Karaoke Forums

I was browsing through the technical and discussion forums and I ran across some suggestions that caught my eye and needed some of your inputs as to whether or not they are feasable. Good or bad, just give me inputs, I'm about to start up my bar Karaoke and want to know as much as possible to help make it a success.

One thread said that for $20, the person can be put in the front of the line (next singer). What's everyone's opinion of this? If its posted above the stage in black and white, would it really PO someone that was waiting next, knowing that this person was so much wanting to sing right away that they agreed to jump in line for $20?

Another mentioned that you could have a big GONG in the bartender area, and for a set price of $10, gong someone from singing the rest of their song. I've heard some terrible singers before and think this would be more of a $$ maker than the  previous suggestion.

Which brings us to this situation...what if the guy that pays the $20 gets gonged? He pays another $20 and his antagonistic buddy gongs him again!  (Must be Pro sports players) I could make my rent up in one night at this rate. I'm having fun w/this!  

Seriously though, what does everyone think...I imagine a one jump and gong limit would be in order/person, don't want to PO the regulars. Has this or is this being done anywhere and if so, how's it working out?

Thanks for inputs...

                                                                                     bigjim56

Okay, let me be blunt. You're putting the cart before the horse. Get your show together, your equipment, your library and have something to present to the audience before you start trying to figure out how to pick their wallets.
Karaoke is suppose to be fun. Now if the things you mentioned were to take place among very close friends, then perhaps it could be seen as humorous for those have nothing better to do than make fun of Karaoke singers. Bad or not, both are your customer. When money dictates the actions and rotation, word will spread fast and you my friend will be sitting alone in your bar with a very expensive investment.
Time would be better spent trying to think of ways to bring folks in to your new attraction rather than how you can mimic a tv show, whether it's the Gong show or an amateur version of American Idol, which admittedly gets kinda dull after all the bad singers are gone. Karaoke at your level is suppose to be fun, not a contest or event to be judged by spectators. While some may get the joke, close friends and family may not take too kindly to their 'star' being publicly embarrassed. Remember your reputation will be your best advertisement. I'm not sure if I would want to be the bar that invites every a$$hole in the town to come make fun of others on Karaoke night. Don't treat Karaoke like a gimmick or it will be just that.

Now take note: I wrote this in a rather harsh manner, but on the other hand, would you rather read about it on a board, or have someone up in your face for real the first time someone doesn't get the joke. Remember there's perception and then there's reality. But hey that's just me.

James

_________________
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.

If we were all pros, we wouldn't be singing karaoke.  Yes, some are terrible, but they make up a portion of your regulars.  You start "gonging" and you won't have any regulars. IMO.

Also I won't take money to bump someone.  I've have literally been offered $200 to bump and I didn't and I won't.  Again, IMO, most karaoke crowds respect you for not doing that.  At least in my area.  Some big spender could wander in and yes, you could make extra that night.  But when your regular crowd runs off there may not be another night.

Again, this is all IMO.

Kelly

We joke about 20 bucks moving you up to the top, and most kjs won't do that. It would be rare, unless your place was really special, that someone would give you 20 bucks for a bump.....we joke about it though.....as for the gong.....singers are very sensitive people....it might get someone killed.......

[highlight=crimson]Bigjim, NEVER DO ANY OF THOSE THINGS YOU MENTIONED, EVEN AS A ONE TIME JOKE.[/highlight]   Do not listen to some bone head, nonsinging drunk.   Even if he's your brother or your best friend.     You don't any need help ruining your business.

You want to build a big crowd and make lots of money?      Never do those things.

Karaoke as it has been discussed here many times before, is going to be your BIG bread and butter income nights.   You want to make everyone happy.   Happy people spend money.  

You need to take some serious KJ hosting lessons, before you screw everything up.

Just because you have some discs and a machine doesn't make you a KJ.

You can't have people telling you to turn the volume down all night.   Singers can not whisper their songs.    Tell them if it's too loud to sit in the back, not right in front of the speaker.

There are going to be more mid to lower talented people than great ones.   All part of the game.   Take the good with the bad and treat everyone of them as the loaded wallet they are.     Money is money.   If you let people heckle the singers they will leave.   Get rid of the hecklers first.   If anyone starts GONGING anyone, you better GONG them right out the door.     Don't let idiots run the bar.     Take control.   It's part of the KJs and the bartenders duty.

Remember what the world famous karaoke guru told you?   The type of music you play will determine the type of crowd you get and how they will behave.

You are going to get ONLY ONE shot at this.   Don't blow it.    Bad reputations fly, while good ones crawl.


