Questions for Karaoke DJs

Are there any Karaoke DJs out there?

I have a really nice PA system that’s only a few years old, from when I used to play out with a band. It’s more than adequate for club gigs. In fact, it’s got enough power to handle my backyard band parties with no problem. I have a bunch of microphones, stands, stage monitors and all that neat stuff. I also have a few spare TV monitors lying around the garage I could use.

Rather than have this thing sit in storage, I was thinking about buying a karaoke machine for it and maybe seeing if I could get a regular gig at a local bar. To figure out whether or not I really want to do this, I need to get some questions answered:

  1. What does a professional quality karaoke machine cost?
  2. What brands are considered professional quality?
  3. How much money is required to invest in discs for the machine, such that I could start out with a respectable collection of tunes to choose from?
  4. How often do karaoke DJs typically buy new discs to keep their collection current?
  5. What does a karaoke DJ typically charge for running a 3-5 hour karaoke night at a bar or club?
  6. How about private parties?

I’d appreciate any information. If the numbers work out, I might consider making the additional investment and doing the karaoke thing on weekends. If that works out, maybe I can find some help to bring in some money during the week as well.

Thanks.

BUMP

Plus another question:

Do the karaoke machines have reverb for the vocals? If not, I have a reverb machine that I can use.