Karaoke Forums

I know what you are saying lon I just get tired of people on AI using karaoke as an adjective to infer mediocrity.  Or when somebody that doesnt even go to  karaoke shows knocks it and still thinks its a bunch of drunks trying to sing...At any given night here we have 5-10 singers that are better than the last 20 on AI... There are a lot of good singers now and with all the kids singing karaoke at home Ive had some teens go nuts on my system and they blow me away.. They are good and will be well seasoned before they even reach the drinking age.  :)

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Charmin, you don't have to give up anything including karaoke.  You're not the kind of karaoke singer that relies that much on the karaoke song cues anyway are you? A good band doesn't have to rely on the singer to lead them alot.  Besides, very little drives musicians nuts as much as a singer who is constantly "reinventing" a song every time they play.  You don't want to play it EXACTLY the same way all the time, but you don't want a singer or musician going way out into left field each time either.

Kurt is right that there's a heck of a lot of business dealings, advertising and schedule juggling involved with starting your own band.  NOT being the band leader is the way to go IMO!  :yes:  You get to have the fun and not all the headaches.

LISTEN TO ODIE-WAN YOU DO!!

He speaks TRUTH!!!

Here's the ticket tho-----be a guest featured singer. Much the way Sonny Hess runs the NW Women in Blues Review. Her main lead "Featured" singer is LadyKat. She KJ'd at Grandma's just down the street from my house and I sang at her shows MANY MANY times----now she fronts NW Women In blues and sings in front of 15,000 at the Waterfront Blues Festivals. She went karaoke to lead signer at the big festivals. So did Olivia Warfield who was just featured in the Oregonian. You may have seen the article. She used to sing at my gig. Theres MANY who've gone from karaoke to lead singing.

Maybe youve seen Barbara Cecil. She was a Karaoke DJ for awhile at BeaverCreek. Then hooked up as female lead with Johnny Limbo and the Lugnuts. Now she has her own country band and released a CD.

http://nwkaraokeguide.net/2005-11/Barbara.php

To get that kinda gig tho you gotta have TALENT and STAGE PRESCNENCE, STYLE and "THE LOOK" and be willing tomake the COMMITMENT TO PAY THE DUES which all of them have done.

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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

 

I think its "hogwash" too that karaoke will ruin your singing ability. You say yourself that you dont need the words on the screen so I dont think there is a diff. in that or singing in a band. I wouldnt give either up. one can compliment the other as far as making you a better singer. I on the other hand have a hard time w/out the words , my timing gets so messed up no matter how long Ive sang the song if I dont use the screen as gudance. ( not neccisarily for the whole song, just to keep tabs) Im sure to mess up. I think you have an advantage by not needing the screen.You can do either one & be just as good.   Good Luck ! I hope things pan out for you ! Let me know when the first cd comes out  !!

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Kelley
Star Sounds Karaoke & Mobile Recording Studio


[shadow=black][scroll]You have to respect your audience. Without them, you're essentially standing alone, singing to yourself....KD Lang[/scroll][/shadow]

So how is this guy an expert on karaoke? I say hog wash.
I have done both - The difference is you have to memorize the lyrics.
You can do that. So you may forget a verse and have to repeat the one you remember or forget some words and improvise. Even professionals make mistakes like that.

Is it different, yes. You have to get used to how the band plays. The drummer
may not keep a consistant beat etc... That is why you practice with them. To me
singing with a different band without practicing throws me off because every band is different.

You play your guitar at home and sing, right? Does singing karaoke make it harder for you to do that?

I think if anything karaoke has made me a better singer. I try things new all the time without having to wait for a band to learn the song.

