Karaoke Forums

I feel the exact same way…  I've even went as far as apologizing to some of the singers for not getting them up to sing one more time before close; even though they may have sang 5 times that night already.

Die hard Karaoke singers will go to whatever bar/tavern that they feel they get to sing more songs at.  If a singer has been at your show for 4 hours or more, and you were only able to get them up once or twice, chances are you won't see that singer next week...

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---wallyd

I counted last night how many songs I sang. I sang 1 song in the beginning
of the night, 2 during the night and 1 at the end of a 5 hour gig. That's probably
an average night for me - give and take a few nights where I only sing 1 song because I have so many people.

I usually don't sing during the night unless requested to. I don't mind not singing. I've been doing karaoke for at least 3 or 4 nights a week for a long time. That's a lot of singing. People want me to sing with
them a lot and do duets, plus you're helping people get through songs when they don't know how they go. You guys know what I'm talking about. I could not sing one of my own songs all night and still end up singing quite a bit.

I really try hard to make them the star. If they ask me to sing with them I hold back so they can be heard over me and if they are doing fine I make sure my voice is barely heard, if all. I'm not there to up stage them. I'm there to help.

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Highlites from karaoke last night.

The KJ sang every round, even when we had ten or more singers. We had plenty of time between songs because there were at least two minutes between every singer. The mics were very hot, I had to hold mine off axis and about 5 inches from the side of my face to avoid blowing my brains out with my own voice. He loves effects. The echo was almost annoying. Actually it was very annoying to me, it needed a faster drop-off or no echo at all.

I still go there because I can sing up to 3 times in an hour, now we know why.

I don't sing at my shows, that's my job.  If I sing at my show it's because there aren't enough singers (rare), I have a request (then only at the end of a rotation), or a requested duet (in their spot).  I never sing to "kick off the next rotation", I don't sing just to sing & i'm still happy.  If I want to sing, I will go in on my night off.  I'm not there to be the entertainer, i'm there to host a karaoke show for the customers.  So no I do NOT sing while working for the fun of it - like I said, i'll go on my night off to sing for fun.

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See & that's exactly the reason why crap shows still exist, people go in & support them even though they may hate them.
I never understood if you are going to sound like crap while you sing (not you personally but the sound system), why do you want to sing at a show like that.  So you can sound like crap more times per night?

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We don't go to that show often for the reasons mentioned above.

Actually, the karaoke clubs that are driving distance from my house all have some major flaws. The best karaoke we've had lately has been at Isis and Phatrat's house or my house.

We take turns running the equipment. Of the three of us who run it, 2 are ex-KJs and one is a current KJ. I'm no pro but I still manage better sound on my home stereo through my Alesis mixer.

If I'm wrong about the quality, Isis and Phatrat will be sure to mention it. Last friday could have been better though.

When my amp gets here, I'm gonna see how it sounds with my HK SE series speakers. I can't wait.

Lonman brings up a good point about supporting shows even when we don't really like them.

I don't have a wealth of experience with karaoke but in my area I have not been able to find any bars that specialize in karaoke.  The only show I've been to that has been run professionally was Big Mike's.  It's tough for me to get to his shows because he operates in another county 15 - 20 miles away and at $3.21 per gallon, as of this morning, traveling any distance is getting expensive.

The show I went to last Saturday was a lot of fun.  But it had little or nothing to do with the KJ.  Her equipment was fine and the sound wasn't that bad although she could have done a better job with the EQ.  The song selection seemed okay but the KJ has one of the oddest personalities I ever run across.  She opened the show with what apparently was her stock announcement that she was there to get drunk and have a good time.  She did this in a way that implied that while she hoped the rest of us would too, if we didn't she wasn't too bothered by that.  

Her method of running her show was something I've not encountered before.  She has no book!  And no slips.  What she has is a spiral notebook that she's separated into 3 columns using a ruler and  pencil.  If you want to sing you first have to find out where the notebook is.  Then you put your name in the left column, the song you want to sing in the middle column and the artist name in the right column.  You sign up for two songs at a time.

The KJ puts a line through your name when you are done singing the song.  

What if she doesn't have the song you've listed?  She'll tell you.  Exactly when is still a mystery to me.  

The KJ doesn't maintain the rotation; the singers do.  It's kind of an honor system thing.  The way it's supposed to work is that you pick your next two songs after you sing.  But if you want to go and write in two more songs in the middle of the rotation you are perfectly welcome to do so.

Once the song gets going the KJ adjourns to the bar to drink.  She'll come back when the song is done, if she notices.  So it was not unusual to have a 5 - 8 minute gap between singers and songs.  

