Opening a new karaoke joint in town - need opinions!!

[Becstra]

Ok, so I've decided that within the next 2-5 years (depending on the economy) I am going to open my own karaoke bar!! Since everyone here is in-the-know about the current karaoke joints in the Richmond area, I wanted to ask a few questions and see what people think:

1. Where should it be located? There aren't many karaoke joints in the Midlothian area, but there aren't many downtown on certain nights either...

2. Should there be a non-smoking section?

3. What hours should it run?

4. Should it allow under 21?

Any other suggestions or ideas are greatly appreciated!!

[Patty Tucker]

I do have on bit of advice. Venues should beware of those using laptops for karaoke or else they are in jeopardy of losing their ABC Licensing plus fines. Laptops are great, thought about going to that system myself unitl I did some research. According to the KAPAgency, it is a form of karaoke piracy to use a laptop, unless you have purchased a licensing agreement from each karaoke music label that you are using. I have also been advised that there have been several seizures in the DC area as well as other states. I work for a government agency and if arrested, I would lose my job, that's why I did the research. Please research!

[Nick]

Patty, It basically comes down to owning the Cdg. They are busting the people selling loaded hardrives for pennies a song. here is some reading for you. http://ipjustice.org/karaokefairuse.shtml

[Patty Tucker]

I appreciate the information and will definitely take a look at the site. The information I have is from http://www.karaokeantipiracyagency.com/info-law.html#copyright The article is dated 2006. Believe me, I would like nothing more than to change over to computer karaoke, it would be a lot easier, but with my position in state government I have to be very careful of what I do. Thanks again for the info and I guess Richard and I will be seeing you Saturday night at the Wrangler? Going to try and bring a group!

[Smitty]

Patty, where exactly did you read that a venue is in danger of losing their ABC license if they allow laptop-based karaoke?

Becstra, sorry about the hi-jacked thread.

[Patty Tucker]

Smitty, according to the information provided by the KAPAgency, 'a bar owner who knowingly uses a contractor that is in violation of the laws risks sanctions including the loss of their liquor license. The site is hhttp://www.karaokeantipiracyagency.com/ There is another site that supports this, KIAA, but I do not have their site address. There site was given to me by a internet company that I buy a lot of my CDGs from...Karaokestar.com.

I'm still doing research, including the site provided by Nick. It's very confusing because the information that Nick gave contradicts some of the information on the two sites that I have checked out. The one thing they all agree on is that those that have the harddrives with pre-loaded songs need to have the licensing to back them up and according to one company, Chartbuster, they have not given that licensing.

And as far as the thread goes, this is something that a new karaoke business owner would want to consider along with all the other stuff.

[Becstra]

I definitely appreciate the advice and please always feel free to take these discussions in any way you feel. Even if I didn't find this information useful (which I do), someone else reading it just might find it to be exactly what they're looking for!

[Tater]

Ok, I feel I should touch on a subject that one replier brought up.

Yes, technically it is illegal to transfer ANY karaoke to a digital format. No matter whether you have a one to one disc or not. But with the exception of Sound Choice, all the major karaoke manufacturers have gotten together and decided, that as long as you have a one for one, there would be no action. As for Sound Choice, they really have nothing to say in the matter since they sold all digital rights to their music last year.

Now understand that karaoke laws are very grey and have not yet been completely etched in stone. As for the KAPA, they really have nothing to say about karaoke, as this does not fall under their jurisdiction directly. As long as the music was purchased legally, and the club you are playing at pays their fees, there is nothing they can do if you play digital karaoke, or even digital music for that fact.

I personally have had sit down face to face meetings with 3 of the major karaoke label owners/presidents, they all agree as long as you have purchased your karaoke in a legal disc form, they do not care if you go digital. As a matter of fact, one of them is in the beta stages of testing a live streaming karaoke library for KJ's. A lot of us KJ's are against this and have voiced our opinion as it will only allow people with a small investment to get into the business, and driving the rates we can charge down even further than all the pirated karaoke out there.

Now to answer Becstra's question. There should be a section for both smoking and non smoking. Midlothian would be a good location for another karaoke show. Karaoke should always start around 9:00 pm and run to 1:30 am. If you want an under 21 venue, then it should be run on seperate days from the 21 and up crowd.