Karaoke Forums

When KJing we all have those moments when we just can't hold in our
anger. What do you do to hold it in? or cope with it.


I had a long 13 hour benefit to get through and by the end of the day I was tired
and dealing with people who were drinking all day. I was trying to be patient with
the uncle of the person the benefit was being held for, but when he kept getting up
on stage and screaming in the mic I started boiling. He was asked twice to stop and
then I simply turned the mic off. When he asked why I said When someone screams in the mic it magically turns itself off. Then of course he razzed me about being mean
which fuels my boiling point.

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I can't picture you losing your temper Babs. I would hate to be around for that.

I have to count down from 10 to 1 when I get angry. When I get even more angry I start with a higher number.

I got the nick name vinegar tits when I was kjing.
1. I wouldnt let a bunch of people all put their names up and expect to all sing together one after another
2 If they screamed into a mic or twirled it round by the cord they missed their spot in the next rotation.

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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 take deep slow breaths and my eyes change color (literally they are normally hazel but the turn grey) the other guy usually shuts up.  Course it helps I'm 5' 11" and 240 pounds.

A vital addition to any arsenal is a water gun filled with battery acid.....

Oooo water gun - you are giving me evil ideas.  :drums:

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

I deal with a few REALLY REALLY drunk people just about evey  Thrs and Fri.  

If they SCREAM, I turn off the mic, then they complain about being off, I tell them not to scream.  If they continue they get banned for the nite.

If they twirl the mics, or do anyting to potentialy casue dammage to the equipment, they get ONE and only one warning.  After that they get banned for the nite.

Yeah, people get pissed, but I just ignore them, and usualy all the other bar patrons are on my side, and one of the regulars will distract the idiot for me.  

I guess I have the patience of Job, and it takes me A LOT to get mad/upset.  But one thing that does get me mad, is the drunk/rich/30 something that think since they are they are in the "upper class" that they can tell me what to do.  Ya know, the ones who think their pooh don't stink.  Had one of thoes a few years back come in my area, started fiddling with mixer, and tried to tell me what to do.  She got promptly chewed out by me, and was told she is banned from singing on my stuff for ever.  She complained to the owner of the bar, but he talked to me, and when I explained what she did, he had no problems with banning her.

At new gigs, I explain to the bar onwer what my rules are, and that if I ban someone for violations, no matter how much they whine/beg/complain (to me or the bar owner) the ban will not be lifted.  It makes it much easier when the person hiring me know the rules ahead of time.

That's where a good compressor/limiter comes in handy.  Set correctly, they can scream all they want, the compressor will adjust accordingly, the louder they get - set the limiter too, then they won;t get any louder over the speaker.

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Nothing wrong with those 2 items, just good kj'ing!

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Twans - you are tinkling again  LMAO

I've always been told I have a lot of patience too. I think I hold a lot in though.
My most undesirable patron is the drunk who throws money around, so
they think they own you. I'm not a piece of meat.

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

I am, and I'm for rent.

So true  :D and you know when I get the darn thing you'll be the first person I
ask on how to use it.  :hug:

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

Babs,

don't get frustrated by losing your temper. If someone's screaming into the mic, whether they contracted out to you or not, it's your migrane that they're thumpin' into!!!

Turn it off. If they complain, turn to them and say something along the lines of "Your screaming is giving me a ****in' headache, and unless you want me to brain you one so you know what it's like, you will cease and decist, or by God I'll put you into a coma for fifteen years!!"

well, that's maybe a bit over the top! !

All kidding aside, you're in charge of your equipment. If someone's abusing it, even if they're the ones that paid you for the gig, you have the right to run it the way your ethics command it to be done so. Just because they're renting you out, they don't OWN you. They don't OWN the equipment. Screaming into a mic will damage both it, and the speakers if abused too long. The other customers don't want to hear that either.

By the way, the ultra-long hours your talking about... that's why I never did it. I knew I couldn't remain cool under those circumstances.

Again, it's a control issue... once you know you've lost that control, we both know how frustrating that is. So don't allow it to happen, and if it DOES happen, sieze the reins, and remind those mules who's in charge!

