Karaoke Forums

You are so right on I want to kiss you!

Expecting a perfect karaoke perfomance every time you get up, really takes away from the whole idea of Karaoke.

I get the feeling that these shows, the ones where everyone has their own pile of disks are "performance shows". No one ever trys anything new, or only after they have practiced at home for weeks, and to me this is not going to bring in new singers. Someone that walks in off the street, maybe feels they aren't the "best" singer, and just wants to have a good time, will never get up, because they are intimidated by the "performers". They leave, and eventually the only singers you have are the "best".

I do something else at my shows that I'm sure this forum group will frown at. I do pass arounds with the microphone. I pick an easy song and start it and then pass the mic around the room. You'd be surprised how many new singers you get. But alas, I'm sure there would be those here that would think I am stealling their turn when I do this.

Again, it's supposed to be fun. I find that is lost here on this forum for some reason

[glow=darkorchid]DK RULES![/glow]

I always bring my own discs. Mainly because I know for a fact that she doesn't have what I'm wanting to sing.

It kinda gives her a chance to also hear something that hasn't been done before at her show.

 Now, I really don't see anything odd about this?

Except that it puts me in the category of those who've practiced at home before going out live.

If that makes me a better singer than someone who just walked in off the street, so be it.

I think what atrracts alot of singers to a certain show is that they know that they can sing. I'm not the only one who does this where I go.

I've heard talk here in the past about shows with mostly decent singers.
If I was a kj, it wouldn't bother me a bit that alot of decent singers attended my show regularly. I don't think that would offend other bar patrons who aren't there to sing, but would like to hear a few decent singers perform.
Believe me, the place where I go has more not so great singers than great.

Now, I'm waiting for.............that's why you go there....to upstage the not so great singers?

If people want to sing, they'll get up and sing regardless of whether the other singers are better than average. How would they ever find out if they could sing without ever trying?

I'm not trying to offend here, but the term I heard mentioned here End All, Be All does come to mind when I think of what's been said here.

Do most kjs consider themselves singing teachers? It's one thing to encourage people to get involved, but to tell the good singers.......Hey, try not to perform so well so others will get involved too is ludicrous.  :wave:

 I do have some beers and every now and then come on here and make some outlandish posts. Let me try to explain it this way singing is a very big part of my life and has been for over 60 years. When people want to apply rules to what I have done freely for those years pisses me off. There should be no limits or rules applied to any art form. For when you do the art dies........

There are people on here cheering a mafia type that wants to come in a bar and charge for me singing Hank Williams (He has been dead for years Yet I bring him back to life) They think that  laws and lawsuits are going to save karaoke and make their life easier and dont realize it is killing us.

Karaoke took a down turn It wasnt downloaders or hard drives full of (@$%&#!) music and dups and BAD KJ"S that contributed to the the down phase It was other factors which we should be discussing.

I am so tired of this (@$%&#!) you cant say that you cant do that you gotta eat this and you weigh this and on and on and on...NOW When you start applying it to something (music) that I love then I come unglued Face to face with me you would have a different attitude you one thing you would be showing me and others respect.

I run a show that that caters to all types the stars the wannabes the virgins the singers the ones that frequents karaoke bars and none is shown any favoritisms. for we understand all. Last night we had singers (good ones) and in 4 hours we tripped about 75 singers. Not counting our songs. Rules smules and %$^&^#@

 LMAO What was the F55446 topic?

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That is so cool.  Great you are pro enough over many karaoke singers that are just comfortable, some scared to a point that they will only sing what they are used to not trying a version because they may not want to sound like a bigger arse they may already think in their own mind they sound like, but still have fun in doing it.



But the other refuses singers music so this is a moot point.  Flash drive, hopefully no one figures out to put a virus in a music file.



Back off & re-evaluate, hmmmmm, I thought you guys said this was JUST karaoke & should be fun?  If a singer has to re-evaluate because they only sing for fun & may only sing a version they are used to, you are basically stating that you only want pro singers?  Some singers will never improve, let's start losing their slips or refuse to let them sing if they don't "get out of their rut & accept new challenges"???

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[shadow=deepskyblue]I'm impressed, I've never met such a small mind inside such a big head before.[/shadow]

Maybe it's not common there, very common here.  I know I will bring my discs whenever I go out, not because I want to show up anyone...as you claimed, but because I like Swingcat have songs that many don't carry.