On the job training starts at $5,000.    5 nights a week for 6 months, working beside the master.    You can not afford not to do it.     I'll cover everything you'll ever need to know.    You'll have a karaoke PHD when you complete the training.

maninblack - no offense taken, I'm here to learn, give me what you got. if its not a good idea it won't be done.

Kellyoke - If we were all pros, we wouldn't be singing karaoke...excellent point. I've got a few singers that would put pros to shame. When this one guy sings, usually soul songs, the whole bar listens and watches intently, he gets a healthy round of applause when done. He's great! Everybody tells me to hire him. I'm thinking maybe a well placed free pitcher of beer or something for motivation. He lights up the crowd!

bigdog - I've seen the ad for training b4, I'll pass. I'm exNavy, everything we learn is from OTJT. I'll will make it, sure I'll make mistakes, but who hasn't. I'll just pick up myself and move on. Your right, most of my biggest nights have been from Karaoke, hence the investment in my system. I'm learning a lot from this board, just asking some questions here and there. So your take is that "No" it should not be done...most so far agree w/you, so it won't be done. It was just a thought.

It was a funny thread upon birth, sorry to ruffle feathers if I did so...

Thanks for the inputs...

                                                                                 bigjim56

I agree that it can be a terrible idea.

However.......

If you did it with a $50 fee to gong the singer, and the singer gets 1/2 the money, that might not be too bad. That way the $50 is high enough to discourage most loudmouths, and with the singer getting $25, how pi$$ed can they be to be cut off one song. Happens again? They get another $25.

I know this may sound aweful, but I think it could be a well placed gimmick that rarely gets used, but makes everyone appreciate the fact it is there as an option.

Just my $.02

Oh, and as far as the $20 to bump up- I do NOT support that!

_________________
Let's Kick the Tires and Light the Fires!

Agree Bigjim56!  I too have some singers that will knock your socks off.  But like most of us, I have some that can't hold a tune in a bucket, yet they are most often the most "admired" by the regulars.  The tone I try to set at my place is one where it's "relax let your hair down time."  There is enough pressure, deadlines and competition going on in our day to day lives.  I don't want that showing up at my show.  We all are on the same playing field so to speak.

I don't think you ruffled any feathers.  At least not mine.  You asked for an opinion and I gave one.  No harm in that.  That's what the forum is supposed to be about.

Kelly

Hey Bigjim,  
yeah I would say that your first post did ruffle my feathers a bit...
but it's cool.
I guess I should have explained myself a little better, so let me try now.
As a Karaoke Host, everyday I encounter someone that still sees Karaoke as silly and amateur. Contest like that, more or less make a parody of Karaoke, which viewed by many, Karaoke itself is a parody of live bands and such. What you want to do is get a good following of regular singers. Once your regular singers get comfortable with you and your place and each other, they're almost game for anything. From time to time at my shows we do our own version of kamikaze karaoke, where I will pick out a song at random, or the regular singers will pick one out, and challenge another singer to do the tune. I have had folks come up with a song slip and a 20 and challenge me to do a new song. If I'm able to pull off the song, I get to keep the 20, if I flub it, then another singer has the opportunity to challenge me and take a try at it. If no one challenges, then I keep the money. If the person who challenges also flubs the tune, you split the money. It can be fun, but it has to be done in a way where it doesn't tick off the other folks that might be in rotation. Key point, your rotation has to remain fair. The only time I will bump someone up to the front, is if it's a brand new singer to my show. I always announce it to my regulars, just to make sure that they know why I'm doing it. I've never had one of my regulars complain yet.
There's lots of things you can do to generate money, but for me, the most important thing is to generate fun, because people who are having fun, have no problem parting with their cash. That way it's a win win for everyone and it's done because of the atmosphere not because of a gimmick.
But either way, good luck to you, I only wish you the best with your new endeavor.

James the Lion Hearted
Maninblack
White Trash Philosopher
Humble Karaoke Host

_________________
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.

Interesting ideas for sure - No offense was taken when I read it. I'm just glad you posted it so we can tell you why those things don't usually work.
I too have had to turn down money to bump people up to the front of rotation. The last thing you want is the patrons dictating your rotation. All he!! breaks loose then.
You need to train your patrons that you stick to your rotation no matter what. The ramdom $20 bribe is not worth the aggravation, let alone your reputation.

The gong idea just promotes negative feelings and heckling. You don't want that atmosphere and you don't need people afraid of singing because they may be gonged. People are scared enough as it is. I think the $50 idea to gong, giving the singer half the money is interesting. You'd just have to make sure the money is in your hands 1st and the gong isn't accessable to random unwanted gonging. I just don't think it is worth the trouble. Not many people would pay $50 just to gong a friend and still promotes negativity.