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

I have very rarely sung with a live band. I do know however that professional bands are rather reticent about taking on karaoke singers, at least over here,  and for the very reasons that the old guy explained. A lead singer needs to be just that, a leader. If a band mucks up then the vocals need to be strong enough to continue regardless till they have caught up.
Most people who use pre-recorded backing (self included) are reliant upon the perfect backing, after all you can guarantee what comes next. Not so with a live band. Human nature being what it is chances are someone will have a bad day sometime or other and not be concentrating as they should perhaps start in the wrong key or the wrong tempo.
Ask yourself if you are a strong enough leader for your vocals to continue on their own without being thrown into confusion or would you attempt to go with the band

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"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

Any song I do well in karaoke, would be a song I'd know very well and have memorized anyway. Charmin I think I agree with you that singing to a karaoke track that you know is similar to singing to a backing band. If the singer leads then the band would follow similarly. However, as I understand it, and best guess, singers and bands actually work in concert with one another. The singer may lead, but they are also aware and sensitive to what / how the band is playing. That helps them have perfect cueing for more dramatic vocal effects. My guess is even if you are relying on the music rather than leading it, you could quickly snap out of it when you realize you have to sing and lead. I don't think it would take that much transformation or difficulty to adjust.

I think you have a good vocal sound, and with the right band, and exposure, and motivation, and effort, and luck - you have a shot - especially if you have some good writers of music and lyrics.

My brother is in a band playing bass. Lots of bands / groups in Austin. Supposedly we are the 'live music capital of the world'. [BTW ACL Music Fest this weekend]. I don't know that I am that great a singer, but the idea is tempting to play around with some local bands.

If you have the drive, energy, enthusiasm, and time - you should go for it. As for your question I'd say you should listen to your own opinion and experience. I think he is probably wrong. I doubt it would ruin you, but I agree you need training in a live band situation (practice) as well - but that would obviously happen anyay.

Just my 2.

Bill

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The Truth Is Out There

From my band experiences since the 70's, every player or singer in the band needs to thoroughly know the song and be able to recuperate from a mistake as quickly as possible.  I don't see it as a singer vs. the band situation. The singer's voice is his instrument.  It's part of the band in a way. The singer happens to be the "lead instrument" for the majority of a vocal song.

The keyboard player, guitarist, drummer and bass player very rarely make mistakes at the same time.  It's normally only one musician at a time that errors and that person gets back on track as quickly as possible.  The singer should stay with the majority.  Actually in terms of big mistakes, the singer is capable of causing the most noticeable ones.  In these instances it takes a steady band to stay solid and on track until the singer can get back onboard again IMO.

Is karaoke any worse of an influence on a live band singer than singing along with the radio, a CD or TV?  If you're singing with the original recording of a song you're sure counting on cues and fixed arrangements too. So, should a good live singer not even sing along with the radio? No, of course not.  When you're with a live band, you just learn to "tinker" with the song a bit more but you HAVE to have the song memorized at a basic, fundamental level. I just don't think any format of singing needs to be eliminated.

you are very wise

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"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

.... I see ml_texas lurking..... curious to read his opinion....

He's one fart smeller.... I mean... smart feller

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I was in a local cover band for about 2 years before I starting KJing. It was actually the band thing that got me into the KJ thing, since my band broke up and I owned most of our PA equipment.

Anyway, for me the actual experience of being in a band and singing with a band on stage is a million times better than any karaoke show. Since my band broke up, I have hooked up with 3 other bands and practiced almost to the point of gigging just to have them fall apart right at the last minute, so TRUST ME that if you are able to hook up with an established band, it will save you TONS of headaches, as it seems that about 75% of projects never come together!!

For me, it has also come down to the fact that I make $350 a week as a KJ split ONE way, whereas the typical cover band here in FL will make between $300-600 a show, or even just a door take, split 4-5 ways. I'll admit that one of those failed band projects I was involved in broke down because I refused to work on Saturday nights (one of my karaoke nights). Why work sporadically 1-3 days a week making between $85 and $150 a show when I already have an entertainment gig paying me a guaranteed $350 a week? If you are going to get into the band scene, make sure you are DEFINATLY not doing it for the money, or else you are going to run into some harsh realities!!!