Doesn't need to be huge print or take up that much more room to add a 2 letter column denoting manufacturer.

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[shadow=deepskyblue]I'm impressed, I've never met such a small mind inside such a big head before.[/shadow]

No one is talking about perfect karaoke performance, they are all referring to what a singer is used to & accomodating said singer.  Seems to me that if you force a particular version on someone that YOU want them to sing without giving them the option to sing a version THEY really want, than THAT in itself really takes away from the whole idea of karaoke!



No, many of the shows I frequent where people bring in their own discs are often times because the kj's generally don't have the songs, won't get the songs, or CAN'T get the songs anymore.  So what is the difference if someone tries out a some for a couple weeks at home then comes in and sings it, or they practice at another karaoke venue, then comes in and sings it or just sings it and does well to start off with, do you generalize & assume that they must be pro & practice at home?  I have also seen some bad singers that have their own discs, far from "the best".  SO only people that bring in discs must be pro & are the best?  Most singers don't care if another brings in their own disc...you may think otherwise, but trust me it's true.  Many singers actually like it when I bring in my discs because I allow them to use my stuff as well if there is a song they want to try that the kj doesn't have.  



That is probably the first thing i've heard about the way you describe your show that does sound intriguing.  As long as it isn't a regular thing all night.



Only thing I see lost is the art of a host making the singers experience the best it can be.

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[shadow=deepskyblue]I'm impressed, I've never met such a small mind inside such a big head before.[/shadow]

Is that you Ollie?

I hate trying to get involved in these kj discussions, but sometimes it might be good to hear a singer's point of view?
There are so many controversies about karaoke.......singers......kjs.......rules.........attitudes...etc...
It's tough to even feel like it's a worthwhile hobby any longer.
Yep, just a hobby for me.
I was in a bar one night....someone dared me to try to sing....it wasn't half bad...so the kj kept encouraging me further.
And she was this sexy, sweet talking lady that just captured my full attention. I only sang to try to impress her.
It's been a few years now, and I've just about stopped trying to impress her and started doing it for my own satisfaction.
I really just wanted to be her lover.
Since I've been a regular at KS, I've gotten to see the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of this thing we call karaoke.

Obviously, I don't give my best efforts here at KS if you've ever listened to any of my crap.
But singing live gives me a chance to put up, or shut up.
I worry about the same things everyone talks about here......do I appear to be arrogant? Will I perform to the likes of the people listening? Are my song choices something that are welcomed by others? Does the kj welcome me at her show?

I don't like to screw up in live situations, so I rarely try anything I've never tried before. Embarrassment can be a big turn off to most people I think.
It could cause a newbie to never wanna try again.
I just feel more comfortable knowing what I'm doing before I do it.
And singing at home really doesn't prepare me for a live sing. It's still tough once I get there to find that certain groove or voice for a song. And usually, I can tell when I was off. But singing live gives me a better chance to hear myself through quality equipment and to adjust for it during a song if I need to.

There are alot of people who take this singing thing waaaay too seriously....me included. It's too worrisome or bothersome most of the time. The only reason I continue is to be a part of something that alot of people do....make friends....I guess just to validate my own existence. Maybe I'm depressed?

I usually try not to be the arrogant type.....I just wanna sing. If people like it, I'm flattered, but it doesn't turn me into the next star wannabe.
Like I've already mentioned....who in the hell could be a star when they're too worried about their plastic teeth coming unglued during a song?

I know, it wasn't necessary for me to reveal that bit of info in the first place.....I just felt like I was hiding something from the people who might like me here at KS. You'd be surprised how attitudes change once they've learned some secret about a person. I'm still waiting to see how it'll affect me here.  :wave:

But to some hosts they believe a singer should be able to sing any version thrown at them, being used to it or not!  C'mon, get out of your rut of comfortability & challenge yourself in front of everyone.  You know you need to re-evaluate your hobby if you can't do that  :shock:  :no:  :dontknow: NOT!  



Exactly!



But you sing/practice at home, makes you have "THE EDGE" over the other singers.  Biggest load of nothing i've ever heard.



