Karaoke Forums

I am trying to keep up with the singers showcase subs. It is very hard to think of something original to say everytime. They are going to catch-on that I'm recycling my comments, or may feel that my comments are uninspired. There are just too many good singers!

I love to hear people sing, good, bad or otherwise. I like to offer encouraging words since they stepped out of their cone of anonymity to perform for us. Maybe I’m just a kiss-up and need the practice but I really do enjoy listening to all of the singers here.

I may have to switch to a message like this, “Dear singer, I enjoyed your sub, if you feel you have reached this recording in error, please check the sub and sub again or ask your administrator for assistance.”

Any suggestions on what to say short not commenting would be helpful.

How about, "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain."  Or maybe you could write a macro in word that would randomly insert an adjective into a standard comment.

I haven't posted any comments either.  But based on some of the stuff I've seen that's not so unusual.  Are you perchance suffering from one of those syndromes where you feel you have to please everybody all the time?  You'll drive yourself crazy!

If it'll make you feel any better, if I ever get around to posting a sub I won't expect you to comment.  I won't mind.  Honest.

Larry

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"Life is too short for diet soda and lite beer"

Macro, good idea. People pleaser syndrome, I'll bet you're right. I'll try taking a break from it for a few days to see what thoughts enter my head. That should tell me a lot.

I'm also gonna quit allowing comments for my subs too. I think it will save people the trouble that I'm having.

Thanks lbister.

Hey, I'm just here to help.  And it seems to me that anyone who would have a photo taken of himself taking a photo of himself with his cell phone camera could use some help and understanding.  But take heart, you've got a lot of friends here.  I predict there will soon be a groundswell of support for you to post photo that actually shows your manly mug.

Larry

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"Life is too short for diet soda and lite beer"

I ate a sub once. It was good. Tuna fish. Yum.[glow=tomato][/glow][highlight=cadetblue][/highlight] Here is a pic of me dancing to the left.  I'm good looking, huh?

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Who loves ya baby?

I laughed so hard here I can't describe it. I'll say this though, milk shot out of my nose. I haven't had a glass of milk in months.

I hate when that happens!  :shock:

I feel your pain Chuck!  Sometimes I feel like I'm just using the same words over and over.. some of us have to make up new words.. like: "beeeeeeeeeeautiful!!!!!" "fantabulous!!!!!" "woooooohoooooo!!!!!!" and of course... for rock songs.. the universal "YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!" Notice exclamations!!!!!!!!!

Naaah  :no: ... just be yourself .. you are bound to repeat yourself but that's ok.. people just love to know you listened and commented. If you don't want to comment don't. It can be a full time job to sub a song.. answer the comments on your sub.. go comment on other subs.. frankly I don't know how some people do it on a regular basis! It can keep you glued to your computer for a long time. It's probably best to just comment when you are inspired to do so...  :wave:

Say it with a T-shirt !

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Point one, Shakespeare made up words, why can't we?

Point two, I was stuck for hours on end trying to comment on all the songs that came-up for nearly three days. I think they won't mind if I "reel it in a little".

I for one have appreciated your comments - thank you for taking
the time to listen to my songs  :hug:

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[shadow=pink][glow=deepskyblue]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

Problem I have in Singer's Showcase (now-adays) when I listen,  Is the temptation to PM a person who post's in "C" constructive criticism.  Rather than going with the flow and throwing flowers,  I say nothing to those that post in "C" anymore.  Too many friendship's can get disrupted, but being a life-long and professional musician, I won't lie, just as I don't like being lied to. Critiquing is a thought out process. It doesn't take only 10 or 15 minutes.  It's not as easy as playing in these bboards. Not as care-free. It's investing oneself, and certainly the last thing a person wants is to find out Critique was not wanted, it was really only casual comments the individual submitting their work wanted.  Almost everyone who posts in "C" can use some improvement, because in real life, ALL of us can stand for some improvment most of the time.  People that post in "C" are asking how they can improve.  Few that request "C" realize this.

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Thus my second problem. I say nice things always but I only speak about the good points. When they ask for constructive criticism I have trouble myself. I have recomended to one singer to try backing off of the mic a touch. That is as critical as I've been able to be.

