So You Want To Be A Karaoke Host...And You Want My Advice?

No less than twice a week, I hear of someone who wants my advice or guidance in becoming a karaoke host. Usually this is focused on what gear to buy and how to use it. Then, the subject of "what are you going to use for music" comes up. THIS is where you lose me...

I started in the 90s...in that era, and before, it took THOUSANDS of dollars to start a music library, then buying a PA system, etc... The day I walked out the door to do my first show, I had about $7500 invested, and continued to have to reinvest money to upgrade equipment and add music to the library.

Along the way, I generated a following and years of experience.

Now, technology has replaced the archaic CD, and we are going to computer based shows, and copying and sharing song files has NEVER been easier...and is STILL just as illegal. So twice a week, or more, people want my help starting a business to compete with me with stolen, pirated music, gotten by them with little to no overhead.

If you are that person, please, dont ask for my help. I am not one to shoot myself in the foot. New karaoke hosts are popping up right and left, and none of them seem to have legal libraries. They all say they are not coming after my gigs, but guess what? My singers will be coming to your gigs, and my attendance numbers are going to fall, and my revenues generated for my employers are going to fall, and I am going to be asked to work for less money IF my show stays alive. I cannot help you do that to me.

This is my reality at this time. I am seeing this, in real time. Now at this point, if you think I am whining, feeling sorry for myself, being preachy or ridiculous, well I guess that is your right...and if you are out booking gigs (public or private) for low money, bar tabs, for the fun of it or otherwise bringing down the industry you wish to join by watering it down, then I ask you to do this... Squint and look at the competition around you and when you wonder why you cant get that many singers to your show, ask yourself how many singers are out at pirated shows. OR if you have a lot of singers at your illegal show, ask yourself where they would sing if you were not in business. THAT is probably the show suffering because of your piracy.

IF THE PLAYING FIELD IS LEVEL...and everyone spent thousands on music legally, we could all make better money and there would be far less of us out there. As long as people want to illegally compete against legal operators, the pay is going to get lower, and the attendance will get lower at each show.

And last night, another friend came to me for advice, which is the impetus of this post. Just wanted to put my opinion out there without getting all preachy, and also to reprint my stance on piracy which is posted at my website. I advised him NOT to host unless he were doing it legally. He told me whose show he wanted to buy, and I told him which host that host copied the hard drive from, and how much he wanted to copy it for me...


That post follows here (reprinted from my website):

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SHARING MUSIC:

(PREFACE: Some will read this and say I am full of crap...and if you are talking about home use or personal use, you may be right...my comments and opinion are tempered for public and professional use, as I am a public professional...THANKS!)

Many customers ask me if I want to copy their discs onto my computer…or they ask me to copy my music onto a disc for them. Both of these practices are not only illegal, but also detrimental to the industry. People say to me all the time “you have a great version of “XXXXXXXX “, can you put that on a disc for me? No I cant…because number 1) I paid for it, 2) It is likely that you will then take that disc and go to another show and sing from it, and THAT host will copy it. What benefit is there to me to not only support another hosts show illegally, but also costing the manufacturer of the disc a sale? I encourage folks that like my versions to come to my shows and sing them, LOL.

To be legal with a computer, if you work in public, you must have a legal disc for each track that you have on your computer, and be operating no more than one copy…meaning I cannot make multiple copies of my hard drive and run concurrent shows.

LARGE LIBRARIES OF MUSIC FROM THE INTERNET

Many people visit my show, see the laptop on top of my rig and say “Oh, you have a computer, you can get any song you want now” or “oh I see you switched to a laptop, so I guess you have a LOT more music now Huh?”. The answer is no. Having a computer simply means that I am playing the SAME music that I bought legally thru a computer now, instead of a player. I do still have a player to play discs, and I have a disc for each song on my computer. I am also still happy to play discs owned by my customers.

Many many hosts are switching to computers, then adding to their libraries of music with illegal tracks downloaded from the internet, or acquired thru other bootleg means such as buying or copying a preloaded hard drive. Even worse, some NEW hosts are starting with completely illegal libraries and own little to no legal karaoke music.

