Karaoke Forums

What do you do and what do you say when a singer gets stuck, especially if they get flustered and/or tries to "run for cover" while the song is still playing?

As an avid singer, My KJ always helps me out...If I am off key or if they see I am stuggling they will stand besind me to help me out....I think that is why it is so very important for the KJ to be paying attention ......

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Will sing or fish for food!!I'm not quite right!!

so saying "duh that was a total stuff up dumb a$$" is out of the question then?  :O

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"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

That is preferable to loud guffaws and finger-pointing.

I am totally with Isis on this one. And if somebody leaves the stage early, ask for a big round of applause anyhow. It takes gumption for a lot of people to get up there.

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[glow=darkorchid]Musica delenit bestiam feram[/glow]

I guess, one specific question is do you try to help out, uninvited?
If "yes". would you, uninvited, try to help out someone you don't know?

One of the things I try to do is give kudus to the singer, and mention to people again and again how HARD it is to sing some songs. I mention how initially some singers are really bothered by how different their voice sounds coming from speakers, because they're used to hearing it muffled somewhat thru the bones in their head... Your mouth is on one part of your head and your ears are on a totally different part. PART of what you hear is muffled by your own head! Which is why many singers will block off one ear to try to hear their "real" voice.

One thing I will do is swing by the singer's table and talk with them... ask them what they really want to do, mention again to them how sorry I was things turned out badly, and suggest some easier songs to which you can be a bit more comfortable.

Heck, there are songs I "STILL" can't do, and I'm painfully aware of it. I always try to mention my horrid beginnings in karaoke, despite coming from a chorus background!

It may sound silly, but I try to judge by how panicked they look. If you get a "go to hades" look, you know to quit trying to help. I am probably less likely to help a regular, unless they have a reputation of floundering or requesting assistance, and they seem to be less likely to give you that panicked look.

Where I worked, the booth was immediately adjacent to the stage, so I could sing "at" them from there to keep them on track. I would not jump up on stage to save somebody because that would just add insult to injury. And I would never, ever grab a mic.

And of course none of this works if somebody is floundering on a song you don't know.

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[glow=darkorchid]Musica delenit bestiam feram[/glow]

I usually grab my mike and chime in with thrm untill they get on track then I back away. They usually give a big thank you aftrt the song.

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ROBDOG *WOOF WOOF*

Now, ya see, I would have thought that they would get irritated, and I am not fond of p!ssed-off drunks. Actually I am not fond of p!ssed off sober people either. Whatever works, as long as it works!

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[glow=darkorchid]Musica delenit bestiam feram[/glow]

I have asked for help on a few songs that turned out to be mistakes myself. I did Judas Priest one time with "Another Thing Coming" and had no idea of how to start it out, started in the wrong key, struggled, asked for help and had a beautiful blonde come up on stage to help me out. Even if it sort of stunk, it was still way cool and I never apologize for stinking it up. It makes you a bit stronger down the line to hose it up from time to time. (Hell, it's good for ya!)

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Who loves ya baby?

It totally depends on who it is and the situation. If they are off on timing I'll sing so they can hear me, not on mic, to try to get them back on time. Then once they are onto the timing, I may just sing the first couple words of each page to keep them on.

If I notice them struggling and they look at me in a panic I'll ask them if they want me to help. Then I'll only sing as loud as they need me too.

I don't think I have had anyone just leave the stage, but if they did I would definately have the crowd clap for them and say something encouraging. I also would go speak to them after. Obviously it was an embarrassing moment for them and I would want them to feel better about the situation.

Several times a night I will have people ask me for help. I really try not to be over heard. I try to be more of a guide in the back ground or blend. If they are doing fine I will back away. A lot of the time they get mad at me after for not singing more.  LMAO I just tell them when you sound that good I hate to take away from you being heard.

I have one gal that insists I sing ( not in the mic) every song with her. I stand behind her and sing so she can hear me. She says it gives her confidence.

I am lucky to set up so I can be near the singer. If someone is frustrated I am right there to help them through. Saturday night I had a singer that sounded fine, but was ready to throw in the towel because he messed up a couple words. I just told him - hang in there, you are in tune and are hitting almost every phrase. People don't care if you get it perfect - you sound great. He came back with even more confidence and finished the song. Sometimes they just need a little confidence.

