Karaoke Forums

OK I have been sitting here debating weather or not to post this ?? as I can see that contests are NOT popular here . But that being said I am in the process of trying to set up a contest.

It would start and Finals would be at my "home" bar. I am looking at 8-10 weeks of qualifying rounds at different bars in the area.

My question for anyone willing to tackle it is...how do I approach a new bar with this concept. I know for sure I caning in the bars that are my regulars. I also know that i shouldn't approach a new bar until I get my regulars on board and all the specs worked out as much as possible. But any ideas on how to approach a new bar with this concept and get them on board.

If I can get  8-10 bars it could be a really good contest with a very nice payout. Around $800 total, if things go like I want .

OK any insight from anyone who has run a contest would be appreciated.

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It's always time to sing!

just make sure when you are doing the sums that you have either included the promotion costs into your budget or you make sure that is the responsibility of the individual bars. Otherwise your "nice payout" will be chicken feed

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"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

Oh yes. Bar Owners will be responsible for adds for their week of qualifying. Most of these bars advertise on a weekly basis anyway, so its already in there budget.

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It's always time to sing!

Are you talking your bar would be in the competition as well & the finals would be held there?  If so BAD IDEA!  IF someone won from your bar, you will automatically be labeled rigged!  You, your bar, your karaoke reputation will be done!  We had a contest up here that was similar, except it was a company that did it & the only bars that were entered was the clubs he worked.  It was a $5000 cash pot, $2500 2nd & $1000 3rd.  Ran for nearly 20 weeks.  Guess who the winners were - all regulars from the clubs he worked, outside entries didn't stand a chance - but then this is the same guy that used to have a karaoke store, would open up all the discs, drop them into his hard drive, re-shrink wrap the discs & sell them as new while having his copy on the hard drive for his multiple systems!

If your bar would JUST be holding the finals only, not actually competing, then you will have a better chance.  make sure your judges are musically knowledgeable.  Get them from local bands, local radio stations, local vocal teacher/coaches, recording studios, etc... NO ONE affiliated with the bar or anyone that knows any of the contestants if possible, or even karaoke singers as a rule, just because someone is a great singer doesn't necessarily make them a great judge - plus they may be bitter if they tried out for the contest & didn't qualify.  For a contest of that scale I would have a minimum of 5 judges visable & 2 hidden in case of a tie.  DO NOT use audience response/participation as a judging criteria - this turns it into a "who brought the most people with them will win" contest & someone who didn't bring in anyone that may be clearly the best may lose out to someone who isn't as good but brought many to cheer for them only.

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Ahhh well hadn't  really thought of that. I am would not be a judge. And frankly there is no way that the people from the home bar will win..I love them and they love to sing but I also know there are alot better singers in the area . BUt I may talk to the owner about this. Truth is they go to other bars as well and could compete at other bars. As there would only be 2 winners from each bar no wayyy my people could take all the prizes...sorry just kidding. You have given me alot to think about. I pride myself in being fair when it comes to letting people sing etc.. I would never want anyone to come away feeling like this was rigged.I also would feel bad if I didn't give the hometown folks a chance.

Yea we already decided audience has nothing to do with the judging...I have seen too many win cause they had more people there for them. Plus when you have a hometown crowd that's not fair.

This is just in the plannign stages and I really appreciate the advise and will keep it in mind!

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It's always time to sing!

But even if your bar is part of the qualifying, you joke that no one there could win, but you are going to allow anyone that comes in to try to qualify - correct?  So even if they weren't a 'bar resident', it could still be someone that qualified at your bar.  All i'm saying is if your bar wants to hold the finals - fine, do not allow it to compete in the contest AND hold the finals.  If you want your bar to compete, find another location for the finals that wasn't involved or rent a hall.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

ensure your judges have no affiliation with any participants either. Preferably bring them in from out of town

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"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

Point taken!!I will see what I can do about that.

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It's always time to sing!

OK here are the details on the contest. I have decided to keep it small and see if we can actually pull off a QUALITY contest. As I have talked to people about this it got bigger and bigger . People were talking radio stations etc... This has made me very nervous.
If I can do a 10 bar contest right then next year I will make it bigger...if not I will not do it again.

So here we go

10 bars in my area..there are alot of small towns
each bar pays $50-each contestant $5
that "should" give $1,000 prize pool
100% payback
I will have 2 judges go to each bar and the finals..with 2 more  just for the finals
Each bar must advertise in the paper

I have my 2 judges for the finals.. A couple who used to run karaoke .They know music and karaoke and have been out of the business long enough to not have any personal friends who would be singing.