WHY THIS IS BAD

FOR THE HOST

You may ask “who cares?”. Well, way back when I started out, as well as other long term karaoke hosts, there were no computer players or internet downloads. CDG burning and copying was still a new technology so most all hosts had legitimate, legal karaoke music libraries. This meant having to spend a lot of money on music. You ask any legitimate host what the biggest obstacle to going into the business is, and they will tell you that it is the cost of the acquisition of music. You remove THAT cost, and all of a sudden, EVERYONE wants to be a karaoke host. Competition is always good and always welcomed… BUT, the playing field has to be level. A guy trying to be legal, buying music and paying taxes on income has to charge a bar a fair wage to make a living AND cover expenses. A guy who steals all his music and works under the table can work far cheaper and have the same profit margin…so bar owners are finding hosts willing to work FAR cheaper than legal hosts. This is causing karaoke hosts to earn less each year due to unfair competition. Also, it is frustrating to have singers criticize the host for not having a song because “so and so” has it, and you know so and so has an illegal library of 100,000 songs or more.

FOR THE BARS

There are only so many singers to support karaoke in a community. Admittedly, not everyone is a fan of the same bar…but if in a small town there are multiple hosts competing for the same singers, non of them are going to have a very successful night. A successful night is gauged by how much business the host brings to the bar owner. If the bar does not make money, they cant pay the host that much…and if the host is legal and has to charge a fair wage, they wont be around long, and will be replaced by a pirate host. If the pirate hosts did not operate, there would be less shows, more attendance at the legal shows and the bars and karaoke shows would both be more prosperous.



FOR THE SINGERS

Dwindling karaoke disc sales are a big problem in this industry. When a disc is released, it ends up on the internet and more people share it than buy it. This has forced many of the companies that make karaoke discs out of business, cutting down on the availability of songs. The biggest producer, Sound Choice, recently had 75 employees and produced 5 discs a month. Lately all of their discs have lost money, as they could not even recoup the cost of licensing and production. They have less than 10 employees now, and have slowed production to an almost standstill. They are now placing their efforts into combating piracy and recouping some losses.


MY STANCE and SUMMARY

I am choosing to operate legally. I have a smaller library than many of my competitors, but it is well thought out, and I am willing to add to it with requests and new hits. Do not ask me to share my music, and understand why I don’t have 100,000 titles even though everyone else in town seems to.

Sound Choice and other companies are getting together and have begun filing complaints in criminal court against karaoke hosts using illegal libraries. This is resulting in some pirate operations becoming legal or shutting down. Ultimately others will possibly be facing a day in court.

Thanks for your reading and understanding of my position on this subject.

BOYCOTTING BP (or any oil company for whatever reason) WILL NOT WORK or HELP...here is why...

Many of my friends are jumping on the BOYCOTT BP bandwagon, thinking that they are making a difference by not purchasing their gas or groceries from BP. This does not work...and as a friend, and as a person with a background in this business, let me briefly explain to you why, without going into great detail...

1. ALL REFINED FUEL COMES FROM THE SAME PIPELINE. Whether it is BP, Exxon, Amoco, Valero or whoever...the liquid gasoline is all coming out of the same pipe. It is sold on the open market, but they all contract how many gallons they are putting in the supply...and there is no way to send BP gas to BPs, etc...it is all the same. SO, in reality...if you are boycotting BP for the oil spill, or Citgo for political reasons, and you drive down the street to the next station, you are buying the same gas.

2. BOYCOTTING DOES NOT HURT THE OIL COMPANIES REVENUE. If they passed a law today that made it illegal for you to buy your gas at BP, not a dollar would be lost...because they would still be putting the same amount of fuel into the fuel supply, and you would merely be buying it from somewhere else. ALSO, all the crude they produce would still be sold for manufacturing, and all the other things we use oil for in this world.

3. NOT BUYING YOUR GROCERIES FROM A BP CONVENIENCE STORE WILL NOT AFFECT BP. You would be hard pressed to find a convenience store with a BP sign in front of it that is owned by BP. Gas stations generally are leased by small companies or families. The family runs the store and the only reason the sign on the front says BP is because they have a contract with a jobber to supply the gas and possibly maintain the pumps and tanks. The lessor of the store makes very little on gas, if anything at all, as they buy at the market rate from the jobber who supplies the gas from the collective pipeline. Not buying your coffee, cigs, etc... from a BP does not hurt BP at all...just the guy who leases the store and his employees or family.


This was a similar problem when everyone was boycotting Citgos because of the political stance of the president of their country. Talking of boycotts sounds noble, and may make you feel good, but you are accomplishing nothing. If you really want to accomplish something, research ways to see that your legislators are working toward punishing the parties responsible, and getting help to the victims of the tragedy. Just a friendly heads up!!

I hate my lawn mower... I am a fancy man.

