Starting Karaoke Business [HELP]

I recommend running and never stop. At some point, you will realizes your hobby is listening to drunken idtiots sing!

I own my own mobile music service so maybe I can help you get started. Equipment aside, let's start with the basics:

First off, start small. Too many people buy the farm and then realize that running a business is not for them and have to sell a lot of equipment at a loss. Secondly, get a city and county business license. Believe it or not, other operators will rat you out if you're flying below the radar. Third, get help setting up your business. I have a tax guy who has been doing my books for 25 years and has done everything in his power to make sure I make and save money. Fourth, work out a "shitck" for your business. Karaoke is more than just asking for someone to sing and then handing them a mike. If you can't develop some sort of showmanship, then keep at a hobby-level.

Mid-sized markets and larger will have something called the ADJA - the American Disc Jockey Association. There website is http://adja.org/ for a look see. You may also have a store in your town or nearby that sells DJ-related equipment. I suggest you look and see if you have one. Most will have a demo room.

If you need a contact, PM me and I'll see if I can set you in the right direction equipment-wise. Knowing where you live will help, too.

My family room is 18' x 20' x 12' ceiling. I assume your karaoke rooms will be similar in size or smaller?

I would use the Pioneer tower speakers & subwoofers. Gotta have subs to improve the sound.

http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SP-FS52-LR-Designed-standing-Loudspeakers/dp/B008NCD2S4/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1356626336&sr=1-1&keywords=Pioneer+speakers

http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-SW-8MK2-Designed-100-Watt-Subwoofer/dp/B008NCD2PC/ref=sr_1_3?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1356625342&sr=1-3&keywords=Pioneer+subwoofers


If you can afford more expensive speakers, I would go for Klipsch towers like the RF-82 or bigger.

http://www.amazon.com/Klipsch-Reference-Series-Floorstanding-Loudspeaker/dp/B0041GEZDM/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1356625085&sr=8-16&keywords=klipsch+speakers

http://www.amazon.com/BIC-America-F12-475-Watt-Subwoofer/dp/B0015A8Y5M/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1356626875&sr=1-1&keywords=Bic+subwoofer

The most important thing IMO is the stereo mixers. I use the Yamaha mixer like the MG82CX. I love the Dynamic Compression feature on the Yamaha mixers which limits the sound peaks and thus distortion (those annoying crackling distorted noise when people scream into mics). It also raises the low volume whispers up so you can hear every word.

http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-MG82CX-Stereo-Digital-Effects/dp/B000Z7567A/ref=pd_cp_MI_1

And I would just get Receivers to power the speakers. If the rooms are NOT giant, you won't need external amps.
http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-RX-V371BL-5-1-Channel-Receiver/dp/B004QQXDVC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1356626150&sr=8-1&keywords=yamaha+receiver


For mics, I use these Behringer.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NJ2TIE/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00

Also cords for the mics.
http://www.amazon.com/CBI-MLC20-Microphone-Cable-Foot/dp/B000VJJQUU/ref=pd_bxgy_MI_text_y

IMO, the important things are #1 Yamaha Mixers & #2 subwoofers!

I use a laptop for the karaoke songs. Connect my laptop's video (HDMI) directly to the TV, then connect the laptop's earphone output to the Yamaha Mixer, which connects to my AVR, which powers my speakers, and the subs have their own power.

I've been to many karaoke bars/rooms/restaurants, and none of them sound better than my system. None.
Edited by AcuDefTechGuy - 12/27/12 at 8:48am

I'd go for BMB if I were you.

For an integrated amp/ videoke songs/mic input, check out:

kumyoung - http://www.tradekorea.com/e-catalogue/ky2550/



platinum - http://platinumkaraoke.ph/

These are what videoke places use (here in the Philippines).


Get a pair of BMB speakers then add either a kumyoung or platinum and add a flat screen TV. Do this per room.

(check them out though if they are available in the US)

I'd probably look at some powered sound reinforcement-type speakers. Yamaha is a good, reasonably priced brand but there are many brands to choose from.

Well its easy for me to use (but i kinda love singing karaoke so Im a bit familiar with the controls LOL)

I think this is the most convenient device for karaoke here in the Philippines.