Sure people take it seriously, it's a great form of fun...when a kj helps this & being able to sing off of my own disc helps me have more fun, a kj telling me no I HAVE to sing from their selection & then not even have the courtesy to list a manufactuer code...well this takes away from my fun & would avoid that show.  And like karyokre, he always goes into his political BS about rules, but guess what, he is supporting dictator type rules as well like You can only sing off of my selection, You can't bring in your disc, but you can't go off spouting about people having certain rules that you personally don't agree with or you feel take away from the fun of karaoke for some when you obviously support rules of your own that may in fact take away from the fun of karaoke for others, but these rules are ok because they are what you believe.

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[shadow=deepskyblue]I'm impressed, I've never met such a small mind inside such a big head before.[/shadow]

It just may be the West Coast is more serious about their karaoke than other parts of the country.  Having dedicated karaoke magazines & singers that carry their own discs regularly.

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[shadow=deepskyblue]I'm impressed, I've never met such a small mind inside such a big head before.[/shadow]

Question:

Because I sing professionally, because I AM a good singer, because I want to sing songs I enjoy at karaoke (ie: I bring my own disc), should I STOP going to karaoke because you feel what I do hurts your show?

The things I am reading seem to imply that, so long as I don't intimidate "the guy walking in off the street" it's fine.  The minute I bring in my own disc (and I can pretty much BET most KJ's here won't have a lot of the things I do - which is WHY I bring my own discs), sing well, and come across as a professional, I no longer have a right to be there or at least would be less than welcome there.

I cannot control how another singer will react to what I do.  I go to karaoke to hang out with friends and have FUN doing what I love.  I refuse to not do my best because it's "just a karaoke show."  

Why should I be made to feel I don't belong?  In the years I have been doing karaoke - and I have also done karaoke in the States, Europe, and Asia - I have never seen someone else leave because I or someone else brought their own discs -heck, I have even let other singers use something I have that the KJ doesn't on occasion.  I have never seen anyone leave because other singers were better than they were.  

I have had singers who are not as good come up to me and THANK ME for for coming in, and for INSPIRING THEM to become better.  I have only experienced a negative reaction ONCE, and I posted about that before.

If I come to your show and you won't play my CD, honestly, I don't care!  It is your show and your right.  I may not be able to sing something I really want to sing, but I can always find SOMETHING in the book that I like doing.  However, singing something from your book is not going to make it any less obvious that I am not just a "casual" karaoke singer.  I couldn't make it less obvious if I WANTED to.

So...should I just stop going to karaoke?

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"I hold the key to an open door....will I ever be free...?"

KJs sure sing well, and seem to know the song so well. Oh, I get it,,,,that is their own personal version they're singing....they know it like the back of their hand...it's their copy. Do they take their toy home, and play with it...I mean practice.....they sure do........darned if they'd want to give one of their customers  the same edge. They might sound as good....maybe even better than the center of attraction....the Super Duper Controll Freak KJ..... .....KJs shouldn't sing at all, they intimidate me.... (please forgive me, this only about a select  people/person on here )....Some KJs think that the show is all about them......the vast majority on here would agree.....karaoke is about the customers; singers, and hopefully a few listeners. Super KJ, when your computer tracks' musics don't sinc with the words, you seem to belt it out flawlessly. I stumble a bit, because I'm not used to it,  and haven't heard this song for a few years....would you like to thank me for making you look good? And Dk has a few versions, that I actually like, but that flute melody can really make me look bad, when I don't sing the exact same note,,,,I'm not used to it like you are....and when  it comes to the number of songs that can be sung easily, with being a novice, or a well versed singer,,,,SC Kicks DKs a$$ to pieces(it has already been proven by the market). I like "some" DK versions because they are recorded 1/2 to a whole tone lower, and that always sounds better than lowering the key from a song that the original was a bit high for me. Face it, some KJs have their feelings hurt if you don't want to use their songs...is true ....I'm done....I can't listen to this guy anymore....ps..a lot of the KJs that hate playing disks are the ones that went straight to a hard drive. They never knew the fun of hauling around several hundred cdgs, and two or three players...or being gentile with a disk, so it would last for awhile....

