Karaoke Forums

Disclaimer: Since there was a challenge issued, I'll bite. I don't care how many people answer... it can remain a post of one for all I am concerned with. This isn't to start a war with anybody, nor to prove a point.

AND I'm sorry for the length of this post! I just finished my thoughts, and sheesh!
I made a blurb on my "myspace" site about how I've seen the "bar" lowered as far as Karaoke. Seems to me that some karaoke jocks are quite content with having the show go "their way", and wanting to bring in only what they want to bring in.

For instance (and no offense is intended), Jamkaraoke mentioned that he was going to delete all duplicates in his computerized system. I disagreed, but respected his right to do this. To me, what is one person's favorite and best version of a song isn't anothers. Tig and I used to have a light-hearted debate about what version of "Wanted Dead or Alive" was I had with my company. He preferred the DK version, I preferred the Pioneer. (and ONE of my customers loved the SC version! !) Anyway, by having the SONGBOOK being edited (for ease of use), I put in what I felt was the best versions... but I also announced on many occassions if someone was looking for a specific version, my master songbook had everything I owned... and they were welcome to look through them. Now, granted, this is an example that only a few karaokers can personally identify. MOST karaoker singers just go with the flow, and read the book and if they don't see it, don't stress.

But I was a bit distressed when Jam said that if someone wanted another version, AND it was one he had purchased at one time, he'd just say "Sorry!"

Frankly, that bothered me... Not JAM saying it, but the thought that you make a decision for ease of use, and when people complain about it, you just do the best you can do to make it flow as smoothly as possible.

I've been to karaoke shows where they've gone to computer and won't take a customer's disc. They'll INSIST that you use the version of the song that they have in their books. Well, sometimes the version they have just flat out sucks! OR you're used to the speed or tempo of the one YOU have. One of my old customers used to live and die by the Backstage Billy Joel disc... every BJ song he sang HAD to come from that. He eventually said "I'm used to it, I know the SC version is better, but THIS is the one I know... the timing, everything!"

And even though I winced when the music played, I had to respect his decision to want a specific version.

I think sometimes the "bar" is lowered TOO much in the search for a better way of doing things. Some examples:

*  the CAVS machine which has problems jumping playing modes from CDG to DVD (It's a DVD machine with it's own programming), and there are many times you have to reboot the sucker if it gets hung on a cdg!

* KJS that have gone to an all computer rig (usually a laptop), and refuse to use any cdgs. So customers are out of that one.

To me, in both situations, having an el-cheapo player on an a/b switch for video and / or audio that you can switch to to use for a customer's cdg, solves the problem of your converted files...

the thought that someone wouldn't go the nth degree to satisfy their customers is a bit "silly" to me. Now I know I'm not out to change the world of karaoke... I never was. But I can't help but think about the way karaoke has changed over the years. It's gone from cassettes to VHS to Lasers to cdgs and more... the home market for karaoke is REALLY something to consider. More and more people that are NOT in the karaoke business are buying their own cdgs, custom or otherwise, and I think alienating them is just wrong.

Anyway, what sort of ways do YOU think that karaoke has changed... for good or bad? Is it just a fad now to some of you, or is it truly an entertainment form that most of us hope it is?

I welcome all thoughts on this!

I used to think it was a fad and I was worried. I am glad it has been around this long. The first show I ever went to was 20 years ago in Hawaii. I enjoyed it. We sang from our table.

The next show was 14 years ago. The guy who ran the show also owned the bar. Sometimes he treated the two businesses seperately and sometimes the same. He was in it for the fun of the customers. The only time he ever let the bar have priority over his karaoke was when a fight was brewing. He always had a backup jock in the booth with him to take over the show in such an event. Fun Times.

About a year later my wife and I did the show for them sometimes. That was fun and the crowd loved it. 6 years ago I worked there again as the KJ. The show had been nearly run into the ground and I was told not to talk too much. That's odd because I actually don't talk that much in person when other people are talking to me, or when I'm working.

13 years ago, the disks themselves were a bear. The show was bulky and hard to do mobile although we did. It took someone with a love for karaoke to do the job, it seemed. These days it's not quite that way. There are KJs who obviously love what they do and have compassion for it. There are those who seem to do it because they like to stay up late and drink. Thise are two extremes and there are a lot who fall in the middle. Sometimes it is still hard to tell if my KJ has my interests in mind or his own.

Where is your heart? That's what I need to think about when I "audition" a new club. Does the KJ really care about his clients? I will talk to them and find out myself. The KJs in my area all know me and so far none of them hate me.

