Price of karaoke shows.

[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.

[madjim- with the Lord]

Originally Posted by Lonman

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.

Lonnie,
I agree with all of you on this point, pirating is wrong in any form. I just think that if the "legal" karaoke hosts spend all of their time trying to bring down the pirates, they end up becoming the "karaoke police" spending man hours with no pay doing somebody elses job. I say let the Writers Roalty Groups (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC) put the man hours into stopping the pirates. That's what they get paid for plus, we have better things to do.

The pirates won't be able to stay in business too long if they keep charging $100 or less per night. Gas is getting too expensive. They could get a house gig at a dive somewhere where they issue you a gun or a knife if you don't have one which will get them caught in no time. If they are illegal, they can't stand still for too long.

There's no doubt that pirating sucks but we are not our brother's keepers.

Just a thought.

Jim

[muzicman144]

I do not worry about "pirates" or "legals". It is a decision they make, they have to live with it. I "try" to bring a professional, dignified show to the stage at every show. I do not worry about what others charge, and do not care. I know what my "area" pays and am proud to say i get the top money. I stay booked, at this moment, three to five nighs a week through Dec. 2008. I work constantly on my show to make it as good as i possibly know how. Why should i take my precious time to worry about what someone else does that "may" affect me. In the last 10 -15years i have seen many come and many go, both "pirate" and "legit", for many reasons. Life is to short. Just keep your show straight and professional and there will always be a place to play your song.

muzicman

[wildnights1]

I think a couple of well written and well addressed emails can go a long way without spending too much time on it, and can get rid of some problem "pirates".
I have also seen the problems that Lonman was speaking about, with the venue owners not getting quality and becoming somewhat disenchanted with the whole karaoke scene.
I once had a gig at a pub in the lower mainland just outside Vancouver, and an outfit came in and lowballed me. After having filled the pub for over a year with a rotation of 30 plus every week, this outfit proceeded to have the owner cancel karaoke after only 3 months because there were less than 10 singers per night.
I found out later in the year that he was too embarrased to phone me and admit he should have stuck with us, but it owuld have nbeen too late anyway,because there was another venue even closer to home that was happy to have us, and we were there until I moved away four years later.
As far as having owners see what they can get, I have invited them to come to the other places I play at, and have even gone as far as having one of my shows videotaped ( with managements consent), to show prospective clients.I didn't seed the crowd for the show, and had a regular rotation of about 20 people that night.I used that video to secure a number of private gigs as well as a few new venues for weekly shows.