Karaoke Forums

Okay I have a confession. Last Saturday, I played at a Skating Rink for a church youth group. Now if you folks have been to a skating rink in the past ten years, you know what kind of garbage they play for kids. Well I knew that the whole show wouldn't be Karaoke, because they do contest and other participation things for the kids, but I didn't want to turn the (filler/skating) music back over the kids who ran the rink. So I did some compilations of my own and took them in with me.
, I had those kids bobbing their heads to Rammstein, Lords of Acid and other assorted Industrial Dance music, and they loved it. None of this, 'shake your booty and act all snooty' hip hop crap, but good upbeat bass driven heavy rock. The kids loved it.
To the parents of course it's all noise, with the exception of one dad, who came up and ask if I had any Rob Zombie.
So yeah I played filler, but I kept control of my show, it went exactly the way I wanted it too. I guess my point is, that everyone of us has an opinion about their show and they way it should be run. Just keep in mind, that there are no etched in stone rules, every situation is different. To say that you have to do this or you can't do that is ridiculous.
My show will always be about Karaoke, but that doesn't mean that I can't expand and do other things, after all I'm there to entertain the paying audience. Without your audience you're nothing, and if you alienate part of your audience, that will be the death of your show, not whether you're a Karaoke purist or not. So to me most of this conversation is a moot point. You do what you have to do within reason, you learn as you go, you adapt, stay flexible to new ideas. That's how you keep your job.
I'm of the nature, that when someone tells me I can't do something, or that idea won't work, it makes me want to try it all that much more. The challenge is to myself, how can I keep things interesting to my audience. If there was a rigid, step by step rule book on how to do Karaoke, everyone would do it, because it's a formula system. What you have to bring to the mic is something that they can't teach you and that's personality. Perhaps we should focus on that rather than all this noise and saber rattling. If our shows ran as perfect as some claim on this board, we wouldn't have time to be sitting here trying to outwit each other with nauseum, we'd be out signing autographs or working on a movie deal, or doing a photo opt with some magazine. The reality is, we're just working class folks, trying to make a few extra bucks and entertain some people along the way. That's it bottom line.

James
Maninblack
Proud Karaoke Host

P.S. I ended up giving my compilation disc to the guys at the rink, who immediately started playing it again for the next skating party that was coming in as I was leaving. Does that make me a DJ, no, just a long haired guy with a good taste in music....(and even that's debatable)

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I serve no man and am loyal to only one God.

Being critical of a person's success in any respect speaks volumes about the lack of your own.

Love as though you've never been hurt, Dance as though no one's watching, Sing as though God Himself were listening.

Hazaa James.

BTW- Rob Zombie rocks!

The last time I was at a skating rink they were playing Happy Organ....

Still a good tune....

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Join The Karaokle Singers Social Network. Upload Your Music!!

Bigdog, I don't play dance music either.  And I do agree with much you say. (I don't care for how you say it...) BUT, get off the soap box about "NO DANCE MUSIC."   Even GOD ended up with many "denominations."   And you don't even need to try and go there.

Kelly

Oh. Well, why didn't ya say so?  :D

Come pick me up, and we'll give it a whirl. Hit bars across the country....

Ah, if only I could. Then life would be complete, huh?



I'm thinking.... trying to dance on a pole WHILE playing my fiddle..... could result in one of two things:

*A broken bone or two for me
*Or a broken fiddle

Neither of which I am anxious for.  :wink:

Better idea... I'll play the fiddle while YOU dance the pole...??  :whistle:




Oh, I'm sorry, I read it wrong. I'll just take my vain little self outta here then, since I'm not the topic of discussion.
 :( ...........

.

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♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥

you da MAN James!! And again I find myself in agreement with Chuck.

Rob Zombie is awesome! !

and I've always loved "DuHast"!!!

People like to dance too, what can I say?  Not everybody can sing so why should the dancers be neglected--maybe to be the ultimate entertainer the mission should be to bring something to everybody.  The fact that my ballroom footwork somewhat resembles Fred Sanford dancing "The Hucklebuck" does not color my comment.

Oh, sorry if the lyrics above offended anyone. I'm not offended but just wondered if bands like this were appropriate content for a DJ to play for a Christian youth group at a skating rink.

Of course the same can be said of hardcore rap, which certainly shouldn't be played to a Christian youth group either.

