Karaoke Forums

Lisa,  Isn't a KJ first and foremost an entertainer ?

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

Me think a KJ is a host, at least thats how they are seen in my country. As an entertainer; thats an other level and not a requirement. A kj/entertainer, may appeal to some but a put off to others.

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

You are the host for the nights entertainment.

Host to the singers and an entertainer for everyone, even the non singers.   Do you draw a line down the center of the bar.

OK everyone on this side of the room will be entertained and the rest of you just shut up.     NO talking.    You, stop laughing.     Hey, you over there, this is a no fun zone and you are in violation of section 502.

I've seen some pretty clever KJ's get people in a bar you'd normally NOT see involved in singing involved, just by singing a song themselves that interests a slightly older & different segment of the bar..  Music can exclude, but also be used to include many different people.  If there's a young KORN singing crowd,  I woundn't get up from the dartboard area to sing a Stylistics song... I have seen, and believe the KJ AS entertainer CAN go over and beyond the standard "I only play what you want to sing", and use a knack as the entertainer to read a crowd, reach out and include others that might not currently appear interested...

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

If I go to a show and the KJ isn't entertaining, well that's just boring and leads to the saying, 'anyone can do that, all they have to do is put a cd in and let people sing'.
If that's the case, then why not just put a karaoke jukebox in the place and let the customers take care of themselves. If all I had to do was just sit back and let things go on autopilot, I don't think I would have gotten into this biz to begin with.
The fact that I do get to entertain, keeps things interesting and me on my toes, and I really believe is why I've gotten so much work lately. I now work at three different places and I don't think it's my song library that got me the gigs.
But then again, it may have been my good looks and charming personality that won them over.... ( the last line was written with a great deal of sarcasm, all you have to do is look at my pic to know that's a lie)
But hey, you gotta go with what works for you. It just wouldn't work for me. I tend to lose interest in things real quick if they aren't entertaining.

James
Maninblack

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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.

The host supplying the entertainment CAN in fact extend himself (by reading his crowd) and pull in some that might not appear to currently be involved/interested. The exuberant energetic enough entertainer CAN light up and bring together a bar....100% of course not... but still, being a good entertainer is NOT easy... You look over the crowd, try to size up what age and "type" of person enjoy's what type of music, and try to provide something of interest for all...



Agreed.  (from the why the KJ sings thread),  Music can be used to exclude, but it can also be used to include !!   Many different age groups often are at the bar simultaneously... The entertainer must provide some balance... Assuming you have a diverse age group of people from different musical periods.




Personally I agree with this.  It's often those sitting at the bar that seldom turn their back to look at  you that are closest to ownership, and the ones that drop the suggestions the owner listens to.  The guy pensively watching the ballgame at the bar, might not be a guy you expect to sing, but during breaks might very well be a person worth getting to know !

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

Being entertaining is one thing, being an entertainer is a completely different thing. All kj must be entertaining, but not necessarily an entertainer.

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

Before I start the first song of the night, I look over the average age group, of the crowd.  Then I pick out the song to open with.   I never play a country song first.    I never play a slow song first.   It's going to be an upbeat song.   Depending on how many older (50-60) people, I don't want to scare away.    It's the first impression thing.    If they think it's going to be a hard rock night or a country night, they're gone before the first song ends.   So it's usually a milder upbeat rock song.   More toward their age group.    Then if no one else is singing, it may stay the same or get a little harder if there are some 35-45s.    They will continue to be rock songs for 5-6 more songs, If it's just me.    If I have singers, depends on how many and what they pick to sing.   I will still sing rock songs.   Untill the rotation can handle it self as far as not being boring for the non singers.   I earn every penny.

I think I need to be entertaining, but not an entertainer.
That made sense before I wrote it down.

Okay I don't consider myself a professional entertainer, but a
professional karaoke host that needs to make sure the crowd
is entertained. I think that makes more sense.  :D

Sometimes it is having your singer entertain the crowd. People
enjoy seeing their friends get a little crazy. For instance -
I have a birthday in the house. The person doesn't sing. I call them
up and give them a special birthday hat to wear. Then I instruct them
not to worry they don't  really have to sing. I put the song Tequila on and call all his/her friends to come to the front of the stage.
While the beginning of the song is playing I instruct the audience that this
is a sing a long song and could they please help out our birthday guy or gal by
participating. All you have to do is yell "Tequila".