So the band thing is on the backburner until I am done with my KJ days!! In the meatime I keep up my guitar practice so I'm not rusty when I'm ready to go!

As someone was saying, though, the single best way to get yourself out there in the local music scene is to play some open mic nights. Pick out your best 2-3 acoustic songs that you can play and sing and take them out to the bar. I did this all the time after my band broke up and met hundreds of local musicians, which is where I got most of my tryouts and project offers!!

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C Mc
KJ, FL

Hi Crystal! I finally got a few minutes to sneak back in and see what is going on.  I have been really busy teaching school and playing on the weekends.  This topic is one that I have dealt with personally.  I love playing with my band, they are completely professional from the word go. My rythm guitar player played with Waylon Jennings for 17 years. My fiddle player started out playing drums for Elvis before anyone knew who he was, then ended up playing for people like Ray Price as well as others.  My lead guitarist has a masters degree in guitar from North Texas State and is one of the best I have heard anywhere.  The pedal Steel player has played clubs for over 35 years and the bass player played with Ray Price too.  It has been really easy to step up to a mic and sing with these guys playing. They are all studio quality musicians who can play covers note for note with the originals. I can listen to Strait's cd's and then go sing with an incredible band who can sound just like them.  The difference I notice in singing with a live band and singing from a karaoke track is that no matter how professional they are, there can always be small glitches in a performance that causes slight timing issues.  Most are not noticed by anyone because we cover them really well.   An example would be someone getting the attention of one of the musicians to request a tune or try to comment on something and perhaps it causes the musician to alter tempo momentarily.  Everyone has to be alert and watching everyone else at all times to cover these things up so that no one notices something like this occuring. With a karaoke track, the music is always on the same tempo (at least we hope they are once they come out of the studio and into our collections of tracks) so we dont have to worry about the band. They always play a song the same way. And yes, they always show up for a gig! No one in the band gets sick and bails out when you use a karaoke track.  One thing I love about live bands is the interaction I have with the bandmembers. I like being on stage with them and playing to the crowd.  I have done shows where it was just me and not the band. I have used karaoke tracks and actually played my guitar along with the tracks to add an extra feel of live music and people have responded extreemly well to this.  I think, due to economics, there are many bands not on the road anymore and you will see a lot more singers doing this because you dont have to split the money with the band.  Still, I prefer to play with the band over playing by myself with a guitar and karaoke tracks. By the way, I do have tracks of originals we have recorded and put out on cd's.  Even then, the tracks to those songs were done by studio musicians in Nashville and sent to us for our use when we need them.  Charmin, I dont think singing karaoke is going to ruin you. I agree, it will help you vocally.  You just have to be versatile enough to find your comfort zone in which ever setting you find yourself in at the moment--live band or karaoke! Good luck! --Mike

There is no doubt in my mind it was more enjoyable being in a band, but
it is a lot less money. When I sang with the band I always looked foward to the next gig. As a karoke host sometimes I have to drag myself to work after a demanding show. Charmin doesn't have to pick one over the other which is nice.


One nice thing is Charmin will never be one of those idiots that comes to karaoke and brags to everyone how they're in a band and then gets up to sing and sounds
crappy. It always seems like it is the braggers. Like the guy that comes up and says he's won all kinds of karaoke contests. I can almost guarantee when he sings it won't be that good.  LMAO

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

I know what you mean.  I stopped by a karaoke show a friend of mine does the other night and there was a man there who was asking for a song he could not find in my friend's books.  When she told him she had the song, he wanted to know what key it was in. She told him that the particular disc she had did not say. He looked at the disc and said, "Oh, it is in G!" I laughed and told him, 'No, that is the kind of disc it is. CDG means cd with graphics!  He was telling us it would not matter because he just follows the music and everything would be ok! Boy was he awful!

ml-Texas - it is so nice to see you pop in over here.

