Weekly karaoke night at pubs and bars
Run a regular karaoke night at local venues that want to fill a quiet midweek evening.
- A$2k-6k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.
What it is
You agree a regular slot with one or more pubs, clubs or bars and host a recurring karaoke night, supplying the equipment, the song library and the host.
Your first three steps
- Visit quiet-night venues nearby and pitch a trial night with a clear price
- Put together a reliable system with backup equipment and a licensed song library
- Promote the trial night with posters, local community groups and social posts, then ask the venue for a regular slot
Who pays
Pub, bar and club owners or managers, paying a nightly fee. Some venues may prefer a smaller fee because the night brings in drinks and food sales.
How it makes money
A fixed fee per night from each venue. Several weekly residencies build steady income, and you can add private bookings on free nights.
Skills that help
- Hosting and crowd control
- Handling sound equipment
- Negotiating with venue managers
- Building a regular crowd through social media
Watch out for
- Public liability insurance, which venues often ask to see
- Check who holds the music licences: the venue usually does, but confirm and check what applies to your setup
- Venue liquor licence and noise rules vary by state and council, check with the venue and local authorities
- Late finishes and handling intoxicated guests, agree with the venue who manages security
- Income depends on a few venues, so losing one can hurt
Deep research report · Australia
Everything you need to start: weekly karaoke night at pubs and bars
Researched with live web search for Australia: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a karaoke hosting business?
Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $2,000 to $6,000, depending on the sound equipment and song library you buy. Venues often ask to see public liability insurance, so factor that in as well.
How much can a karaoke host earn from pub nights?
Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $800 to $4,000, depending on how many venues and nights you run and the fee each agrees to. Income can rely on a few venues, so losing one can hurt.
What licences or rules apply to running karaoke at pubs?
Things to check include public liability insurance, who holds the music licences (usually the venue, but confirm), and venue liquor licence and noise rules, which vary by state and council. Agree with the venue who manages security.
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Weekly karaoke nights at pubs and venues
Run a regular karaoke night for a local pub, club or bar and build a loyal crowd.
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- Side hustle
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Photo: MichielTon on Pixabay