I had been going to karaoke shows since it hit the Milwaukee area around 1983. Remember the Singing Machine 4 tracks? Words on paper with print so small on the longer songs? I used to carry my own cartridges to shows when it was thought that a catalogue of 250 to 500 songs was considered a well stocked karaoke show, I mean, how many songs get song in a night anyway? KJs here never seemed to mind customer owned tapes or CDGs. Of course it was proper etiquette to ask the KJ if they allowed you to use your stuff before the show and how many songs you were allowed to sing each time you were up (2 is the norm here) I've not noticed rude KJs or KJs who were intimidated by good singers except one guy. (and he was a troll who would talk over your song or bypass the EFX) Most were congenial hosts who looked for the good singers to give them a break from having to sing at intervals just to keep the customers interested. I admit it, I was a schill for a few KJs in town when I could still belt out a tune with out cracking my voice. I got old and sick and the voice is not so good anymore, so I save the "rockers" for the end of the night.

Hey,

If I give each of you a sharp pointed stick would you please poke me in the eye?

Nah.....that'd be letting you off too easy......

All,

For a long time I sat out in cyber space and just looked at the posts on this forum. I was somewhat reluctant to post here, because I saw a group that tended to be very intimidating and quite mean to some of the posters.

Now, I find that my fears were absolutely correct.

How can you people say that I am arrogant and a bad KJ…not one of you even knows me, or has ever attended one of my shows?

Just because I don’t follow the lemmings, and bow to your overstated and nasty attempts to force me to agree with your opinion(s), you take it to a personal level.

The real ARROGANT and mean people are those of you that think you feel empowered to hide behind your keyboard and attack me.

The really sad thing is that very few of you can see the forest through the trees. You are so blind to your position that you could NEVER see that anything other then YOUR WAY OR THE HIGHWAY, is the right way.

I didn’t post to change YOUR opinions, I posted to add a different point of view. You all put me in the position where I had to defend myself, and then called me arrogant for doing so.

When I asked you to stop, you brought out more attacks.

I don't find any of it cute or funny...

Sorry, I have been down this road before. I will find a kinder, gentler place.

Good Bye

Wow!!!! what a response to this topic, all I can really say is....JD 4 discs??? WOW!!!
Great responses guys. By the way Tuesday night I am going back to this new show, I did have a great time....MV

Dennis - I wouldn't run off  ( most on here just love to push buttons)

There are many ways to run a succesful show - If your show is doing well and no complaints --By all means DON'T CHANGE A THING.  But on the outside chance you notice a decline in singers and an increase in customers bringing in their own discs you may want to THINK about some of the suggestions (if you can call them) that you have read here.   KJ's and Singers are arrogant by nature - That's why they will get up in front of people week after week thinking they are the reason the other 99% of the people came in.  I'm no differant !

Bottom line ---IF YOU LIKE A SHOW GO BACK
IF YOU DON'T .........DON'T?

just like every other business, restaurant etc

Wow people don't agree with your policies & express them & you run away?

You posted YOUR opinions, many didn't agree & expressed THEIR opinions.  You FELT you had to defend yourself...whatever.  But the "Your Way Or The Highway" does fit in this case, because you force people to sing a version YOU choose, there is no other option meaning bringing in their own disc...therefore it's YOUR way only!  
Really want to leave....see ya!  :wave:  Thought you were bigger than that!

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[shadow=deepskyblue]I'm impressed, I've never met such a small mind inside such a big head before.[/shadow]

The only time I really serious about music is when I am singing...Or when somebody wants to put rules on how I sing or what I sing..

It is music for god's sake People have been singing for generations and now you want   to apply all these little F%&&* rules to it.. Is there any singers here that think this is a bunch of crap? You are like the F567 government now you want to tell me what to eat and next you will want to come in my bedroom and tell me how to have sex.

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So you aren't in favor of rules in general, everything should be a free-for-all and anything goes?
Or you agree that a host shouldn't restrict a singer for singing a version they aren't comfortable with or should allow customer discs to make the singing experience more fun for that singer?  You are really hard to read.



I don't think rules in karaoke are a bunch of crap.  I have been to shows where there are no rules, THOSE shows are crap, with a bunch of rowdy idiots getting drunk, starting problems.arguments/fights, screaming obscene words over the mics.  This is not fun.  I prefer the RULES shows where they keep the audience in check, don't promote the vulgarity in songs, don't cator to idiots that want to scream & fight all night.  Could care less what you eat or how you have sex otherwise.  But yes when I go out for a night of karaoke, I will go to a show with reasonable rules to enhance everyones experience over a show with no rules in place whatsoever.

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[shadow=deepskyblue]I'm impressed, I've never met such a small mind inside such a big head before.[/shadow]