I have just entertained the birthday party and some nonsingers.  :D

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

I think I need to be entertaining, but not an entertainer.
That made sense before I wrote it down.

Okay I don't consider myself a professional entertainer, but a
professional karaoke host that needs to make sure the crowd
is entertained. I think that makes more sense.  :D

Sometimes it is having your singer entertain the crowd. People
enjoy seeing their friends get a little crazy. For instance -
I have a birthday in the house. The person doesn't sing. I call them
up and give them a special birthday hat to wear. Then I instruct them
not to worry they don't  really have to sing. I put the song Tequila on and call all his/her friends to come to the front of the stage.
While the beginning of the song is playing I instruct the audience that this
is a sing a long song and could they please help out our birthday guy or gal by
participating. All you have to do is yell "Tequila".

I have just entertained the birthday party and some nonsingers.  :D

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

Think of it as a GAME SHOW HOST---somewhat entertaining in his own right---but not there to BE THE ENTERTAINMENT--acts as a FACILITATOR to keep things moving smoothly and keep the crowd involved by introducing, giving credits, announcing, welcoming, commentating, coordinating and keeping the "entertainers" entertaining.

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"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

Exactly!

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

I believe it takes a good entertainer to keep a broader spectrum of your large large crowd happy.  Perhaps even a not so large crowd.. People in here have commented on how they've seen certain songs, and genre's alienate a particular type crowd/age group, etc.  Therefore doesn't the KJ have to have the ability to entertain as much of his crowd as possible, and hopefully be perceptive enough to alienate the smallest percentage possible ? (assuming some just won't like too much of the younger music, and vice versa). It's important to be familiar with the wants of your crowd, and the types of music different age-brackets might like depending on your location..  A bar I used to go to averaged over 400 people per night thursday, friday, saturday... The KJ facilitated ALL types of music from adult contemporary, to todays hard rock, but did it in such a way that people tolerated differences, knowing there wouldn't be a string 6 rap type songs (for a few that liked that), similarly the kid's knew that the Gordon Lightfoot, and Freddie Jackson song weren't going to dominate the evening either... blending format, and genre, and timing was a skill this group that KJ'd around here had... Not easy,  nothing I'd easily be able to do...but it worked....The crowd came... These KJ's knew their crowd.... Knew what night's they could get away with what.... It's all part of being in the entertainment industry.... Try to please as many as you can, knowing you can't please all, however try not to alienate any if you can help it... Easier said than done...Because as a few know,  put on a song such as "Honey" at the wrong time, and you might bum out, and drive away more than you want.... You never know...People are affected by music..EVEN the non-singing crowd !

To a certain degree consider a large several room bar, with over 70 televisions, 14 pool tables, darts, several smaller bars, and in the center the stage with Karaoke that has the larger group sitting, drinking and dancing.... THe KJ in essence is like a radio station broadcasting music that the whole bar will hear.... People at the bar can't change "a station" because they find something offensive... Although just background for many, we all know that there are a few radio stations that we just need to kill at certain times because of their content, despite how practically inaudible the music is..... The bar reg's can't do that.... It's the KJ's responsibility to *TRY* to provide the BEST MIX, for all....Keeping in mind, that if you have a group of older women in there for whatever reason, the song, "I'm an A$$hole" might not be appropriate it that given time... Little things such as that... THe entertainer or host providing the entertainment is entertaining THE BAR, It's his sound system, and selection of music that all will hear..He needs to maintain some element of control, and order too.... ALL hear the music... If somebody doesn't like a song, or a song is in political bad taste given a certain time, or in a certain location, the KJ hears about it..

This is where it get's tougher, but a good entertainer I believe can, and must be able to subtlely, or perhaps even passive-assertively run the show !

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

about 6 months ago Toquer brought up a few interesting points, some of course got quite controversial, but basically a FEW of us came from a very different school of entertainment... THe bar owner in essence TOLD YOU who you will listen to, and in my case as the pianist...  "When Norton walks into the bar, you drop everything and play his song, Norton drops LOADS of money in here, he buys the bar rounds of drinks, etc... He's a boss to you".... While I didn't drop everything, I did do what MY BOSS told me to do, but most of the crowd understood why... It wasn't MY doing... Norton spent ALOT of money in the place, and sometimes business, and revenue generated DOES supercede fairness in a money generating business... Money talks, sad but true,  it's a value I grew up with... WHile there's no need to shun those that pay less, there are extenuating circumstances (in my day) when certain customers did have priority.. It's just the way things were old school...Bribery DID buy you, Tipping did get you preferential treatment... I bar wasn't a church.... Whether the people sat around the piano and sang or not... That didn't often matter,  Sometimes what the non-singer at the bar wanted to hear in the eye's of ownership superceded my own wishes..... Just the way things were.

