Unhappy

[Robster 0]

well i have been doing a venue on a friday and last night was the busiest it has ever been solid karaoke no music from 9pm till 1 am and unusually for me i hated every second of it.

 

It was a real chore , the night dragged and i cant stand some of the singers , one cant read or write and grunts in a low husky voice , his niece complained a track was Fast when it was the same track she always sings but was bladdered , i have a old woman who warbles and squeals war time songs and wants to hold on to the mic and do a few in a row and complains that she has to wait her turn like everyone else. I have serious karaoke fans who sing obscure tracks and kill the atmosphere with song choices. i had a aggressive guy who had an accident a few years back apparently and its not his fault hes just that way now.

 

now this pub the managers love me , they think i am the bees knees as i have promoted the venue , and its got busier , when it was quiet i pulled out all the stops on performance , i have used every trick i know to get people coming in.Last night it was the busiest it has been and all i kept thinking is i dont want to be here. In all my time i have never felt that way. i just dont get along with any of the locals , they are rough and rude and not on my wavelength.

 

so i am at a point where business comes in.. is the low amount i get for this gig worth my sanity? I generally leave my house at 7:00pm i pick up a couple of singers i set up and am ready to go at 8:15 i finish generally at 1:00 am ish i pack up and take the singers home then go home myself then un pack the car i was in my house for 2:30 last night £100 fee ...hardly seems worth it after the tax etc is taken off and me hating every second.

 

I know i can get function work but i do have a sense of loyalty to venues , that's where i started my dj career and i am not a quitter but i feel like quitting this gig.

 

sorry for this rambling but as this is a private area and not publicly viewable i posted it here

 

so my question is would you put up with week in week out doing a gig you hate just for the regular money?

 

I will feel terrible if i tell the manager i am giving up the night , i will feel i am letting them down

 

 

[danger mouse 0]

maybe tell them you can do it every other week due to day time work commitments , least youll have a bit of time off in between.

[DJTREV 0]

Karaoke is good when it's good but this scenario is the killer for me.Unfortunately everything that is offputting about Karaoke is in that one night.

Robster,take the bull by the horns and get out.Your sanity and ability to enjoy what you do is far more important.

If they think that karaoke is what brings them in then I am sure they will make every effort to find another.

You dont seem the sort of guy that will sit on his backside and wait for the work to come in to replace that gig.

I used to do a fairly regular disco in a social club that had a seperate bar and function room.I had an arrangement with them over a period of months(I owed them a favour)but in reality they couldn't have cared less about the music.The families came in,left the kids to go wild in my room while they stayed in the bar.It nearly destroyed me.I hated every minute and was glad when I could say no to renewing my commitment to them.

Whatever money you were getting paid,it cant make up for being unhappy in what you are doing.

Get out while you have your sanity.

 

[Resident-DJ 0]

well i have been doing a venue on a friday and last night was the busiest it has ever been solid karaoke no music from 9pm till 1 am and unusually for me i hated every second of it.

 

It was a real chore , the night dragged and i cant stand some of the singers , one cant read or write and grunts in a low husky voice , his niece complained a track was Fast when it was the same track she always sings but was bladdered , i have a old woman who warbles and squeals war time songs and wants to hold on to the mic and do a few in a row and complains that she has to wait her turn like everyone else. I have serious karaoke fans who sing obscure tracks and kill the atmosphere with song choices. i had a aggressive guy who had an accident a few years back apparently and its not his fault hes just that way now.

 

now this pub the managers love me , they think i am the bees knees as i have promoted the venue , and its got busier , when it was quiet i pulled out all the stops on performance , i have used every trick i know to get people coming in.Last night it was the busiest it has been and all i kept thinking is i dont want to be here. In all my time i have never felt that way. i just dont get along with any of the locals , they are rough and rude and not on my wavelength.

 

so i am at a point where business comes in.. is the low amount i get for this gig worth my sanity? I generally leave my house at 7:00pm i pick up a couple of singers i set up and am ready to go at 8:15 i finish generally at 1:00 am ish i pack up and take the singers home then go home myself then un pack the car i was in my house for 2:30 last night £100 fee ...hardly seems worth it after the tax etc is taken off and me hating every second.

 

I know i can get function work but i do have a sense of loyalty to venues , that's where i started my dj career and i am not a quitter but i feel like quitting this gig.

