Karaoke Forums

As some of you remember, went to a DJ\KJ show a few weeks back. The KJ\JD guy showed up early and my people talked him into starting early and I ended up doing a short impromptu set.
We went back this weekend but this time they had a guy with a guitar and a lady backup singer. We went early (around 8 pm) to have some beers and eat some dinner. The couple were ok; not great; not horrible. They did do a great job of song selection and people were busy but sort of singing along under their breath, if that makes sense, and people enjoyed the act.

So this guy walks up and introduces himself as the bar manager. He said he gave this couple a shot in this early time slot because of how well the short set I did went over. He tried starting karaoke earlier the next week but it was a bomb. He was trying to find something fun to draw people for the food sales slot. He asked if I played and I said no. he said it was too bad I didn't play or have my own stuff... I said well I didn't say I don't have my own stuff... Anyway, didn't want to talk to him them about it so we exchanged numbers and I met with him yesterday.

In the mean time I thought about it, and came up with some really cool concepts. Bars typically hire djs\kjs\bands to bring people in. Sure, there's a "tip your bartender" and "be sure to check out the specials" that goes on between songs but why not use the entertainment to FOCUS SALES to the people in the bar. I pitched this to a business major friend of mine, who also used to be one of my regulars when I was in my bar. He has since pitched this (God only knows what he said) to my old bar and THEY want to talk as well.

The concept that I pitched is, since I can write my own stuff and and use back tracks, I could also develop\get videos to go along with the tracks I sing to and they would play on the external monitor. After a track finishes, an ad for the bar would display. The bar logo and some quick text changing adds. Picture of pizza, "Best pizza in town" Scroll; "is an order away". I could also produce several video\audio ads that the bar pays for. So what happens is, the bar ends up sponsoring the show with the ads that play. I was even able to show three sample ads I made up. He thought they were too short but loved the ads themselves. Simple, not intrusive or over baring.

The manager I spoke with yesterday was almost giddy with the concept. We couldn't agree on a price structure so we have work to do. I plan to talk with my old bar this next week and I expect a similar feedback. The guy loved the concept. He hated the idea of just a vocalist, but he loved the idea of a music video with a live vocalist who was versatile enough to cover lots of different types of music. He wanted to be very involved with song selection and we didn't quite agree with whether there should be requests or how many to take. It would be like a live set; 50 minutes on, 10 minute break, two sets. We also are both thinking about the "and friends" type thing where I have a few folks perform with me on occasion for a song here and there. The guy has almost too much ownership in this.. but I don't mind as I haven't done this exact thing before.

Anyone else do this sort of thing or anyone have any thoughts\suggestions?

This wouldn't sit well with me. You know the bar, and are perfectly capable of choosing the songs. The manger shouldn't micromanage the live entertainment.

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C Mc
KJ, FL

I think the guy is quite gun shy with the "family" audience. He also said he's had cover bands in that did not play stuff the patrons wanted to hear. This is when I suggested requests and his fear was that people may request stuff that didn't fit in the family form. I haven't dealt with bar restraints before but I told him all he needed to do was set some parameters and we could stay within them. I think he simply doesn't know this time slot well and he may only get a shot or two with it.

I may re-pitch this as two different sets. The first being an easier "family fun" type set with some of the type songs he wanted (Sweet Caroline, etc) and the second becoming more progressive in classic rock\dance.

When my partner's aspiring singer/songwriter son was helping out, we did a short set of their music before the regular karaoke and it was a real success. But he didn't stay around long enough for us to see how it would go over as a regular part of the show. They did a combination of singing to guitar/keyboard, backing tracks of his original music that they made themselves and some karaoke tracks.

My partner also made funny videos that he would show between songs--maybe one a night--not taking up a lot of singing time--that would be satires on some of the regulars such as made up life stories. He did make some commercials for one bar that had the specials and he would show those before the show and maybe once during. It was something different and unexpected so people usually paid attention, laughed, etc.

At the first bar I did karaoke, there were a lot of musicians. They approached me about an open mic night and I obliged them. I would mix while they played. It was a lot of fun and really helped me get a fell for sound which helped me on the karaoke side. This is why I use larger mixers (8+ strips) in the event someone shows up with instruments.

I have had harmonicas, a banjo, several guitar players (acoustic and electric). One guy keeps telling me he is going to bring in his accordion and another says he is going to bring his sax. I am still waiting.

-Chris

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-Chris

We used to get that also. As long as the instruments were pre tuned and it just took a second to plug them in we would let people have their 3 minutes of fame however they wanted it. It didn't take from anyone else's turn and it usually became a special moment.