Karaoke Forums

Occasionally I go to different karaoke shows, and if I feel like I get treated bad, I tend to change my song that will put on the brakes of the show.  Sort of a Cooler of the show.  My Cooler is Gordon Lightfoots "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" almost 7 minutes plus of a folk song about a boat sinking.  Most people just tend to go outside to get a smoke, others talk amongst themselves, and some end up just leaving (I usually do this song close to closing time).  And just to add some more of my point, I put a penny in the KJs tip jar.

So I was wondering anyone else have done this and what songs do you pick?

Well you must sing it (Edmund Fitz) really bad.  I on the other hand always get a good hand and congratulations on it.  In fact it gets requested quite often.

Added:  And up here you never ever dis Gordon.

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That is not very nice, trying to put the brakes on a show. Have you ever wondered why you get treated badly?

TOTALLY agree! I think it's rude to try to bomb a show. If you're not being treated fairly, sheesh, LEAVE!

First thing I got there, I was third right behind, that was pretty fast for a rotation which was a sign up sheet.  I sung my first song, which I thought was a good song for the demographic of the crowd, but since I was unknown barely a smatter of applause.  But then another hour and half went through and there were three or four people that sung twice and in different duets, there was major dead air when the KJ had to go from talking with his friends or the kiss up regulars to try and get themselves bumped up in rotation, I'm not one for complaining.  So I figuered to change my song to Edmund.  I did not sing it badly, but yet I didn't give 100% into putting on a good show.  If there was Alice's Restaurant I would have done that.

That's the first I've heard of somebody trying to torpedo a show.  That's messed up!!

With that said, though...there ARE songs...especially if not done particularly well...that make NTN look REALLY good!! [schild=random fontcolor=C0C0C0 shadowcolor=C0C0C0 shieldshadow=1]DUDE![/schild]

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If you don't like the show leave..... If you feel that the rotation is unfair than ask the kj........ If you don't like the Kj leave............... But sabotage of the show how rude...............

WOW I wondered what the topic would be that brought me out of hibernation!  This appears to be it..

Hrmm low class seems to come to mind on this one...I've never heard of someone purposefully trying to sabotage a karaoke show because they didn't get the applause they felt they deserved.
As with dang near all karaoke joints...if you're new, it takes awhile to get a "following" that will applaud you, whether you suck or not...unless you're absolutely amazing in which case, they'll applaud the first time they hear your pipes.

Now as a singer, I would never consider ever doing what you do...as a KJ...WOW...I run a very fair rotation but would honestly have to reconsider that with your attitude.  But as any good KJ can attest too....if you're a GOOD KJ...a "cooler" wouldn't ever put a stop to the show.  If you're good, you keep the show entertaining and fun for all....
Btw...lemme thank you now tho for choosing that song...I just got a full cigarette break instead of a partial one.

Nic

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Now you can successfully say you've sunk yourself here too. You have NO class...and NO gumption either. First off...SAY SOMETHING to the KJ...and if that doesn't work...leave.

Man..get an idea on how to behave. Just cuz you didn't get a standing ovation..sheesh.

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Often times in a bar scene, even on Karaoke night, people are busy talking, playing pool, whatever, and just don't take the time to applaude.. It's nothing personal.  But from your post, it sounds like you have some kind of attitude, and if that's the case, then people are going to react rude to you to show their point.Also, trying to sabatoge a show doesn't really serve a purpose because regulars and owners are usually going to back the KJ, and you just end up looking bad.....

And sidenote, my friend who was a KJ at that bar last year, but when the bar changed management this KJ company did an underbid and since the KJ company had 4-5 KJ sets that burn copies for those sets or work on computers only they can work cheaper as they are working in 4-5 different bars that nite.   And I did the Edmund song, since they don't allow my discs, about a month or so back.  And apparantly the KJ company really didn't make such a turnout on the other nights either.  So the bar asked back for my friends show.  And when my friend told me about the show, I told him about how they worked, about the dead air, the KJ being drunk, the less than 10 people rotation and how the rotation took a hour and half, the numerous duets where A & B sings then next it's B&D sings then C & A sings etc or how other drunks just get on stage and grab a mic to sing along while the KJ does nothing, and then how I put on the brakes.  My friend was laughing while saying how that was wrong but funny nonetheless.

