Karaoke Forums

At the bowling alley that I KJ at, we pull drink tickets for the singers. I've been wanting to get the people at the bar involved some way by doing music trivia. I've thought of that. Also, sometimes I'll ask the singer about the filler music I'll be playing before the start of their song, and if they get the correct answer - I'll buy their drink for them.
EG - "Waiting For a Star To Fall" - Boy Meets Girl
What movie & movie soundtrack was this song from?
Answer - Three Men & A Little Lady (1989)

I try to get people involved, mention people at the bar, tease them to come up & sing; that kind of stuff

But, I'd really like to get my hands on music trivia, so the people at the bar can get involved too.

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Snare drum pounds on the two and four
All the party people get on the floor

I'm not buying it.

What is happening there, is what you and everyone else has let happen.   If you keep feeding the strays, they keep coming back.

If I perpetuate hatred and racism, will I help to end it?

I have not been asked to play one dance song in...I can't remember when.  Honestly.  

Because I don't let it happen.    I do not even take one dance disc with me.

My shows are always pure karaoke.   I know of some KJs around here that are doing it.   That is what people will come to expect from them.    My singers/crowds know what to expect from me.   I'm consistent.   It's always serious karaoke.

It starts out as only one song a night, then it's two, then it's complete sets.   You let it get that way.    Nobody else is putting in the dance music, you're the KJ.

It starts with one joint, then two, then heroin, then death.

So you have directly made the situation what it is.     You are part of it.

Anyone else that starts to do the dance music thing will help to create the same situation in their area.


Here try it once, it won't hurt you.   Just one, go ahead.   Chicken....

Fall in to the trap and die.

Then I am part of it.  
The dance songs that I DO get the occasional requests for are - believe it or not - by the singers!  Our non-singing crowd comes in with singers & stay.  We have people that come in just to watch singers.  A guy that sat in the corner of the bar last night just watching came up to me after a couple hours & threw a $10 in my jar said great show & sat back down.  Wasn't a singer, just a watcher.  I don't do games on a nightly basis, as a matter of fact, we don't have any kind of game going on at this time for the last 6 months - not because people don't want them, we are actually being asked why nothing is going on, but because we are looking for something new to do that no one else nor we have done.  I don't do dance music unless requested which is usually of the line dance type & these ARE requested by non-singers AND singers alike - & when the songs start, both singers & non-singers are on the floor & packed like sardines.   I am not locked into karaoke, it is not an end all to all other forms of entertainment.  If karaoke were to die, I could still work in the entertainment field & make a living AND enjoy it.  I am not locked nor would I ever want to be into one form of entertainment.
So don't tell me i'm part of the problem, people from this board who have been to my show knows what i'm talking about.

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

Bigdog, would you let the KJs in your area run over you because they offer more entertainment than you?

To me these people are taking charge of their situation which you couldn't possibly understand since you don't know what works in their areas.

They will not go down easily and are not letting current trends happen to them. They are taking charge. You can't even see that.

BTW- I like the analogy of comparing it to an addiction, I just disagree with how you think it starts.

Can I be an expert on what goes on in Tacoma Washington? Heck no, I've never been there. It takes much more effort than you are willing to put out to know what others are living with day in and day out.

I respect your fears about the death of karaoke, I just disagree with how it might happen. I really believe that the crowd, the audience and the singers will let it die. They will quit supporting those venues when they are tired of karaoke. In my mind it will never really happen. The other way it could die is if the Manus of karaoke kill it on their own in the interest of covering their butts or making a buck. This seems more immediate and possible.

One thing that comes to mind when I see a post by you where all you say is repeating what you have said many times over, the thought of "doo-dah, doo-dah" gets stuck in my head. It may be mean but it helps when I have to read the cut and paste posts form months past.

Yes I got a little mean on that BD, one thing I admire about you is that you are tough and can handle a little poking like this.

A journey of 1000 miles starts with one step.   An avalanche starts with one snow flake.

It takes more than one KJ in any area to create and perpetuate the problem.   But it starts with one, then two and so on.   Just like the dance sets, that started with one time and then another,  Next thing you know you have created a situation that can not be reversed.

A hack KJ that takes care of his friends night after night by letting them sing 2-3-4 times every rotation, can not easily start running things the right way or he risks losing his pals.

Continuing to cater to the non singers more than the singers, will certainly kill karaoke as it started out.

You can not fix a problem that you do not want to change.

If karaoke is dieing in your area, look at how you run the show.     Look at your competition and see what they are doing.      If they all do the same thing, the precedence has been established in your area.

If they all jump off the bridge will you follow????     It's dieing and the killers are everywhere.



They are not offering more entertainment. (cop out)   They should be doing karaoke like they were hired to do.     They can not do a pure karaoke night so this is the alternative.     They offer everything but.

What's the next gimmick????    Free oil change while you wait all night, to sing a song.