I love your enthusiam in starting your business, but I think it was well said to get your self established first, then play around with fun ideas.

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

I think it's great that you are seeking ways to have a great show and make more money at the same time - that being said I agree that the gong is not a good idea nor is bumping someone up in the rotation.   We don't bump anyone for any reason and, hopefully, this is viewed as being fair to everyone....  

Shoot, we've turned down the bar owner when she wanted us to sing a song for her!  She understood the reason and fortunately our bar owners are competent, intelligent human beings..  They hired us didn't they?!l?  LOL

Personally, I think a good karaoke host is someone who enjoys the people and music - all else can follow...  We've been doing this for several years and when the Texas contingency comes up I am definitely going to have them take a peek at our settings, etc., then I'm going to listen to their suggestions and take notes... THEN I'm going to party like it's 1999!

Susie

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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]

Gonging anyone, anywhere for money or not isn't what karaoke is about.    The Gong show was about idiots doing anything and everything as entertainment.    Have a Gong show but don't do it with karaoke, do it as they did it.

As for the training, you'll make up the $5,000 in 2-6 months.    My newbies have done it in less than 6 months.

OK, the gong idea is put on the shelf for now, I do like dbk1009's idea of the $50 in hand w/$25 to singer before gong...but for now shelf the gong idea. I agree its too frightening to sing already w/o someone poking fun at you from the sidelines.

Babs - thanks for reply, read one of your posts where you listed your equipment...RSQ MV-333 was listed as your player, is that the only player you got? Any back up. Just got mine Thursday, and it works great! Planning to go digital as soon as I figure out the software route.

Kellyoke - I want the "letting the hair down atmosphere" myself, exactly what 'm shooting for.

Full House Entertainment - first time I've seen one of your posts...nice logo!

Bigdog - I would like the training, could sure use it, but I'm from the old school (Navy), show me how to do it once then step aside, its my helm from here. I'm sure mistakes will happen, but I'll HOPEFULLY learn from them. You ever consider a job in sales...your persistant!     Really...thanks for your inputs.

Thanks everybody for the ideas and inputs...


                                                                                 bigjim56

My RSQ MV-333 player is only used if people bring in their own CDGs or as a back up. I use a Cavs JB199 as my main source, so I am pc based already. I've never had a problem with the RSQ. I recommend it highly.

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

Professional karaoke isn't like the Navy...

dbk, the $50 isn't just for the two people... the singer that got bumped and the kj... but rather, the whole room of singers. ALL the singers in the rotation or turn or whatever you call it are bumped by one.

Also, as a rule, no I wouldn't use a gong in a karaoke show, but HOSTING A GONG SHOW, using karaoke, wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing! It would be funny! AS LONG AS THE SINGERS KNEW WHAT TO EXPECT GOING INTO IT!

If you want to make money over and above the money that the bar is paying you, then perhaps you should charge per song........

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Will sing or fish for food!!I'm not quite right!!

Is it possible that this might be a form of entertainment in certain settings ?  "Gong Show Karaoke?".  Sort've a Sportsbar S&M type setting for we overgrown "frathouse" wannabes that still get a kick out've getting razzed and similarly razzing ?  Pay to get exploited ?  You too can suck and win ?   I might get up on stage !!!!   A few "hams" might actually enjoy the clown-act,  Might actually be an interesting direction or a "kick starting" among certain circles that wouldn't enjoy plain Karaoke, perhaps feeling it's boring


Hey Jian !   We need to go out some night !!!!  

I challenge you !

Kappy <--- pondered becoming the sacrificial Singer's Showcase lamb for graciously accepting ranks of under "3", and hopefully bringing things into a more realistic realm.


Of course on the flipside of this, distasteful singing overdone can really be obnoxious, and generally bothersome to any living creature with an auditory system, I'd not be able to relax at a bar if some idiot onstage was singing dramatically and sounding like I'd sound onstage.

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

I saw that the Gong was put on the shelf for now? Does that mean your still thinking about it?

How is your singing? Would you mind getting gonged?

You really are not going to make a bunch of money with just karaoke. It as long as you have fun with it then it helps a little in the wallet and keeps you busy.


I have run shows for over 10 years. My thoughts to you are just keep it simple and grow your show. Don't make fun of the people that are customers. They may wait after the show and start something that gets you hurt or fired.

Unless you're doing a gig in a big name Vegas hotel, or a hot spot in Nashville...or possibly any bar crowded with singers, and a guy wants to impress his new girlfriend......you don't have to worry about $20 dollar tips...... .....ps...or if you're BigDog, and they want you do do one of your "talkies".......