For many many years, I had a cheap Murray lawn mower with a Tecumseh engine. I did NO maintenance to it...never changed the oil, rarely if ever cleaned the air filter...it just kept plugging along with no maintenance needs other than an occasional pull string.

When it needed a blade, I bought a mulching blade, brought it home and realized I had gotten the wrong size. Being a fancy man, I thought I would just get a brand new lawn mower, and retire the Murray.

I got a really nice Craftsman mower from Sears, with a bulletproof Briggs and Stratton engine. I gave away the Murray, needing a blade and a string, on Freecycle. I have never started my love affair with this mower. I starts temperamentally, the air cleaner constantly clogs, the screw holding the air cleaner on bent...the air cleaner is cracked...and little other niggling problems.

Recently my blade bent, so I went out and bought the identical blade to the one that is currently on it...matched the part numbers and all, no guess work.

Today I decided to cut the yard, so I went out and attempted to replace the blade. Removed the old one and guess what...the new one will not fit...not even close. SAME PART NUMBER...this is the correct blade...but it will not fit. I reattached the old blade to make do for todays chores and after getting the mower started, it vibrated HELLACIOUSLY!! The vibration was so bad that the deck cracked...or the deck was previously cracked and that contributed to the problem...but either way, I have a practically new Craftsman mower that will be going away ASAP. I must now find a new lawn mower.

Grrr.

5 Minute Professor - Warren Buffett

Warren Buffett is a personal hero of mine. Imagine my surprise to hear him as the subject of the 5 Minute Professor on Real Radio - The Philips Phile. Here is a transcript of that edition. Kudos to Bill Keevan, the Five Minute Professor. You can follow Bill at Facebook by searching FIVE MINUTE PROFESSOR and joining the group.

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One of the richest men in America. The Sage of Omaha. He was born August 30, 1930. He filed his first tax return during WWII 1943 – He listed the cost of his bike and his watch as business expenses related to his newspaper route. He was 13.

He was not born poor… He was the son of Howard Buffett – a ...US Representative from Nebraska from 1942 – 1948 and again from 1950 -52. Howard was opposed to the Korean War because he felt that (quote) Even if it were desirable, America is not strong enough to police the world by military force. (1950) Warren went to the Wharton Business school at Upenn for two years and completed his BS in Economics at the University of Nebraska and then went to Columbia for his Masters.

He started working at his father’s investment firm in 1951 .. started his own partnership in 1956 and was a millionaire (at least on paper by 1962 – he was 32 years old. Warren married Susan Thompson in 1952.

In 1977, Susan decided she wanted to pursue a career as a singer after Neil Sedaka convinced her to move to S...an Francisco… but the Buffetts stayed married until her death in 2004. They lived separately but vacationed together. Before moving away… Susan introduced Warren to Astrid Menks. Astrid moved in just after Susan moved away and eventually Christmas cards would be signed by Warren, Susie and Astrid… After Susie died in 2004 – Bono played at her funeral, Warren married Astrid in 2006 in a small ceremony.

www.muckety.com – shows you how people and organizations are inter-connected. Astrid’s only connection is Warren … Angelina Jolie

Susan had owned about 2.2 % of Warren biggest venture Berkshire Hathaway -- she was worth $3 Billion and was the 153rd richest person in America. Berkshire Hathaway made news this week. ...This enormous conglomerate bought out the rest of Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad and replaced it in the S & P 500. That is noteworthy for a few reasons… numbers one --- it had to execute a 50 -1stock split on January 21st to qualify as a readily available and liquid security. It only splits its B Class shares they are trading today at about $76 a share – that would have been $3800 pre-split. And that isn’t the big number – the Class A shares which did not split … are trading over $114,000 per share …

Financial info update -- Outstanding shares – 1.55 Billion only 1.12 Billion of these are in the float --- that means that the company hold 430,000 shares. Since there are 1.55 million shares and they trade at 114,000 each the Market capitalization --- also called market Cap --- 176.99 Billion

Warren has started to... give away over 85% of his vast wealth in 2006… he donated the bulk of it to the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation… the foundation is the largest holder of BRK A shares --- they have 77 million shares … next largest shareholder – Warren – he has a scant 1.5 million… and then the next largest holder -- a guy named Stephen Burke – he has 5.

Berkshire Hathaway is not very popular as an addition to the S & P in part because Warren does not pay dividends … this addition effectively lowers the dividend return of S & P funds by over ½ of one percent.