The KJ sang one song at the begining and then let the rotation take over.  During the second rotation she introduced one of her friends who got up and sang two songs.  But her friend had never signed up.  The KJ just stuck her in when she decided it was time.

During the third rotation, the KJ decided so sing some more.  She sang one song and then two others that she claimed were requests.  Then she got her friend up for two more songs plus a request (I knew that request was legitimate because I was sitting besid the guy who made it).  Once again, her friend hadn't signed up.  I knew that because I follwed her and the last person before me on the list was the guy who sang before she did.  

This was not awful because both ladies are terrific singers.  It just surprised me because if their is one thing I've learned on this forum its the sanctity of the rotation.

Despite all of that I had a great time.  Not because of the KJ but because of the people I met.  I had never been to this bar before but before the second rotation was over, a group had asked me to join them and we had a great time together.  Everyone had fun.

But it semed to me that with just a little effort, the KJ could have made it so much better.

I'm planning on going back this weekend.  Why?  It's not convenient for me to get to Big Mike's gig on Saturday and I'm looking forward to seeing my new friends again.  I'll enjoy the singing even though the KJ is a lunatic.

Larry

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

My favorite show only happens once a week. I'm afraid that my usual chaparones will be too tired from being out with me the two previous nights so I will probably have to go it alone.

It's at a college haunt. The KJ sings because the customers still don't sing much. That place rocks. The prices are good and the air has an energy that is palpable.

Well, this is an interesting topic, and I think I've got to throw my couple pennies in.

I read the big dog's post, and He had me through points one and two.  I don't want my customers to be the guinea pigs when I set sound levels etc, and of course if there is NO ONE signed up to sing I will do it.  In the early daze when getting singers was tough I used to sing a lot.  However one week I had a cold so I played 2-3 regular songs, then sang one and I had several customers comment on how nice that was that I wasn't one of those arrogant KJs who like to hear themselves sing and sing every song when slow.  I've kept this practice ever since!



While I agree that you do want to keep the non singers from falling asleep, jumping in and singing is not the answer.  Run a high energy show, and try to pursuade the people who are singing slow songs constantly to try something else.  There was a post here a while back about how to do just that.  If someone asks me if only country is allowed, I tell them that the easiest way to solve that problem is to sign up to sing something different!



Wow--not TOO arrogant are we?  Reminds me of the line from the movie Clerks--"This job would be great if it weren't for all the F@*kin' customers!"  Believe it or not, some people actually enjoy going out to listen to the bad singers.  Why do you think FOX shows all the bad American Idol singers who audition for the show?



Now THIS is a good one!  I don't think I've ever run across a situation where I've had a karaoke singer say, "Well, I sang my three songs.  I guess I'll be going now."  However I have encountered singers who say, "I hate that this karaoke guy sings so much.  I may try to find another show to sing at."  Unless your song selection is SO small that there is absolutely nothing for them to try, singers will stay and either just listen or maybe even try something new.  



Again, not TOO arrogant here.  You don't have a song in your books that you can't sing perfectly?  You've got to screw up intentionally?  I'm impressed!  All I've got to do is try something I've never done before to let my customers see that even the KJ can screw up a song!



Amen--take requests, but just get in at the end of the rotation.  If someone wants to hear you sing something, let em wait a while--It will keep them in the place for a while longer maybe.



I thought your patrons were going to sleep earlier?  Now that the joint is jumping you want to jump in and KILL the party?  Make up your mind man!



Singing IS fun!  However, the venue is not paying you to have fun. When I want to sing for fun I go to a karaoke show on my off nights and sing.   I have no problem with bartenders, etc singing, but it seems to me that you are one of those KJ's who think that their show is all about them.  You are paid to keep the CUSTOMERS happy.  If I go to a show where the KJ feels the need to make the show all about him, I probably won't be back.  One of the hardest things about being a good KJ is realizing that the show is about the CUSTOMERS, not the host.  

I sing at my shows early when the rotation is under 5 people.  After that, I'll only be singing if someone wants me to sing a duet with them or if there is a request for me to sing a song that they like.  Just remember that every song you sing is one less song that a PAYING CUSTOMER gets to sing.

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Spreading the karaoke gospel

Thanks for the kind words Larry--Check's in the mail!  LOL  So could I pursuade you to come back and visit this weekend if I offest the price of gas with some beers?  You've got a great voice and the folks at the Sports Corner would be right up your alley!