Try some top-40 alt rock and pop next time. They at least use more friendly metaphor!!

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C Mc
KJ, FL

I always thought the "Worlds Most Powerful Form of Entertainment" involved a book of pictures, a dominant hand and a little alone time.


oh yeah, and some crayons to color in the pictures.

Topher, dude now do you really think that I would openly offend a group of church folks especially children.
First of all, you failed to mention that the Rammstein songs are sung in German, so I really doubt that anyone picked up on the lyrics.
Secondly, my choice of Lords of Acid cuts were taken from the disc 'Lords of Acid/Lust....stript version' which means there are no vocals, just instrumentals.
The Zombie cuts were taken from the 'American music' extended dance versions, which I had to buy at Walmart, and they only sell clean versions of the disc.

I have a question though, if you weren't personally offended then why go through all the trouble of searching the internet for the lyrics????

I merely brought up the song selection as a part of the conversation about 'filler music' I didn't do it to promote a 'hey look what I got by with'.

While I respect your general points of concern and your general passion in which you express them, my only contention is that you challenged me to explain my song selections. In other words, your post put me in a position to have to justify my actions, something which I just don't feel the need to do. NEVER assume that I don't take things into consideration when I make song selections for my shows.
I would never assume to tell you how to run your show, and I expect the same respect from you, hence the basic message of my original post on the matter.

But anyways, it's time for me to get ready for my show tonight. My thoughts are on doing the best show of my ability, not how I can subliminally corrupt my audience.
Sorry if my comments come off crass, but I expected better trust from my fellow Karaoke members here at the boards. Silly me.

James
Maninblack
Karaoke Host

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I serve no man and am loyal to only one God.

Being critical of a person's success in any respect speaks volumes about the lack of your own.

Love as though you've never been hurt, Dance as though no one's watching, Sing as though God Himself were listening.

James, when you gave the guy the comp disc, you just lost your next job there.   He will do it and get paid.  You won't get the call.    :O

Nah, it's no biggie, the rink didn't hire me in the first place the Church did. Some of the folks had been out to one of my shows and ask me there if I wanted the gig. I don't normally play filler at my shows, so the disc is a throwaway in my book, I only put it together specifically for that gig.

James
Maninblack
Karaoke Host

Each song a killer, ain't no filler.

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I serve no man and am loyal to only one God.

Being critical of a person's success in any respect speaks volumes about the lack of your own.

Love as though you've never been hurt, Dance as though no one's watching, Sing as though God Himself were listening.

James,

I think you first repsonse on this thread was very thoughtful and very well expressed. Thank you.

Big dog, I've just decided: I think you enjoy playing devil's advocate  :D . I don't know whether to like you or not  . My only thought when reading the part about "watching their reaction to certain songs and singers" is : what are you saying, if they crowd doesn't like certain singers/songs, do you not allow that person/song to be singing/sung again? If that's not the case, what purpose does that comment serve, other than you would know what to sing or not to sing yourself....

I'm really trying hard to see your side without being offended.....

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gahmc,    Re-read it.   It is strictly for KJs eyes, not singers.

First of all I do not play favorites with my rotation.   Everyone is treated exactly the same.   As it should be.

AS singers:

I do not care how talented you are or are not.    

I do not care how much money you spend.

I do not care what type or tempo or style of music you sing.

Every singer sings once, in every rotation.

I never play dance music.   So I inject karaoke songs that I sing during the rotation.    I do this to keep the nonsingers entertained.     I do not normally sing songs that I want to sing.   I don't sing songs just to sing.   I sing songs that I know will help to keep the nonsingers entertained.   My main goal is to keep all in attendance entertained and happy.   I do total karaoke music, nonstop, continuously without filler music.    Every song played is sung by someone.

Now that this has been said.

I can tell when nonsingers are getting restless and getting ready to leave.  People that are bored, are not going to stay and continue to be bored.   Most singers sing boring stuff.   But that is their right to sing whatever they want.   They keep themselves entertained.   I entertain everyone else.    I always sing upbeat rock songs to keep the nonsingers entertained.     Others on here think that it should be done with dance music/ filler music.   I do not agree with this line of thinking.   I think it will kill your karaoke crowd.    So you will decide how you run your business.   Like me or not doesn't matter to me.     I did not say anything to hurt anyones business.  They are doing that themselves.   Time will tell if I am right or wrong.    Who do you trust?