 

sorry for this rambling but as this is a private area and not publicly viewable i posted it here

 

so my question is would you put up with week in week out doing a gig you hate just for the regular money?

 

I will feel terrible if i tell the manager i am giving up the night , i will feel i am letting them down

 

 

Hi Robstar

 

Firstly, let me say that I am sorry to hear that the enjoyment has gone out of your weekly karaoke gig. If you've been doing it for some time now then maybe it is time to move on, or your other option is to find somebody else to cover it for you for a few weeks then see how you feel and if you still feel the same then obviously it is time to pack that particular gig in. I always think that whatever job you do the money should not be the only reason that you carry on doing it. Who knows, if you were to decide to move on then you may find other DJ work elsewhere (not necessarily on a regular weekly basis) that you can do instead.

You asked for our opinions so here's my tuppence worth - I would pack it in tomorrow if I felt the way about the gig that you seem to. It's not worth it - have you worked out your rate per hour after tax? Not much more than you'd earn doing admin in an office I'll bet!

Saying all that, think about it over the weekend before making a final decision. Or, as I suggested earlier, find someone else to cover that gig for you for a few weeks and then see how you feel. Oh, and by the way, I would not feel too bad about letting the pub manager down - we all grow out of stuff eventually don't we?

Hope some of this helps

Vic

[vokf 0]

Hey Rob!

If there is measurable increase in custom (and takings) in the bar, then it's time to discuss some kind of increase.

If the management are pleased with what you've done, AND they were happy to pay your rate when things were quiet, then there is good justification to request an increase (say £30?)

..or perhaps a percentage of the takings? (so a busy night would net £130, and a quiet night £100)

 

 

It sounds like you're busy anyway.

 

Can you get someone else in there? ie, consider becoming a small agent?

 

Obviously, you're passionate about what you do, and how you work - but if finding someone else to do this night (perhaps doing a few gigs with them, to get them into your way of working), should alleviate this problem.

You will still need to cover (when the other DJ is sick/holidays etc), and keep tabs on their performance with the management.

 

You would need to take a percentage, and obviously get some contracts in place (you don't want any new DJ's kicking you to the side), but perhaps this could be a good excuse to grow your business?

 

 

Otherwise, try and get in the pub for a beer (on a night you're not working) and get to know some of the people. Knowing a few friendly faces will help, and could also make things easier on you.

 

Good luck! I've been in Jobs that I absolutely hated, and moved on after a few months. Its not good for the soul to be so unhappy, so you need to do something, and why not use this to your advantage?

 

Jas

[Robster 0]

Thanks for the support Guys!

 

over the time i have been there , there has been an occasion where i have used a cover call him DJ B , and i took the venue over from a DJ call him DJ A , DJ A had tried but never got it busy and had been plugging away for a few months he then got offered multiple nights at another venue so asked if i would cover one Sat night . I did and they wanted me regular but i had a residency on that night i said i had Fridays free so they said yes we will have you Friday instead . they have no other entertainment on any other night.

 

one night i needed a night off so i got DJ B to cover the following week ..never send him again he was crap was the comment..this guy teaches Djing to kids , has a successful 90's night theme and spent 3 years in pubs and clubs in spain. he is a good Dj and now has residencies in our home town and is in demand

 

My daughter got taken into hospital suddenly so i couldnt make another friday so i called in good time and said i could get DJ A who originally did the gig or DJ B they said if we cant get you we wont bother! they were really nice about it and accommodating but they wanted me or no one . both of those DJ's are good and well worth the fee

 

I am a really sociable guy and i come from a rough area myself but a large section of the locals are in a whole different league ..last night one drugged up 50 year old did a "The who" with my inflatable guitars after a song ..no one was laughing , no one was in the spirit of it and it was after he sang love on the rocks..this pub makes shameless look like high school musical.

 

The brewery pay me not the pub and they had to be coerced to cough up for one night , this is being run by managers and they are looking for tenants but no one wants the pub

 

I have to say i love my other gigs i love the Karaoke still but i just am not comfortable at this friday one.

 

I can easily get other better paid work , i think i will give this gig up i just feel bad quitting.

 

Thanks again for the support

[deejaymitch 0]

I suppose this throws up a few points for consideration.

