Karaoke Forums

Kurt and David are both pioneers in the industry. Keep in mind that Kurt basically lost his company because of piracy. It's understandable how he would like to regain what was taken away from him. I know how I feel when I visit venues that have pirates working for them, knowing that I have better equipment, a legal song library, a better personality, and can run circles around them.

You can't blame Kurt for what he's doing. I may not agree with the "everyone is guilty until proven innocent" theory but nevertheless, I can feel for anybody who lost a job or company due to piracy.

_________________
Electro-Voice Evolve 50... Taking Sound To The Next Level.

Yes I can. He only THINKS he lost his company to piracy. He did not lose my business because I chose to steal. He lost my business because I found better, more modern, more cost effective ways to gain product. I would bet that much more the norm than the "I decided to start strealing". People buying drives would have never bought his product otherwise. They only buy his product now if they get caught in a sue web. So, in some ways, they are helping to keep him afloat.
It's my opinion he would be in the exact same place he is today even without piracy.

Staying on topic - I am considering going but I would like to see some sort of a discount pass offered directly to karaoke hosts. Maybe drop the $30 fee for the karaoke sessions completely. As noted, the majority of hosts are single rig operators and have to find coverage or cancel shows. There is substantial risk in that so attendees have to balance the risk and decide that the cost of attending the conference will absolutely result in personal and business growth, otherwise it is just a short vacation in Vegas with the risk or damaging or even losing a gig(s) to a substitute host.


How Marketing Can Drive Karaoke! - Joe Vangieri - Great for the newbies (but can newbies afford to go to a conference?) and might even have a few nuggets for the veterans, but Joe Vangieri is also delivering a session called "Why I Quit Karaoke". Call me Captain Obvious but the two titles are very conflicting.

Karaoke Contests: Love ‘Em or Hate ‘Em with Hal Kinney - Great! And it is the ONE session being delivered by an actual karaoke host! This is the one session I would be most interested in attending because an experienced karaoke host delivering it, not a corporate interest. Need more of these.

Piracy and Recovery - Kurt Slep, David Grimes - I am pretty sure everyone on the forums knows exactly what Kurt will say at this session. But I would attend this session if for no reason other than to corner David Grimes and ask him why he is ignoring my emails about the Chartbuster 12000+ drives. Regardless, legal hosts live this every day. Illegal hosts probably won't be scared straight by this session. Unless they are announcing some new, relevant and consistent approach to combatting piracy, we have all heard this already.

Producing The Show - Being The Host! - Who are the "karaoke host masters" that will be delivering these sessions? Where are their bios? I am guessing this will end up being a bunch of corporate folks affiliated with the US karaoke companies trying to tell working hosts how to do their jobs. Not interested.

Social and Other Marketing: Getting Butts into the Seats - Again, unless this session is being delivered by an actual karaoke host that has been successful with social media and can prove it, then it is just another talking head seminar.

The Ultimate KJ Show - I can't tell exactly what this will even be from the session description. Just sounds like a karaoke party for karaoke hosts. If that is the case I am truly interested in seeing a bunch of Type A personalities critiquing each other as they attempt to entertain each other:)

The Ultimate KJ Show – The Panel - Again, who are the "major industry players"? Unless this includes successful, working karaoke hosts I am not interested. Having a bunch of struggling karaoke companies tell me how to be successful doesn't click with me.

Why Did I Quit Karaoke? – Joe Vangieri - Why in the world would karaoke hosts that are trying to succeed at karaoke go to a session called "Why I Quit Karaoke"?? If the marketing department was trying to be cheeky, they need to be more sensitive to hosts that are struggling to stay afloat. Not to mention that the description doesn't say anything at all about the session. It is basically a bio of Joe Vangieri.

To answer the question of how to get more of us to the conference......

I have attended and presented at over 200 tech conferences in the last 16 years. Attendees have to know they will come away with tangible benefits. The cost of attending has to be offset with significant personal or business growth. The sessions above don't seem to hit the mark for me. But, it is a positive effort so as long as the organizers keep an open mind and accept critical feedback and continue improve, then it is at least a step in the right direction.

-Chris

_________________
-Chris

I seriously doubt it.

_________________
Electro-Voice Evolve 50... Taking Sound To The Next Level.

REALLY, you just called me a f-ing pirate and you want me to attend your seminar????
Blow me.

I can say now I WILL NEVER NEVER NEVER attend/support anything that has anything to do with SC/Curt Slep/David Grimes/Mobile Beat!


(sorry for the "language" but that really pissed me off, I missed it on my first read)

And another thing....
I hope Phill, if KS is supporting the event, pulls his support.


WE ALL JUST GOT CALLED PIRATES!

I'm sure that was just a GENERALIZED STATEMENT made by (more than likely) Kurt (referring to Pirates)... just like YOUR GENERALIZED STATEMENT in a different topic thread (where you said " Ya know we ALL do it."). So... How does it feel??????

First and foremost, my thanks to Cue for posting what was on the link- it helps in the decision making process.

CON: My feelings on Kurt's business dealings and why I think SC really stopped producing aside- thay HAVE stopped producing karaoke, and several years ago. SC is no longer a viable player in the business of karaoke production. This is a perfect example of what I meant by "big" names without checking drawing power and relevancy. In this case, from what I've read, names have been chosen that may actually keep prospective attendees AWAY from the event- especially if said name has any control in regard to the event's organization.

