AUX Karaoke Box, NYC: How they brought karaoke rooms to Brooklyn's nightlife scene

Located in Brooklyn, AUX Karaoke Box is a unique and nostalgic concept, aimed at creating a karaoke experience for music lovers, distinct from generic or gimmicky bars. Drawing on the owner Martin's background in music and video production, the venue pays homage to diverse music genres and eras, with each detail carefully curated to evoke a musical museum. The venue is for anyone who wants to sing and create memories.

The main bar has an old-school New York vibe, adorned with black and white concert photos of music artists and vintage concert posters. The 5 private karaoke rooms are themed after different musical periods and icons, ranging from Brooklyn hip-hop to Elvis Presley's JUNGLE ROOM creating a unique and immersive experience for customers. Karaoke room prices range between $55 to $100/ hour. Currently, they're offering discounted rates to attract new customers, recognizing the value of word-of-mouth referrals.

AUX Karaoke Box also offers a speakeasy bar, that channels the ambiance of 1940’s jazz hangouts. Hidden behind a bookshelf door, you’ll find the speakeasy room which offers customers a distinct and intimate experience. Inspired by his desire for a cocktail lounge with a unique atmosphere, the Speakeasy provides a sophisticated setting for karaoke and other events, including birthday parties, corporate gatherings, and even an engagement celebration. The speakeasy back bar room at the venue caters to larger groups of 20-30 people, offering the option of a dedicated bartender and a luxurious ambiance.

Martin was inspired by his experiences in New York City's nightlife scene. He sees karaoke as a fun and interactive way for people to enjoy music and make memories with friends.

Martin started with karaoke as he knew karaoke would be successful in the part of Brooklyn where the venue is located, not just once a week or just 1 karaoke room. He went all in! It had a positive effect on Martin's business, drawing in more customers and fostering a vibrant ambiance. He notes its success in attracting new customers and boosting revenue. Particularly for Brooklyn, it has made karaoke more accessible, eliminating the need to travel to other boroughs like Manhattan.

Their strategy has been to offer discounted room rates to attract large groups and expand their customer base. They view this approach as an opportunity to introduce new customers to the venue and potentially increase revenue through larger group bookings. Their primary focus is on exposing more people to their establishment in hopes of cultivating repeat business from these newfound customers.

​​The primary revenue stream at AUX Karaoke Box is from beverage sales. In the private karaoke rooms, you’ll find digital menus to make it easy for the customers to order beverages. The drink selection is very diverse, so you’ll find something for everyone. Some customers utilize the karaoke rooms, while others simply visit the bar for drinks. However, those who spend extended periods in the karaoke rooms are likely to spend a significant amount on drinks, potentially totaling a few hundred dollars along with the rental fee.

AUX Karaoke started off by offering grilled cheese sandwiches at their venue. However, an ex-employee, now chef, launched a taco company that does tacos/quesadillas and chicken wings and prompted them to lease the kitchen space from Martin. This practice, common in the US, involves bars subleasing their kitchens to entrepreneurs looking to test their own culinary concepts before launching their own establishments. While this arrangement diverts the focus from food operations, Martin still benefits financially through rent and ancillary revenue. Additionally, offering food encourages customers to stay longer, further boosting overall revenue.

When looking for karaoke software, a challenge they faced was finding a karaoke solution that has a great interface, easy to use, and great usability of the functions. Martin wanted a karaoke software with features that could be utilized effectively to enhance the customer experience in the karaoke rooms.

Singa was something he was looking for! The interface looks modern and clean. It’s easy to use, just like Martin the owner wanted. His favorite things about Singa are the song selection, the user-friendly interface for the customer, and the session and management feature for staff in the karaoke rooms. As an add-on, Singa’s ads feature to promote ads has been used in the Speakeasy to ensure the customers have a memorable and customized experience.

AUX Karaoke Bar is experiencing positive growth, with increasing reservations each month, especially notable during weekends. Martin emphasizes the importance of further developing a place where people can have fun and enjoy themselves, which has contributed to the swift growth and popularity of the business. 

The goal is to create a neighborhood hotspot in Brooklyn. Martin aims for AUX karaoke Box to be a staple in the community for years to come, providing a space where friends can come together, sing along to their favorite tunes, and have unforgettable nights.