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

Babs I think I would enjoy your show

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"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

All witches aloud at my show !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll even put up a sign.  LOL

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

Yeah, I agree that it depends on the situation.

Occasionally, I'll get a singer bailing out on a song, and say something over the mic like "Don't worry, that was kind of tough song anyway, and you did better than I could've!", or something to that effect. I try to tell the crowd to give them a little "extra" encouraging applause to make them feel better, especially if they leave early.

Ocassionally if they're struggling, I'll take my voice off of the main speakers, and try to help them along just by singing with them through the stage monitors. This really helps when little kids are singing & struggling, so they can be helped without the parents & friends hearing my voice along with the kiddo's on the mains. Seems to work pretty well if you have stage monitors.

It can amusingly "backfire" though: This one 10 year old regular of ours loves to sing Gretchen Wilson, but she can't hit that first "Hey... Yeah.." high note at the beginning of "All Jacked Up", and a couple of the higher ones near the end. So one day I took it upon myself to help her by singing the those parts for her in my "male falsetto" voice. Now every time she sings it, I'm required to start the song off for her by singing those parts, while the audience is looking around with a "what the h&ll?" look, while she watches me with a supremely amused grin . (My booth is behind the audience facing the stage, so they're not sure where that "sound" is coming from! ) Hard notes to hit, but she's a sweetie and a pal, so I'm willing to "sacrifice" my voice for the cause.

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one that comes in and tries to be a 'co-pilot' when someones having a hard time with a tune.  
For me, I think it's very important that you know your library well enough that if they do end up blowing a tune that you can make a suggestion for another song, or a duet where they can still sing and you can guide them along. Just like some of you folks, I try to stay in the background as much as possible, even fading back once they get the hang of it. It's just good to be a positive mentor to folks. I think overall they appreciate it and it lets the audience know that you're willing to do whatever it takes to make sure that all of your singers have a good time regardless of their talent level.  
I try to keep my shows as laid back, no pressure as possible. I usually get to my shows a couple of hours early, to get set up, make sure I have a decent sound. And what is happening is that some of my regulars are showing up just as early. I let them come up and help me with soundcheck if they have a new song they wanna try or go over a song that they messed up on during a previous show. If I know the tune, I'll run through it with them and even make suggestions on how to switch down a key if it's too high, or use an alternate harmony, what I call my, 'it's better to come up under it, than try to go over it approach', or how to use the mic better, things like that. I have yet to have anyone take offense to my suggestions. To me it's just giving your singers a comfort zone.
I know some of this would never work with some of you folks because of the size of your shows, but I'm glad that I'm still at the level that I can do this.
Anyways, some great suggestions folks, thanks for sharing.
James

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I serve no man and am loyal to only one God.

Being critical of a person's success in any respect speaks volumes about the lack of your own.

Love as though you've never been hurt, Dance as though no one's watching, Sing as though God Himself were listening.

I wear a Garth Brooks type headset mic for announcing. I keep the volume lower than the stage mics. This way I can help out virtually undetected and help someone sound "fuller" or stronger. It also lets me cut in and out as needed. If someone hears me and doesn't want the help they just give me the look and I cut off. Since I am wireless, I can help out from alost anywhere in the room. I have only had a few people not appreciate the help.

I also do not help people that clearly know what they are doing. For me I guess it's just a judgement call....

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Let's Kick the Tires and Light the Fires!

DBK - That is cool. I think I'd be in so much trouble if I had a head set on. I talk to myself and sing a long a lot not realizing it. I'd be more like comic relief than help.  LMAO

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

I live and die by the 'Mute' switch- I have the reciever where I can see it, and if I see the lights go on when I 'cough', it's not on mute. The visual cue is my only hope for not leaving it on at inappropriate times....

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Let's Kick the Tires and Light the Fires!

I've had singers ask me to cut the song & i'll look at them tell them no, they got it & will kind of sing loud enough for them to hear me - i'm not on mic.  They will usually at least attempt to finish the song & look over for some kind of reassurance which I give them with a nod of the head & a smile - maybe another "You've got it!" or something to that effect.  9 out of 10 times they will at least get to the end.  The ones that don't & walk off anyway, I switch the screen over to the cued player & announce their name, ask for applause & call the next singer.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Best never  to draw more attention to it by suddenly stopping.  If anything sing "I forget where I'm at with this thing" or something of that nature along with the melody and the audience will usually chuckle along with you instead of at you.