To me a lot has changed for the worse. The reasons I can think of are all spelled out in previous threads. Too much of the time it boils down to how much the bar is willing to offer a KJ.

State of Karaoke in my area--oversaturated, uncaring bar owners, too-many dime-a-dozen unprofessional, uncaring cutrate/underhanded/sloppy DJ/KJ's and their shows. Less and less really top-flight karaoke people working. Really quality karoake places becoming fewer and farther between. Becoming overrun with places that really have NO BUSINESS offering karaoke along with KJs who have NO BUSINESS doing karaoke. Thats how it is in Portland/Vancouver. Im sure Knightshow and Flipper can vouch for that statement.

_________________
"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

I think Karaoke, in bars, will be around for a long long time.  IT is CHEAP, as compared to hiring bands, and entertainment that most people enjoy, as long as there are a couple good singers.

As for KJs, they need to change and adapt to continue to make it fresh.  FOr instance at our shows, we have another younger couple that also hosts for us.  We like to swith nights to give people a vareity.  It is abvious to me and others that the 2 different hosts berin in 2 different types of crowds.  We also don't just do KARAOKE.  We try t mix it up a bit with a little bit of dance music, and some videos.  Don't get me wrong, if there are singers waiting to sing, they come first, but when it is appropriate, we trow some music or videos on.

And as for not playing customers CDG discs.  I am one of thoes host that don't do it.  When I switched to a laptop, it was to make it easire and more compact.  Now I also have to say that in the last 2 years there has only been 1 person that has brought in his CDGs, and we hand almost every sng he had anyway.  But if there was a regular that insisted on a certain version, I would buy the CDG and rip it so I had it.  But thus far no one has lost out on us switching to a laptop.

Like I jaid you, as a KJ, have to keep it fresh, and give the customers what they want, or be in fear of going away

As to it beign a FAD---nope not a fad-----its a MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRY now. World wide and with a far greater potential reach than  even mainstream live music---It is literally word-wide, equipment manufactures, more and more cd music lables, ever expanding inroads into the home, major retail outlets, major record stores, internet vendors, internet interactive rooms, KS, dedicated karaoke publications(KS and NW Karaoke and Live Entertainment Guide) and even American Idol and all the representative contests and talent search events that has spawned. I even read a national geographic artcile on steam railroads in China(Shainghai to Mongolia rail line  I believe and they even had a karaoke machine in the parlor car!--with some guy being a karaoke hog!!

Just drive down the boulevard in anytown and count the ratio of Karaoke places to live music bars---youll find that its probly somewhere aroud 4-5 to 1. And even the live music places are haveing to offer it if they intend on surviving. Its become that ingrained. At places that allow kids--the kids DEMAND thier opportunity to do karaoke. So its being TAUGHT to the kids at an early age. People may laugh and scoff at the "K"-word  but your better believe that its a tidal wave that isnt going away and will only becme larger and more engrained over time. I mean up here we even got Karaoke in a couple of DENNYS restraurant and a Fast Food restaurant chain for cryin out loud!!  LOL  Would u like some FRIES WITH THAT MIC?

_________________
"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

I'll bet home karaoke will never completely beat out karaoke in a club. People have alcohol at home but still like to go to the club. Even if the acceptable blood alcohol level for drivers is dropped to .04 from our current .08 here in Texas, people will still go to the clubs for at least one or two songs. I know someone who wants to open a smoke free karaoke coffee bar. In the near future this might be a  viable alternative.

'K, I'm a little shaky, cause this is new for me. So, lemme go slowly... I think I can remain on topic.

Hmmmm...

I have mixed feelings. I like to see new stuff be introduced, you gotta go with change, change is good.

But, sometimes I get the feeling alot of KJ's do the "You got a new what?!?!? Not fair, I gotta get one too..." and it's a big competition for bragging rights on whose got the most sparkly, modern system. And heck with the little guy (me, the lowly singer) and what pleases me.

Our place is pretty small and a bit behind the times I think in comparison to what alot of the big cities are doing with karaoke nowadays. We aren't smothered in track lighting, or disco balls, don't have the finest system in the west.... we still karaoke for the fun of singing, and sometimes making arses out of ourselves. In alot of places I've seen, many bad singers have drifted away from karaoke, and you usually have a pretty decent round of singers. Not so here in Canby, it's a "come one, come all" type atmosphere. And I love it. (where else would I feel so welcome to wail? hahaha)
Anyhow.... My KJ recently got reeled into the "new computer based" setup. When she first told me she was getting it, I thought "Oh, okay, that might be cool"..... But geez, Louise, I wish she'd throw it in the garbage. Atleast, she is a very very customer oriented KJ, and still brings all her cdg's too, and let's me bring my own.

