've been at the DJ/Karaoke thing since 1979, so I'm worth it !

[wildnights1]

So if he's pirating and you know it, you could send an email to someone and have him checked out.

[madjim- with the Lord]

Originally Posted by wildnights1

So if he's pirating and you know it, you could send an email to someone and have him checked out.

Instead of focusing on "bringing the pirates down" I beleive it is smarter to pay attention to the quality of our own show. The places that hire a pirate, get what they pay for, usually a poor show as Alan pointed out. This makes the Karaoke host's that run a good show stand out. "The Pirates" will get their just rewards in the end.

Jim

[alanross]

I agree with Jim. I was brought up not to point fingers but to focus on our own situation and control what we can. I didn't mention any names because I was simply trying to make a point, not cast dispersions. I apologize for the language I used in my post, it was not a very Christian attitude and I am not his judge. Thanks, Jim for keeping me in check.

In a way, I'm even grateful to the people that run bad shows. They get the wild, drunken crowds that don't want to follow the basic rules of decorum and courtesy. This leaves our shows to cater to the people who want more quality entertainment.

[Lonman]

Originally Posted by madjim

Instead of focusing on "bringing the pirates down" I beleive it is smarter to pay attention to the quality of our own show. The places that hire a pirate, get what they pay for, usually a poor show as Alan pointed out. This makes the Karaoke host's that run a good show stand out. "The Pirates" will get their just rewards in the end.

Jim

But there is a point to wanting to bring those pirate types down as Alan stated he is screwing it up in bars that are still new to karaoke & if this is the experience they get, then they may not ever try a 'quality' show that work in thinking that is all karaoke is about. I've seen it happen around here alot.