So Rude yes I guess you can say that. But I doubt complaining wouldn't have done anything.

Give him a break.  He didn't exactly "sabotage" the show, even if he used those words.  Basically he sang a song he didn't think the crowd would like, just to spite them.  Who cares?  If he had got up at the mic and shouted a nonstop stream of profanity, or started smashing equipment, or tried to start a fight, that's different.  He just sang an unpopular song, that's all.  Relax.

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Two things come to mind

1) This is one of the song's I'd sit and listen to

2) Rather than look it this as rude (which it might be),  can't this be viewed as productive (at least in terms of what NOT to allow to happen to your show assuming a song can sabbotage crowd interests) ?  Meaning  (and I'm no KJ, and have no knowledge of KJ etiquette) Why would a KJ allow a song that's potentially bad for crowd energy level to show up in their library on a night they feel it might hinder crowd participation ?  Is it possible to not have certain types of music certain nights being aware of crowd reactions ? First thing I think of, is (personally) if a young energetic kid crowd was at a bar, I would not have Bobby Goldsboro's "Honey" or Gilbert O'Sullivan's "Alone again, naturally" readily available for some melancholy baby-boomer who's wife just left him, (and he's on a "poor me" trip) to sing, and "bum out" my crowd on a jamming friday night.  Can't a KJ take into consideration that certain things are a no-no, given a particular setting ?  If I was doing a wedding, and it was conservative, and some young kid came up and asked me to put "I'm an @**hole" on, and dedicate the song to the brides father, I'd consider twice. Not sure how much control the KJ want's, or should have of his format, yet my guess is, if this person brings up a situation that can potentially "bomb" a show.  Why would anyone allow such a situation to arise if they have some control of the situation, and are now aware of such a tactic working just in lieu of putting a style of music on, during an inappropriate time ?  I'd no longer have that song available on a weekend night.. ..  As to his intent ?  Yeah, it's wrong...Yet this might shed some light on what a few other's can do too...and it IS avoidable if people are abit insightful...Can you just say, "Sorry, I don't have that library with me weekend nights?"

There *ARE* music stores that have a "No Stairway to Heaven" sign posted in the guitar room, the store will chance alienating the person that loves this song, for the sanity of the rest of the folks (employee's included). Some song's, and styles aren't always appropriate given a venue and crowd.... (just a thought)

Song style can and does evoke different emotions in the listener. If you change the nature of this original post to "Trouble you CAN potentially get into by drastically changing a format of music to something your crowd might hate", this can be productively turned around. Who's responsibility is this to try to prevent ?  The requesting party ? or the KJ hosting the venue ?

JMO.... (I haven't a clue, but just a thought)

I agree that the intent to alienate a venue is wrong, however I see a solution to this. Additionally, a selection *I* might wish to sing that WOULD NOT be with intent to alienate might very well alienate.. I love the Delfonic's Song, "Didn't I blow your mind this time".... This song would NOT go over will with the KORN loving crowd.. My intent would not be to alienate anyone, however the song still MIGHT !   Food for thought ! I love Harry Chapin stuff, yet THAT TOO would likely alienate certain crowds...How diverse can the KJ be realistically given his settings? If I have a radio slot, and I'm trying to appeal to the jazz listener, will I put on "Deep Purple" because a caller request's it ?  HELL no.