But for the people who rely on book songs only.... and deeply rely on the karaoke screen.... well, lemme just say, the bad singers now greatly outnumber the half decent or better singers. What is with the lyrics moving a line or so behind or ahead of the music? Alot of karaoke singers..... REALLY follow the lyrics to sing. And songs I've heard them do okay on before, they really stink at now, with this new system.

But point is, she thought this was "new and improved" cause it was "Oh, my... computer based".... and it's not any better than what she had. Not if her customers are not pleased with the outcome. And alot are not.

I went to a place in  Wilsonville once, will NEVER go there again. Cool bar, motel connected, had an awesome dance floor, tons of lights and he had a really great looking setup. Did he have a certain version of a song? Er, no, just what was in the computer database, pretty much ONE copy of each song he had.... Could I use my own disk? Why, sure, but I'd have to sing without lyrics. Which , was fine, and better than not at all, but people stared at me like I was cheating and singing overtop of the original singers' disk, cause they couldn't see lyrics rolling on the screen. And the guy was like "Hey, this is the newest in karaoke innovation, everyone will go to this eventually".... and I left thinking "Well, look around you, your bar is 1/2 empty... wonder why?".  He also ran a dry mic, and couldn't care less that the singers were not happy how they sounded.

Also went to Tualatin with my niece once. THREE times during the night the "new and improved karaoke setup" froze and we waited while he rebooted his computer. He was pretty funny. "Nope, I don't have books, why- I don't need 'em little lady, I'm all computerised, you come up- tell me a song- and I'll punch in the name of it in this little box right here, simple as that". Um, sure fella, but I can't turn in 4 or 5 songs at the beginning of the night, have to think em up off top of my head each time I walk up there. (and there's the whole issue..... she's singing my song..... I had that idea in my head first, but how to prove it with no song slip filled out? ) hahaha- THAT was a joke.

I guess, change is cool.... but IF people go slowly, and do it right, and not just jump on the band wagon cause it's *new and cool*.... lots of consideration should be taken- is it economical, is it gonna make everyone happy AS WELL as make a KJ's job easier- or is it gonna make you end up in a corner of an empty bar sitting all alone with your new, sparkly stuff cause mom n' pops down the road paid more attention to what kept a crowd around to sing? Basically, everyone should consult ME first. (sorry, not off topic, just a joke) Sorry, this is really long. You didn't say I couldn't talk alot, you just said stay on topic.

By George..... I think I did it. (I'm pretty proud too)

.

_________________
♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥

I bring a disk with me almost averywhere I go because the KJs often don't have the songs I want to sing. We have had to leave clubs that didn't play my disk. I mean nothing personal by this at all.  There are songs that I do that sound horrible unless I bring my own disk. One of them the arrangement is way off and it takes a fun song and makes it absolutely dry and flat.

My home system is completely loaded on my computer. If a friend comes over with their own disk I can still play it. That's why I picked the software and computer that I did.

Well....the state of karaoke in my area....hmmmmm...

Oh yeah...there is none anymore!    :(

I have heard that a pretty rough little bar about half an hour's drive away has karaoke...but nahhhh...not for me...  

Guess ya'll are stuck having to listen to me...  LOL

I don't think it's a fad either.  I think the appeal for many of us karaoke singers is being able to be the singer in the band....  We also get to fulfill our desire to hear the kind of music we are craving at that time, which for me may change from song to song.

When we were introduced to karaoke the fact that the hosts really seemed to enjoy the people in the crowd and whose focus was having a great time was primary.  Even after we bought a karaoke machine and karaoke music for the house I didn't sing in front of anyone but I sure loved going to that karaoke show....   We still enjoy it and hope it shows.

As for playing someone's original CDG, we are still antiquated and are not PC based so that is not an issue for us.  We certainly understand that people have a preference of manufacturers for their song(s); I have my own "personal" discs myself.  If we ever take the leap to PC I will still need to be able to play someone's original CDG and an A/B switch should be simple enough.

Fortunately there are many options in our area for karaoke.  In my opinion there are some bad KJ's (hopefully some of them were just having a bad night) and there are also some great KJ's that I will refer to.  For me, a great KJ is someone who enjoys the people and shows it; everything else is secondary.