I know many of you hate that. I didn't create the philosophy so can't take blame for it.. I did what my boss told me to do.. He hired me, and knew the needs of his establishment too.... As the new guy,  I had to conform... If I wanted to paying gig.

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

GOD, I have to agree with Bigdog on this one!  LMAO

The KJ in MHO is the one who sets the tone for the whole show.  Yes, you are the host or maybe I should say the bar IS the host.  You are hired to run the show.  And to a certain extent yes you are also a entertainer.  Nothing worse than a KJ who becomes mechanical.

Kelly

Agreed Kelly.  To do it well is what can be very tough too IMHO !   Sort've like piloting the plane, but not appearing to be hogging the controls.... I might be using the wrong choice of words, but I see this as a passive-assertive type of controlling.
The appearance of driving the car from the backseat... The crowd thinks they are driving though  :yes:

So when the KJ sings, it might VERY well not be a song he/she likes.. It might be a means of calling to the bar crowd, where a few WOULD sing if the genre was more to their liking !

,,,,,,and in time, even the 20 year old crowd might start to like "Green Green Grass of Home". I NEVER took a liking to "Oh My Papa", but I sure as hell had to learn to play the song

Even on television, can someone cite me an example of a show, or program where the Host doesn't have to have a certain amount of energy, be presentable, and doesn't influence your feelings regarding the program, show ?  The host's picked ALL are actors too !  It's not just the contestants that run the show.... We don't turn on shows most of the time to see people we aren't familiar with... It's genre, presentation, coordination etc...  A good host IS an entertainer... He's just not in your face..

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

Dito Steve.  I seem to excel at singing much of the oldies.  Elvis, Four Tops, Dion, Etc.  
Though I'm blessed with good to great singers, not alot of my folks do these types of songs.  So invariable I get a lot of the "young kids" who really want to hear me do these and as well it apeases the older non-singers in the club.

Kelly

That's great Kelly, but what enables you to do that is timing, and your presentation. The way YOU integrate your selection is a knack that enables you to bridge the gap... THAT to me is a sign of reading your crowd, timing is what matters in these cases.  Not all can and will do what you do... What you do is far preferable IMO, than the person that just hands out the microphone and says....  "OK kids, free for all, if the three of you want to sing KORN all night, the heck with the bar crowd facing the opposite way"... With some ability, the KJ can in fact include that group too, and not drive them away with the thought.... "This is now just a young loud rowdy bar,  I need to find another place to hang"..  That can be circumvented with a good entertainer !!

Few people are totally unfair,  older regs recognize that it's good for the bar to pull in business, EVEN if it means the occassional loud crappy new stuff.... As long as they are included someplace in the mix too, people aren't usually inflexible

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

I am extremely spoiled with my regulars.  They don't fuss. they don't fight and they encourage new singers.  They understand and agree with my rotation system. (which I believe if you read one of Lonman's posts, it is very similar.)  After going through the intial rotation I work in new singers between old ones.  (back to topic)

Try having a beauty pagent without an entertaining host.  Yes I have to be energetic to keep the crowd that way.  I don't always sing but if I do, it's at the end of the rotation and we are starting over.  it gives me the chance at that moment to go either way with the crowd.  I don't dictate what others sings.  i might encourage them to do a fast or a slow one.  When i do sing, I go in reverse of what has been happening.  If there has been many slow ones and it looks like there will be more, I do something upbeqat and fast to break, or maybe balance is a better word the crowd.  The other night it suprised me, I actually got to do a slow one to allow those who wanted "to belly rub" a little.

This pratcie has caught on with my regulars who have their songs kept with in a clip.  More and more are asking what they should sing and the real good ones have gotten to the point where they just hand me their clips at the begininning of the night and say, "pick what you want based on what you think we need."  God bless em'!

Kelly

Kappy's scholl for wayward entertainers.