Karaoke Forums

I thought I would explain the reasons I/we sing at karaoke.   For some of the non KJs.

1.  We sing to test the equipment and set the operating volume.
2.  We sing when no one else is ready.  
3.  We sing because we work for the bar.   The biggest part of our job is to keep the non singers in the bar from falling asleep and leaving, from hearing too many love songs, slow songs, country songs in a row.   I have had people ask me if "Only country music was aloud to be sung."  After a long string of country songs.    If the singers weren't boring everybody, we wouldn't have to sing.
4.  We sing to break the monotony of a string of bad singers.    Nobody can stand to hear all bad singers, all night.   So some talent will be appreciated.
5.  We sing because part of our job is to keep the singers in the bar a little longer.   Most singers have 3-5 songs that they sing over and over, night after night.   If the rotation is too small, they will sing their entire repertoire in the first hour.  Then they will have nothing to sing and they might leave.
6.  We sing a song and screw it up intentionally, so everyone that is afraid to sing will say "If they can screw it up, I'll give it a try."   I may get more people to sing.
7.  We sing if someone wants to hear a song.   We take a mike to them and tell them, we will help them sing it.  May get another junky to come every week.
8.  We sing to control the crowd.   If they are crawling on the ceiling from too many heavy metal or other wise wild songs, we bring them back to earth before they get out of our control.    
9.  We sing because it's fun.   Do you ever have fun at your job?    If it stops being fun, I don't want to do it and you won't have a place to sing.    Our people working for us want to sing, so it's fun for them, too.    If they are good employees, we want to keep them happy and if that means singing a few songs during the night, guess what?   They're singing.   They're not stealing the show or singing any more than anyone else.   Happy employees are good employees.   If you don't like it spend $50,000 on a system and discs and not sing at your show.   See how long you will want to, not sing night after night.

So stop crying and sing.    Don't begrudge the person bringing you and everyone else all of this fun, their little bit of it.    We are only human.    Don't you think we should have any fun?   Who the %&$#@ do you think you are?

Any more questions?     Sing two songs and call me in the morning.    :whistle:

Wow, that was my 700 post.    Arf, arf, arf.....

I agree with most of the above. I always sing the first song of the night. I SAY that it is to test my equipment, but after 2 years in the same bar, I know everything is set correctly, so that is a little white lie. I really do like to sing, which is why I got into this in the first place!! I do, however, always start off with a mid-tempo, average song to make sure I don't scare anyone off. After that, I ONLY sing when the roation is under 5 people and my turn comes up (again, I can say it is to keep the regulars there longer, but the real reason is just because I like to sing!!), and when someone specifically requests that I do a song. Otherwise, I think it is better business overall for the KJ to stay out of the mix. My filler music keeps the non-singers interested and 95% of the singers know the drill and don't complain about long rotations, especially since my rotation is 100% fair and has been 100% consistent for 2 years.

But damn, do I love to sing!!

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C Mc
KJ, FL

My karaoke partner contends that we sing because, "it's our stuff (equipment)."  I guess that about sums it up.  Actually I think the hardest part of any karaoke show is not singing.

Our drill is that we each sing a song at the beginning.  If we don't have slips from anyone we sing some more until we do.  If there is a lull where we don't have slips, we'll sing but that rarely happens.

We generally do take a least one break during the night.  We'll each sing a song when we come back from that.

Larry

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

Only time I will sing is the first song out.

Anymore than that is because I don't have any singers yet or by a request or requested duet.  Anything under 5 singers I may sing every other round, anything over 5 singers, I pull myself out entirely.  I'm not the star of the show, the customer is & if they can get up more because I pull myself, that's my goal!

If there is enough time to close the show, I may do that but usually I end it at the end of a rotation.

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I too sing the first song. I don't sing the rest of the night unless the rotation is low,
I need to pick up the pace or someone tips me to sing. My main goal is to keep as many people happy as possible. Usually this means getting in as many singers as possible, so they don't have to wait 2 hours to sing.

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

Glad to see you back Bab's ....how was the cruise?

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FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

It was wonderful - I didn't want to leave!

