Karaoke Forums

Perhaps this is just coincidence but maybe SC investigators visited our show.

About 2+ months ago 2 men and a woman came in and sang karaoke at our regular Friday night show. They were better than average singers and were insistent upon singing SC or CB songs only if we had them. Throughout the night they did ask about our song collection and also some 'techie' questions about our show (misdirection?). We use a stage monitor, EQ, and 12 Ch Mixing board, effects, etc. We thought they were just curious experienced karaoke singers.

Towards the end of the show when they were getting ready to leave they shared with us that two of them were backup singers from TN karaoke mfg. and one was karaoke studio sound guy. They said they had fun and gave us the thumbs up. It was a 'yes' moment for us. When packing things up we noticed one of our song books was missing. We thought maybe they were legit maybe not. Maybe they were KJs checking us out and stole our song book. Don't really know. But no letter followed, so that is good! I should add that we use CDGs and have 2 players but not CAVs. Our song library is about 5000-5500 songs.

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-Kona

\\If they were investigators, I bet they didn't steal a book. What would that prove. They would not risk a case by having your property because it couldn't be used as evidence. To commit a criminal act to prosecute a civil suit, naw!

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No venue to big or too small. From your den to the local club or event, we have the music most requested. Great sounding system!

That's a good point, but you never know. It could also just be coincidence. Talked to my wife about this after posting yesterday and she also remembers them asking about her cdg collection and if she used PC at all. We are one of the only cdg based karaoke shows left in the area that I'm aware of. Most PC users openly brag about their piracy and act like we are stupid for paying such high prices for karaoke discs.

We continue to try and educate the bar and club owners. Some just don't care. Recently we lost a gig to a pirate at a sports bar. Turns out the owner wasn't paying his ASCAP and licensing fees for jukebox, bands and sports broadcasts. What a surprise! A little justice would be nice.

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-Kona

Also if they were investigators, I doubt their cover story would be "We're backup singers for a TN karaoke manu". They're in the producing side and they're just interested in the host side. Just as I'm sure you'd like to visit and see how a manufacturer does their thing.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

Don't put it past them. Years ago when SC operated S.P.I.N. one of their investigators was caught by a KJ stealing a book. (see Slep-Tone vs Mudge)

I wouldn't put it past any investigator walking off with a book and simply not mentioning it or denying it.

Books.
Hmmm.
The books I use belong to the pub not me.
I have some in the books and some not in.
I have a few thousand less than that book.
Could probably build it up.
Here downloading as requested simply seems the best way to go.
The book was from a previous KJ.
No one minds or cares.
Yes, if pulled...
Not my book mate.

Has anyone ever complained that you don't have what they want to sing.
I have had some requests I don't have.
No one seems to mind.
There was one guy though.
I want to sing sunfly sfmw 207-06.
I told him it means nothing to me and he said I was crap.
There has to be one doesn't there.

IF you don't use books,

and you dont have your name/number plastered everywhere

and the bar owner claims you do it for free

can they still sue you?

That would be a BIG red flag for someone to!

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

None of that matters and it wouldn't take a skilled investigator long to find out who you are and where you live. He or she would not steal a book as a book would be irrelevent. It's what being played and whether it is original or not.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

You may want to check out the suits (yes that's plural) that have been filed in Virginia.

Here's a link to the complete text of the first one, courtesy of Troutman Saunders, Inc.:
http://www.virginiaiplaw.com/stats/pepp ... plaint.pdf

As you can see, Sound Choice is suing venues for contributory infringement as well

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Dave's not here.

I agree with lonman. If you don't use books makes the investigator think you have something to hide and they're not going to care whether you are getting paid or not.

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The Line Array Experiment is over. Nothing to see here. Move along.

Don't worry Jerry......Our Law is different...SC couldn't sue anyone in the UK...

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Nothing ticks me off than inaccurate books. I can understand new arrivals not being in there yet but a full book should contain what the host has in his system and nothing more. What do you do when they ask for a song that is in your book and not on your system?
I pride myself on the fact that if it is in the book I have it. IF not I might not have updated the book yet. In fact I have several songs now that aren't in my book but they are on the kiosk.

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The Line Array Experiment is over. Nothing to see here. Move along.

I would think that JoeChartreuse is correct from reading what has been posted on the lawsuits it would appear that any computer operated system would be a violation and subject to a lawsuit without permission. From what I have seen on other sites Sound Choice is granting that permission after an audit, it appears that Chartbuster is doing the same thing as well.

Since I use a computer for KJing it made sense to simply seek an audit and get the permission of the Company?

To the question of identifying an investigator, I would imagine that would depend on the investigator and how obvious he or she was. I am in Virgina and the guy that was investigating my show was very obvious, taking pictures of the big screen facing the audience everytime a Sound Choice song came on, he requested two songs that I didn't have but that was cool too.

As for the audit pretty simple, relatively easy and quick, everything was done through Skype over the internet. I look forward to any audits by any other company as well.

As long as you have the disc for the music you are playing there doesn't seem to be a problem. Several of the KJs in this area settled and became legal, others seem to have disappeared or changed their company names.

It simple...you don't if they are a decent investigator.
If you are 1-1 you do not have anything to worry about...just request your audits before they come to you. Somewhere on this forum is my account of the process I went thru. I have been thru 2 (1skype 1 in person audit) with SC 1 with CB and will soon have my Stellar audit competed

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"Integrity is choosing your thoughts, words and actions based on your principles and values rather than for your personal gain."
Unknown
"if a man has integrity, nothing else matters, If a man has no integrity, nothing else matters."
Lee McGuffey