It's on again and I start this saturday. I hope you can follow the mitigating factors involved.
The saturday night has had many different KJs (at least 3) in the 2 1/2 years since they remodeled the bar and started staying open past 11PM. This started in connection with the friday night karaoke that I do. The friday is their biggest money night. They have tried stuff on thursday, fridays and saturdays. They have not done anything with bands. So it's DJs and KJs.
Nothing has worked on thursday and saturday.
The manager called me today to ask me what was said with the general manager when we talked last friday night. (the GM is out of town and the manager in charge can't reach him.) So I told him that we discussed the other KJ and we talked about my willingness to offer them a price break for at least 4 weeks. About the time to build a new crowd ....Etc.
Now in the managers words...He wanted to know if I was willing to give them a price break to get the night started as a sign of "good faith," before he offered me the saturday job steady. He LOVED the fact that I was willing and agreeable to do this. Now the BIG reason for his need to confirm this.
The current saturday KJ also does weddings and he informed them that when wedding season started he would have a replacement, using his equipment fill in for him. He must have more than one system.
This is one factor that they were not happy with. The past replacements have been less than stellar.
The kicker happened this past saturday night. The KJ was at a wedding and he had his girlfriend fill in. There were technical problems with the system. There was a loud static noise and she couldn't get the sound working right for most of the night.
The KJ showed up after the wedding at 12:30. I don't know if he fixed the problem or not. But the major part of the night the system was screwed up. I guess many people left because of it. So the crap system cost the bar money.
At the end of the night I think the shift manager wanted a price break because of the lose of income directly related to the KJs system trouble.
He DEMANDED
they pay him full money. That was the straw that broke the KJs back. It cost him his job in a big hurry. He was on shaky ground to begin with.The manager talking to me thought the KJ should have taken a pay cut as a sign of "good faith." I totally agree with the manager. I would have reduced my price without hesitation.
My thoughts...the KJ made at least $500 at the wedding. He was making $200 at karaoke. If he would have reduced his price a token amount, say $25 the manager would have been some what happy. His DEMAND for full pay was, STUPID, IGNORANT, GREEDY and totally unprofessional. They were paying him $400 a week for thursday and saturday. $25 would not have kiiled him. (it did
)More facts....the singers, and bartenders and shift managers have been complaining to upper management about this KJ for the last 6 months. They all HATE him.
One bartender said he has a tiny book and yacks between every song like a radio DJ. And she said he's CREEPY.
I have had over the years with 3 systems and many employees...a few nights that there were technical difficulties that caused a short music stoppage until the problem was fixed. I have always offered a rate reduction in these instances. There was never a debate about it. I have not lived up to my expected contracted service. It's my fault and I take the hit. It never made me happy but that's customer service and you try to make them happy if you still want their business. EVERY bar owner thanked me and appreciated my "good faith" gesture. They were smiling.
Nobody likes or wants to feel like they have been screwed out of money.
That KJ should have been a man about it and offered money back to the bar as a sign of "good faith." His stupid girlfriend and crap system and his lack of attendance blew the night. It's his responsiblity. There was a contract between him and the bar to provide karaoke. Not static and lost customers. He breeched their contract.
I never like to come home with less money than my normal fee. Sunday night I played 1:10 over without any extra pay. I have been playing over for free at this bar for several months. First off..it's fun. Second...it's "good faith." But I now have two nights at this bar and I need to get the second night built up some more. It's getting there slowly. This bar is in a nice brand new mall and has only been open 1 1/2 years. His survival is in my best interest. Not my responsibility, but it's putting good steady money in my pocket. 5 minutes from home.
I have never played over that long without expecting more money. The current economic conditions are part of my change in attitude. But he has a vision of making his bar "the" place for premium karaoke in the area. He loves karaoke. He doesn't sing. He enjoys hearing the talented singers. There really isn't a whole lot to argue about. We have a good working relationship and we are both happy with each other. He came to me about doing his bar.
I didn't work there on the last 2 scheduled nights because of the Stanley Cup and I will be off again on Tuesday (mutual agreement.) I'm not happy about losing all the money but...it will come back to me in "good faith."
These are the things professionals do. Not always fun, but neccessary for continued business.
I can't send "good faith" to pay my electric bill. But "good faith" can keep the electric on with long term pay back.
Hey!!!...I'll have the same excuses...... 