Susie

_________________
You do it in the shower,
you do it in the car,
Ccome do it with us,
and be a star!!!!

Karaoke with Full House Entertainment

[scroll]Just because I have a short attention span doesn't mean...... [/scroll]

I should add that my software will queue up a disk in the rotation side by side with songs that are on the drive. That's why I picked the software that I use.

The one club that I sing at that has gone PC based might still have the option of playing customer's CDGs. We will be looking in on them to see if they can, man I hope so. The KJ is using a tower PC setup so the chances are good.

Another place we go for karaoke has a huge selection of music but the CDGs are of poor quality. I have to bring my own disk next time we go. I hope they can play it. They have dupes but they use a proprietary numbering system so we can't tell what brands of disks they use. This means that we can't pick the ones that sound better.



[align=center]No KJs were hurt in the researching and publishing of this post. [/align]

Personally, when it comes changes in karaoke, it's been good and bad, in my opinion.

Yeah, the computerized system at my place of employment has made life easier, more organized, and smoother for hosting, when it was first installed, however, I had at least one crash every other weekend, til the kinks got worked out of the system. Thank goodness for the A/B switch, so I could use discs until the problem was fixed. Just one example.

Never thought it would be "just a fad" either, like most of you. Many people love to sing, and karaoke is just another good, fun way of doing it. It may change in many ways, but I doubt it will ever die out. Kind of like saying "Church choir will never last!", when it was first invented.

Agree with the statement that customers should be allowed to use their own original discs, whether you're using a computer or not. Anyone who has converted to digital probably already has their old player that they can use for that... with the help of an A/B. Might be a little more to carry, but why risk losing potential business because of it? Ironically, I'm stuck in a situation where I can use only one kind of disc at my place if the song is not on the computer, or even if it is in the system... but I hate to see people not being able to use the brand they're use to.

Agree with Knightshow about using a "Master" book for people's other preferences.

No I don't think it is a fad. I have more people come in for karaoke
than the live bands bring in. Knock on wood.  LMAO

In my area new KJs pop up all the time. The good ones stay in business, the bad ones go bar to bar until they get fired and then fade away.

I am computer based, but play peoples CDGs if they bring them in. No problem.
It is all just keeping them happy and coming back. Some people just feel more comfortable using their own even if I have the same version. It doesn't bother me.
I understand there is a legitament reason not wanting to do this. People with bad CDGs can screw up your player or blame you for scatching their CDG. I have never had this happen, so I'm not to worried about it.

I feel bad when people get hurt by under cutters, but that is part of the business.

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

There are still bar owners that personally don't like karaoke.   They are thinking about the original KJs from 15 years ago that had small books and horrible sound, with a bunch of screaming drunks.

Hello bar owners.... Karaoke is still the hottest thing going to make you money, whether you like it or not.     What do you like more...... the sound of hearing a pin drop in the middle of the bar or the sound of the Kash register ringing from Karaoke?

Yes the music stores dropped karaoke equipment 10 years ago, thinking it was going to die a really fast death.   Well it surprised everyone.    I wouldn't say it's going up or down.   I think it's maintaining a steady level coarse.     I have already been through a generation of singers.

New discs company/manufacturers are still opening.   Too bad the karaoke machine makers won't do us any good.   Attention karaoke machine manufacturers.  You are losing your business to computers, because you are too stupid to cater to the professional KJs.   We want heavy duty machines.   Not household crap.     It's too late now, because we can't wait for you to play catchup to us anymore.  COMPUTERS will wipe out your business.

Just as you use two machines, you must use two computers.  At least have it handy in case your main one goes down.     Two hard drives, too.   You can hookup an external drive to play other peoples discs.  It's no big deal.

I still don't understand how you base your decision on whose version of a song is the best.     There is only one true test.     How does it compare to the version played on the radio?   It's not just an arbitrary, I like this one.   Compared to what?     If it doesn't come close to the radio version, it sucks.      Doesn't matter how good you think it sounds or how well they played.     People remember what they heard on the radio.   It's the one they sing to everyday in the house or car.    So that is the version you should want to have as your first choice.

The quality of the shows in this area still sucks.   Too many wannabes that think they have what it takes as far as being a KJ and having a quality sound system.   Too crappy to work for decent money.   So it will continue to drag down the price for the quality "players".     I have seen a lot of them come and quickly go.    They can't handle the riggers of doing a quality gig.   And all that it entails.       As long as they keep thinking it can be done on a shoe string, the faster they will fall.  :wave:   Excuse me........pardon me...... Bigdog coming through...  oh sorry was that your toe?????   Oh watch yourself.     Don't fall down, coz I'll walk right over your wannabe, price gouging, undercutting, cheap sounding system, karaoke ruining back.  :O  :shock:  LMAO

That is the best way I know of.

