Karaoke Forums

I decided to start a new thread with an answer to a topic started by big dog because I began with my answer to his question and then started a rant and then went off on other tangents to explain my earlier reply to his original question and the cow jumped over the moon etc etc etc... anyways... instead of hijacking his thread with other issues, I decided to just throw it all into a new thread... yay me...



I remember a few years back (when copying CDG's and converting them to a digital file was just starting out) there was a guy advertising to buy damaged or even broken CDG's.  He simply was buying them, no matter what shape they were in, and then justifying using a working backup (downloaded online or traded from other KJ's) because, technically, he had the original in his possession and that it didn't matter if the original worked or was in a couple of broken pieces- he had a 1:1 disc ratio of original:burned backup disc...

 was it wrong or right???  I think that it falls within a VERY gray area of moral work ethics but it is no different than any other KJ using burned cdg's, or converted digital files, to protect their originals.  It just happens in this case that he was getting these broken or heavily damaged discs from singers or clubs that were going to just throw them away because of the damage or use them as drink coasters... Using many of the KJ's logic on this forum it shouldn't be illegal or wrong because, again technically, he had the original discs, and they feel that this fact should transfer the license to the burn or digital file.  

 Whether it is legal/illegal for a show that owns all the originals, and uses backup CDG's, or they bought a hard drive filled with mp3+g files, really is such a meaningless debate to have any more.  Each KJ, or club, uses any and every reason to justify their position, no matter how far out in left field it might be, and I doubt that ANYTHING said in an internet forum is going to sway them from how they operate.  

 Bottom line is that there is no enforcement of existing laws that might deter KJ's from using material they did not buy or do not legally own.  The manufacturers have been so busy fighting amongst themselves on universal formats for digital karaoke files that the industry has passed them by.  They are having to play catch up while the pirates and thieves won't slow down a bit.  By the time the manufacturers get a grip on the existing industry and control of the market again, the digital KJ's will be the rule, not the exception, and will have moved on to bigger better things than what the manufacturers will be offering.  When the next karaoke player, software, hoster, ripper, BBQ, burner, digital camera, mp3 player telephone is released by the manufacturers, it will already be yesterdays news and someone, somewhere, will already have a better karaoke mousetrap...

 There are bigger issues, IMHO, facing the industry other than piracy, digital KJ's and what you can legally do with a retail disc you have bought.  I think the biggest problems facing the industry are quality shows, hosts that can't run sound correctly even if you draw them a picture, KJ's who go computerized and they don't have a clue on how to deal with computer issues or troubleshooting, KJ's with 20K worth of sound, lighting and DJ equipment with no clue on how to use %95 of it correctly, karaoke shows that are really DJ dance shows with a singer every once in a while and the continued dropping price of average money paid out to mobile karaoke companies.  These are just a few off the top of my head ...


 I don't care if you downloaded 100,000 songs and bought all your equipment from pawn shops as long as you charge a decent fee for the services so the entire market doesn't drop down to the lowest possible fee.  You have too many $50/night and an open beer tab shows in an area and it really screws it up for those who want to run a professional show and charge $150+/night.  

 If a person wants to run a club or karaoke sound system, then please, please, PLEASE take the time to learn how to adjust the sound of the music and the singer for the best possible mix.  This has to be done for EACH singer and varies for the music from manufacturer to manufacturer.  Do some research on the equipment in your booth.  Play with different variations of settings and go to the back of the room you are playing in every once in a while and LISTEN to your mix.  Try to do this without alcohol being involved.  It is amazing the things you can hear when you step away from the equipment and LISTEN.  Just a thought... or if "push play" is the extent of your mixing ability then may I suggest a career in radio...

 I have seen horrible shows with top of the line equipment, huge song selections and a KJ without a clue.  

 I have seen top of the line shows with horrible equipment, minimal song selections and a KJ who pays attention and makes the right adjustments for EACH singer, consistant rotation policy (no matter how they do it) and are on top of their game.

 An entertaining and quality karaoke experience is not always guaranteed just because they have a ridiculously large music collection, the best players, speakers, amps, mixers, lights, or the newest industry technology.  It all comes down to the host and how they put all of those things together so they perform at the highest level of quality and professionalism.  It is this truth that will carry the karaoke industry through the dark times.  "Crap in equals Crap out" and the crappy shows will eventually fall to the wayside *crossing fingers* and the quality shows will hopefully be ready to fill the void left when it happens.  DO the BEST job you can, give the best show you possibly can EVERY night and  don't worry about others you have no control over.  Karma is a bltch and will leave doggy presents in their yard eventually...

