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What do you use to keep track of rotation?
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Author:  Babs [ Thu Oct 25, 2007 8:46 am ]
Post subject:  What do you use to keep track of rotation?
I was wondering what the majority of people use to keep track of their rotation. I would love to hear everyones opinions on likes and dislikes about different styles. I have never seen anyone use a computerized system, so I have no opinion there. The one I dislike is when the KJ takes slips and just throws them in a pile. I like any system that is at least organized.

I use a magnetic strip. The slips are placed in order with magnets, so if someone wants to know when they are up next I can actually just look at it and count how many singers are before them. Plus they can look at it and see how busy I am. :D

These are all methods I've heard used -
Author:  mrdelicious2 [ Thu Oct 25, 2007 9:11 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What do you use to keep track of rotation?
Well I used the "somewhat" organized sign in slip method.  I have a little dry erase/cork board where I pin the slips to or use the other 1/2 to write on if need be.  It's not very organized, but it works for me now.  If I had a std of say 20 or more people, every show, then this wouldn't work for me.  I'd have to get a bigger board or go with something else.  MrD
Author:  karyoker [ Thu Oct 25, 2007 9:13 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What do you use to keep track of rotation?
It was hard for me to shift but computerized is better. We have several methods according to each singer preference Oral with no slips or slips and we encourage more the one request on slips. Another method is pulling out of singer history (I have done this as a singer) with no requests. The singer has the option of changing even after picking up the mic This takes 2 or 3 seconds.

Also between songs the singer rotation is displayed on the big screen. When we get rolling we dont have time to be dealing with or tracking several slips.
Author:  Babs [ Thu Oct 25, 2007 9:40 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What do you use to keep track of rotation?
mrdelicious2 @ Thu Oct 25, 2007 11:11 am wrote:
Well I used the "somewhat" organized sign in slip method.  I have a little dry erase/cork board where I pin the slips to or use the other 1/2 to write on if need be.  It's not very organized, but it works for me now.  If I had a std of say 20 or more people, every show, then this wouldn't work for me.  I'd have to get a bigger board or go with something else.  MrD


:D I can see your point - if you don't have that many singers it isn't that hard to keep track of things. I can have up to 40 singers on a horribly busy night. At that point I am organized, but the singers when they look to see when they are up next have to take a while to find where their at.
Author:  Karen K [ Thu Oct 25, 2007 9:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What do you use to keep track of rotation?
I find the easiest way, and most visual for me, is to actually just lay the slips out as I receive them (through the first rotation), put the CDGs underneath them so they are ready to go (I pull the CDs as I receive the slips) - this will work for up to 25 or so singers, and I am able to see where every one is in the rotation.  If they bring 2-3 slips, as their most current song gets sung, I pull that slip and drop it face down on the sung pile and place them at the end with the second slip. As new singers come in, I can easily place them into the initial rotation - usually every 2nd or 3rd singer.

This also allows people to actually "see" where they are in the rotation - I don't have to answer a million "When am I up?" questions.  They also can see what they're singing next. I spoil singers, too, because if they fail to bring up a slip when they come up and bring it up later, I will look through the sung pile and figure out where they're supposed to be, and slip them back in.

I always receive compliments for my fair rotation - of course sometimes a slip will go astray, and I mention during the evening that if you brought up a slip and you think I've missed you somehow, please come up and ask.

By pulling the CDs as I receive the slip, I am able to confirm the correctness of the number; I always have the second tray loaded and ready to go, slip on top.  There is very little time between singers at my show and that is another compliment I receive - people comment that they get to sing so many more times at my shows.

I know others who just work off a stack, add to the bottom as they receive them...but the duet issue, etc., complicates that. I also NEVER take a bribe to move someone up.

If a non-singer comes up and asks to hear a song, I will often have someone in the rotation who is great at that song, and I'll ask them to cover the "request" but that won't be part of their own requests. Good for egos...

Another thing I do for my regulars is I don't wait for them to bring up a slip - if I see them come in, I just put one of their many songs up for them...They LOVE that...and inspires people to become 'regulars.'
Author:  Lonman [ Thu Oct 25, 2007 11:42 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What do you use to keep track of rotation?
I lay all my slips out in front of me & have the computer by the side so the audience can come & look without having to figure out where we are by looking at the slips.
Author:  mckyj57 [ Thu Oct 25, 2007 2:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What do you use to keep track of rotation?
I keep track of the rotation on the 'puter, and I put slips out. But most of my gigs don't have lots of experienced karaoke singers, so I typically go poll  the singers a few ahead of time so I don't have dead air.
Author:  exweedfarmer [ Thu Oct 25, 2007 2:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What do you use to keep track of rotation?
I used the "puter" with books, slips and kiosks.  Given the choice %90+ of the folks used the kiosks.  Computers are faster than flipping pages and clicking does not require the fine motor control of writing.  I did not have to think about the rotation at all and thus was able to focus on customer service (drinking.)
Author:  SwingcatKurt [ Thu Oct 25, 2007 6:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What do you use to keep track of rotation?
A large special made clipboard behind the counter. Easy to keep track of. Very visual for the custies to see where they are. Keeps the counter clear of slips and clutter.
Author:  supercharged [ Thu Oct 25, 2007 7:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What do you use to keep track of rotation?
I use the puter. I use sax and dottys, its not the best out there but its better than not using the puter.  we dont have any way of keeping history so we just do our best to keep it fair. if a singer puts up 10 tickets we try to let them sing them all unless we are too buisy. normaly early on we can get away with it.later when we get really buisy we might not be bale to let them sing as much, but they usually understand that we try to get everyone as many songs as we can.
Author:  mrdelicious2 [ Fri Oct 26, 2007 4:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What do you use to keep track of rotation?
As posted by Karen K,

