Karaoke Forums

Small prize contests can be pretty harmless. Big $$ contests are POISONESS.  What u get coming out are SEASONED PROFESSIONAL singers and entertainers looking for an easy payday. Loses all meaning of being Karaoke. Becomes a PROFESSIONAL competion--or maybe PRO-AM would be more accurate. The contest becomes dominated by RINGERS.

I had to cover one of these a couple years ago---1000$ GRAND PRIZE. The winner was a woman who Id done another story on a blues band show--She was the featured guest singer. She also has her own band and has peerformed at numerous large festivals. She also is known to go from contest to contest--chasing.

The second place winner had previosly appeared on LIVE AT THE APPOLLO on TV in New York in another contest.

3rd place---was a lady who said she only did karaoke.

So to my mind--these contest have little or nothing to do with karaoke. But everything to do with having professional singers come to compete for large $$.

There is little or no chance for a typical karoke person to win or even compete fairly.

So bottom line is I will niether compete in, conduct or sponsor any type of Karaqoke contest. I think they are destructive and counter productive to the entire concept of going out for a night of karaoke.  And I will have nothing to do with them.

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"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

Now this is something I make sure of is that people that were not in the contest will be up first (of course in the order they turned their slip in) & any contestant will be put at the end as chances are they already have done at least a warm up song & their contest song.  No way they are going into a rotation as a new singer.

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

But at least you recognize that it's something you would not personally enter into.  People will continue to enter them until the end of time (again not just talking karaoke).  Contests aren't necessarily geared toward the average singer, but to draw in crowds.  If they didn't draw crowds I doubt contests would exists - but they do so they will.  If no one showed up to the Miss America contest, do you honestly think they would still have one?  It's all for ratings, money - bottom line.  Regulars need to understand that - it's like a premption of you favorite television show for that new mini-series they are going to air all week (or once a week).  Once it's done, the schedule will get back to normal.
We run contests all the time, mostly small cash but on occasion will do a larger scale.  Biggest one we were in was for a $1000 cash pot PLUS be the opening act for Diamond Rio at one of the states fair.  Several bars competed, the finalist of our semifinals went to the finals & won the big prize.  Our judges that night - local radio personality, 2 local musicians, pro vocal teacher, producer at a local record label.  The entire criteria was known, they were looking for not only good singers but an entertainer as well.  No audience response.  During this contest were record breaking audiences & a HELL of a good show as all the singers were very good to begin with so everyone was very entertaining to watch - which is another bonus, but bottim line is bringing people in which it will do every time.

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

For one it isnt suppose to be Karaoke night thats the point. One of the bars that I do Karaoke at has an Idol contest to bring out the best singers and performers in our area. It is explained its a contest not Karaoke night. Again, the person getting in must understand what they are entering. Alot of singers that come out have sang in bands or performed somewhere in the life and for the ones that havent they more than likely are just out to sing for fun and would never consider a contest anyway. The reason this bar packs the place for this contest (300 to 400 people) is because of the talent and the show (lights, video, celeberity judges). The finals is always held on a non Karaoke night.

I've been in a couple of contests.  I generally don't care for them, not because I'm not happy with the judging but just because I don't think karaoke is meant to be a competitive activity.  The two contests I was in (I'm not counting one at a private party where most the singers were teenagers), I felt the winner was well chosen(and no, I didn't win).

The contest I liked the best was a fundraising contest where each vote had to be bought for a dollar.  Or ten dollars; I forget which.  Everyone understood this going in.  The winner got some sort of gift certificate or something worth a few bucks but most of the money went to charity.

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Reward: nine yen in drawer.

Then you could say that for anything.  NOTHING should be competetive IMO, especially professional sports - these guys should just be playing for the fun of it & not who will pay them the most money????  
Everything that is supposed to be fun is turned into competition at some point - you name it, I guarantee there is a contest for it - why, simple - people WANT to compete, it's human nature, people want to be the best at something or they just do it for the money - whether it be simple shooting marbles by kids to the international Olympic games to see who's country is going to fair the best.  If it's enjoyable it WILL be turned into a contest of some sort.

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

 Not at my shows-ever. I've been very successful not doing contests and don't plan to change. My venue owners are made aware of this in advance. NO CONTESTS. period.

