Karaoke Forums

The nature of the crime speaks volumes.

David Moye
Reporter, The Huffington Post

Posted: 10/26/2015 04:48 PM EDT

Volusia County Sheriffs Office

The only record this karaoke singer will ever have is a criminal one.

A man in DeBary, Florida, was arrested Thursday morning after police said he assaulted a karaoke DJ at Blackie's Bar.

Joshua Fort, 26, was performing the Jay Z and Justin Timberlake jam "Holy Grail' with another man, when he sounded a discordant note at the job being done by DJ Omar Isaac, according to the Daytona Beach News-Journal.

Police said when Isaac didn't pump up the volume on Fort's microphone, the suspect responded in a way that speaks volumes.

First, Fort grabbed the DJ’s laptop computer and slammed it shut. Then witnesses said the suspect threw a glass at Isaac that hit the DJ on the side of his head.

Fort is also accused of pulling the DJ to the dance floor and throwing him on the ground there, according to WNDB.com.

Fort fled the scene, but later turned himself into the Volusia County Jail, where he was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. He was released on $5,000 bond.

The suspect told police he ran from the karaoke bar because because he “knew he was going to be in trouble” and that “everyone would point fingers at him,” according to a police report obtained by WNDB.com.

Before his arrest, he was treated at a local hospital for injury to his left hand.

Because the alleged crime centered around karaoke, the Florida Sun-Sentinel suggested the suspect be shipped off to Sing Sing.

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Earl
(BS, PHD & Certified CurmuDJeon)

[font=Times New Roman]"Growing Old may be mandatory... but growing UP is still optional."[/font]

OMG some seriously bad puns in there... ugh!

But yes, I can see this happening. There was actually a guy at my show who carried actual business cards that read Professional Karaoke SINGER (not host) for private and public events with his phone number and email, he was dead serious! I wish I still had the card, I'd post it. God forbid the echo or volume wasn't 'right' for him, he would be on you all night!

Sometimes idiots with a little too much booze revving the engine is all it takes for a fight to break out. It's happened at my show more then once, thankfully people are tossed before things got serious.

When you are working in places serving booze this sort of nonsense is going to happen from time to time.

I ought to do this.

The way I see it, I'm so bad at singing that if I got up to sing, it would encourage everyone to think "hell, if *this* guy will get up and do it, I might as well."

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Co-host of The Greatest Song Ever Sung (Poorly), a karaoke-themed podcast

I get that he's a professional singer in the sense that people (presumably) pay him to sing as entertainment at weddings and such.

I also get that maybe he uses karaoke-style "minus lead" backing tracks for his performances--I've heard of lots of people who do that, and there's definitely a place and a market for it.

What I don't get is why he would call himself a "Professional Karaoke Singer." Why not just "Professional Singer"? What benefit does he get from adding the word "karaoke" to his title, other than (possibly) being more accurate about just how he goes about his business?

It's SC's fault. Everything is. At least according to some.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

His lawyer probably suggested it as a CYA move. If he messes up a line he can claim -

1) My card CLEARLY States that I am a professional KARAOKE singer, NOT a professional singer

2) As a Professional "Karaoke" singer, NOT a professional singer, I am not actually expected to or required to know all the words to all the songs I sing.

3) One of your guests switched the karaoke channel I was on to a sports channel mid song. Not my fault since I could no longer read the words onscreen.

3) My lawyer will be contacting you as your guest caused me public shame and embarrassment.

I did this on a regular basis for a while. I had a few places I'd do two 30-45 minute sets during happy hour. I still mix in a % of live performances when I DJ weddings, depending on what the couple wants. I did a free three song set for a safety day\Halloween event at work yesterday. So there is definitely a place for it if people look. I don't have business cards though..