I should also mention...I was a little over stating at 20.  I would say I generally have about 10, 15 on a busy singing night.  It's a small bar.  I also, when it gets busy..pull the discs for the slips as they come in.  That really helps.  When I jump to the digital age, I will pry stay with slips...but will most certainly have them entered into some kind of tracking/organization program for future use.  The slips will just be used to get new songs for people up, but the regulars will have their stuff entered.  The KJ where I first started doing Karaoke, used to put people as well as myself up without us putting up slips.  He just remembers what we sing most.  I never realized how much that helps people.  Most really enjoy that customer service.  I try to do the same thing......MrD
Author:  kameragurl [ Sat Jan 26, 2008 9:58 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What do you use to keep track of rotation?
i use sign in slips.  I start with singer #1, then singer #10, then singer #2 then singer #11  and so forth so that the new ones won't have to wait for a full rotation and I won't lose the other singers.
Author:  RLC [ Sat Jan 26, 2008 12:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What do you use to keep track of rotation?
I use Sax N dotty as well but I do not use it for rotation handling, I use a written list  using the turned in slips. If someone turns in more than 1 slip at a time I take one and give the others back telling them to bring the next one up when they are called upon to perform, my singers all sing in the same spot in the rotation, start to finish. New singers are either put at the end or are used to replace a singer who has left. Consistency and fairness are the key and although fairness is in the eye of the beholder, consistency is tangible. Consistency they all understand and cannot be questioned.
I do not use Sax N Dotty for rotation handling as that is not what it was meant for, it is merely a list of queued up songs, nothing more. And if someone comes up to look at the queue list thinking that they can be #8 if only 7 are queued up I quickly point out to them that it is not the rotation. Now, most of the time, I will hide the queue list from view.
Author:  mckyj57 [ Sat Jan 26, 2008 12:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What do you use to keep track of rotation?
I switched off to CompuHost (from Hoster) and now it keeps the rotation. I usually work new singers in at the end of the rotation unless it is large and everyone has sung once, at which time I work them in at the 5th singer. The 5th because I show 4 "coming up" singers on the scrolling rotation display.

I put out slips, but when the rotation is 10 or less I usually ask the singers what they are singing next. If they are regulars, it is often in their history.

Some of them are trained to come over and give me a new song after they sing, or a list of songs they want to sing.
Author:  sidewinder [ Sat Jan 26, 2008 12:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What do you use to keep track of rotation?
357 magnum works every time...not one complaint after the first one goes down. LMAO  :dancin:
Author:  DJ Tuck [ Sat Jan 26, 2008 9:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What do you use to keep track of rotation?
I use Sax & Dotty's on the puter.  I do have slips out but if it's a small rotation I just ask the singers what they want to put in, and sometimes I keep a written list on paper, or if it's a large rotation I keep the slips laid out beside me as well.

If a new singer comes in during a large rotation, I'll fit them in somewhere, but not make them wait till the end of the rotation.  I've seen people walk out of shows before because the rotation was too long and they knew that the KJ added new singers to the end of the rotation.  However if it's a small rotation, (5-8 people) to the end with em.
Author:  Jian [ Sat Jan 26, 2008 9:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What do you use to keep track of rotation?
I lined them up.
Author:  TracyTunz [ Tue Jan 29, 2008 5:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What do you use to keep track of rotation?
Even though I have the laptop now with Compuhost keeping rotation, I still have a piece of paper at my side, and I write down the names as they come in.  Just hope you don't get the group of joke-ster's that I got where they made up different names for the same people....now that is just wrong.  In fact one guy "Todd" had sung a song and then later on came up to me and said "when am I coming up again" and I said I didn't have a slip for him...then he said "this one here, Piano Keys" and I was like "oh yea, cause I just knew your real name was Piano Keys"....my god....well I didn't say that, I just agreed with him and said oh yea, I guess I will get that in for ya.....man oh man!!! :)
Author:  TomTom [ Tue Jan 29, 2008 6:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What do you use to keep track of rotation?
:whistle:Huh... What are you talking about. the best way I've found to keep track of my rotation, is to simply mark a spot on the floor, and count each time I go round it... The old KISS (keep it simple stupid) method.. LMAO  But really, you guys sound like great KJ's. Keep up the good work....Tom
Author:  TracyTunz [ Tue Jan 29, 2008 6:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What do you use to keep track of rotation?
LOL good one!!!
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