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

That's your choice & I respect that as I do with anyone else that don't hold them, i'm not trying to change your mind on that.  What I was saying is that people like to get into contests.  I hear people saying that this & that should be just for fun - if it's fun, SOMEONE is going to want & turn it into a contest - regardless of what the entertainment is & I guarantee people will enter because that's their nature.  Hell they had Rubiks Cubes contests to see who was the best.  Hula Hoop contests.  Almost any card game you can name has been turned into a contest at some point.  If it's fun, someone will want to compete at some point.

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

   I agree. They most certainly do.  However, as a Karaoke Host, I must be concerned about my business, and that of the venue. To that end, contests ( in my experience) though busy during, are detrimental to the venue at their conclusion.  Newbies ( possible new regulars) that came in and left for fear of singing around all of that talent.  Ngative feeling from the losers being passed on to their friends. Regulars who didn't want to enter found other places to sing during the contest that gave them the airtime denied during the contest- may not return.  And, of course, the contest singers who have returned to their home venues. All resulting in a huge drop in business. Of course the host gets the blame from both customers and venue..

  Yes, people like contests, but if they don't help the venue or myself...

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

And again, I wasn't trying to convince you into entering, running or holding one.  

However, the newbies that come in - in my experience - are generally people that are only coming in for the contest - no intention on becoming regs anyway (although it does happen) or the contest hoppers with the big egos - which I wouldn't want as regs anyway.  Holding contests generally aren't for building new regulars, it isn't it's purpose, the purpose is to generate revenue for the club.  The way our club & I look at it is it's entertaining.  The finals generally consist of very good talent - which everyone appreciates & the house is usually packed with spenders - bottom line.  So it's basically like putting on a show.  Our regs know that once it's over, the schedule will get back to normal - kind of hard to have it on a none karaoke nights as we run 7 nights, but we do try to have it on a slower night - generally a Wed or Thurs - depending on the time of year.   But we haven't ran a big contest in a couple years anyway, just some low $$ weekly prize contests that don't attract the outsiders.  Plus we make sure the winners have to sit out for a month minimum & can't compete with the same song again.

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

Lon made the point precisely.
Forget karaoke. OOps... ok.
Is there a 100% fair contest of any type on this planet.

Just spent 20 min. typing a reply to lon. The post disappeared into thin air.  Avatar won't show. Signature won't show.  Group won't show.....This forum has some serious techincal problems

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

OK, so here's a shortened version:  You're right, the purpose is to generate income for the venue. However, it has been my experience that the short term gains are negated to the point LOSING money by the events I've described that happen AFTER the contest.

   By newbies, I meant walk-ins who never sang before. No one plans to be a regular, it's my job to make that happen.

   Although as a Karaoke Host, I may not want the divas as regulars, the bar does. Bottom line.


   If you've been successful with your contests, congrats! If you read or contact a large group of hosts, you will probably find that you've been VERY lucky. You are definitely in the minority. I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

They still ask me to sing..

And I have signed a few autographs at KaraokeFest..  :oh yeah:

Billy answered this in his original post


regarding "can contests be fair"..





If you wish to paraphrase this to "will ALL contestants believe the results are fair"

the response will change to "unlikely"

This is a philosphical issue.  In order to attempt to answer this one must look at the Ideology of the terms "Contest", "Judge", and "Fair"..

You'll find that ANYTHING subjective in nature WILL NEVER be able to be pinned to 100% fairness when in a realm of "judging" others.  Reasonably fair is what we strive for.

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

I've performed in several contests i've FELT were fair.  I don't care if I win or lose, but if I feel the winner deserved to win & the runners up were close, then I believe it's fair.  I don't enter a contest expecting to win, I want to have fun with the experience of being with some of the best singers!

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[shadow=deepskyblue]I'm impressed, I've never met such a small mind inside such a big head before.[/shadow]

Untill the votes are separate from the singers, and the voters are knowledgable, hell no.
Never fair.. Never designed to be fair.. Designed to generate cash..

  um,  "Two whale bungs do not a carport make."?    :whistle:

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

reportedly do make an ant hill

Thanks mate, she didnt have a go at me,
she simply warned you all;
It's her forum.
Dont mess with her.
She's the perfect one.