Even though their pocket book THINKS that they are, we both really know who is!

You guys always make me feel better. Thanks Knightshow.
I know I have posted similar topics. I guess it helps me when you all
tell me it is normal to get frustrated and to just do what it takes to stay in control of my show. One of these day I'll get to the point that when I put my foot down I
don't feel like the bad guy.

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

actually, even when I put my foot down, I still feel like the bad guy!

I understand that.

First of all, no professional entertainer has ever been seen screaming in to a mike.    So my drunken idiots do not need to scream in to the mike.   It sets a bad precedence if you let it continue.   That is not why I have a compressor, so I can let people behave like idiots.    You start letting one do it and the rest of the crowd will think it's OK.   I don't think it's funny.   I hate it.    Plus it has the potential to damage my equipment.

Turning them off is exactly what they need.     Act like an A** and that's how I'll treat you.

This is a little long so I'll try to condense it.    The other nught I was just about done setting up and this guy comes in the bar and sits by one of the regulars.    I know who he is.    He has been to my karaoke before two years ago.  Down the street.    He use to be in the karaoke business with his wife.   They are now divorced.   I ended up buying his system, when his wife sold it back to the music store.   He doesn't know this.    He has been in the nut house.   I don't know if he flipped because of the divorce or if he flipped then the divorce.   He smells like he hasn't seen soap and water.    He's a loud mouth type.      Anyway he starts mouthing off about how much he hates me.   Good thing the bar was almost empty.     He's telling his friend how I screwed him in the rotation and kept putting him back.    I caused him to miss his bus in the middle of winter and he almost froze to death walking home.   All my fault.   I treated him as I treated everyone else.    No favoritism.     The gig he's talking about use to be packed.   25-30 singers always.    I don't think when he ran karaoke they ever had a big rotation.    Might be why he thinks I screwed him.   So he keeps talking louder and louder hoping I'll hear what he's saying.      Now knowing he has the potential still, to be whacked in the head and the fact that he doesn't look like he's in the best of health, I let it roll off my back and just ingored him.    He wouldn't sing and he left all mad.    TOOO bad, see ya loser.     My anger management classes are paying off.

I told you about Chipmonk waiting in the parking lot for me.    My hand is giving me trouble now.   I have two numb fingers on the hand I used to pummel his face.

If I hear someone obviously talking bad about the way I run things I go and ask them if there is a problem. I've only had this happen a few times. It always seems to disfuse the loud mouth. It is usually something about skipping them in rotation.
Everyone knows I don't do that and it is easy to check when you are up next.
I like to go to the source of the problem because people in the bar don't want to listen to a whiner either.

In your situation Bigdog I'm not sure what I would have done. If this guy was so
discusting I'm sure nobody in the bar took him seriously and if you approached him
he may have become violent. I think you played your cards right.

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

All 'so called' professional rock singers such as Disturbed, Linkin Park, System Of A Down, etc..... all scream into the mic.  If these songs are done, then yes the people are going to try & sing them like they think they can & scream into the mic.  A compressor/limiter will keep their volume controllable without having to constantly ride the fader - most pro sound engineers will use compressors on any & all vocals.  Compressors will also help in the protection of the equipment.
I don't like the screamers either, but they are going to do it on occasion.  I had one guy probably in his upper 50's the other day, normally sings Frank SInatra type songs, got up and sang Bodies - Drowning Pool, blew EVERYONE away as this is NOT something anyone ever heard him do & actually sounded good doing it, but yes he was screaming it, the compressor took over & He never overpowered the music.

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Whew--now I remember why I don't want to be a KJ!  I respect the work you guys do, but I couldn't handle being hassled by rude people!  

If I'm singing a song that "requires" screaming (e.g. Janis Joplin-"Piece of My Heart"), I do scream a little bit, but when I do, I back off from the mike a bit.  

Babs, I LOVE your avatar!  Your avatars are always cute, but I especially like the current one where the little lady has notes coming out of her mouth.  That's great!

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