Karaoke Forums

But you don't have those songs in your book right?  So if they want to sing those songs, you just politely tell them, "i'm sorry, we don't have that song at this time - only what is in the book".  

That's how I handle it when they ask to sing those songs.  9 out of 10 times, they say bummer & pick a song that is in the book!

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And if they bring their own CD's?

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Let's Kick the Tires and Light the Fires!

Then I explain the no profanity rule that the bar imposed & kindly ask them to pick another song, again, I rarely get any flack over it but the rare time I do I direct them to the manager for further explanation, only had to do this twice in the last 10 years.  1 is still a regular singer, the other got all whiney & hasn't been back - bummer!

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Most of the time the singers that want to sing these type of songs do it to get attention...good or bad. They know that the songs are unacceptable in most bar settings yet they insist on singing them. I just tell them that the bar has requested no profanity in the music and say "I'm sure you understand where their coming from" and kinda nod and roll my eyes. That seems to work pretty well.

There are only a couple of bars that you can go into in this area where you could sing that type of music. Normally the crowd is 21-25 years old and the place is really rowdy and just about anything goes. So if my singers have any problems with what I've said I just let them know which bars do allow it and am happy to give them directions to the places.

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FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

I have been reading and had to stick my nose in and post my opinion and what I do with my songs. Thanks for listening. We do not censor our books. Mind you we have over 45,000 songs to choose from, we do not censor. We do however censor up until 11:00 pm. If someone brings up a song with any swear words in it before 11 pm, they cannot sing t because of the restaurant that may have minors in it. After 11 pm, then you can sing it. I will tell you.... In the past year, the only song that keeps coming up and not every week is "Piece of S*** Car. It is actucally a very funny song. When it comes to the age group a our show..  we have 21-90 every show. There is never a certain age group. It is all age groups. Just like the Christmas carol (except 21-92) ! Happy Holidays to all!!

This it Nutzs, from "How many people sing per hour" to "I'm Holyer than Thou art casue I censor my songs books"

It has NOTHING AND I MEAN NOTHING to do with the age of the singers on what type of music they sing/like, and if they are going to get offended by SWEAR words.

OMG, I'm gonna burn in hell, I said SWEAR.  :O

I have seen 20 somethings that were offended by a song with the word b.i.t.c.h. in it.

Last nite, I played Buckcherry's "Crazy B.i.t.c.h" (unedited version)at the end of the night.  Amongst all the people on the "dance area" there were two 50 something women on the dance floor, and one that had to be around 65+.  THey were shaking it all over, and having a GREAT TIME.  They were not offended in any way by the swear words.  While I was packing up, one of the "older" ladies came to me and said she had the BEST time in a long time.  SHe also asked for a biz card casue her daughter is getting married next year, and they need a DJ.


IF you are too snooty and offended by swear words, God forid that you actually take your head out of the sand for a moment, and see what is going on in the world around you.  There are a lot worse things that actually happen in the REAL WORLD that are FAR FAR worse than someone swearing at a bar at 1:30 in the AM.

Guess that depends on the kind of bar or venue that you play at. The ones I play at have very specific guidelines on profanity in the music. I honor their requests...that does not mean that I disapprove of profanity, it just means that I respect the venue I play for.

I have one bar that is an upscale neighborhood bar that has more of a upper middle class type clientel and the bar staff is instructed to give one warning to a customer using the "F" word and then on the 2nd time their drink gets pulled and they are done for the night. This may be extreme but that is the way they have been running their business for years and they have plenty of business. Rarely will one of these songs get put up there but when they do, most understand that the bar has set limits on profanity and respect it.

I have a good number of the "dirty songs" listed in my book as I do mostly private parties and I have no problem playing them for private functions as long as the customer approves of them. I iron this out before the party so nobody gets offended.

Profanity does not have certian age limitations, but I usually find that those songs are normally submitted by the 21-30 age groups. This is not a hard and fast rule, just an observation. It may be different in other neighborhoods or different parts of the country.