Did you hear on the news about the Princess Cruise ship that tilted to
it's side? Yikes  They are so lucky they weren't out in deep ocean.

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

TopherM, what's wrong with you singing the "filler" music.    A song is a song whether you sing it or play it.  (same amount of time)  Can't make anybody any madder.   If in their mind, you're wasting their singing time with filler music or you're the one singing the song you would have just played anyway.

I'm not saying we sing all night.     But If this becomes just another boring job, who wants to do it?    But I want to make sure the nonsingers have a reason to stay.   They have to be entertained and the regular singers sometimes don't accomplish that, with their boring selections.     You'll have to admit that the average singer has a very limited selection.    I know people that have been singing the same 5 songs for the past 10 years.   Give it a rest and pick a new one out.   Holy crap there are over 9,000 to pick from.   Just 1 new one a year, would help.

One more point.... If people come with me and they sing, so what.  Why shouldn't they?   9 of 10 they are buying their drinks, just like you.   That makes them a customer, just like you.   They aren't singing anymore than you or any less.   Why should they?    NO favoritism is shown towards them, just like you.

That letter in a little different form also says that if the bartenders/owners want to sing, I say why not.   If it keeps a good bartender happy.   People like to hear the bartenders/owners sing.   It connects everybody more.     It's not about being selfish or a show off.   It's about "EVERYBODY" being happy and having fun.  

One more thing in the letter.   It says that if you don't let the person doing the job sing, they may just quit working for me (because it's not any fun) and you may end up not having anybody to do your karaoke.   I don't have an endless supply of workers.    What if you lose your best bartender, because you won't let them sing? Everyone is a better worker if they are happy doing their job.    

I'm not allergic to having fun, so don't act like I should be or try to make me feel guilty about it, Mr/Mrs Your Cutting Into My Singing Time.   Elton John gets paid thousands of dollars more than I do to sing, does that mean he's not aloud to have fun doing it?     "NO FUN" isn't in my contract.

No 'filler' music here.  Like I said, if there are no singers, then I sing until we get them - don't happen often, but on rare occasions.



Our non-singers are generally there for karaoke as well & don't mind the 'average' singers.  We are a karaoke club - 7 nights per week, advertised on the main sign, advertised everywhere in the bar, people know what goes on from the get go.  But I whole heartidly agree with singers trying/learning new songs.



If people come with you, they should be allowed to sing just like anyone provided they aren't getting any special treatment or more turns than anyone else.



Our club disallows employees to sing on duty, they are generally too busy serving customers.



If someone need to sing while they work, they maybe should rethink how important their job is in the first place.  What would they be doing if karaoke wasn't there?  Working!  If the club allows bartenders to sing, go for it.   



I am not being paid to sing, I am being paid to host a karaoke show for the paying customers.  It is my job.  I will only sing in circumstances i've stated.  If I want to sing, I will come in on my night off & do just that.

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dont want to highjack the thread so Ill say this first ...I hate filler music unless it's something you cant dance too.   just lastnight I saw the crowd get up and start dancing to the filler music and the K/J killed it before it ended and people were upset. If I have to use filler music Ill try to use something you can't dance to and with no words in it... just my 2 cents

now for this Highjacking part



I go on a cruise every October by myself and can't wait for this year this will be my 5th cruise in 3 years.

actually the people that were not  hurt on that Princess cruise made out pretty good...it was the last leg of a 9 day cruise.. that means they had all the fun of the whole cruise for 8 days ....have all the pictures and video's of their shore excursions. Now Princess is going to refund everybody their entire cost of the cruise and pay to get them home.. and probably they will get major discounts or free cruise's...Besides all the law suit money they will probably scam out of Carnival the owner of Princess cruise lines....

I cruise out of Port Canavral where this happened. if you haven't been on a cruise you should try it ..it is a total blast. They have Karaoke on most ships.
Im hooked.