Berkshire Hathaway started out as a textile firm … originally founded in 1839 in Rhode Island … through mer...gers it became Berkshire Hathaway in 1955 .. Warren saw that it was undervalued and bought it in 1962 and then started buying not just stock but entire companies and including them under the Berkshire hathaway umbrella… Berkshire currently wholly owns 37 companies including – GEICO – since 1996, Dairy Queen, Pampered Chef, Fruit of the Loom (2002), Business Wire (2006), Helzberg Diamonds, Burlington Northern Santa Fe – last week … they also own 13% of American Express, almost 10% of Anheuser- Busch and Coca-Cola … as well as 18% of the Washington Post.

1) James William (call me Jimmy) Buffett is no relation … He was born Dec 25, 1946 in Pascagoula, MS. Jimmy is the poorer Buffett though .. he only manages to generate about $100 million per year in album sales and licensing arrangements. So to supplement his income… how many consecutive years has Jimmy been out on... tour at least once.

26 years … since 1984 and he plans to go out this year as well … with the Under the Big Top Tour. Starting on the 20th in Jacksonville… Playing the Amway Arena on the 25th.

2) His highest charting single is Margaritaville … his only Number 1 album to date was 2004’s License to Chill… His latest album is “Buffet Hotel” without the second t that both Warren and Jimmy have in their name … A buffet is an 18th century French term for food laid out for self-service… it was named for the furn...iture that it was laid out on. I Japan – a buffet is referred to by what name for 8th to 13th Century European Explorers who exacted tribute from ports as far flung as the Caspian sea, Gibraltar, Iceland, Greenland and a place they called – Vinland.

Vikings

3) One of my greatest childhood memories of the 23rd state involve an ice cream buffet at a restaurant called The Viking. Can you name the 23rd state… it joined the Union in 1820… only borders one state … and is the only state with a one-syllable name.

Maine

4) The longest US state names have 5 syllables… can ...you name any of these 6 states. Two sets are neighbors, three are original colonies, One joined the Union during the Civil War. One was briefly a Republic, One was founded by the French.

California, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia and Pennsylvania

5) Three of these states , LA, NC and SC seceded from the Union in 1861 despite pleading from what Illinois Senator who came in second in the popular vote in the Presidential election of 1860?

Stephen Douglas was on over 29% of the votes cast but only won 4 Electoral College votes. In spite of his support of slave...ry as an economic institution, he did not believe that secession was legal. Douglas died in 1861.

6) Twelve states honor Stephen Douglas with counties named in his honor, including which state … whose Capital is named for an 1860 Presidential rival.

Nebraska , Lincoln

Bad Business 101

Phone conversation of me calling a business...

THEM: Hello?

ME: Uh, yes is this ****** ****** Service?

THEM: Yeah

ME: Oh...say, I found one of your signs off your trucks in the road and saved it. I know how much they cost and thought you might like it back.

THEM: Oh yeah, thought I saw it go missing.

ME: Well, I live at ********* and have it here if you want it. THere is an old white van in my driveway, I will just put the sign on my van so you can come get it anytime.

THEM: OK.

ME: BTW, since I have your number here...I am wondering, do you sell (INSERT BIG TICKET ITEM)??

THEM: Yeah.

ME: I am in the immediate market for one...if you want to give me a price, perhaps we can do some business.

THEM: OK.

ME: Alright then...

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Never took my name, verified my number or address. I still have the sign and am still anxious to spend money on something that will be close to $1000 dollars or more that he will not be a viable candidate for. Tsk Tsk.

Dinner at Emmy's

Went to dinner at Emmy's for the first time tonight. (http://emmys.netudo.net/) Have always wanted to eat there, but it is always so busy...but it is a local institution, so today the chance to eat there presented itself and I accepted.

Our waitress must've been new...this was the first disappointment. There were so many old time established servers there with eons of experience, EXCEPT for our server. I did not know what I was eating so I just ordered water...which was bottled water, in small bottles for a dollar a piece. That was the next disappointment...if I am gonna drop 50 bucks on dinner, give me some damn water, LOL.

Lori ordered a house red...which befuddled our server. She then specified a cabernet. The waitress returned to ask again what kind of wine... then the bartender came and informed us that they only serve Merlot. OK, no big deal.

Emmys also serves German food, which is kind of what I was in the mood for...I envisioned a pork shank on a bed of sauerkraut...but I was informed they only serve German on Wednesdays now. Next disappointment.

Decided on the king cut prime rib, Lori got the queen and we got a blooming onion as an appetizer. Meal came with soup, something they called salad (a plate with some dressed cucumbers, tomatoes and cole slaw) and bread.

