Karaoke Forums

I went to a karaoke show a couple of months back and there was this individual (obviously intoxicated, but a regular) who heckled the daylights out of a singer. The singer went on, completely ignoring the heckling. Despite this, the kj did nothing to stop the heckling and even made a couple of disparaging remarks about the singer. Based on this, I don't think I am ever going back there again if the show is run this poorly. Have you ever experienced this (hopefully not at your own shows).

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tell the bartender on the MIC that if he keeps it up, he's cut off. (well, IF you have that kind of arrangement with the bar.) My bar owner/manager is totally dedicated to this as an entertainment form, and won't allow it. When they have bands, they won't allow it either!

We haven't had any heckling while the singer was singing but after the show was over I have had people come up and say thing about some of the singer in a loud enough voice that they were here by others. I along with the bartender made it a point of saying that we enjoy and welcome all singers now matter how the sound. If you don't like it..... Well theres the door...

If you make comments about karaoke being about having fun and don't heckle the singers yourself it cuts down a lot on heckling. Talking up a singer - even poor singers with 'nice try!', recommending something probably closer to their range, and things like that also help to stop the heckling.

I found that hecklers really come out when comments were made like 'Wow! You really murdered that one!', and 'Every dog in a 10 mile radius heard that one'. Heckling by the KJ/staff will bring out hecklers REAL fast.

Don't get me wrong, I've heckled a LOT in my time - but mostly at comedy shows. I was finally broken of it when I met my match at a comedy club, but I NEVER heckle at a show. I quietly say things like 'ouch' to someone beside me when I'm visiting someone elses show, go to the bathroom during that song, get some fresh air, etc. But I NEVER heckle and I ALWAYS clap.

The closest I come to heckling singers while doing a show is saying "We ALWAYS clap for EVERY singer. Sometimes because they're really great, sometimes just because they're done." I usually say it when a really good singer gets done and the response to singers is falling off a little.

I do heckle myself during a show... sometimes if it's slow I'll try a song I haven't done before and if I'm doing terrible I'll stop it short and say things like 'Now I remember why I don't sing artist. The suicide rate goes up.'

exactly.

I will heckle myself, or the bartender feels comfortable YELLING at me "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" I usually flip him the bird and we all bust a gut.

But I will never do that, and will sometimes remind people of that fact throughout the night.

"Guys, it takes a lot of courage (okay, some of it LIQUID courage) to get up here, grab a mic and basically put yourself on the chopping block. PLEASE respect the singers here. Everyone's a winner, nobody's a loser. Some may be better singers, but that doesn't mean we're not all here having a damn good time. In fact, give yourselves a big round of applause!"

Likewise, I will heckle myself on the rare times I sing during a slow show. Fortunately, other than that, I haven't had that problem. With the regulars, we will sometimes kid each other about what worked and didn't, but it's all in good fun. If someone does speak out in bad form, it's critical to nip it - preferrably off-mic IMO.

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Sounds Great! Entertainment
Bartlett, Illinois

On the rare occasion of someone heckling a particular singer, I make them a bet. I tell them that if they think it's so easy, I want them to come up and just READ (not sing) the words to a song. If they can do it perfectly, I'll buy them a drink.. If they make even one mistake, they have to buy a drink for the person they were heckling.

If they agree, the first words they will see on the screen are..."It's been one week since you looked at me, cocked your head to the side and said I'm angry..."

For a person that's just heckling in general, trying to get a laugh, I usually just embarass them and they shut up. I've done a little stand up comedy work, and can hold my own there.

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Spreading the karaoke gospel