Karaoke is booming here in the Tampa bay area. We have a local entertainment mag called the Daily Planet that shows all of the entertainment going on every night throughout the area. You have to pay a small fee to have your event listed in this paper, but even with the fee there are EASILY about 30 or so karaoke shows listed on the standard karaoke nights (Wed-Sat). If there are 30 PAID listings, you know there are at least 50-60 more that are not listed. This is not a huge city as far as big cities go (about 300,000 in the metro area, about 2.5 million in the entire city and subburbs), so I would call that thumping. I am absolutely blown away by the number of bars and restaurants that offer karaoke shows everytime I return to my hometown of Atlanta. It FAR exceeds the number of bars that have traditional live music these days (bands).

I have ALWAYS thought that a good number of you have the absolute wrong attitude about the cheap rigs that you see at some places these days. If you think about it, 10 years ago you only saw karaoke in the larger "lounge" type of bars. The kind that was previously paying $1000 a night for a band, but considered it a bargin to pay a KJ $400 a night to entertain the audience just as much if not more!!

Soon more KJs got in the game and the competition drove the price down a bit. Small bars that could NEVER afford live entertainment before could suddenly pay a second-rate KJ a second-rate price to put on a show in their bars. The industry grew and grew and keeps growing, which naturally drives prices down as more and more competition abounds!! So now we are at the point where a good KJ in a good bar is averaging like $125-175 a night, which is MORE than enough to make a great profit (I make $175 a night and am CONSTANTLY upgrading my equipment and music and STILL net about $15,000 a year in my pocket for 11 hours of work a week...best part time job on the planet if you ask me!!).

That 61 year old lady down at the corner dive with her vocopro karaoke machine that makes $50 a night (you all know her...and her husband, sister, daughter and grandbaby) does NOTHING but help the industry. Why would you want 5 karaoke bars in your town catering to a small niche audience when you can have 100 in your town providing a mainstream form of entertainment that ALL bars can afford on various levels?? Sure, you are not going to make the HUGE money that was around 10 years ago, but you are part of a more stable, mainstream industry that is doing nothing but growing!! Look at the big picture, not just how much cash you USED to make before the industry exploded!!

It is just like computer processors. 10 years ago you may have paid $300 for a 100 Mhrz intel processor, but as MORE people found computers to be a staple of the electronics industry, prices met the market. Now, the consumer gets a product that is 1,000 times better for 1/5 of the money, the manufactorers STILL make PLENTY of cash, and everyone is pretty satisfied. Thus is the karaoke industry.

It has become mainstream enough that I think we have certainly leveled out in the true market range as far as KJ rates. At $125-175 a night, a good bar makes good money, a good KJ makes good money, and the customers get a good product. By the same token, at $50 a night, a crummy bar makes some money, a crummy KJ makes a little money, and the customers get a limited product. BUT, hundreds of thousands more people get exposure to the industry, and BELIEVE ME, they know where to go when they want GOOD karaoke, and they will.

Anyway, I'm done rambling, but I think the current trends in this industry, including the cheapy rigs and undercutters, are absolutely good trends for GOOD KJs everywhere in the overall BIG picture, and it is all looking up!!

_________________
C Mc
KJ, FL

Very good points TopherM.

We should have our own karaoke magazine in our area by the first of the year.  It will be issued by the same person that issues the pool magazines found in our local taverns.  We currently have free listings in the Friday edition of our local paper and the list is quite long.  The new magazine will hopefully get even more people in the bars for karaoke...

Wow!  I really like your point about the "undercutters"!  While I understood that some bars could only afford the guy willing to bring his stuff in for $50.00 and some guys will accept $50.00 to get their foot in the door I just chalked it up to "You get what you pay for."  I hadn't thought of it creating more exposure for karaoke....   Thanks for bringing it up and giving me a new perspective on "undercutters".

Susie

_________________
You do it in the shower,
you do it in the car,
Ccome do it with us,
and be a star!!!!

Karaoke with Full House Entertainment

[scroll]Just because I have a short attention span doesn't mean...... [/scroll]

Knightshow
1st a clarification : I never said I was deleting ALL duplicates. I dont' believe having 8 versions of FRIENDS IN LOW PLACES raises the bar of any karaoke.  
It's important to give singers SOME choices but not EVERY CHOICE.
For those singers who require a certain mfg  I do have a quality CDG player in my rack and welcome customer cdgs . If thats what they prefer. !