Crystal I will send you a picture of my Tan

THere's a difference between filler music (playing entire songs) & transition music (the time for one singer to leave stage & next singer to come up).  The transition music should only be loud enough to hear - just to keep a positive flow going, but not too loud to be able to talk over & make my announcements.  If it's a long song ending, i'll just use that as the transition music till the next singer gets up.  Once they are there, i'll fade out the old into the new.  I use everything from 40's - today, even include comedy songs & tv theme songs as well.  It's on a computer running through OTSDJ program in a random mode in an auto dj mode so everything blends back to back perfectly.  Rarely get anyone upset if I cut the song anymore - they are trained to know better  :whistle:

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Wow, what a thread!  Just want to throw my two nickels worth in...

I run karaoke because I like to sing, If I start running gigs where I don't get to sing, then I'll quit having fun and throw in the towel.

That being said, I run a very fair show.  I'll always sing the first song of the night.  If the rotation is 5-6 people or less, I'll put myself in the rotation.  Anymore than 6 people then I'll put myself in after every two or three rotations.  However, if  the rotation is an hour or longer I'll stay out of it.  Every once in a while I'll throw a song in to break up a streak of slow songs, but only if I haven't sang more than 1 or 2 all night.

Sometimes I'll even start my show early and allow myself to get 2 or 3 songs in before I "officially" start my gig.  That way I won't feel cheated if I have a busy night and don't get to sing.

No filler or transition music here.  Usually calling out the next three in the rotation, plugging the bars future events, supporting the bartender or throwing out a one-liner.

My thawts on the "average people"; the singers that aren't very good or the one's who sing the same songs all the time.  Sure I may cringe every once in a while when someone is violating my microphone, but these people are the foundation of our gigs.  Without the average singer, we wouldn't have enough singers to warrant our pay as a KJ.  These singers show up every night, sing, drink, spend money, and enjoy themselves.   Singing brings a rush of adrenaline even if it is the same song.   It's like riding a roller coaster.  Even though the roller coaster never changes, you still like to ride it over and over and over again...  Because it's fun!  In conclusion, seeing an "average person" having fun with karaoke makes me feel good about being a KJ.  

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---wallyd

Note that in a 10-singer rotation, one filler music after every singer makes that a 20- singer rotation. If you play the filler music after every 2 singers but 2 songs back to back its still a 20 singer-rotation.
If the kj sings in every rotation that will be x+1 singer per rotation.
Personally I don't see why filler music need to be played at a karaoke bar; transition music yes. What is there in a filler music that karaoke music cannot provide? There are too many kj out there that play filler music sometime back to back and say that, thats what the crowd want. I think that is just an excuse for the kj to be away from the booth longer. As a singer I hate filler music and most singers are like me. We come to karaoke bars to sing not to hear filler music. that we can do in the house, in the car radio, and if I want to dance to music I go to a dance club.

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I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott

Depends on the crowd... I usually play at least 30 min DJ (low volume) before karaoke... During that time mic checks and appraise the crowd If there are 5 or more singers with requests in I would rather put a known good singer in the first slot to tweak and get a rotation going. If Ive picked up 15 or 20 in the first rotation I might not even sing..Only if a string of 5 singers are bombing I'll sing to pick up the energy. One of my favorite scenarios is when there are a few groups of singers that dont know me. I'll let them all sing then start one of my reg songs casually walk up to the mic and watch their chins drop to their knees and the look on their faces.

I would rather go to another show that has a good system to sing Then I can totally relax have a few drinks and become the entertainer that I am..When hosting I am too busy reading the crowd and keeping the rotation straight...Invaribly I'll get a request for a certain song and I'll work it in at the right spot...In either case whether hosting or just singing I have an inspiration to do a certain song every night Often it is a gospel but it is that song that produces the soul energy with the crowd and they give energy back and for 2 or 3 minutes time stands still, the body doesnt ache and the whole world is sane again..

Due to health reasons I havnt done a gig for some weeks now and cant find some youngun that wants to hit the road and generate business and frankly I am going nuts. For even hosting is therapuetic in nature and addictive in itself. To those that feel the need to sing the first song just get on the mic for a check and say SEX SEX SEX......(Dont get in a rut!!!)

