09/12/2025
We ran Kick Ass Karaoke for five years at Donkey Tails Cantina with great success. I found today that the new owners have brought someone else in. That’s their choice, and their right I have no ill will toward them, but for me it’s one more nail in the coffin.
After today, Kick Ass Karaoke will no longer do weekly bar shows, except at The La Sabre Club in American Fork and my monthly shows at Bar86 in Richfield two places that respect and value their talent and teams.
I’ve spent ten years building something better than bargain-bin karaoke that pirates music, runs Karafun, and works for fifty bucks and a beer. If bars in Utah don’t want professional, high-quality entertainment, that’s on them. I won’t beg to be paid pennies for a premium service.
I am so, so tired.
In the time I’ve ran my karaoke company I’ve been sued, solen from, lied to, slandered, and disrespected. I’ve had drunk bar owners call me at three in the morning to scream and yell at me, and others steal shows I built like Cosplay Karaoke and Burlyoke. I’ve seen clients cut me to “save money” only to watch their knock off shows tank.
I’ve had people call me demanding to know where a show is or insisting I change my schedule to fit their convenience. I’ve driven hours to perform for people who acted like I wasn’t even human, only to hear them complain about the drive when invited to a show a little further away. I spent 5 years hosting a show in park city every friday, 100 miles round trip, for the manager to refuse to pay me one night then fire us when I demanded to be paid for the work we did.
I've tried hiring hosts to spread our shows and represent me well, and with precious few exceptions (Bradley Cine George Alcoser and Hannah Laine ) I have been burned again and again and again, but I own that and take the financial and reputational repercussions as I can.
The truth is, most in Utah never cared about us. About the show or the hosts. They just wanted their fifteen minutes of fame, or the money I brought them. For years I gave it to them while sacrificing my own sanity and health. I've worked through major holidays, birthdays, family and life events, all because the show must go on. Where is the gratitude for anything I have sacrificed so that YOU could have YOUR 15 minutes of fame? It doesnt exist and it doesnt matter vecause its unlrofessional for me to have feelings or to speak up or expect to be treated like a professional. I'm so tired.
I’ve been in car accidents traveling to and from shows. I’ve been expected to donate my time and resources for the sake of others’ wants. I’ve been endlessley and constantly sexually assaulted and abused by both men and women. I’ve been accused of misdeeds by dishonest people chasing attention.
Some will say this is me throwing in the towel. It isn’t. This is me recognizing my worth and refusing to be taken advantage of any longer. I make this decision with my head held high, after winning multiple awards for best DJ and best karaoke ten years in a row. I have nothing to prove to anyone but myself.
Karaoke as a concept in Utah is dead, killed by greed and laziness. That doesn’t mean no one else is good at what they do, someone will come along that is even better than I am, they're probably already out there, but there’s no loyalty in this industry and I am so so so tired.
You used to get me, one of the best by your own admission, for next to nothing. Now, with a few exceptions, you don’t get me at all.