 

Residency v Private Party - You can always earn more at private functions, but the residency is a guaranteed booking every week. Private bookings could dry up very quickly, without warning.

 

Frustration - Is this something that will pass, or is it permanent? Is there anything you can do to try and make this venue more bearable?

 

Loyalty - This is one where I have a huge problem. I have a ridiculous sense of loyalty to a particular venue even though they continually let me down, and on one occasion sacked me without cause. Yet I am still loyal to them. The fact is that this venue is only loyal to you because it suits them to be. Given the cyclical popularity of karaoke, if the time comes where it's not in their interestes to keep you on, do you think they will show you any loyalty?

 

But if you do decide to leave, go to them and ask for more money. Significantly more. If they refuse, as you expect, that can be your reason for leaving, and it can be done with no hard feelings, leaving the way open for you to work together in the future.

 

Whatever you decide, good luck!!!

[MintyDave 0]

Thats a truely awful situation to be in as like many of our fellow forum members you are a very caring dedicated DJ who actually puts the job before the money. However our personal safety and happiness has to be considered. I gave up a regular karaoke slot in a pub for slightly different reasons and felt bad about it as it was them who got me going with a fortnightly gig but i wanted to move on and couldnt face doing it anymore.

 

The problem is that, dont know if its the same for you, but fridays count for a small percentage of my work. Its increasing as i get busier but a i cant guarantee a decent gig more than once every two/three months. I end up doing a few cheap gigs that are usually school discos/pub karaoke or something simular.

 

realistically you are far too cheap and need to increase your rates for them. I bet they have put food and beer up in price and cant really expect to get a quality service like yours for the same ammount. Sure they will find a cheap alternative but sometimes they need a kick up the ringer to see how important you are.

 

 

 

A very hard decision and i dont envy you and good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

 

[Teez 0]

Hi Rob

 

Know how you feel. I am not a karaoke fan at all. You just end up being a button pusher with no control over the way the evening goes. Doing a disco you at least get to use your art.

 

I'd pick dance v karaoke anytime.

 

Give it another week or two and then make your mind up.

 

Good luck

 

:joe:

[UKHero 0]

Hi Rob

 

Cheer up mate, I have just ended a gig like that very rough pub but was only till 11pm and £100 which I thought was cheap so £100 till 1am I would not have done.

 

As to the loyalty thing be loyal to yourself and your family everything else is business.

 

Hope you cheer up soon mate

 

Nik

[Dukesy 0]

I think your heart/gut has made your mind up.

[monkeebiz 0]

I think your heart/gut has made your mind up.

 

I'd go with that. As with most things, if you don't enjoy it, don't do it.

[DJMickeyk 0]

so i am at a point where business comes in.. is the low amount i get for this gig worth my sanity? I generally leave my house at 7:00pm i pick up a couple of singers i set up and am ready to go at 8:15 i finish generally at 1:00 am ish i pack up and take the singers home then go home myself then un pack the car i was in my house for 2:30 last night £100 fee ...hardly seems worth it after the tax etc is taken off and me hating every second.

You appear to have your mind made up, we all have had gigs like this I am sure, if I was you I would just let this one go. You said you are confident that you can get similar or better paid work and i would try to do this if I were you, the pub sounds awful and I had a residency sort of like that before, punters used to be completly bladdered drunk and I feared for mine and my equipments safety. I agreed with the manager that a bouncer be posted near the dj booth but he was constantly getting called away to deal with incidents so enough was enough.

 

On the money side of things, by Irish rates you are way way too cheap, I can't comment on UK rates obviously, but a KJ with your experience wouldn't be working for that over here I can tell you. I suppose everybody has their business model, perhaps you base yours on output, but it is very easy to be a busy fool in this game, I'd certainly be looking for more money in that situation if you keep the gig on. Deejaymitch was spot on about loyalty, would they show the same to you if karaoke suddenly dropped off in popularity? Do what is best for you, there are plenty of KJ's who could take the gig on I'm sure, if they only want you then why are they paying you such a small fee?

[Robster 0]

I think your heart/gut has made your mind up.

 

 

my heart yes but its my fat gut that needs feeding! ..so needs the money ..as it is now a few days after and another gig since i don't feel as bad , i am not a quitter , i am made of stronger stuff, regular money at low rates is never an easy option as some may think, it is a lot of work for low returns and obviously a lot of stress. but that's no ones fault but my own its my business model. i

 

I seem to have gone past the stress and now the gig doesn't seem so ominous. I will give it a few more cracks and if it doesn't pan out i know at least i will have tried my best.