While we were waiting, I got the biggest disappointment of the night. The waitress at the next table informed the diners that the special of the day was pork shank. I was livid.

Anyway, the lividity was quelled when the entrees arrived. This was an obscenely huge piece of beef. Easily 9 inches by 5 inches, and 2 1/2 inches tall. With a baked potato. This was one of the rare times I actually brought home leftovers.

Overall, the quality of the food was great, the atmosphere very dated and so so , but the owners and everyone other than our actual server was very attentive and friendly. The owner stopped at the table several times and engaged us.

We both enjoyed it, but I dont know if I will be beating a path back again anytime real soon. If I get a jones for German cooking, it is worth the extra hoof to go to the Willow Tree in Sanford.

Fifth Anniversary of My Accident (Sept 2004)

Fifth Anniversary of My Accident....

Current mood:thankful

This week (9/24) marks the fifth anniversary of one of the most life changing events I have experienced.

I was coming home from work...we were in the middle of the 3 hurricanes in a row that we were getting back in 2004. Between the second and third hurricanes was when my accident occurred. The median on highway 92 was full of water. I had my cruise control set at 70 and was headed back to DeLand. I veered into the median and got sucked into the wet grass. I spun out in the median, veered right into the swail, got airborne and while barrel rolling hit a pine tree with the drivers door, which cut my head face and arm open, then landed roof first on an oak tree which bent the van in half, on the drivers seat, which broke my neck in two places.

The van landed upside down in the woods along the road. I have no idea how long I was there before anyone found me. I know I was laying on the dome light as the bulb burned my back.

I woke up in the emergency room, but could not open my eyes. The state trooper was with me, and the hospital staff called Lori to come meet me at the hospital once I was able to communicate. I had a wedding to do that weekend, so I was concerned how badly my face looked. That was when the nurse told me the extent of my injuries. Even in the ER, I had Lori cover the wedding for me with another DJ, LOL...always
working, LOL!

My neighbors helped Lori salvage as much gear from the van as possible and get it to the house, as I lay in surgery the same day. I have a titanium plate and screws holding my neck together now...along with a bone from a cadaver to fuse what I broke.

About a week later I was released, but I was in so much pain I had to go back for more procedures. They were going to fit me with a halo but as I was borderline for that, and an obedient patient, I got away with a Miami J collar, which I wore for the better part of the next year.

I could walk, but that was about it. I had pretty much lost the use of my right arm, couldnt even brush my teeth or move it enough to wash or wipe! It just kind of laid there. I was not allowed to do anything, which is against my nature, so my days consisted of eating, drinking, and watching TV for some time. I got to a point where I was allowed to walk more, so I would go venture downtown and go for long walks to try to stay in shape. My arms looked very withered after awhile.

Being out of work, and adding all of these expenses was pretty horrible...BUT my very good friends organized an AMAZING fundraiser. Everyone in the community stepped forward to help. We had 12 bands play in 12 hours...t shirts sold, food sold, cash donations...just amazing. We raised enough to keep my head above water for the months that I was out of the loop. All of my employers vowed to keep my job open til I got back, and other area hosts covered for me in my absence.

I got back to work VERY slowly and with lots of help. I did a few parties to warm into it, then came back one day at a time. I had to have people to unload my van for me and do the lifting. Once I was able to start lifting, I started feeling better...I had no insurance for physical therapy, so I foolishly went thru the recovery without any...and I still regret that.

As I got back to work full time, the bills piled up...and I started a 6-7 day a week work regimen that continues to this day. With very little insurance coverage, the bulk of the bill landed on my lap. After I got established back, I took out a mortgage large enough to cover my house, bills, and my van , and paid all my debts in full, then committed to go after the mortgage full steam. It would have been easy to declare bankruptcy, but this seemed more noble.

Today, many who know me or of me, have no idea this happened. They may see me limp or creak and comment on it, but given the severity of the accident and my injuries, I have never complained once, nor will I. The alternatives were not favorable...and considering how worse it could have been, I feel lucky. I am also lucky to have a support group in my family and friends. They went to extraordinary lengths at times to help me out.

Not only have I committed to pay my debts, BUT I have also committed to repaying all of the money donated to me. I kept track of the totals, and am paying it forward. Every penny that was given to me in my time of need is moving on forward to help someone else in need...that is just what karma demands.

Thanks for listening...and thanks to all of you who did help me out when I needed it!! Not a day goes by that I do not think of this event.

There is a complete album of van pics in my photo album if you want to see some amazing photos...