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I sing the 1st song of the night as a opener and sing during the evening to add a bit of fun stuff if the mood needs it. Here's some of my fav's

Croc rock
The gambler
Who the f is Alice
Crazy lil thing called love
Witch doctor (if kids about) (ting tang walla walla)lol
Build a little birdhouse in your soul
Soggy bottom boys - constant sorrow

I offer to help the female singers do duets

Paradise by the dashboard light always goes down well.

Anyone not a singer?

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facebook - PJs Karaoke Disco

Thanks so much with this fantastic new web site. I'm very fired up to show it to anyone. It makes me so satisfied your vast understanding and wisdom have a new channel on the world.

I always open the show with a song, then make opening announcements, I also keep myself in the rotation (unless we are running short of time and have a lot of singers).
Keeping yourself in the rotation is a good "physical-visual marker" for the audience/singers to know where the rotation is, and helps in keeping the energy level where you want it. It also allows me to keep a good feeling for what is going on with the sound.

First, as a DJ, I never sang, but as a Karaoke Host, I do the following:

First song of the night.

Will act as a "stretcher" if there is a very short rotation. ( if this happens it is either a night with an very early start or a late end, so first or last rotation).

Requests by folks who don't sing, but may be celebrating an occassion- but I will limit said requests. Even better, I try to get them sung by a patron instead.

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

I sing first song, then if needed only - small rotation, I am there to host, not sing. I can sing on nights off. I will sing duets on occasion if asked.

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

I start every night with a mega-melody.

I start with Picture (singing both parts) leading into Total Eclipse of the Heart followed by Don't Stop Believing, and wrapping up with an extended cut version of War Pigs.

-Chris

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-Chris

Nice Try

I always start the night off so I can fine tune the system.

then I have a rule as soon as I hit 20 singers i'm out. most of my singer get mad if I don't sing and they do notice when I drop out.

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It's all good!

I sing the opening song of the night...as an icebreaker as no one wants to go first. If its real slow Ill sing in the rotation. But normally I will not sing the rest of the night except for a dance song around midnight...such as Kulo, Brickhouse, Play that funky music, etc. I am the HOST. NOT THE ENTERTAINMENT. Patrons don't come to see ME sing....but the participants.....I'm the Ed Sullivan of my Karaoke show.

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"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

I used to have the same mentality about just singing an opening song and then pulling myself out once I have 10-15 singers, depending on where I'm at.

Now I keep myself in the rotation, again depending on the place.

Reason is, I had a week or so with a soar throat of the worst. Other than that I was okay, so I kept working. The first time I sang with my soar throat it became really clear to me that singing is out of the question for me until I get better, since the note I intended to hit and the note that actually came out of me totally disagreed...

Anyway, I was hosting my busiest show on the Saturday of this same week. I let one of the regulars open up the show and just kept it to announcements the whole night. One elderly couple of which he was a singer too, and a great one by the way, came up to me as they leave to say good night. They also told me that they were kind of disappointed that I didn't sing and that was one of the reasons they like to come out to my show. I explained that I have a soar throat at the moment and it wouldn't be a pleasant experience to hear me sing at the moment.

Because of it, I started asking my regulars, singers and non-singers what they're thoughts are about me singing in the rotation. And to my surprise they were mostly positive. Some people sad they like it when I sing requests for them, others said it ads to the show if the hosts stays involved singing a tune here and there, and others said like the elderly couple before that it was one of the reasons they come out to my show, because they are enjoying hearing me sing. Go figure...

So now, I keep myself in the rotation until I hit 20 singers. This is usually the sweet spot where people start to get whiny about when they're up next. And I since explained it to the supporters that I just can't justify keeping myself in with 20 or more people and they are understanding.

There's only two places where I rarely sing / only sing the opening song, because we usually have 20+ singers from the get go and end up with somewhere around 40-50 singers each night. Only exception is if I am asked to do a duet with someone on their turn.