You will find no virgin ears here

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FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

I agree, and if the venue/person I am playing for does not want nauty songs, I won't allow them.  But [glow=yellow]I[/glow] will not be the one acting hollier than thou and claim that I am a beter KJ casue I have a censored song book.   In fact, having an UNcensored song book, and letting the venue/person hiring you gives you MORE of an oppertunity than refusing to play any song with swear words.

I respect that too, but it was their decision.


True, it is MOSTLY the under 30's people singing thoes song, but that has nothing to do with their age, it is just the music that they listen too.  If there was a Elvis song with an F-bomb in it, then the over 30's would be singing songs with swear workds in it.

Rember back when Elvis was first on TV, the network sensors would not allow the camer to show any of his body whil singing/dancing below the waist.  IT was consider very risquay (sp?)

Oh yeah, there was a time peopel could not be show kissing on the lips, or in bed toghter.  ANd rember whan A.S.S was not allowed on TV.  Now ya here it in a lot of shows.

TImes change/standards change.

My POINT....Quit judging others, and say you are a better KJ/DJ casue you run a censored/hitler type show.

Sounds like we are pretty much in agreement on most things.

You must be referring to someone other than I on the Holier than thou part! I am far from that. Guess I'll have to re-read the entire thread.

I'm just fine with the profanity as long as the venue is. To be honest though I do have a problem with alot of the rap stuff as alot of it is quite degrading to women. I don't get many requests for rap as my clientel is not into it and so I don't purchase it.

However I do have some Hip-Hop and do get requests occasionally for that...so I will listen to the song on Rhapsody and then purchase it in karaoke.

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FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

I use to work a Holiday Inn.   These are not privately owned (They may be but, corporate still has a lot to say about the prices and policies.)    Now the bar was right next to the sign in desk.  So everything can be plainly heard by hotel guests checking in or out.    Plus it was beside the main lobby so everyone entering or leaving the hotel had to pass the bar.      The hotel manager hired me.    If someone checking in heard something they considered offensive, they could have easily called corporate and complained.   Now not only would I lose my job but the manager's job could have been lost too.   Why?    Over some drunk screaming out some swear words because he thought is was funny?     I'm just telling you how I run my quality, repectable, professional karaoke.   You can do whatever you want.

I lost a job over Piece of S**t Car.    I wouldn't play it out of respect for the majority of the crowd.   The bar owners 21 year old snot son wanted to sing it.   I told him I wasn't playing it.    He cost the family a lot of money because the place was packed every week.

The old ladies having fun could have been 65 year old bar tramps.   They may have taken the card as an example of who not to get for the wedding.  :O  :whistle:    Then again maybe so is the one getting married.  :shock:    You may be a redneck if....

Signed, His Holiness  :worship:  :worship:  :worship:

Please kneel now......

You're Funny!

deleted post, never mind.

After 5 years of running shows and doing a marathon two weekends putting through 1000 singers I've come up with a accurate average that works almost to the minute every single time...
If the singers ask I tell them 5 minutes per singer this works almost perfectly. End of night I keep 3 extra singers in the rotation at the end but it normally works so only one of them gets to sing at the end of the night if no one drops out.

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For a Kickin' Good Time!

I personally don't feel I have a "holier than" attitude.  A swear word here or there isn't what I object to.  It's the songs that have MF every other  line.  Also the songs that are very demeaning to women or race.  My reason for no longer allowing these in my book is because several years ago I was losing patrons because this was going on.  The very nature of the type of music was beginning to change the makeup of the crowd.  It took me two months to change it back around.

One of the other kj's that works where I do is just the opposite.  They just about can't even talk without cussing.  It's also close to costing them there show.  The management is beginning to see what I'm talking about.  I came in one night to set up and this older couple 55-60.  Saw me setting up and I went up and asked them if they were going to stay for karaoke. (they had just finished eating)  Their response was "sorry. ain't now way we're going to sit a listen to all that vulgar crap."  After introducing myself and talking to them, they stayed.  Had a great time listening to the singers and  have been back twice already.  Another reason I agreed to advertise myself as "Kellyoke" and NOT karaoke.  What I thought years ago was a stupid name the bartender tabbed me with has turned out to be a blessing.

Kelly

I have seen as few as two singers and as many as 25. In a small town that is.