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I realy dont cares thread on a bad karaoke show prompted this topic. I really have  to drive a ways to get to a show where Im not known but I love to go to shows where its new again... I always introduce myself to the host when I turn in a request The old timers welcome me and are not intimidated . If its a newbie I tread easily and wont into myself before the first song As the host becomes acustomed to my style and professionalism they relax then I provide energy and assistance to the show. The old timers as soon as I pick up a mic we are joking and carrying on and entertaining.

Here are some rulesw that I have established over the years and try to dhere to when Im at a new show...

If I am there early I will intro myself and offer to help carry in the stuff..
 Always intro myself and let the host know I am there to have fun not looking to work but relax and enjoy but if they need help in any way holler!!
 First song depending on the size of rotation intro myself and any singer with me..
 Mingle with the crowd and make friends and promote the hosts show..
 First song always thank the crowd for their applause but make it a point to thank the host for a welcome to their show..

By the time its all said and done I have new friends and bonds and I let them know that I appreciate their hospitality and I have enjoyed myself..

I notice I mentioned I in this post alot but I am trying to establish ways to project myself into a new show with class and professionalism... And not appear egotistical and notoverbearing...Which is what this topic is about...So here are some of my ideas What do you guys do at a new "good" show?

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Drink, flirt, sing only if truely toasty, and with any luck stop all activities just short of being thrown out.  It's a bar for goodness sakes.  Etiquette my donkey.

you have done everything but give a apple to the KJ.  Just have a good time and stop trying to justify everything you do. The KJ will feel that you have a different motive. But then again as a New Yorker we dont trust anybody anyway.

karyoker- nice topic.  I'll go to a show just wanting to be "one of the singers", but usually end up helping more on the floor side.  Like when someone looks like they can't find the books, or help them with filling out song requests. Usually I get at least one person wanting me to sing with them once they've heard me sing. (meaning they want to sing, but are nervous to, so they want someone with them to make them sound good; not bragging, it's just I know how to hold the mic, etc.) I'm just naturally a "helper" even when I don't want to.  About the only help I will directly offer a KJ is to help carry equipment, or if they need a bathroom break... Though usually, most just seem to like having someone to share the ups & downs of the show with that understands.

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It's a nice topic but......   Most of the time they need an equipment upgrade.    :yes:    I very rarely go to other shows.   I can suck at home.    I don't want to sound horrible in public.     It takes all the fun out of it.    :yes:  :shock:  :(

I can be as friendly and helpful as the next person, but doing it at a strange show looks like you're trying to show off or out do someone or steal the job.      I keep a low profile.

Nobody is going to touch my equipment while I go pee.    :no:  I learned how to do it in "KJ 101."  :whistle:

karyoker hon it makes you sound like a groupie at best. at the risk of offending I wont say what the worst scenario would be in my opinion.

I was doing a wedding gig once and made the mistake of allowing a musician guest at a wedding help me to eq (or think he was) I couldnt get rid of him and it was a pain in the ...

I learned a valuable lesson. When I am singing a 4-6 hour gig I want to get in the zone, I dont want some prat coming up every 2nd song to suggest something to help boost his ego when the rest of the crowd is happy with what I am doing.

The rare times I am on the other side and am a guest I enjoy sitting back and listening. I look from a distance at the gear they use. The even rarer times I go to a karaoke night I actually loathe singing on someone elses system. The karaokes round this area are not ideal for the singer. they are loud but there is no foldback. The crowd noise overpowers so you have to move close to FOH to hear music and bingo there is feedback.
So why would I put myself through that when chances are I will be singing my heart out and getting paid for it a few days later

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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."

Personally, If I go to a good show (or any show) I just want to sing and relax.
If they know that I'm a fellow KJ that's fine but I don't go out of my way to advertise myself.  And nothing personal but when I get some singer ( fellow KJ) up on the mic that wants to "take over the show" ..I don't really like it , my opinion is SING , thats what you're there for , leave the rest pf the show up to ME, the working KJ that night!!!

I generally don't let people know - kj or customers.  If I go out to sing, i'm there to sing & have a good time.  If they guess, I may say yeah & leave it at that.  Sometimes the kj will ask where I play & announce it which I feel uncomfortable about doing as I would not be able to reciprocate as out club has a strict policy on announcing other clubs events.
Usually just mention that they run karaoke under their company name & state they work at - which lwe like to call - another place.

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I don't get to go to other karaoke shows often, but if I do, I'd rather just stay anonymous. It is hard to do if I stay in the area because most of the area KJs know me. They usually announce my show for me which is sweet. I do the same thing for them when they come to my show. The best is when I go on vacation and I can just pretend to be like everyone else.