 

Thanks again for the support , it's appreciated

[blackmagic 0]

Robster mate,

I have a fortnightly gig on a caravan park. Almost a Butlins kind of affair - I get £120 and start at about 9:30/10:00. They gave me a shot when others wouldn't. I play to about 1:00am and some nights want to keep going regardless of the cash. I have a caravan onsite and it's my holiday place so I know a lot of the locals and have done for many years, but sometimes, when I'm sitting having a beer on a Saturday with friends the last thing I want to do is DJ that night to them. And as it's a caravan park, you get the campers who come from the roughest parts of the country. It's so hard to keep going some nights, but like you and many others I'm loyal to my venue.

 

When I've been clock watching or had a really bad night I just come away and think of the next time, being different and better, and if it isn't I owe it to myself to make it better. Lets face it, that's why we buy new toys isn't it?

 

Good luck mate - Deejay mitch is right though, the venue wouldn't have a problem telling you not to come back if the tables where the other way round.

[Tommo55 0]

Hi Rob

 

I know exactly what you mean have played gigs when everyone has just been talking and you can't but help think to yourself 'why am I bothering no ones listening!'

 

As a vocalist I have also had the gigs that I am due to sing only and the odd guest believes that it is alright for them to grab my 500 quid shure mic and murder Mack the Knife or anything at all and I'll be happy for them to do it! That has caused a few tense moments when I have turned off the music explaining that I am a professional vocalist and not karajoky (no offence!)

 

But being 6'5" tall it usually helps calm things down when they see I'm not messing about! :lil devil:

 

But then I get the cash at the end of the night and remember that I'm the one leaving with the cash and the free kebab on the way home!

 

I recall a friend of mine who was playing a hotel recently and was due to end at 1am so he duely wrapped up the music and started to pack away, but the guests wanted more and he had to polietly refuse explaining that the venue only had a licence ill 1am and he simply could not play anymore.

 

Well one guest took great exception to this and subsequently began to pour the contents of his pint glass all over my friends gear, laptop mixer and all almost causing a fire and personal injury, not to mention about 3,000 pounds worth of damage that took weeks to sort out with the associated lose of revenue etc!

 

So everytime I get a bad gig I remember his night and think it could be worse and ensure I do my best to make the next one better!

 

So good luck with everything and keep posting as I find your comments both helpful and amusing!

 

 

 

[milhouse 0]

Hi Rob

 

I know exactly what you mean have played gigs when everyone has just been talking and you can't but help think to yourself 'why am I bothering no ones listening!'

 

As a vocalist I have also had the gigs that I am due to sing only and the odd guest believes that it is alright for them to grab my 500 quid shure mic and murder Mack the Knife or anything at all and I'll be happy for them to do it! That has caused a few tense moments when I have turned off the music explaining that I am a professional vocalist and not karajoky (no offence!)

 

But being 6'5" tall it usually helps calm things down when they see I'm not messing about! :lil devil:

 

But then I get the cash at the end of the night and remember that I'm the one leaving with the cash and the free kebab on the way home!

 

I recall a friend of mine who was playing a hotel recently and was due to end at 1am so he duely wrapped up the music and started to pack away, but the guests wanted more and he had to polietly refuse explaining that the venue only had a licence ill 1am and he simply could not play anymore.

 

Well one guest took great exception to this and subsequently began to pour the contents of his pint glass all over my friends gear, laptop mixer and all almost causing a fire and personal injury, not to mention about 3,000 pounds worth of damage that took weeks to sort out with the associated lose of revenue etc!

 

So everytime I get a bad gig I remember his night and think it could be worse and ensure I do my best to make the next one better!

 

So good luck with everything and keep posting as I find your comments both helpful and amusing!

 

Ah yes drunken idiots! Gone are the days of people going out, having a few drinks and enjoying themselves. People go out to get as sh... faced as possible, causing them to do things like this. I had a woman literally screaming in my face on Sunday saying my music was (rude word).

 

I politely lauged at her and told her she needed to leave the venue. She was only out to cause problems, couldn't handle her vodka and clearly was having a great time.