I guess it all depends on the regular crowd you have. Some don't like the host sing, others come out because of it... find a sweet spot where everyone is happy.

When a KJ asks a customer/singer if they have a problem with the KJ singing in the rotation; does he really expect to get an honest answer from the people who actually have a problem with it? It is just like when a woman asks a man if a particular outfit makes her look fat. No smart person is going to say what they really think. It's a no win situation.

You can rationalize it any way you like. If you have shows with 20 or more people in your rotation; trust me. More people would rather you didn't take a spot in the rotation. They just won't risk telling you so and wind up on the KJ's bad side. It's human nature.

I get honest answers, and complaints on one of my hosts that put himself at the top of each round on Fri & Sat. They wish he would not - it is busy enough for him not to be singing and taking up a spot that a paying customer could be using. I am going to have a talk/reprimand with him on Mon to stop it - again unless absolutely necessary or duet request.

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

You have no idea how much damage Pepsi can do to a keyboard when nose-spewed. The good news is that my sinuses are completely clear....

Fortunately ( or not ), I have been using a keyboard condom....

I may have to send you a recording of me doing both parts of "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" in retaliation...

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

This really depends on where you are at. In general, I'm singing at the top of the rotation... especially in the beginning, adjusting the sound system as I sing, to try and 'dial it in' for the room.

If the rotation is long, I'm out, except as filler for duets people want to sing. If you can sing as a host, use it to your advantage. People ask to sing duets with me all the time, and if I can I oblige them.

I also indulge a bit, and do bits with the 'talent'. If I have an especially entertaining singer, I will ask him or her to do a duet at the top of the rotation with me... IF I'm putting myself in as filler due to a short rotation.

I do like to set the pace, and keep things from turning into one boring ballad after the next. I like my shows exciting and high energy. People that come to bars where I'm working enjoy my shows even if they don't sing. I've said this time and time again, but I'll repeat it, as it is still said to me with frequency. "I don't like karaoke, but I really like your show."

I have come to not think of what I do as 'karaoke'. This is 'Music Entertainment.' I sing, i get others to sing, I dee jay mix and put together fun dance sets. The idea is a fun evening of music that everyone can enjoy. That's what I do. Some hosts may disagree, and some singers may not like this format. No problem, there are plenty of other place you can go. I only know that this format is successful for ME, and I have a healthy following because of it.

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Good music, good friends, howling good times!

I always sing the first song and start each rotation unless there are over ten singers.

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The Line Array Experiment is over. Nothing to see here. Move along.

In all seriousness, I will only sometimes sing the first some any longer. I use it as an opportunity to get news singers up. I work the audience before a show and try to get brand new folks up if I can. Otherwise, I will get a regular and suggest a song from their history to kick off the night. Occasionally I will kick things off myself.

-Chris

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-Chris

I sing first song, to get the sound right. I stay in rotation til I have seven singers. After that I may sing a song here and there. If it is a slow night I will stay in, and have been TOLD to by one of my bartenders.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

I should note though, that of the 7 venues we have, only 3 of them are set-up/tear-downs. All the rest are permanent installs, so the sound is pretty well lined out at those locations. The 3 other venues are tiny and easy to line out.

-Chris

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-Chris

Do you KJ at any of them on Fri/Sat nights? Pondering a future Seattle weekender or maybe something else too.

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"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

Yes, I sing at my show. In fact, I do a lot of hits from Barbara or Louise Mandrell. I also do Christian/Gospel number in the middle of my shows.

My shows are done seasonally from April - October in downtown Rogers at a local park where they are always having some kind of event going on.

As far as openers, it vary with each show. But mostly start off with songs like:

Gonna Have a Party by Alabama
In Times Like These by Barbara Mandrell
Fast Lanes and Country Roads by Barbara Mandrell
Fight by Amy Grant

Then I welcome everyone to Karaoke in the Park and invite folks to join and sing. Also with announcements of upcoming events in Northwest Arkansas.