I was just over SS. There are a lot of good singers today and yesterday.
I try to always leave a comment, but I ran across this one gal that was so bad
I was speachless. I hate when that happens.

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

Wow, lots of good advice here:)

Babs, I know what ya mean about the braggarts being the worst singers usually.  LOL  I've seen that first hand. Usually, in anything, not just music..... if someone feels the need to brag about something, it's usually an area they lack confidence in and are bad at....... hence the need to brag themselves up. My dad always said a braggart brags only on his weaknesses, and I've always found that to be true.

I only brag about my truck though.... and my kids.  :D

I realize that singing with a band can mean more mistakes too. Heck, in karaoke though... if a mistake is made, it's all mine. In a band, I can blame it on someone else.  :D  (kidding... sorta)

The other night, someone in the crowd requested Coal Miners Daughter, I've never sang that one with this band. They are good at picking up new stuff.... but they failed to make a key change as it needs. (actually, it key changes more than once)  So, the lead guitar player finally jumped a key, and I followed him as the song goes.... and there was a small interval where the keyboard player and bass player were not there.... but they quickly followed. I sang another song that the lead guitarist was going into the chorus wrong. So, I was playing rythm guitar on this one... staying in G on the beginning of the chorus, while he was going to C. I heard it, the keyboard and bass player heard it... they followed MY guitar and voice, and soon the lead player was right with us. (dunno if the crowd noticed it... maybe, maybe not) But I know things like that can happen. And I think everyone involved recuped very well.

You know, you guys have cemented my thoughts that "he's full of hogwash". Him and his wife are coming over here in the next couple weekends to polish up some old fiddle songs with me and my dad..... so maybe I'll crank up the karaoke too, and see if I can change his opinion of it.  :D

A person who's became a good friend of mine here commented to me in a PM rather than this thread.... and made me realize a few things. For one, if not for karaoke.... I would literally not have the guts to get up and sing with a band. Karaoke has done ALOT for building a bit of confidence in me. Even as little time as a year or so ago, I would still be shaking in my shoes singing karaoke. And while I still am a bit nervous anytime I sing, it's nothing like it used to be. As a kid when dad had me sing for people, and even singing with the old time fiddlers in the last few years...... I sing with my eyes closed, trying really hard to pretend I'm at home alone where nobody can hear me. I wouldn't dare look in the crowd, cause I'd be terrified. And I'm not that way now. Actually, I think I'm a bit more at ease with the band than  what I am at karaoke...... maybe, cause I'm not up there alone.  But I have a bit more confidence vocally, and I think I owe that to karaoke. Sure as Kurt so bluntly pointed out, the clock is ticking.... I mean, heck, I'm 38. But I couldn't have done this in my younger years. My 4 kids were my first priority then, and I would not have left them with a sitter to go sing in a band. I rarely did karaoke live when they were little. So, it wasn't my time until now.... gramma Charmin is finally ready to try it out though.  LOL  I'll just dress fancy smancy and wear pigtails, and maybe they wont realize my age, lll.

Hearing from you who are in, or have been in, live bands...... it seems you get the same "rush" as I do from it. It's a very different experience than karaoke, and gives you much more of a thrill. I'm pumped when I get behind the mic, and when the night is over, I'm nowhere near ready to quit....  LOL  I think.... maybe this might be a good thing for me.

For now, I'm not "starting a band".... I'm joining this band, who is very established, and they are just being.... the best.  I'm gonna spend a bit of time still, playing and singing with them, and meeting new people. The folks she is introducing me to are established players who have been in bands... and mostly looking for a new band to start or join. I have already had two offers.... from a drummer and a pedal steele player. The pedal steele player doesn't want to be in a band full time, but wants to sit in with me when he can afford the time. The drummer... would start tomorrow if I wanted.  Both have played the circuits here, and have connections, and know alot of places that we could get possible gigs... so with that, and the way this band is getting me around to playing at different venues.... I wont be starting out so "cold turkey". I already have 2 bars I'm pretty certain I could play at.... just from singing with this band, I've gotten to know the people at the bar.  SO maybe starting out wont be so bad.