Bands don't do games all night.   You don't demand the band to do karaoke for you.

If you go to a dance with a DJ, do you want to dance or play games.   I don't think he's going to pull out the karaoke rig.

What is wrong with people going to karaoke to get karaoke?????

You should not be advertising karaoke if you are going to do all of the other things at the same time.

I run a sports bar, but tonight we have the ballet instead of the super bowl.   It's entertainment what's your problem????      Don't you want classy entertainment??

Instead of throwing a ball they throw the ballerina.      A good catch is a good catch.     Entertainment is entertainment.      They choreograph all the moves, just like football.     They have butt enhancing tights, just like football.   Same thing only different.       Foot(ball)    (Ball)erina    Both have balls on them.     Must be the same.     Like my thinking?   It's just like your, only different.


The less karaoke that happens at karaoke, means that something else is taking it's place.   How won't that kill it???     It's not more entertainment.   It's less singing time for the karaoke singers.  The reason you are in the karaoke business.

Less water in the lake, makes the water level lower.

Less karaoke and more dance music and games, changes karaoke.     It is not making it karaoke better.     It's reducing it.

Crying about how poker is killing the karaoke nights.    Go tell them to play some dance music during poker.   Maybe they will let you sing to them too.    Hey, it's just a little more entertainment.     Right???

Hitler said it's just a couple of Jews.

Noah said it's only 40 days.

Iran is saying it's only for electricity.

Radical Moslums say it was just 4 planes.

Excuse me while I go sit on my left brain.

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

Back to topic.  (Lonman .....  :hug:  :worship: )

Raina .... seems to me you've had some excellent suggestions regarding a variety of games, activities and other things that "shake hands well" with Karaoke .... at all BUT BigDog's Karaoke shows.  He feels nothing but karaoke should take place, and that is fine for his shows and his singers, apparently.

HOWEVER ...........

MOST everyone else here (also very successful and reputable KJ's, I might add), at one time or another have added a "little extra" something .... OCCASIONALLY ...... and the singers and bar owners really enjoy it!!  

So ..... take whatever suggestions you like ....... and I hope you'll find the right "blend" for you.  

Just remember .... your PRIMARY focus is KARAOKE and keeping the [highlight=red]patrons[/highlight] happy, so they'll stay for the whole show and look forward to returning the next week.  

Best Of Luck ......  

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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]  

Sorry Raina.

no apologizes necessary! I honor and thank everyone's suggestions; Planning to have my own party (home system) and I'm no professional KJ most people will not be serious karaoke singers, but wanted somes games to involve wallflowers... Thanks again for you help! Didn't mean for this topic to turn so "controversial" all of a sudden!

It's not really so controversial.  There is one person here who has very deep beliefs. When he understands that we respect how he feels the conversations get smoother.

Raina.....Have fun at your party.    :worship:  :hug:

From what I heard from the Toyes/Sublime song, I believe its "one joint, two joints, then play videogames, and then go smoke two more."   Nothing about straight to heroin and death, but that's just one lightweights ill-fated slope compared to a pro's nonstop  marijuana consumption.

So BD in your clubs do you ban singers from playing NTN Trivia on the TV screen or putting dollars in the arcade games or pool tables?

I make them close the pool table during karaoke.     Too much noise and possibility for a fight.    Other dollar sucking machines are OK to use.    There is less chance for them to interfere with my quality karaoke show.

Raina,

If you're just doing a home karaoke thing, I would suggest getting some silly group songs like 'Summer Nights' from Grease, 'Love Shack' B52's, etc., you can usually get even non singers to sing to them, and everyone usually gets a laugh or chuckle out of it.

You may also try having a jar with song numbers on slips of paper in it and let the would-be singers pull a slip for their next song as one form of Scaraoke, Suicide Karaoke, whatever you want to call it.

Karaoke bingo is where you have cards made up with songs and/or singers on it instead of numbers, and when that singer or song is sang, you get to mark that spot on your card. It keeps going until someone 'Bingos'

Good Luck with your party, although I'm sure you'll have a blast!

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Sounds like fun. But' Strip Karaoke sounds a bit better. Well depending on the crowd.

Wow!  This is just like the "should the dj eat or not eat" threads on the dj boards!  I feel right at home.

I don't mean to be opening up a can of worms here but at least in MY area - not sure about yours - the karaoke faithful sometimes...sometimes mind you...have a reputation of not drinking alot.  (i.e. take up space and not a lot of $ in the register at the end of the night)   In many cases the non singing crowd buy the most liquor of anyone.  My strategy has always been make the bar a fun destination for everyone involved, not just the folks that are there to sing.  I am also only a month in at the new location where I'm at and the more people spread the word about how much fun they have as me being their host, the better.  I am offerering karaoke of course but I am also offering much more because I simply have to at this point.  Bigdog, maybe you have a location that has many years of karaoke and is very successful and I can see how introducing something like that might mess up with the system.  I'm hoping my location will also be like that...in the meantime....