I respect my singers and their right to sing.   As much as possible.    I will not insult them with dance music.   If the way I run my 5 nights a week, for the last 14 years offends you, find someone else to get advice from.    My future is secure.  

BIGDOG is totally responsible for his karaoke success.     If I wanted to emulate someone in the karaoke business, I would pick someone like me.   You don't have to like me.   Respect my success for what I have done and continue to do.     I never said I was a Diplomat.    I am not on here to win a popularity contest.    I am here to talk to other KJs and share my successful ways of doing business.     I don't candy coat anything.     I don't beat around the bush.      You will like me or hate me.   I don't care if you think I'm the Devil himself.      That will not take away from my success.     Liking me could add to yours.  :O  :D  :yes:    This is how I run my very successful, karaoke business.

Ask yourself one little question.

Is your karaoke business and income where you want it to be?

You will keep doing what you are doing or you will change.     I am but one road of many.     Not all roads will not get you to your destination.      Choose wisely, my child.  :yes:  :D   It's not about me, it's about you.    :yes:  :shock:

I'm glad you said that.  Now, I'm primarily a singer and only a 'backup' KJ.  Therefore, my true opinions on how a KJ is doing, when I'm the client, is whether the rotation is 'honest', if he/she knows how to properly mix the sound, and whether or not there is a monitor for me to be able to hear the music and adjust my vocals accordingly.  According to you you do not use a stage so no monitor - strike one, I can't visit your show since you won't tell anyone where it is so I can't judge either rotation management or sound quality - strike two and three.

Get a muzzle.

Why do you need a monitor when you can stand anywhere in the room?    That could be in front of the speakers, between the speakers, behind the speakers, beside the speakers.     Not limited as with a stage.   You're going to be stuck with Alaskan karaoke, for better or worse.   You don't need to know where good karaoke is.  LMAO

Can't believe I'm getting so annoyed by a yapping cur.  A monitor allows a faster response/less delay from real time ... sound doesn't travel at the speed of light.  Second, I, unlike some fur balls travel occasionally ... the only state or province (SP?) that I have not visited is Maine and Nova Scotia.

Well get your butt out of gear and get yourself to Halifax.  I promise we don't hide and you'll have a great time.  BTW no dogs allowed in our bars unless the master is blind.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

I'm am so desperately going to try to make this my last response to Bigdog..

All I know is, I was singing/going to karaoke shows for 10 + years before I even thought about becoming a KJ, so I CAN speak from experience as a singer, and comments from other singers around me, I know what I did and didn't like about a karaoke show. And with my experiences in life, I've learned to never think you are the best: there's always room for improvement. I got told last night that my equipment sound, and the way I run my show was the best around here, which blew me a way, because I have a mentor around here who I think is Fabulous! It's not the first time I've heard it, but I don't take it to heart. I'm just glad they are happy, and I will continue to find ways to keep them happy.

We as KJs know our capablilities, and in the end, we will run our business in a manner we deem appropriate.

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So how on earth did my last reply make you mad?

This entire thread is not about the singers, period.   Has nothing to do with them.  It's all about the nonsingers.     It has to do with KJs, reading the entire crowd and keeping them all entertained with karaoke, not dance music injections.


I said, if you are totally satisfied with your karaoke company and income, move on.

You don't need me.    



I have to disagree with your last line about everyone knowing their capabilities.  :O  :shock:

If that was the case, we would not be hearing about all of the wannabes and hacks that do not know what they are doing.   That have crappy systems, unfair rotations and generally suck.    WAY TOO many of them.    :yes:   I'm sure you can name some in your area.    

Guess what, they think they know their capabilities too.       So according to you, if everyone knows their capabilities but they still suck, then do they really know anything?    :no:      You can not know everything, if you still suck.    You just think you're a know-it-all.  :yes:     I have seen many of these know-it-alls fail in the last 14 years.      People that thought they would get in to business to put me out of business.    LMAO

It is my goal to put them out of business or to improve them.
 
I'll repeat myself.     If [highlight=crimson]you[/highlight] are OK with everything concerning your business then....        By all of the accounts I hear, the bad ones way out number the good ones.    :yes:   We are in the minority.  

The main reason we can not get the money our good shows are worth.