Karaoke Forums

Earl, I'm glad that it's working out for you. It's been my limited experience that they DO create ill feelings and that the winners, (not regulars but folks who go around entering contests because they know they're good and have a good chance of winning) never return to your establishment. This creates ill feelings for the regulars who support the bar week after week.

Yes, you're going to find some of us who love contests and some who despise them. I'm in the latter category. But let me make it perfectly clear, I have the utmost respect for you and anyone who agrees with you. This topic is rather subjective and I'm sure both sides can give you pros and cons of contests. I said what I had to say above so I won't repeat it.

Anyway, I'm very happy for you and wish you continued success.

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

First rule of business: For every bad complaint you get, you must assume there are a dozen more you don't hear about. People don't complain, most don't have the balls or its isn't worth their time. They just walk away. To use that as your yardstick of success is folly.

My signature line "My job is to keep more people coming back than are leaving, and never coming back"

I agree. At every show I do, I encourage everyone to participate. Karaoke is not about whether you're a good singer, it's about having a good time. Everyone! Contests can actually be intimidating and turn people away. And of course, not everyone of your regulars are going to participate.

Bottom line: we're not here to compete, we're here to have fun.

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

But often times it is fun for those that like to compete to be able to compete.

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

Whatever.

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

Snappy comeback

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

I am currently planning a Karaoke Talent Show. No Solo acts allowed. Must be 2+ people and the more the merrier. It is less about the quality of the singing and more about the entertainment factor and performance. We are encouraging people to dress up, design a set, use props, etc. Prizes for Best Costumes, Best Overall performances, Most Outrageous Act and more.

People will have to sign up in advance, possibly pay a very small entrance fee (why? to help keep out riff raff and contribute to prize pool). Will be a max number of entries available based on interest level and difficulty in transitioning between acts.

We are still in the planning stages so much could change.

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-Chris

Whatever, please.

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

If you decide to hold a contest, make sure you are very clear in how it is judged. Is there an entry fee? Let them know if there are actual judges, if the singers themselves judge, or if everyone in the place gets a vote. You can make some small fliers for advertising, or just put some posters on the wall and rely on word of mouth.

If the contest takes place over more than a single night, make sure to explain how it works.

Another thing that could help is to make the contest night a 'taco night' where they can buy $1 tacos. I don't know about where you are, but in my area... we singers just love to eat. And of course, eating makes us thirsty too.

As far as prizes go, you might be able to talk the owner into some gift certificates(not valid same night) or the like. It may be worthwhile for them to offer up several $5-$10 certificates for some of those that don't make the top places. It would encourage those that didn't win to come back another time. Those could even be 'honorable mention' prizes for those singers that the owner personally liked, but didn't win.

I have found that one of the biggest problems with contests is the people chosen to be judges. A judge should be impartial, not knowing any of the contestants and most definitely have a musical background. There should be at least three judges. Possible candidates for judges might be a music professor from a local college, a DJ from a radio station, a qualified musician, etc.

The problem usually is a lot of people judging a contest know nothing about music. I've seen people win that couldn't sing but only won because she had a "hot" body. Or, a judge knows one of the contestants. Or it was the judges favorite song, etc, etc.

I totally despise contests. They're usually Bull***t.

And even though some of you have stated that you have run very successful contests, you can't tell me that they don't create "ill feelings", because they do. In some way or another... they do.

I'm sure many of you agree with me and feel the same way I do, even though you may not say it.

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

Which are exactly who I pick for judging. 3 during qualifiers & up to 8 finals judges for large contests - of which no one knows anyone in the bar. Again most contests that fail are simply because the kj and/or bar simply haven't a clue how to do it.

Sorry that is just the nature of competition. If you don't want your feel bads hurt if you happen not to win, don't enter - just like any other competition that exists and not just karaoke.
If everything that is just supposed to be for fun - then the world would be a pretty boring place because every single thing in the world that is a competition - was originally 'just for fun', karaoke is absolutely no different than ANY of the millions of activities that people hold competitions for and as long as human beings exist - people will want to compete.
If you don't want to compete - don't - simple as that.

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

You make a valid argument and you're point is well taken. I still don't agree with it. Karaoke is not or never meant to be a competitive event. It was designed so that ANYONE can sing and have fun, period.

Now I know there is a place for competition, sports whether it be football, baseball, golf, or just about any sporting event. Olympics, any of that stuff was designed for competition and for one winner or one side to emerge victoriously. That is the nature of that.

But karaoke was never designed or meant to be used as a competition. There is a big difference in your reference.

Karaoke has always been about having a fun night with friends and singing or watching others sing, but fun nevertheless.

Yes, there IS a difference. Karaoke is NOT a sport. It is NOT a competition. Why try to turn it into one?

If you want to see a competition, go to a wrestling match.

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

Quilting isn't a sport, spelling isn't a sport, beauty pageants aren't sports, flower growing, pie eating, hot dog eating, toilet seat tossing, beer pong, cup stacking, um....I could literally go on for millions of competitions that aren't sports related. Karaoke is no different - sorry you disagree but it's true. Yes it IS intended to be for fun (just like Anything that can be turned into a competition - it will be) and fun it is usually is on most nights, but for those who enjoy competing - is equally as fun for those people that want to compete and why deny those people their fun because you happen to disagree with it. I know people that just love to compete and get into any and every contest they can find - diva? Maybe. Some of them aren't that good to be considered divas or even contest worthy, but just enjoy being up there on a night that tends to feel more welcoming to all singers with applause - win/lose doesn't matter.
Some just aren't cut out to compete in which they shouldn't, these are the ones that tend to get their feel bads all hurt when they clearly shouldn't be competing in the first place - but again, that is the nature of competing.

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

Thank You.

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

I get asked to run contests all the time and i hate them, its not what i believe karaoke is about. It should be fun.
What i do instead is, everytime a singer gets up to sing their name goes in a hat, at the end of the night one name is drawn out and that is the winner.
The more times they get up to sing the more chances you have of winning.
It also encourages the people who are not confident singers or feel they are not particularly good to still get up and not be intimidated by the "professional" singers.

One point that I neglected to mention... I never run contests on regular karaoke nights... They're treated as completely separate entities.

My regular shows are on Thursday and Saturday nights... Our contests are held on Friday evenings for adults, and Sunday afternoon for kids/teens.

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Earl
(BS, PHD & Certified CurmuDJeon)

[font=Times New Roman]"Growing Old may be mandatory... but growing UP is still optional."[/font]

I give out an award too and you don't even have to compete to win it! Winners are randomly selected. It's all in fun. Everyone loves it. I also give out T-shirts; and no you don't have to compete to get one of those either. Again, karaoke is about fun, not about competition, and that means EVERYONE. And that's what I try to make it, fun for EVERYONE.

Hey Lonman: How about a "like" on this post.

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

Every time I see this thread topic come up, I read it literally. KJ's "throw" contests all the time. Their buddy wins, the chick that gave them a wink wins, the guy with the good hair and strong chest wins.

I know there are good, legitimate contests, but I don't like the way most of them play out. I have never been part of one where there wasn't some sort of drama. I get enough of that on a "normal" contest night.

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-Chris

Exactly what I have been saying. They are very rarely, with emphasis on "rarely", judged properly. The judges, rarely, again with emphasis on "rarely", are qualified to be judges. Contests usually turn out to be a sham.

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