The "bar" for Karaoke is non existant.  We can all agree on a decent selection of quality tracks  is important as well as a quality sound system.  Fair and consistant rotations practices as well as a "personable" KJ ..After that ... WHat works for one may not work for another - FILLER MUSIC maybe okay.  Just beacuse a KJ uses CDG's with no Computer doesn't mean they provide a Lower standard of KARAOKE.

We can all agree that the "price" of karaoke just isn't what it use to be. The days of $250 night bar gigs for JUST karaoke are hard to find.  So as I've said many times if you approach KJ'ing as a business instead of a hobby there is a fine line to tow between GREAT SERVICE and GREAT VALUE.  I've seen KJ's doing a great STEADY business with just CDGS,  a little Yamaha Box Powered Mixer , wired mics and 2 cheap 12" gemini speakers.  

(SPEAKING IN GENERAL NOTHING PERSONAL) The bar for karaokes is the same for all business " STICK TO THE BASICS" and you can't go wrong. Go ahead and tell your customers you have 500,000 songs and every version of MY WAY every produced on karaoke.  Hand them a $600 wireless mic running through a $50,000 sound system ....  The next week they will be at anotherr show with a $25 wired mic running through a vocopro unit and having just as much fun ....ISN'T THAT WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT ????

Karaoke is going good in my area.  There are probably 12 different venues for karaoke going on right now.  Rates go from $50 a night on up. Many of the kj's come and go from one place to another.  I've been at the same place now almost 5 years. Up until a few months ago I was doing three nights a week.  Full time job and health dictated I cut back.  Now doing just Wed & Sat.  $185 a night and $50 for extra hour which is most frequently.  

Like TopherM said, I like the undercutters.  They help me prove you get what you pay for.  My rate increased this past year because another venue was offering me more money for two nights than what I was making in three where I am at.  However likeing where I am, allowed me to make a new deal with the owner to stay.

That in itself tells me I must be doing something right.  I use a laptop with a very good Mackie system and Shure wired and wirless mics; LCD flat screen for singers.  Inflatable props; CLEAN song books with 11pt. font; fair rotation.  No I'm not trying to sound like Bigdog, (Sorry Bigdog, couldn't resist) but I am proud of my system and the  delivery of my product.

But most important ( I think) I treat people the way I want to be treated.  I don't care how bad or how good you sing.  We are all there to have fun.  If I hear you heckling a singer, you'll be asked (over the mic) if you have turned in a song yet; if you don't like what is being sung then you sing something or find someone else to sing it for you.  And if that isn't enough, then we have a front door and a back door and you can take you pick.  But if I hear you mouth again I pick it for you and be more than glad to escort you sorry @$$ out.  That comment usually brings a roar and applause so loud from the crowd that the offender chooses to get up by themselves and move to the door closest to them.

I've been told it's overkill for karaoke.  But it's what I like.  I choose not to carry 5 versions of a song because as Bigdog said, I feel like going with the version closest to the original. Of 9,600 non dupes,  I am probably 80 % Sound Choice, 10% Chartbuster and 5% Music Maestro.  The other 5% I am quickly replacing.

It's extremely rare that anyone brings in their own disk.  I like the laptop because it saves time.  I keep anywhere from 12 to 15 singers cued up and ready to go.  If a singer comes up to sing and changes their mind at the last second; it doesn't take me but a second to change it to what they want.  Using disks take time.  Also when the day comes and I decide to hang it up; close to a thousand karaoke discs that have only been played ONE time should be worth more to sell, than ones that have been put through the wringer.

I think what turns alot of KJ's off to people bringing in disks is that 99% of the ones who used to bring them in; brought in disks that looked like they were being used as drink coasters; Then they would be upset because my laptop couldn't make heads or tails out of it.  I can't justify buying a disk player for the 1 or 2 people a month that might bring in a disk.  And I'm not going to, IMO, waste monies by buying multiple versions that aren't going to increase my profitability.

I have also found that a majority of the people who do bring in a disk version other than Sound Choice or Chartbuster, more times than not, base that descision on price, not quality of song.

Sorry for the length.  Just my two cents; or maybe $.50.  I state none of this meaning I am right and everyone else wrong.  It's just (what's that new phrase?) It's just the way I roll.

Kelly

I consider myself clarified! ! Seriously... thanks for the correction.

And I never said what you were doing was "WRONG", just that I didn't personally agree with it.