With personal agendas based on litigation, companies like SC and PR could not be trusted to put forth non-biased information.

It COULD create the perception that the convention may not be up to date in regard to information.

I would be more interested in hearing from current producers who still have a stake in karaoke production. My favs would be execs from Pocket Songs and Party Tyme, maybe Stellar to a lesser degree ( as an ODB host), while downloaders may appreciate DT's involvement as well as possibly All Star.

PRO: A newer host may well gain a lot from showmanship tips, and while probably already known, something may be gained from social media advertising and marketing seminars as well. The only problem for me personally here is that I have never heard of this speaker- though this has nothing to do with his skills or his ability to pass on good information.

_________________
"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

You know what? It's about time the man learned how to rephrase things. I am tired of his accusations when he doesn't even know MOST of the KJ population. If he wants to save his business, maybe it is about time to figure out some way to sell some product. He could have stopped the piracy of his stuff by adding DRM to the discs. The technology has been out for years. You average Joe is not going to be able to hack it. But no, he let this problem grow and grow and grow until now he is buried in it and he is blaming EVERYONE around him for his losses. Sorry Pal, it ain't MY fault, and I will not have any of the blame put on me, and neither will anyone else who bought their music.

_________________
I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

If you bought your music, he isn't calling you a thief. The way I interpret that was most pirates buy their crappy equipment, why steal their music - in the sense of buying a loaded hard drive. Why is that so hard to understand???

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

Always there to defend him, no matter how much he insults KJs. He has said it at other conferences. He regards all those that are not certified with his company as pirates. Come Lon, you HAVE to be able to see that. He ALWAYS says stuff like that. He even came on here once and blasted everyone who was against his method. Pretty much said that if we were against him we were pirate sympathizers or pirates ourselves.

Like I said before, the technology to protect his product has been around for YEARS. He chose to stand by and let people steal from him. It's HIS fault, and no one else's. So, now, either he should fold up, or he should SHUT UP and modernize.

_________________
I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

So how many karaoke pirates will shell out a couple of thousand dollars to attend a karaoke trade show? My guess is not one. Slep/Grimes session should be titled: How to keep us from accidentally suing you.

With all due respect - EVERY karaoke company suffered from this. ANY of them could have DRM'd discs. the ONLY company that attempted anything was in fact Sound Choice with the MediaCloq (fiasco.....but they tried something). NONE of the other companies have attempted anything.

Point being - you are focusing on one very vocal industry leader who has every right to be pissed off that his company produced some of the best and most desirable karaoke product made and has had it all stolen by people who use it for profit.

You may not agree with or even like his methods, but he has tried to make a difference. You should at least recognize that. You should also question why other companies sat back and did absolutely nothing.

-Chris

_________________
-Chris

Not defending anything, I am just interpreting it differently. I don't see him flat out saying all kj's stole their music and calling all kj's thieves. I am seeing him flat out saying ot tho those who do in fact steal their music or buy them through loaded hard drives, etc.
So if the shoe fits, then so be it for those he calls out. They are in fact thieves/pirates!

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

this is true, but the others are still here and most are growing.


as has every karaoke company in business today who is stilll making music. not that he does not have a right to be pissed, he very much does and should be, but it is not correct to blame the companies atrophy on this alone as often gets done.


he has tried to get money from everyone to cover the loss, not the same as helping the industry or hosts (which is not his point as he has admitted from the beginning). The companies that did "absolutely nothing" did not do nothing, they did the best thing to curb the problem, the offer the music people want, when they want it, in the format people want, at a reasonable price (what the rest of the music industry has figured out and proven makes the biggest difference). if SC hasd tried that they would most likely be producing right now.

-Chris[/quote]

_________________
Paradigm Karaoke, The New Standard.......Shift Happens

he has tried to get money from everyone to cover the loss, not the same as helping the industry or hosts (which is not his point as he has admitted from the beginning). The companies that did "absolutely nothing" did not do nothing, they did the best thing to curb the problem, the offer the music people want, when they want it, in the format people want, at a reasonable price (what the rest of the music industry has figured out and proven makes the biggest difference). if SC had tried that they would most likely be producing right now.
[/quote]
But Kurt would rather cry victim and hide behind his lawyer. There is a sign of a TRUE man. HE should take responsibility for his OWN company, stop suing the crap out of everyone, drop this crap about media shifting, as most of the other companies have done, and get with the times and offer something worth buying. He has a lot of catching up to do!!! The difference between Kurt and the owners of the other companies is they have stayed strong and kept up the fight by SELLING music to their customers, and finding new ways to do it that made it easier for those customers to get the songs they want, though if PHM and Party Tyme don't get in on the download soon, they will be left in the dust, too.

_________________
I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

What the heck. The wife and I are due for a vacation and it's cold out here to say the least. We're coming...

almost Smooth....
correction in red

_________________
Paradigm Karaoke, The New Standard.......Shift Happens

Thank you for the correction.

_________________
I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

Kurt-bashing aside (Yes, I'm usually the first to do so , but that's really not what this thread is about), I'm still waiting for Ryan to answer my question: What CAN he offer to entice us to this event?

Ryan, you asked us what you can do to make this happen- was the thread-starter just an ad, or were you serious?

_________________
"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."