Just a quick note on filler between songs.  I have a techno/house CD that I fade in and out between tracks just to avoid the dead air between singers.  No lyrics, just music.  That way I don't run into the "DUDE--don't turn that song off" thing.

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Spreading the karaoke gospel

I'm gonna try some Spike Jones music for transition just to see what gets thrown at me.

Edification below.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spike_Jones

I had a few of his albums back when (Grandpa gave them to me), they were pretty funny, i'd probably be one to say don't turn it off.

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Sound effects, tv and movie themes and commercial jingles work best for me between songs, if I use anything at all. They are short and quick. If someone is taking their sweet time getting to the stage I play the Jeopardy song. Everyone knows what that means and encourages the slow mover to move quicker. I try to use the same sound effects for certain regulars, so if they don't hear their name called the sound effect gets their attention. It has been working out quite well.

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[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

I used to use sound effects had them all loaded on the computer with the microsoft shortcut bar so I could just click in an instant.  Would sometimes do them during certain songs - with knowingly good sported people, not to ruin the song mind you.  An example AC/DC Night Prowler one of the lines was "you hear a dog bark in the distance" (click dog barking), "you hear someones baby cry" (click baby crying).  They would get a good laugh at it as would the audience.  I would never do it to a singer I didn't know, and it was never on a regular basis.  We had one guy named Wilbur - would play the Mr. Ed "Hello Wilber" & the Mr. Ed theme song as he walked to the stage.  When we call them & they were in the restroom - cue the toilet flush!  Just a couple of example.
Don't know why I quit using them, I guess when I got my new computer for my dj music, I forgot to add the effects back in - good reminder to do so!

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Oh man, I'd love to Mike but I went and made a commitment (there's a news flash for all of those ladies who think that men are afraid of commitment). And then of course there was that nasty misunderstanding involving the goat, 3 lb. of macadamea nuts, a tub of Crisco and BeBe the Dog Faced Girl from the circus.  I haven't been allowed in Saukville since.

Actually I was planning  to come see you last night but the threatening weather kept me home and off the streets.  Maybe next week some time.

By the way, if you've got the time, not to mention the gas money, my duo will be playing at the Washington County fair on July 29 from 3 to 7.

Larry

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

Bigdog, OK in your post I agree with 1and 2, but then you go into talking about, you sing because of no one wants to hear 5 bad singers in a row..... -, not famous singers, anyone that goes to karaoke bars knows that they take the good with the bad, we dont go in to hear professionals, we go in because we enjoy karaoke, we know that we as singers are not professionals, and it is GREAT to hear someone that can sing very well, that is a bonus, not the main goal of the show. I think if the people that "follow" you as a kj were to read these posts, and know what you really thought of them, you probably wouldnt have a job anymore. When you go out and spend 50,000 on your system, and you make a business out of it, thats what it is, is your business, i am not saying you shouldnt sing, but not just because you think the singers are not up to your standards,. Karaoke is about fun, meeting new people, I am a people person, I love to meet new people, and I dont mind that someone isnt a professional singer at karaoke, at least the have the balls to get up there and do it, thats just my opinion.                        
[highlight=darkorchid]BIGMIKE- [/highlight]I loved reading your post you said everything I wanted to say, just in fear of saying it, not wanting to make enemies for voicing my opinion, or having someone take something I say out of context,  to you, you said some great things, would love to see your show.    Thanks for taking the words right out of my mouth.
[highlight=darkorchid]Lonman[/highlight]-I also love reading the things you have to say, I would also love to come to one of your shows, just to far away  :(  you sound like you run a great show.
I hope I havent offended anyone in voicing mo? Bigdog, I just dont agree with some of the things you say, but like I said its only my opinion, as the saying goes, they are like assholes, everyone has one..   Dana

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Live And Let Live!!!!!

Bigdog, I also forgot to mention, that I understand that you dont want the drunks to tear your stuff up, I wouldnt either, thats when you get a cheap mic, and when you know that, that person that is drunk and is usually the one that tears up your stuff, then you give that person the cheaper mic.  I am totally respectful of others things, I personally dont drink anymore, so I dont have that problem, as for duets and requests, I do ask the kj on occasion to do a duet with me, only because my man isnt there to do them with me. I greatly appreciate the kj taking his time out and doing the duet with me. If I know the kj pretty good I will also ask him/her to just put whatever they want on and I will try and sing it, they seem to like that, then they can choose something to change the atmosphere in the bar, I also get tired of singing the same songs all the time, thats why I do that, because I am not sure what to pick, or what I might be able to sing or not, so they pick it and I try it. I sometimes find other songs I can sing that way. It's all in fun, If I cant sing the song they picked, I laugh and keep trying until the song is over, then just dont do that one anymore  LOL . I do see your point on drunks tearing your stuff up though, I wouldnt like that either.