Well as much as this may not be a good idea it is already in motion..all I can do now is run the best contest I can. I have spoken to the bar owner and let him know I am in control..it's my reputation on the line if this goes wrong.

I don't think I will have a problem getting bars. Showed it to a bar owner I worked for only once and he said if I put it together to give him a call. If they all are like that I should pick up 10  pretty easy.

OK (@$%&#!) away .

Whatcha think?

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It's always time to sing!

One thing to be cautious about. If the bar does not have entertainment venue currently and they are to hold these contest, they have to pay the license fee that goes with the venue. This could mean hundreds of dollars for just one time event. Without it, they could be running an illegal entertainment and may be in trouble.

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Seize the day and SING!!!

Hey Eben. Thanx. Most of the bars around here have a DJ or Karaoke pretty regular. But I will keep that in mind as I hadn't thought of it!!

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It's always time to sing!

OK, first, like you said, karaoke contest are a BAD BAD idea.

Baring that, perhaps hooking up with a few other KJs in your area can help.  That way you can spread it around a bit.  And find the bar where you are having the finals at, and DO NOT lhold any qualifying rounds there.

Well I know where the finals are...problem is getting him NOT to hold a qualifier.

He is a tad stubborn and I cant really do it without his OK. He hires me every other week. He has done this for over a year without fail.

I brought it up..he wasn't happy.I am talking to him again tonight.I may have to threaten to not do it .He can't do it without me either ..
Lord knows I am getting nothing out of this.
I am booked every Thursday and every Saturday..and thats all I can do right now.
I just thought it would be a nice thing for the folks around here who love to sing.

The KJ's around here aren't real friendly! There are a few ..I just stay away from there spots ..there's plenty to go around.
I frankly don't understand it..If you are good you wont lose a job..plus I don't need your job .

Sorry I strayed off topic . Thankyou for the advise I do appreciate it!

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It's always time to sing!

Maybe print this thread, you now have 2 kj's that support NOT having a qualifier contest in a bar holding the finals.  It will cause him more bad than good - especially if someone that qualified at his bar wins - regular or not!

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A Contest ran in our area a few months ago went like this:

(1) Contest runs for 10 weeks.
(2) nobody knows who the judges are.
(3) one winner every sat night, but same person can only win once in a 4 week period.
(4) Sat night winner Wins........$100.
(5) Winner of finals wins $500.
(6) Must sign up to participate.
(7) one winner every sat night until finals held at 10th week.

Local Radio station dj's advertized this contest event, and are there during each contest to help promote contest and help with the hosting of event.

I just thought I would post this to give an idea as to how our local contest was done so you would have something to compare to.  :)

Not sure about the 'each bar advertising their own', usually a contest of this caliber is advertised as a combined ad for all competing bars from the sponsor/promoter of the contest - which is usually included in the fee the bars pay to get into it.  It would be more expensive for them to pay for the contestants then have to pay to advertise the contest as well.  SOme may do it anyway, but chances are if they are agreeing to a contest it's because they need to draw business & May not have that extra cash to spend promioting it.  Just a thought.

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Just my opinion.   Shoot yourself in the foot now and get it over with.    Because that's what the odds say will happen.     From our collective forum karaoke contest experiences.  :yes:  :O

Thankyou I will try that!! I have been telling him but....
I will show it to him Saturday when I work.

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It's always time to sing!

Thankyou Neo..We have discussed involving a local radio station etc...
With all the bars in this area keeping this to 10 bars is actually keeping it small. I don't want to involve media . I really want to see if I can do a QUALITY contest. IF I can pull off this small contest we could do a bigger one next year....

?? Was there just the 1 winner at the finals?

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It's always time to sing!

"Most" of the bars in this area already advertise when they have karaoke or a dj etc...Part of the reason the bar fee is only $50 is because they will be responsible for the advertising, around here they can put a pretty good sized add in the Shopper fopr around $33... remember I am in BFE.! Plus if they advertise the prize pool...100% payback they will have 2 times as many people there as a normal karaoke night. At least thats my thinking.
I did finally get a chance to show mt "purposal" to a bar owner who has no personal stake in me. I asked him to take a look and give me his honest opinion...his reaction was If yopu get this put together count me in.
I really dont know...but all alll critisisms and suggetions are truly appreciated

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It's always time to sing!