I'm excited because in the coming weeks we'll be doing a Guitar Hero promotion (if you haven't seen the video game check it out) and right above where the singers perform in my joint there is a humongous big screen which will work great for Guitar Hero.  Karaoke will be the main focus but Guitar Hero will be an additional fun promo that night.

Also...and I am very proud I thought of this...but if you haven't seen the new game show "Are you smarter then a 5th grader" go immediately to fox on demand and watch it.  We'll be doing a promo based on that too!

I'm currently only doing just one show a week as my day job is very demanding. I'm very good friends with most all the regulars there and we have more fun cutting up with each other than planning a game. I do one simple contest occasionally, basically a kamikazzee, but I call it the mystery song sing-along contest. Anyone wishing to participate puts there name in the hat, one name is drawn and all they have to do is sing the song chosen, ususlly something a little off the straight and narrow to win whatever prize I supply. It only adds one singer to the rotation and customers seem to enjoy it even if their name isn't chosen.

As for filler music, it does help keep the nonsingers into the show for the occasionally Electric Slide or such, but I've been to shows that will do a 20 or 30 minute intermission with filler music. I understand the club owner wants all of his customers to be able to stay involved with the entertainment, but he or she did book a karaoke show. During one of these long intermissions, you'll see the karoake singers get bored and leave and by 11:00 they are all gone and the KJ has now turned into a DJ.

The previous KJ at the bar I'm working would just throw in a mixed cd when this happens and sit back doing nothing. I don't operate that way. Last friday night we had a slow night for singers and the last karaoke request was around midnight. After that, I stayed at the mike untill last call. The bar owner was nervous to book me as the other KJ was doing a cut rate show. She agreed to pay my fee, $75 more per night than the other guy, and after the first show has invited me back indeffinately.

I guess my bottom line is games and such can be fun occasionally but when it comes down to pleasing club owners, singers and nonsingers:

1: Limit dead air. Nothing kills a good mood faster than silence. While waiting for the next singer to come out of the bathroom, give some club announcements, a weather forecast or the lottery numbers for the day, but keep some noise going.

2: If in doubt of the request slip info is wrong double check it. It's embarassing for a singer to be standing at the mike and the wrong song start playing. I double check 90% of my requests, especially from newbies, to make sure the song they want to sing is the song they requested. Make the show as trouble free as possible and they will have fun. Having a good time will bring them back next Friday night.

And lastly, never jump ship. If you lose some of your singers late in the evening or even all of them, get your butt to the mike and keep the show going. You'll find that some singers will all of the sudden want to do more later in the evening. The longer you keep them there, the more the club owner is going to see in the cash register. Simply throwing in a mixed disc tells everyone the show is over and they will lose interest and go home.

In essence, games can be fun, but concentrate on keeping the show moving and entertaining. That's what works for me anyway.

Per DJDawg in a post of March 5th:

 

I'm with you Dawg, but what you posted in this regard was off topic.  It would help for you to know that this part of your post has been the subject of several threads, of late. on this forum.  Just to bring you up to "speed", one thread in particular, had to do with an owner who ejected a non-spending (terrific) singer.  Several on this forum were derisive of the owner's actions.

I know first-hand about non-spending singers.  They often jump from venue to venue to increase their turns at singing, spending nothing anywhere along the way, while reducing the number of turns at singing for the paying customers.  I deplore such actions, but a good number of KJ's on this forum don't accept the notion that an unaccompanied, non-spending singer is a problem.  I will not go into the details of my thinking, but I believe that they cause a myriad of problemS.

And some singers among us believe that they are entitled to their "moment in the sun" and don't care about the bottom line of the venue that has provided them with the opportunity to have that "moment".

Personally, I've cut back on what I spend at karoke since I learned on this forum that not-spending is a conscious decision on the part of so many.

EDITED 3/16:
Dawg
Can you think of any other group/category of people that make it a point to go to an estabishment to enjoy themselves and then intentionally avoid spending much if any money?  Can you imagine people going to a billiards parlor and asking to play pool for free since the tables are sitting there whether someone pays for their use or not?

Had a new experience last night and to me it was a Bar Game.

Went to a new show at a new place that just opened.  Virtually no one there.  Got to do 6 songs and could have done more.  Besides being one of the ONLY singers, they loved my performances.  I am happy to say I had several moments in the sun!

The game?  I tried and learned that I could sit there all night and nurse one coke and a free refill.  Got some questioning looks.  But I tipped the barmaid $5. She said I should make sure to come back.  Yah here?

I don't know if the place will make it or not.  Who cares?  There will always be another dumb bar owner who'll offer karaoke thinking he can make money off of it.  Dumb.  Yep, they don't come any dumber than bar owners who offer karaoke!