We'll see I guess. One thing I'm certain of.... from reading that everyone else agrees with me, I'm not gonna throw karaoke aside and think it will "ruin me".

Thanks for all the advice, and stories people..... cause that's what I was looking for.

Bill....... I do have alot of original songs, but that's quite another story. One of them has been introduced to this band I'm singing with. But my confidence fails me there, on my own original songs. That's still my hiding place, ll.


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♥ 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. ♥

It is great to get to drop in today.  I dont have a lot of time due to my class schedule. As a matter of a fact, I have students working at their desks as I type this!  What is really bad is when they are really bad singers but think they are really good! I saw that happen at my friend's show the other night. There was a lady there who was the most terrible singer I have ever heard.  She told everyone before she sang that the song she was going to sing for everyone was a song she had done for a talent show! I bet she killed everyone there with her tone-deaf voice!  
I keep hoping for some time to go into SS and listen/comment and hopefully sub something again! I am beginning to feel like a real stranger!

Well, I would literally die of shame if the person I'm mentioning read this... I'm just gonna assume that he doens't know about this place.

This band does a bit of a "jam" type thing, and they very much welcome other players and singers onstage on their jam nights.

Monday night, there was a guy who showed up with a 12 string accoustic. (that's the guitar I ended up playing... so I'm glad he was there) Heck of an accoustic rythm player, he was very talented.

Well, on their break, he asked if he could play solo rather than their usual "music cds" they do as filler. Of course they said yes. He commenced to singing, and sang a few songs he wrote. He introduced each one with a story about why he wrote it. OH my gosh, this guy was awful. Amazing guitar player, but a horrible singer. And you couldn't even tell what genre the songs were, his writing skills were just as horrible. They didn't make lyrical sense, they didn't follow any kind of song pattern at all..... people in the crowd were motioning the band to hurry and go back to playing just to get the guy offstage. And he had all the confidence of a banty rooster, he must have really been proud of these songs.

Sometimes because people grow up around music, play an instrument, or something like that..... it makes them automatically think they can write and sing. Which, to be honest, is part of why I have issues with confidence and prefer not always to share my own songs. You never know what the public is really gonna think. But this guy....... was pretty confident and cocky. And I hope if he shows again he sticks to playing rythm, haha. (really GREAT guitar player)

How rude of me to even write that about him.... haha. But is's not like you all know who he is, and it's not like he's a member here. (pray god he's not...llll)

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♥ 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. ♥

And Mike...... I know how busy you are. Thank you for taking the time to read and post here. I know you play regularly with a band, AND do karaoke... you're input was very much appreciated.  :D  :wave:


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♥ 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. ♥

Sounds like you can have a blast with this singing gig thang Charmin. Best of luck in your endeavors. As for writing songs, I used to write a lot of poetry. Here's a link to the only one I have online, and it's about chasing http://www.tornadoxtreme.com/Chase_Insp ... chase.html . A few times I tried to create songs as well, but it is very different. Maybe some were ok. I did one fashioned after a John Denver style called 'Misty Morning Mountain'. Unfortunately I don't know how to write notes, and all that - never learned. I know how the tune goes in my head.

Also used to try and play acoustic guitar (6 string). That was very enjoyable, relaxing, and reflective. I mostly picked and could do some songs I created, but never got very proficient. I should have taken lessons but I guess I was either broke at the time, clueless, or both. Had I taken it a bit more serious I could have probably learned to play that instrument well. I still love the sound of an acoustic guitar and piano. I've messed with pianos too, but nothing too fancy. Did create a little composition on one that could probably be made into something pretty cool.

I think it's great that you play your instruments well. It sounds like you are pretty proficient, and possibly grew up around some music performance influences. That's cool.

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The Truth Is Out There