It is hard to just relax at someone elses show because no matter who I go with they know I am a karaoke host. Everyone always asks me what they should sing. Then ask me to fill out their slips too. I think this is mainly because at my show I keep a list of their songs and do usually pick their songs for them. They're like lost puppies without someone to do the work for them.  LMAO It made me realize that some people come only to my show because of that. All they have to do is walk in the bar. When I see them I pull their list and they are in the rotation without asking or filling anything out. (Karaoke junkies - I've made them dependent on me  LMAO )

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Yeah, Babs, we have simular problems.  Even if I go a couple towns over, inevitably there's people in there who come to my shows too. So that's how I'm found out.  I also keep slips for my regulars, but as far as picking songs out for them, I won't do it, because I learned from filling in for a fellow KJ one night who does that, how stressful it can be to have your singers that spoiled  LOL . Though I will pull a slip from their bag if they want me to.

Unless there are newbie KJ's, most around here know me, and vice-versa, and we frequently will recommend each other if a private gig is offered to us, and we're not available.  I love the networking we have with each other. And there's one KJ around here, who we share an unspoken courtesy, that we won't except bar gigs on the nights the other one works, which has happened several times. But that does benefit us, because we share alot of the same singers. And any other who has excepted those nights, so far, haven't been there longer than 2 months....

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Between day job and kjing, I don't usually have time or feel up to going out.  However if I do, I usually go to where a couple of my buddies may be doing their show.   We will usually "visit" each other several times a year to see how we are doing and catch up on new ideas.  In my area it's hard for me to go to a show that someone doesn't know me.

If I go somewhere I haven't been, I for sure stay in the background.  As has been said, I'm there to have fun and let loose.   That's what I enjoy about vacation.  Going off far enough away that I can visit a place where no one knows me.

Like Lonman, our bar doesn't like advertising for other places in town.  BUT, if you are a KJ from out of town they don't mind me welcoming and giving you a plug.

Kelly

My thoughts exactly...

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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]

THe wife and I love going to other KJ shows, crappy or good, it doesn't matter.  IF they are a good KJ, good sound, it makes a fun fun nite.  If they are crappy, the wife and I get to snicker amongst ourselves.   Most of the times, if the wife and I are singing, we kinda become the "stars" for the evening.  We don't try to do this it just that the wife is a really good preformer, and can sing about anyting, and I do some realy good classic rock and metal songs.

We don't brag, or tout that we host a show, we are just out for a hgood time, and if we become the "stars" for the nite, it's not our fault.

But we don't bug the KJ, we just let him/her run the show the way they want to, casue it's not my show.

They're probably rolling in the isles at your show.

Nope, no room in the isles at my shows, and I am the one laughing.  Laughing all the way to the bank!

exweedfarmer!!! perfect answer!!
)))

I drove over to the next county last night to what was suppose to be one of the better Karaoke bars in the area......
I got there at midnight.
First thing I do of course is get a songbook, pick out a tune and turn it in.
Two hours later, after watching the same four people go up time after time, they turn up the house lights and call it a night. I kid you not, the same four people. Only exception were a couple of guys that walked in the door, went straight to the booth and did four songs apiece. More about this later, when I feel like telling the whole ordeal, but it was something I've never experienced before nor do I want to experience again.

James

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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.

TEASE!!!!!!!!

Come on!!!!!

Give it to me!!!!!


I just love MIB stories!!!!!!  :dancin:  :dancin:

And everyone still insists that hacks are a figment of my imagination.  :O  :shock:  :whistle:

I bet that guy makes a lot of money per show.

We RARELY get to Karaoke with anyone else's show ....... and like many of you, IF we do ...... most everyone in about a 50 mile radius knows us.  We have been in the business for many years now .... so except for ONE newer KJ ...... all the KJ's around here know we are "legit" and at their show JUST TO SING, not sandbag!  We aren't looking for notariety ...... nor do we want tp WORK, in any way, shape or form that night.  I think most work in places like Lonman mentioned, that don't allow "competition" to be announced ..... but that is just FINE with us, on those nights.

Whenever a KJ comes to our show .... we make it a point of  first asking them if they'd like us to announce their business.  If they are okay with that .... We don't go into detail out of respect to OUR bar ...... but we'll always welcome them on stage with "Here's BigDave ..... from KICKIN" KARAOKE.  Otherwise, we welcome them to the stage like we do any singer.  And yes, even the new KJ who is SANDBAGGING everyone's shows ..... gets announced at our show........ by the name of her business ......... which ...... not so coincidently...... is remarkably similar to OURS.  
Oh well......... she too will learn!!  :)

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[shadow=tomato]If you want your significant other to pay attention to EVERY word you say::
  TALK IN YOUR SLEEP   [/shadow]