Sorry bout the rant and topical tangents but I couldn't sleep and I don't care if anyone agrees with me or not... just typing out loud...

tig

I've said the same thing with the $50 per nighters, they can be getting so much more & it would level the playing field.

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One of our very favorite places to karaoke uses this method.  It is a husband and wife team.  They take turns KJg and socializing with the crowd.  When the singer goes up, they check the sound levels, go to the center of the room and listen to make sure they sound their best.  THey do this with each and every singer and I've always been impressed with that.  THey 've become very popular and well liked and this is one of the reasons.  Feels good that they care enough to make you sound the best you can.

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 Tigrr for the last year I have been trying express those exact thoughts sober and drunk and taxing my brain and you do it in one post and very eloquently I might add..

My contention now is if the manus would come with a fair marketng plan whereby one could download songs of choice at a fair price, it would start reducing piracy very quick...If from the start Id a had a software tracker to keep track of the songs that my singers actually sang I would reduce my library to about 2k..And get rid of all the tracks I had to buy and never will use. Well maybe I wouldnt delete them but they wouldnt be cluttering up my books or show.

I can see the day when the computer with the music is owned by the bar and accessed by the KJ via wireless..  I can already do that now.I do a show with the laptop getting the music from the system comp either cat5 or wireless.Its not hard and works like charm...

Also more and more of our singers are doing karaoke at home with laptops and one for example buys the country thm as soon as they come out rip to zip and bring them in on flash drives to use. Could you imagine a show where the majority of the music was on singers personal drives?

You are right in the fact that the challenge is keeping ahead of the knotheads and providing better and more services. THIS IS WHAT MAKES PROFESSIONALS. Competition and the willingness to work in the old honest fashioned way

Thanks......

Good post Tig!

I agree with everything you said, and you did it in a very non-threatening way to anyone who may be thinking about getting into the business, or anyone who is in the business that may be wanting to learn more but just dont get it.

Most of this should go without saying but it's amazing how many folks just don't know what to do when they start out. I guess it's what you want out of the business that makes a difference. Some just want the money, some want to do it as a hobby, and some want to become one of, if not the best at what they do.

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FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

I'll be at the suicide pit.....    Contemplating the error of my ways.  

Sounds like the same post made by one of our more intelligent contributors, six months ago.  Keep up the good work tig......sooner or later it will all sink in.

Due to the fragile nature of many egos on here.   Every bit of information needs to be candy coated.    To be digested and to have any merit.  Regardless of it's true worth.    :whistle:


Too many Liberals....

Just like every war we fought after WWII.   You can't kill any civilians, you can't bomb that target, stay away from the Mosque, they're hiding in and shooting from.  I've seen girls fight with more balls.   Freakin' sissys..

We won every war before WWII.  Because we did what was necessary.   That is kill everyone until they quit.    The Germans tried to do it night after night, when they bombed London.  They didn't worry about innocent people.   We didn't worry about it when we bombed Berlin or Japan with the atomic bomb.  It made them quit didn't it? Total death is all that stops wars.   Kill them until they quit.  It's the only thing that is totally understood.    Not saying the soldiers that fought were wrong.   The higher ups were too worried about what the rest of the world would think about us.   WE have to candy coat a war?    Screw them.   It's the only way to win.  And save our innocent lives.   If we would have taken Saddam in the first Gulf war.  WE wouldn't have the problem now.   If Israel had it's way, the Hesbhaola or whatever, would be wiped out.  But no we have to worry about innocent lives.  IF they live with and support or let them hide behind them, then they are terrorists, period.   The last thing there are is innocent.

I'll be singing two songs at the pit.    :D

[quote]We won every war before WWII. [quote]


Did you forget that little thing called "The War of 1812".

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You can be strange but not a stranger

I live in a foreign country,  You can't possibly expect me to know all ancient history.

You are so right about that.  My husband and I did that for years.  And even when we were not together, we made it an important  part of our job.  Make sure everyone sounds their best.

We had soft singers, loud singers, projective singers, and the ones that new how to hold the mic so that they could control the volume to what they wanted.  
There is nothing better than to keep them happy, and to know that they are happy with what you are doing.