Thanks, this is the answer I needed to hear. If I can't be honest when an honest opinion is called for maybe I should not offer an answer at all.

Telling a person that the mic is  too close may only be one of the problems. They might need to breath correctly and telling them this may be what they wish to hear.

If I were speaking to this person face-to-face, I could tell them that. I have done that in the past because I can tell better if I can really help or if I should just be supportive.

EDIT: I,I,I,I,I, the message didn't have enough I statements to suit me. I feel better now.

This has been discussed elsewhere but you have identified one of the drawbacks of electronic communication; you can write the words but the meaning of words often requires body language, vocal inflection, etc. to assist in the interpretation.  Even then interpersonal communication can be a chancy thing.

If I ever get around to posting anything, feel free to say whatever you like.  I'm not only pretty thick skinned I'm also very aware of my many and varied shortcomings.  Blantantly personal attacks are another thing altogether but I haven't seen anything on this site to indicate that this bunch would engage in that sort of thing.

All the same, I'm not willing to take chances so I'll likely follow your policy when it comes to making comments.

Larry

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"Life is too short for diet soda and lite beer"

Skip this post if it seems too long. It is only here for people who have nothing better to do at the moment.

There are a lot of truly good singers here. Everyone I've heard so far has impressed me in one way or another.

If I go to the singer's showcase In the future, I may try to email the singers who ask for real criticism and offer it if they wish. I prefer not to do that where the world can see. This is a big part of the practice in my new way of looking at things.

The old me was paranoid and rigid. Weak to the core except when emotional strength was really necessary. I could muster it up on occassion.

I am much more fun now. My purpose is to be fun for me first and maybe for other people too if they don't "Rain on My Parade" or "Harsh My Buzz".

When I found out recently that the world is not as bad as I thought it was and consequences of my and other people's actions were not as extreme as I expected, my life got many times better.

There is still 20 to 40 years left here for me. It is time to change tracks and do it my way, the way I want to, not the way I think I have to. (If this doesn't make sense on its own then count yourself lucky)

I think you may have left mediocrity behind some time ago.  Maybe I'm going to have to start calling you Chuck after all.  Even though Aspires to Mediocrity is sitll a killer username.

Larry

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"Life is too short for diet soda and lite beer"

So true, I did see it mentioned before. Sometimes I catch it the second time around instead of the first. Fortunately I did get it this time.

Good point Larry. There are a few I think can be more open with as far as criticism.

I'm at a point now,  where I've been speaking with most I know in here for over a year, everyday, often for long durations.  If I hear a person going sharp in particular areas of a song they are singing, if I hear something that would sound better with more "feeling", different dynamics or even just less reverberation, if I hear something that I don't feel is best suited for a particular persons vocal timbre, style etc, if ANYTHING is noticeably off in terms of their musicianship, and they ask for a Critique,  I want to be able to give them a constructive careful analysis,  what this means is my presentation will not be crass, or offensive, it will contain BOTH positives, and what I feel can stand for improvement.  Otherwise I'm lying to them by covering up what it is I'm afraid to tell them, and often-times, what this means is they will continue to hammer out song after song making the same ugly mistakes.

Unfortuneately, this is what most are content doing,  putting their work on display for ANYONE online anyplace in the world to listen to, and get false encouragement to continue to make an (@$%&#!) out've themselves (in some cases), this is the reality. Public performance YOU ARE JUDGED by most ! Otherwise sing in your shower. Singer's Showcase is a PUBLIC DISPLAY of both talent, and LACK of ability and talent alike, for the WHOLE world to hear.  I don't like seeing my friends make asses out've themselves, unless like myself,  they at times are only intending to do just that..My self-deprecating humor is a reason I poke fun of my own singing ability, I'm not really that bad... Yet I'm certainly nowhere good enough to put my work on display.  This is my personal choice. I grew up with it being instilled that a performance (unless you are a comedian) is a means of displaying something you do at least VERY well, actually this doesn't preclude being a comedian, that is about the toughest area. If it isn't something you really feel you can be proud of, don't "perform" for all to hear, Singer's Showcase is NOT a closed venue.  It's highly visible to the online world.

