I started my karaoke business as a "second" job.
Because of real job stability concerns and as a back up source of income.
Because I knew it was something I could do and be very good at doing. Plus I knew I had the talent to pull it off.
My #1 goal was to be the best KJ in the entire metro area. (I envisioned that to include the entire western half of my state.)
(not my half of the block) What was my plan to do this?
First I knew exactly what I wanted to do as far as compared to what I had seen other KJs doing. I knew I could sound better and be more PROFESSIONAL.
Second I BORROWED $20,000
(As in bank loan with real monthly payments.) so I could do just that. This is where my committment level was to achieve that "Best KJ" goal. It took me 3 months to get my first job after I had my system put together.
My #2 goal was to EQUAL my full time income.
(Not hobby money. Serious income money)
Within 1 year I screwed that up by surpassing my full time income. I have continued to surpass my full time income to this day. There was a time when I did this by 3 TIMES my full time income. The thought crossed my mind many times to quit my full time job. But I needed to wait to build up my seniority. For pension reasons.
It remained a second job for eleven years. I always worked 5 nights a week KJing.
While working full time.
Let's talk about setting goals and my/your committment level.
Without specific goals being laid out by me/you, we have no road map to get ANYWHERE.
This is the part I really HATE...
Every (almost every) person that wants to start being a KJ wants to do it as CHEAPLY as possible. WHY?
Lack of committment level and lack of a set goal and lack of confidence in your ability to do it and make money.
I absolutely knew I was going to pay back the $20,000 loan. I didn't have much choice after I spent all the money. The only way to pay back the loan was to (A) work a ton of overtime at my real job or (B) do it KJing.
Get committed or get lost.
I have seen many local "Cheap KJs" that are not working anymore. Big plans and no goals. They wasted their money and time swimming with one arm tied behind their back. Until they went under.
Don't cry and whine about me being good. There is a reason I'm at the top of the mountain.
DO YOU HAVE E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G IT TAKES TO CLIMB TO THE TOP?
There is no "CHEAP," "EASY" way.
I didn't get here being CHEAP. It wasn't EASY, either.
Anyone that says so is lying. Or STUPID.
The better you are, the more money you make. The better your chances of long term survival. I have ALWAYS looked at my business and treated my business like it was a major corporation. That includes my advertising, my PA system quality, my expensive microphones, my entire presentation, my office equipment, my art work, my level of professionalism. Not how cheap I can be. This in my reputation. The last thing I'll ever be accused of is being cheap. If I can't do it right the first time, I'm not doing it at all.
I don't think I'm being arrogant. I'm being honest. That includes being proud of what I have done. I also have a committment to promote QUALITY karaoke. Karaoke is not a joke form of entertainment to me. Is a band? Are DJs? Neither are KJs. I "CONTROL" a top quality, professional karaoke show.
I think I'm very qualified to talk about what it takes to run a "PROFESSIONAL" karaoke business. At every level. I don't beat around the bush. No time for that. Karaoke is very serious to me. Cheap isn't serious. Sabrina and others have found out you have to upgrade at some point. It's how you keep customers and jobs. That equals money in your pocket. Anyone can be cheap. How many can be good?
What/where do you want to be?
How are you going to get there?
I look at it this way. Tiger Woods is a golfer. You can watch him all day and never be him. People that golf once in a while are hackers. Everything he does is golf. Everything I do is karaoke.
