How Are Economic Changes Effecting Your Karaoke Business At The Start Of 2009?

[bryant]

Originally Posted by muzicman144

I have noticed the better KJ's are staying busy while those less talented or i should say, those less prepared, are struggleing to find one night. Its tough, but, it should show those that need to get better either do it, or get out.
Muzicman

Yeah, up here in Maine, I've lost a few gigs to the really "lousy" DJ's because they charge a lot less and the bar owners will take the lower price so THEY can make more. The patrons complain to me about "What are doing, why are they treatin' you like this, what are they, Stupid?? They complain to the bar owner too, but up here even the really lousy KJ's will work if they charge less.

[ddouglass]

If those owners get enough complaints and people stop coming in they will get the message. You get what you pay for.

[bryant]

Originally Posted by ddouglass

If those owners get enough complaints and people stop coming in they will get the message. You get what you pay for.

yeah, you're right. But it's different here than in the "big" states. You'll see a "****" DJ come in and play for nuttin', the house is still packed, people will complain to me about it and say "I'm not coming next week if you're not her", but they still come regardless. I think that's because MOST people in Maine do not pay there own bills, it comes from other taxpayers like us, and we're talking MOST people, not just a small percentage. However, I'm not complaining, just keep rollin'. I still have five gigs a week, my wife has two, and we both have full-time jobs, and a house payment of 225 a month that was paid upo 15 years ago.

[billyo]

things are getting rough here in so.fla. i've been hearing form other kj's that there's a lot of new kj's sprouting out, and they're are going around bars/ retaurants trying to undercut seasoned kj's, i've been getting offers from diff.places and i've been turning it down, i've been giving it to other kj's, that make their living doing karaoke.( most of them are friends of mine ) and i know that they need it more than me. ( it's just a hobby for me ) i only do private parties for now, just like Jim siad it gives me more time to spend my idled time with my 3 yr. old daughter.who can't get enough singing and watching Hanna Montana shows on tv

[capnvic]

We have been seeing a downturn in restaurant businesses. So alot of places that had Karaoke, are out of business now or business is bad that they have to cut the karaoke part out... The other part about newer KJ's undercutting the more seasoned and experienced KJ's is also true.... Some are doing a gig for almost nothing...If you're going to do it for almost nothing than you are hurting everyone, to include your own clients....Certainly a sad state indeed.

[hwheeler43]

The worst part is those idiots buying pre-installed hard drives with 50 or 60 thousand illegal songs on them. I had one guy tell me he had to do that to compete. I told him that I would rather not do karaoke than to have to compete that way.

[muzicman144]

Although i don't do KJ work myself, instead i do one man shows using tracks, piano, and guitar, i feel it is unfair to list all new kj in the same book. Some are starting out just as the rest of you did, legitimate, and trying to get a start. We all know that to get started you have to get in the door. Usually a lower price will do that. They are doing what they have to do to get started. I read where many of you that are seasoned are continuing to upgrade your equipment. Some of the newer kj's may not have all the bells and whistles you do, but, maybe the same economics we all face dictate what they buy or use.
I'm just saying it isn't fair to lump "all the Newcomer's" in the same bag. Economics may also be forcing them to start a kj business for various reasons. Irregardless, the cream will rise to the top.
This is just an opinion derived from reading this topic, and, an opinion only!
muzicman