In most cases people listening you DO NOT know, are both hearing and exchanging harsh criticism of your actual ability/inability. Hence, someone I have to throw flowers at, and lie too isn't in actuality "A friend", and in supplying them with false praise, I'm not being a friend..If I go into singer's showcase to listen to someone,  it's because I either know them, or have alot of experience (often firsthand performing the song they've submitted as an accompanist professionally)..  If I can't be honest with a person who supposedly asks for Scrutiny of their work, in an area I have a lifetime of training and exposure in, (but feel it's better to mislead them by skating issues) They aren't "Friends", they are fairweather online folks I can't be honest with. I personally, am tired of seeing the incessant lies to those posting  for Critique... Reason being,  either way it's wrong..

1)  If they can in fact handle the Critique you are doing them a disservice by taking
    the easy way out, and telling them how great they are.  How's that a Critique ?

2)  If they can't handle a Critique, I'd like to be able to tell them, "Just keep this
    for fun", you aren't really as good as you are being led on to believe you are.
    So,  If you wish to live in a fantasy world, don't ask for scrutiny of your work.


JMHO,  Singer's Showcase is a fantasy forum where some continue to make fool's of themselves, and TRULY DO believe the 9.9999999999999998 average rank they have next to their name (on the 300 submitted songs) is genuine.  Other's are good singer's, Very few after submitting 50+ songs are 9's in terms of musicianship, and general quality of their work.  But in Singer's Showcase,  "You too can sing like the Pro's", and even get lied to when you ask for HONEST Critique !

JMO...

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

That said,  I want to add that there's a VERY high percentage of talent in the singer's showcase,  MANY should be proud of their work.  Yet assuming some other's in that venue DO NOT wish to be putting their neck on the chopping block, and sounding really atrocious at times,  Singer's Showcase is the last place you will find out who's who. Unfortuneately this goes beyond electronic communication, Lying is lying. Even in real life, in real bars, supposed friends are humiliated by friends who they don't feel comfortable in telling,  "Please don't get up on stage, you suck".., what happens is they roll their eyes in the audience and lie, while some howling fool is making a jackass out've him/herself. Just a form of legal indecent exposure. Those I compliment, I GENUINELY do believe have done an excellent job. Oftentimes, people (depending on their genre, and ability level) excede my ability to actually effectively critique.  If I say excellent work, it's heartfelt.  Not just offering Kudo's for having the ball's to get on stage... A critique CAN be positive, yet if you hear something off, you MUST mention it, otherwise you aren't being honest.  You aren't helping another person to improve as a singer.

To answer your question Chuck,  what I've done is the following,  since unfortuneately SS is a polictical venue meaning (if you want listeners, you must listen to others)....  Leave a light comment, and also include something (if you wish) comparable to what you already mentioned, such as, "If you want a critique PM me, or let me know,  I'd be happy to let you know a few things I observed IN PRIVATE"

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Very good point Kappy. I didn't even realize that I went against one of my own rules in doing so.

Also the injustice done in telling only good points and leaving out bad points has been done to me. I should recognize it when it do that to other people. I totally missed that.

I know first hand. For example, my wife and her friends give me an unreal idea of what I look like. They tell me nice things about myself. That is very sweet but I really have trouble believing any of it. The important thing is that my wife seems to believe it. That is all that matters to me.

I'm not actually fishing for compliments here. I wouldn't believe them anyway. This was just the only example I could think of.

I would love someone to truly critique me. I do like the idea of it in a pm.
I really don't care if anyone else sees it. I just don't want the person critiquing me
getting bashed for it, since it does not seem to be the exepted norm. I do have some breathing problems in some songs and points where I know I'm sharp, but no one has pointed them out. I record the song once with no editing, so it is hard to keep from making mistakes. When I first subbed I thought for sure people would comment on it. Believe me I'm not complaining about the wonderful remarks. It does give you a boost. But some honest constructive critism is nice. I do sing in front of people a lot and would love to know where I can improve.

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[shadow=pink][glow=deepskyblue]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]