Karaoke Forums

I found a fantastic lounge in San Jose, CA that I frequented a lot and most of the regulars are all over 50 years old. The good news is that they love to hear the great songs of the old crooners or the new Michael Buble type of artist. I am doing contract work in Portland, OR and am trying to find a venue that has a similar following. No offense to anyone in this forum, but quite often I find myself in dive bars that cater to young college types and/or rowdy "pick a fight" type drunks or those who sing gangsta rap, and hip hop. Does anyone know of a place in Portland that caters to an older crowd? Again, no judgement, it's just my particular preference. I've gone to many bars already and haven't found what I had yet in San Jose. Thanks in advance.

I hear ya...not sure about your area but around here normally the older crowd clears out early. Have you tried the various places at the start of the evenings?

Here's a list you can check. Don't know how up to date it is.

[url]http://www.barflymag.com/portland/search/?fc[]=KO&area_id=&zip=&qbar=&time_start=[/url]


I've found in my travels that there are lots of pirate bars that do not advertise simply because they do not want to attract attention. Asking locals at other bars or supermarkets may turn up some of these if you're really jonesing to sing somewhere.

Fraternal organizations are a good bet for week night karaoke and you can usually get signed in by offering to buy an arriving member a drink.

[quote="jruder"]I hear ya...not sure about your area but around here normally the older crowd clears out early. Have you tried the various places at the start of the evenings?[/quote]
"Clears out early," is a relative term as most of the karaoke I've been part of starts at 9 or 9:30 pm on weekdays! Another pet peeve of mine. You can sometimes only get one song in before it's time for the Tonight Show. People gotta go to work, don't they? Come to think of it, most of the singers in San Jose were retired, and that venue at least starts at a reasonable 8 pm. Where are you writing from?

[/quote]
Here's a list you can check. Don't know how up to date it is.

[url]http://www.barflymag.com/portland/search/?fc[]=KO&area_id=&zip=&qbar=&time_start=[/url]
[/quote]
Great list and will take some time experimenting with these places. Many are out of date, but this is a big step forward. Hopefully I can find a place with more geriatric types like myself who enjoy the old songs (1960's songs are old too - I sing 40's - 70's; stopped listening to new music around the beginning of disco). Thanks for the help!

The problem is that nasty word "change"
Krokers as a group do not respond well to change.
They will (@$%&#!) and (@$%&#!) about something and then when you give them what they want they don't support it.

Start Earlier! Start Earlier!
You advertise you will now start 2 hours earlier.
No one shows up till the regular old time . . . for weeks, even months.
Bar owner can't afford to wait the needed amount of time to ingrain the fact that the show now starts earlier and pulls the plug on the early start.

Krokers immediately (@$%&#!) that "We loved the early weekday start, Why did you stop?"

Amazing I still have most of my hair!

All my shows are "For Older Singers".... I'm in Florida! Only the true bars, with little or no food, start at 9 to 10 PM around here. Typical start times are 6 to 7 PM and most of my singers show up an hour or two before that.

I am packed up and home before 10:45. Life is good. Oh, and all my shows are 3 hours with above average pay per evening. Never a fight, spilled drinks, or damaged gear.

Life is good (it's worth saying it twice).

In Portland and surrounding areas....take a look at THE SPARE ROOM, with Danny Chavez early weekdays, certain weekend days...check their FB or website. Also Danny Chavez at the New Pheonix Casino in La Center, Washington.

Big Mike in Troutdale. And at Spirit Mountain Casino in Grande Rhonde on the way to the coast (This one especially caters to an older crowd and is usually done by 10 pm)

Rivershore Hotel in Oregon City....Fridays.

Karaoke with Sal in Sherwood on Sat nights.

These seem to be a bit more acclimatized for older Karoakeers.

The bulk of Karaoke places are geared towards younger crowds. Will just have to try different places to see. Have been many closures of long-time karaoke places of late. Don't know if this is due to SC lawsuits or just shaking-out and over saturation of karaoke.

Are U living in Portland now?

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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

The Barfly mag isn't going to be of much help to you. Best to go on YELP and do a search for Portland Karoake Bars and see which ones have recent reviews and try investigate those for possibilities.

Some others you may try: The Ambassador, The Alibi, Chopsticks 1, 2, 3, Tre (on Monday eves), Boilerroom, Heritage (on 82nd).

VFW post in SE Portland has it.....older crowd....but you will have to be signed in as a guest...private club.

Again most all are younger crowds...so probabaly will have to get over that.

Many Chinese restaurants have Karaoke.

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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

One tip...The Ambassador, Chopticks, Tre....all owned by same guy and has required that his karoaoke assortments are all "SANITIZED" of foul language and rap selections. They are all well kept places and not DUMPS. So these will probably be your best bets...good sound systems and stages too. Good assortments also. Excellent Chinese food to go along with it to.....so you can make it you evening out destination. I'd start at the AMBASSADOR first....Its where I take any Karaoke guest who is from out of town (ie Chris Avis, etc).

_________________
"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