Venting Again

Sabrina59 · Post by **Sabrina59** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 3:50 am

We needed to close the show by 8:15 this last week as we had some folks coming over about the property and needed to be here. No big deal, we are only paid to work from 5:00 to 8:00 anyway, but we are usually going until about 9:30. We pretty much stay there as long as there are singers (aren't I sweet

).

As usually happens (thank you Mr. Murphy

) we had about double our regular number of singers, including some new folks, so I sent hubby home and told him I would call later.

Now, when we have a decent rotation I start taking the employees, owner and myself out ... in that order. None of us were singing as much as we usually do, but that's okay. Right at the busiest time of the evening, the owner comes up and wants me to put her in; so I did for one rotation (she was trying to impress a new man

).

About 10:30 were were down to two singers who only had one song each. I sang a song, then stated we were starting the last rotation and it was going to be a short one ... only two singers.

The first singer sings. Right after I got the second one going the owner comes up and says she wants to sing another song. I told her that I was getting ready to shut down. She said she wanted to sing Black Velvet. OK ... fine! (But I was thinking

) THEN ... her new man comes up while she is singing. She told him to tell me she wanted him to sing STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN!!!

WTF!!! I had been there by myself (awwwww) for two hours, wanted to leave ... but he had to sing one of the longest songs in history!!

Keep in mind ... we are only paid for three hours. It was now almost three hours past that. I don't mind staying later for the singers ... but I resent the hell out of the owner and/or her children and/or her lastest f*ck keeping me there late.

I think she took advantage of my sweet nature.

If I get the Thursday show at the bar we go to then she is just going to be SOL. The show will be shut down by 9:15 EVERY week, no exceptions ... and I won't feel bad about it in the least. I'm such a b*tch.

Bigdog · Post by **Bigdog** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 4:25 am

Bar owners don't you just

'em....

They really think since they are paying you they can control you.

I have had owners that sing want special favors to get a date or whatever.

They have come up right after singing and want to sing again with a 2 hour rotation going.

I flat out tell them to look around the room at the "PAYING" (key word here) customers.

They pay me you are just the middle man.

Now if you want to lose this crowd and their income in a big hurry...you can be next and next and next and next.....and I'm out of here.

I don't care what you're doing,

but you're not paying me enough to screw up my reputation.

Now on the flip side...playing 3 hours over for FREE...you need your head examined.

If she didn't offer up and extra money she is a JERK. You aren't very smart if you didn't ask for any extra.

My world works on money. So do all my debts.

She is CLEARLY taking advantage and you are letting her. There is nothing wrong with you asking to be compensated for your time, especially 3 hours worth.

It never fails when I try to be a nice guy

and let someone sing just one more, against my better judgement, they pick the longest song in HISTORY.

Now you are taking advantage of my niceness.

Something else. I have two new nights that are taking longer than normal to get built. I have played over an hour every week for free for several months. It's my doing. But the bar owner never offers any extra. Just take a cut if you quit early.

Now I'm doing this to help him make more money. But it's win win if the night takes off. Plus the $1000 I paid for 2 signs to help them make more money.

I'm hoping I'll be rewarded in heaven

....

Or at least while I'm still here.

Where is the DEVIL emoticon????

Sabrina59 · Post by **Sabrina59** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 2:07 pm

We have some really wonderful regulars and I pretty much do the show for them. I don't mind staying late an hour or so for them. It is at my discretion, of course. She has never asked us to stay late ... we made the mistake of doing that when we first started to help the show along. Like I said, usually we are done by about 9:30. Even though we contracted for a three-hour show, I don't mind making it a bit longer.

What irritated me was that when I had just said I was closing it down she decided she needed to sing another song then her friend had to pick a super long one.

I've made some changes regarding her singing ... if she is busy I just skip her. I used to wait, or move her farther down the rotation, but not any more. If she isn't ready to sing she gets skipped until the next rotation. If she isn't ready to sing then, she gets skipped again.

I really don't care for her, or the fact that her five-year-old is there every week. Just this last week he was riding his "razor" through the deli, was throwing ice at the back door (until I told him to stop because it kept getting on me) and ended up breaking a glass right outside the door.

I am only there for the regulars; I keep telling myself that.

How did you signs end up costing so much?!? I thought they were only $200 each!

Why do we need a devil emoticon. There are no devilish folks on this board! We are all angels.

spotlightjr · Post by **spotlightjr** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 2:29 pm

Sabrina,

I can't help but think your being taken advantage of. I know you care about your singers and it's a very admirable quality but at what cost? It appears you're being manipulated beyond belief. Is your time not a valueable commodity? Every kj takes it upon themselves to extend the show a few minutes here and there for many reasons. But to go 2 and 3 hours past the normal time is unacceptable.
Do your regulars know your being paid for only 3 hours? Seems to me that they should ante up some extra coin to keep the party going. If money isn't a concern then please disregard this post. If it is then you need to talk to the owner about "overtime" pay.
I am still very new to the karaoke business and have had my share of mistakes along the way. Being loyal to the owner and singers that patronize your show are paramount to success in this business but you have to know where to draw the line.
I hope things work out for you!!!

Sabrina59 · Post by **Sabrina59** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 7:19 pm

I appreciate your comments, spotlightjr. I would probably say the same thing to someone else!

To answer your questions ...
Yes, my time is valuable, but I don't have much else going on on a Thursday evening ... so it's no big deal.
The regulars are not aware that we are only paid for three hours.

I am absolutely NOT loyal to the owner. She has frustrated me way too many times. I know the business is still struggling a bit, so I haven't hit her up for overtime pay.

She has plans to expand into the area next door. If she does that there will be a pay increase; she just doesn't know it yet.

This is probably a different show than what most of you have seen. We are in a very small area so we couldn't accomodate a big crowd. Our rotation usually runs about 10 people. The regulars are there every week. Others that we know from the bar come down regularly, but not weekly. It is a small, informal, family-type gathering. It's almost like having a party at home. It really is quite enjoyable for the most part.

Of course ... we may be leaving the state so it will all be moot anyway.

Bigdog · Post by **Bigdog** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 4:32 am

The signs were supposed to ship Friday.

They were $500 + change each. Custom size plus an unlighted sign on the backside plus shipping.