Also, its price is also reasonable (i think) going for around $350 for the integrated unit (amp with mic input and with songs)



check out some of our karaoke places here: (note some are just bars - dont mind them)

http://www.spot.ph/print_article.php?id=46458&post_name=kanto


Centerstage karaoke - http://centerstage.com.ph/

Redbox karaoke = http://www.google.com.ph/search?hl=en&sugexp=les%3B&gs_rn=1&gs_ri=serp&pq=karaoke+makati&cp=8&gs_id=w&xhr=t&q=redbox+makati&cr=countryPH&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bpcl=40096503&biw=1429&bih=813&wrapid=tljp1356716593981014&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=a9rdUKSrEYaziQeo4YC4Cw

The reason I said the Yamaha Mixer with Dynamic Compression was the most important is because it limits the volume output and reduces the risk of blowing speakers.

I've never heard the BMB speakers. They may sound good enough for karaoke.

I've compared some Yamaha pro cab speakers that cost $1500/pr to my Infinity P362 towers. I thought the Yamaha sounded like crap compared to the Infinity P362s. Without the mixer, the Yamaha also had the crackling and distortion noise when people scream in mic.

If you want durable with decent sound, consider the JBL pro speakers.

http://www.amazon.com/JBL-Control-8-inch-system-Speaker/dp/B000U29P3G/ref=sr_1_2?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1356717958&sr=1-2&keywords=jbl+pro+speakers

http://www.amazon.com/JBL-JRX112M-12-Inch-Portable-Loudspeaker/dp/B0002GJTOK/ref=sr_1_10?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1356718277&sr=1-10&keywords=jbl+pro+speakers

http://www.amazon.com/JBL-Lightweight-Powerful-Two-Way-Passive/dp/B001LU0UPS/ref=sr_1_7?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1356718277&sr=1-7&keywords=jbl+pro+speakers

http://www.amazon.com/JBL-Lightweight-Powered-Speaker-mixer/dp/B004MEB4AK/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1356716806&sr=8-14&keywords=jbl+pro+speakers
Edited by AcuDefTechGuy - 12/28/12 at 10:14am

BMB is really made for karaoke. I'm not sure about the Yamaha though as home audio speaker / home theater speaker is NOT advisable for karaoke use. This goes for Home theater amps as well. They will not last long.

BMB speakers = http://www.bmbkaraoke.com.my/products.asp

Maybe I'm missing the point, but I did specifically say sound reinforcement type of Yamaha speakers as in the examples here http://usa.yamaha.com/products/live_sound/speakers/active_speakers/, not home audio Yamaha speakers.

I use home audio speakers for karaoke all the time, and they sound much better than any "karaoke" speakers I've ever heard at commercial karaoke places.

My room is 18' x 20' x 12' ceiling and I play pretty loud.

The key is the Yamaha mixer which has the Dynamic Range Compression to limit the Max & Min volume. Even if people scream into the mic, the DRC will cut off that peak.

The Yamaha speakers I bought (and returned) were the C215V:
http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-Pro-Audio-C215V/dp/B0014E6NBG/ref=sr_1_19?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1356718971&sr=1-19&keywords=yamaha+pro+speakers

They sounded like crap to me compared to my cheap $150 Infinity P362 for karaoke with the Yamaha mixer.

JBL pro (active & passive) costs more than Yamaha, but they are worth it for better sound quality IMO.

They cost more for sure.

However, since I don't believe this is a cost-is-no object endeavour a reasonable option was provided.

A number of people around here use the JBL EONs they sound like crap to me. Dollar for dollar I'd try the Yamaha first.

Also, I'm quite familiar with the S215s having owned a pair and I'd take those any day over the comparable market segment JBLs.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not anti-JBL, it's just you have to make an apples to apples comparison. The S215 etc. isn't intended to compete with JBL's TOTL stuff. and if you want to go there then there's arguably better sounding stuff than JBL.
Edited by whoaru99 - 12/28/12 at 10:54am

Using JBL MRX 525s for my mobile music service. I can't begin to tell you how they sound at an event, no matter what it is.

The system I use for "entertainment", mostly in my garage, is a pair of JBL SR4719A over a pair of SR4719X subs. Sort old school but the prices were right and do pretty well with about 9kW behind them. Not something you want to lug around too much though at about 650 lbs in speaker boxes alone.

Yup, I would stick with JBL over Yamaha speakers any day.

Basically the whole Harman company - from the JBL $70K Everest to the $22K Salon2 to the JBL pro speakers to the Infinity P363, etc - Harman just makes accurate speakers that sound better than most in the pro audio world, IMO.

Meh.... I bought'em because they were cheap and relatively local (not a frequent thing 'round these parts) and gave me something to tinker with. If the plan had been to spend any real money it wouldn't have been that stuff and likely not JBL, equally likely not Yamaha either.

Still though, Yamaha is good bang for the buck stuff that'll typically better most anything else in the same price range.
Edited by whoaru99 - 12/28/12 at 2:32pm