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Live And Let Live!!!!!

Wrong, wrong, wrong.   Your response is filled with double talk.   You should be a lawyer or sell insurance.

The list was posted to answer all of the reasons, we do sing or have to sing.   So some of the nonsingers would have a better idea that our reason for being there is to "entertain" the entire crowd.   To keep them there as long as possible.   This means the MAJORITY of the crowd.     Non singers spend more money, because they out number the singers.   IF YOU were the bar owner who would want me to you try to keep 20 singers or 75 non singers.    The singers are keeping themselves entertained by singing the songs THEY want to sing.   Not all of the nonsingers want to hear every song the singers sing.   Especially if they aren't that good.    My job is to keep EVERY PAYING CUSTOMER happy.    Why is that so hard to understand?   The bar needs to make money.    

NOBODY promotes good karaoke any more or any harder that I do.     Any jerk can do crappy karaoke, try being a professional, it's a different ballgame.    I don't condemn any singer for their talent level.    It's about everybody having fun.   That means the nonsingers too.    I don't put anybody down.   Every singer is treated exactly the same.   I don't care what you sing or how you sing it.   14 years of this and I still work more than all of my competition, so I must be totally wrong about everything.

Part of my job does not include telling people to sing other songs.   They are the paying customer and it is their right to sing and for me to play, whatever THEY want to sing to.    The Karaoke God can tell them to sing a different song, but I won't.      Talk about arrogant.  

The last person my show is about, is me.    People around here HATE KJs that play filler music.   They HATE Kjs that yack between every song like some radio DJ.  That is why my music NEVER stops.   Back-to-back songs, constant music with live singers.    If you knew how to run a professional show, your music would be continous singers and not with filler added (whether it's music or blabbing).    I don't sing in every rotation.    But I know 600 songs and some of them I sing to get the crowd going.    But that said, I don't have to get the crowd going too often, because the majority of the people are having fun.   But there are occasions when it is necessary.

Screwing up the words intentionally or tring a new song and screwing it up, sounds the same to me.

My shows are not filled with bad singers.   I attract singers that are more talented and more serious about good karaoke.     I don't get the screaming drunks, that many of you get night after night.   My nights are very enjoyable mostly, from the excellent talent that I draw.

If you think that everybody wants to hear bad singers all night, I would like to pinch you to see if you are really awake.   If you went to a concert and the singer didn't sound good, would you complain or be happy?

I guess you don't know the 3-5 songs that so & so sings every night.   Never a new song.    All of your singers know hunderds of different songs.   With over 9,000 songs they still never pick a new one.   They are staying in their comfort zone.

Why do you want to see the bad singers on Idol.   I don't and I think it's stupid to show them.   It's just so people like you a can laugh at them.     It makes for good TV ratings.     In a crowded bar a bunch of bad singers, makes for smaller crowds.

Yes, I have used a slow song to tame a crowd down some.   I would rather keep the crowd controlled.   Than to have trouble break out.   Slow songs can do that.   It actually had people slow dancing.

If I want to sing a song, I sing one.     I don't have to have someone "request" one for me.  I don't sing to prove something to the other singers.   Most of the time I sing something I really didn't want to sing, but I sang it to pump up the crowd because the slow song singers are killing them.    But I don't sing any more than once in a rotation.    If someone want so hear a song, I try to get them to sing it with me, to get them involved and maybe get them to want to do more.

The bar pays me to provide professional karaoke.  My job is to make money for the bar, I do this with karaoke and they quality of my show.

If you get right down to it, the bar could care less about what the entertainment is.   They are doing it to make money.  Not to keep karaoke singers happy.   I just happen to do it with karaoke.    If doing crossword puzzles made them money, we would be doing that.    Karaoke just happens to be the vehicle for the bar to make big money.

What part of that is filler music?

What part of that says I can't sing a song?

What part of that says that I should change peoples minds about the song they want to sing?

What part of that says I shouldn't try to keep the nonsingers happy and in the bar?

Touche' Touche!
Totally agree.  I think a KJ should sing once in a while too.  If there is room in the rotation.  And that is usually the beginning of the night.
We are doing Karaoke because we like it.  If it becomes a boring job, we wouldn't want to do it anymore.  Then those crappy KJ's would take over, and, well, we don't want to go there!Crowd control IS a perfect example!

As a singer, I don't mind KJ singing, esp in the early parts of the nite, and when rotation is short.

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