Hey it costs money to run this site, buy new PCs when they break, pay off credit card debts and so on. You should really throw a few bucks my way.
The nefarious nature of the karaoke singer, or no tips for fair rotation
So for the last year or so I stopped taking bribes. Mostly because when you start taking them you get douchebags that think they own you, and nobody owns the toqmeister, no one.
The opposite end of this coin though were the singers that say they couldn't compete with the bribing system financially. So for my sake, and their sake, I stopped taking bribes.
What I've found in the last year however paints a very ugly picture of karaoke singers. You won't part with a dollar for a fair rotation, but in light of screwing your fellow singer over for a spot, you're more than happy to part with a buck, or two, or twenty, or $400. It's not just a reflection of the karaoke singers, but the karaoke industry as a whole.
I walk out night after night with anywhere between $4-10 now. Contrast this to my bribe days when I could count on a minumum of $100 going into my tipjar. I hate to say what the fuck, but seriously folks, what the fuck?
When I say a contrast to the karaoke industry as a whole, it seems like the pirating, cheating business's are the only ones making any real money right now. They're getting rewarded, where folks like myself who don't pirate just get the shaft.
I'm getting sick of it. It's like that IBM commercial where commander Sisko from deep space nine asks, "Where are my flying cars" and "I've had an epiphany"
I've had an epiphany.
It bugs me that folks can blow $60 on a bar tab, another 4-5 bucks in karaoke songs, but when it comes to leaving a dollar in my tipjar it's like pulling teeth.
I will point out a few folks that are great about leaving a buck or two in my tipjar. Vic, I love you. Same goes for Carlos and crew when they come in. Josef G much <3. Tal too. MattD my dago brother from another mother. CeeJay and Nick, you two always drop a little something in there for me too. Funny how there's just one girl on this list (again, why do girls feel like they don't have to drop a buck?) Joe and Gary. Hell, even Bob who just works as a waiter always drops a fiver in my jar.
If I forgot any regular tippers, I'm sorry. I've realized that most (not all) karaoke singers have this really ugly side to them, and the plethoria of emotions that well inside me because of it is making me blind at the moment.
I'm going to the fucking boat.
KARAOKE IS HARDCORE!!!
--toq
»
- toqer's blog
- Login or register to post comments
TIPPING
Hey Sunshine,
Don't forget about me. I was your BIGGEST TIPPER ALL TIME (if that one genius who dropped $400 on you that one night wasn't a drunk one hit wonder, I'm sure it would have been him).
I never treated you like I owned you, only that I could personally coordinate the rotation for me to sing after all the first timers, every time.... :p
AND, I have no shame adding, that although I have only been there twice? in the last four months, I have STILL LEFT YOU AT $30 on those two excursions, for absurd crap like, "can you swap my songs?".
I respect what you do, and as my only vice on the planet (besides really good sushi) I have no problem paying for it. Last year my two biggest expenses were karaoke at 7b (over $7k in alcohol and tips) and then donations to the United Way and United Nations (A LOT more $$$ than Karaoke for Malaria nets and shit, God knows). When I get back out there, I will continue to recognize your craft, and your efforts. It's not personal. It's business. HAHA
I haven't been on this site in 2 months, and I felt so compelled to respond because I LOVE YOU AND THESE THREADS.. LMAO
In Loving Memory,
El Toro Loco