You know I was wondering if this thread was written because of a comment I made on another thread? BUT after reading it again and reading a few others, I am starting to think that YES it was, IF it was? didnt mean to strike a nerve.....

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Live And Let Live!!!!!

Cowgirl, you are not the only non KJ/person on this site.    This was something I have been chewing on for a while and it's time it was put to print.    

This seems to be a common gripe with many non KJs.    We understand that you, as a singer come to sing and you want every minute to count.    We enjoy providing that opportunity to you all.   Understand that we, are also karaoke singers.   We enjoy singing as much or more than most of you.   It's the reason we do it.

We need the therapeutic value that singing can provide, especially when we have to put up with the complainer that is never happy, with anything we do.  

Or the drunks that are abusing our valuable equipment.    

Or little miss hot pants that thinks by rubbing her very fine looking equipment around our anatomically correct parts, that we can provide her with certain singing favors.  

In my case, I have just spent an hour hauling in 800 pounds of equipment and setting it all up.    After you are home in bed, I'll be doing it in reverse.  

I run microphones all night.   Between mixing the sound and getting all of the discs pulled out and polished.   Searching through 900 discs.    

I have to squeeze in restroom stops, remember where 25 different singers are sitting.   Looking up songs that people can't find or are too lazy to find.    

Listen to complaints about "How I could have done that song better that they did it."  Put me in for it.     Listen to complaints about how long the rotation is.    Did you lose my slip, you're playing favorites.    Where am I in the rotation?    How long til I sing?   Do I have time to go to the restroom?    Can I change my song again?   Do you have more slips.   My pencil broke.    Sharpening pencils.    Filling the song books for the next night.   Wiping off the sticky spilled drinks from my songbooks.    Changing the mike batteries.   Make announcements.    Start songs over.  Hey, I'll be outside.   Hey, I'll be upstairs.     Hey, move me up, I have to leave soon.     Hey move my up, I can really get the crowd going.   I know I screwed up my last song, get me up soon so I can redeem myself.   I promise this one will be better, I really know the words to this one. (NOT)

We need it bad.   You're killing us.     Don't begrudge us our songs, it's the only thing we have to look forward to.   I don't play filler music, I don't yack between songs, it's always back-to-back, nonstop music.   Most of the time, I'm singing something I really didn't want to sing.  It's something to keep the nonsingers alive and well.

I never play favorites.  I never move people in the rotation because of how or what they sing.   I don't care who sings, just as long as everyone sings once in every rotation.    You will always know when it's your turn.

OK, kill me now.    I'm done.   I think.

It's NOT the reason all kj's sing, some kj's sing because they think it's their job, or  right or they are just egomaniacs that want to show THIER own ability.  I feel it's my job to get the customer up as many times as I can.  My hosts feel the same way - the ones that work for me.  If they don't, they can work elsewhere.  I've been in this biz for over 16 years & know what the 'singers' want, they want to sing, NOT hear the host - if it's not warranted.  Hosts that sing think it's part of their job - & it is to a point!  Once there are enough singer, a host should not sing anymore - but that is my opinion!!!

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I totally agree, but if the rotation is boring the nonsingers to the point of leaving, you better try something to keep them.     I don't sing the entire night.   If the rotation is upbeat enough, there is no need,.   If the rotation is long enough, there is no need.   But sometimes, it's just fun.    You're not going to try to convince me that you NEVER sing for the fun of it?    You'll die an unhappy man.   Lighten up.   If this stops being fun for me, I'm done.   Right now it's still fun.    I still believe it has to be fun for the worker bees too.     All work and no play.....

I know KJs that sing 2-3-4-5 times in every rotation,  That's WRONG.

I NEVER, EVER play filler music.    I don't have a need to because every song is back to back.     So my singers actually get to sing more than at most other places.   To me, karaoke means karaoke.    That's nonstop karaoke music for the entire four hours.    Someone, even if it has to be me, is singing the entire time.   Can't get any better than that.

!  I think I've heard all of these complaints a thousand times.  It's freaking hilarious to see them all written out like that.  Nice.



Same here.  Always run a tight ship.  No favorites.

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---wallyd