I think this can be turned around, and made into an informative thread, despite what the actual intent of the OP was or is...When I did lounge work, and was in bands we *DID* at times have to say to someone, "I'm sorry, but that particular song (even though I personally love it) isn't what management would want us to do here currently" (Both myself, and two horn player's were suspended from Jr. High Orchestra for having a tough time preventing our instruments from playing part of AWB's "Cut the Cake", during a school recital, it was REALLY good too, Sounded pretty funky on String Bass)  Some styles just don't work in certain settings :(



Now that's cold !  I suppose if I kept hounding a KJ to sing Tony Orlando's "Tie a Yellow Ribbon", he'd end up treating me pretty poorly too of course. Although as a last song, might be the easiest way to clean out a rowdy bar...who know's.

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

I was going to stay farrrrrrr away from this, but now that I've had a chance to read it all, I say........big deal?
Yes, it was a bit distasteful to brag that a show was sabotaged deliberately, but I don't see what the sabotage was? To sing a 7 minute song? Whoopdedooo.
I can somehow relate to the negative response that he received at a show, or no response at all, but I didn't really have much of an after-thought when it happened to me once.
I went into a local karaoke joint in my town once. It must've been an all country crowd that night. Couples wearing cowboy hats, leather, boots, etc...
I'm more of a rock singer than anything else, call me crippled, I won't cry.
I attempted a couple of my usual songs and when I finished, people just kind of stared at me funny. Talk about nervous sweating.
I didn't leave. Then later, I got up and did a George Strait song and everyone clapped. I was more embarrassed than anything then. When I sat down again, the cowboy hat couple said.....ohhhh, that was much better than that stuff you were doing before! I just agreed and all was cool.
But actually, later, when I thought about it, I was like, how rude of those people to dis my music, then praise me when I sang their genre!
This place is a scanky little hole in the wall joint that is not very appealing anyway, but I've been there a couple of times. The karaoke and seating area is only about 12'x24' with the stage at one end....about enough room for one cowboy to sing with 2 limited space challenged couples dancing, and there was a fist fight over a woman both times I was there.
Anyhow, my point is, even though it seemed awkward to me while I was there, it didn't make me want to get some kind of revenge, I just won't go back! End of story. No love lost. I'm glad I made it out alive.  :biggrinthumb:  :wave:

We really don't have these issues where I sing..  A lot of very different people all living in harmony.  We sing all Genres.  Heck I range from Cher, to Trisha Yearwood, Supremes and Metallica (enter Sandman).  We never know what we are going to get...I even do a very long song myself (total Eclipse of the heart, Long version)...

It's interesting where I go, we do have everything from cowboys, to rockers, straight, gay, lesbian, all colors of the rainbow, old (up to 82) and young (before 9 you can come in if you are under 21)....We have a lot of people that IMHO just come to people watch because it is such a diverse crowd...And a lot of very good singers...

Sorry, I just can't relate to the home bar....I can tell you that it is weird for me to go sing somewhere where I don't know anyone...That's always interesting...

Call me old and set in my ways I guess..........

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[shadow=darkblue]Well, if you wanted to tank a show, you couldn't have picked a better song...

Sorry you felt you were treated poorly. You never know why these things occur but let's always try to treat people the way we'd want to be treated.

A 7-minute folk song...I should laugh but that's just...mean [/shadow]LOL

You could laugh if you like but be careful where you're at when you do it.  The song may have no meaning in Georgia, however throughout Canada and I daresay the states which border the Great Lakes (afterall it was 29 American sailors who lost their lives) it has a lot of meaning (and is NOT a 7 minute folk song as you call it).  With an attitude like that in those areas could net you a black eye.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

[shadow=midnightblue]The author of this post referred to the song as a Seven-Minute Folk song!  Their description not mine. I HATE folk music! I have the right to HATE folk music and to say so. Well, anyway.. I suppose you've been offended. For that, and only that, I apologize...but his words not mine. I'll try to remember to bring my boxing gloves.

...P.S.

Southern Belles are scrappy[/shadow]

HEhe... I like that Keedeeg, the scrappy southern belles thing! I grew up in the poorest of three towns that are all 15miles apart (seperated by a bridge) in NorCal. It's the "white trash" neighborhood... so I decided that I wasn't just "white trash." I'm the "White Trash Mafia" ... .

Amanda

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