Karaoke Forums

(I’m feeling the need to get some conversation going on here!)

First let me say that I enjoy karaoke, I enjoy singing, I enjoy watching folks having a good time singing/watching, and I enjoy providing the service.  I do it free for family events, and have made some nice side money from it.  I enjoy it as much as doing live sound, which although is more of a challenge, it’s also more of a hassle (and I’m getting lazy in my old age).

I provide Sound for the shows at school, talent/variety/ect and the staff parties (Christmas/end-of-the-year) the principal throws for us, and they love the Karaoke.  

I sang a song there, and a fellow teacher/buddy of mine who has a band for over 30 years was there, and he was blown away, like “Wow Mark, you never told me you could sing like that!”  

It’s a good feeling.

But…

I don’t know if anyone experiences this, but around musicians and pro-sound folks, the work “karaoke” has a definite stigma.  

Even on “American Idol” they use it in a demeaning way.  

I’m going to confess here… I feel some pressure when I use the word, to the point that I don’t even like the word.  

Does it have to be called “Karaoke”?  Do we have an American word for it?   It’s actually just singing to backing tracks.  I play guitar to backing tracks for practice.  I advise folks who are looking for ways to improve their vocals for singing with their band to practice singing to karaoke tracks, but it still doesn’t get a good response.  

No matter what it was called, the same stigma would attach itself to that word, as well, but what the heck.  

What if we just called it “Singing”?  

“What are you going to do tonight?”
“Oh, I’m going down to the club to sing… you wanna come?”

“What do you do?”
“Oh, I provide backtracks for singers at the club.”  

If you feel I need “flamed” (hopefully not banned)… go ahead, I probably deserve it.    

It IS a foul word around regular "musicians".  LMAO

I've sang with a band some the last year, just a band I met one night locally- and got on stage with, and it went from there. But while singing with them, a few times, I've had people come up and ask me where I "normally" perform, thinking perhaps I have a hidden away band that I usually sing with. And I do the "I...errr.... ummmm.... "cough"..... like to karaoke a lot of places, that's all".  I too try to "hide" the fact from band members that I karaoke at all, because I know they'll think "great, a karaoke singer".... like it's a form of leprosy or something.

I don't understand why most musicians are that way. They think it's not "real" music, I guess because you aren't getting paid, don't really need any kind of talent at all to be able to join in and do it, and you don't have to have ever picked up any kind of instrument. My husband is the same way. He's forever saying that I need to quit doing karaoke so much and go back to playing "real music".  

I for one would never knock it. Karaoke has helped me tremendously, I've tried many songs and different genres I never would have otherwise, and it's done wonders for my "stage fright" issue.

(oh, and FYI.... don't know if you're familiar with her, but Gretchen Wilson is a pretty well known country star, and she has publicly tooted the horn for karaoke, she said it helped her become a better singer and still likes to karaoke when she has the chance...)
.

_________________
♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥

Oh, and by the way....

It's nice to see someone trying to liven this place up a bit with conversation. I've been snoozing in the forums lately, due to boredom and everyone's inactivity:)

.

_________________
♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥

 I started a few threads already to get the ball rolling.  I learn that way, as well.

I suspect the better part of it is simple snobbery.  

Everyone wants to feel “superior” so someone.

Actually, a big part of it also is bitterness for some musicians.

Many musicians feel that DJ/KJs take their gigs.  

I suppose it’s true to a point, but most place, at least around here couldn’t afford a $350+ for a band, but they can afford $150 (just an example) for a DJ/KJ.  

Acually, I think the crowd enjoys us more than a band, at least if the sound is good.  One reason they do enjoy bands is because there’s usually a decent sound system, and they can feel it, but many KJs don’t have that quality sound.

When I was DJ/KJing a bar down the street, I got the owner to let my buddy’s band play for St. Patrick’s day, and the regulars wished that I was doing my thing.  I had a good system there, subwoofers really banging, and they could request the songs they wanted to hear.  They were spoiled that way, and would request songs from the band that they didn’t know.  

Oh well…

Yeah, you're right.

Wonder what they would think if we "reversed it" on them?

You know... stick up our little karaoke noses in the air, roll our eyes when they say they're "in a band"... Like it's SO yesterday to hang with a lowly "band".

Nah, I'm just kidding, cause I do both. But still, that would be funny.

.

_________________
♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥

True.

The band I met up with, was here in my town one night.... a place that is KNOWN for it's live music. But the crowd on most nights just wasn't big enough- tho most were great bands that could fill a dance floor, and played a variety of music. This place is now karaoke thursday through sunday.

I for one, hate to see the band scene get pushed aside. Granted, I'd rather be on stage singing than in the crowd, but singing in a band beats singing karaoke. (now, didn't I sound snobbish?) haha

(what is WITH my typing today? I just edited 3 times)

.

_________________
♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥

Hell, my one buddy, the one I said got me started in the first place was a professional singer around here; he opened up for about every national act that came through the area; even a top-ten hit locally.  Did lots of commercials and stuff, too.  

He doesn’t play an instrument, and he was just the lead singer from the mid ‘70s through the early ‘90s.  Then I started a house band for another friend’s club a few years later with him singing, and that’s all he did.  I guess he’s no better than a karaoke singer, except of course, he has an exceptional voice.  

He’s totally cool, though.  He comes over regularly and we sing (and drink) our butts off in my music room for hours.  It’s of course nice there, cause I always have a full-blown PA set up, so it’s a luxurious experience to be able to hog it all up without a waiting list.  

I prefer his company than that of most others because we like to sing the old stuff, even though he was a “rocker” back in the day.

It’s that way around here, too.  Used to be bands everywhere.  Now…

not much money, I guess.  The economy just isn't what it used to be.  Maybe fewer people are going out because of the DUI laws, and now there's a smokinng ban in Ohio.  

I was seriously considering buying a bar, but I'm not sure it's such a good investment, at least around here.

Yes many bands & musicians don't care for karaoke as it DOES take away from their possible shows - however karaoke can go into places that either aren't set up for bands or don't have the room for them, BUT there are also several bands that enjoy karaoke as well.  I have several that come in from time to time - 1 faithfully every Thursday.  They do their own music in karaoke form & the singer comes up & does the singing.  They like to try out new stuff on crowds before shows.  I had a 4 bands form out of our club from karaoke singers, 2 are cover bands, the others are orignals, one of them are actually booking decent shows for like the opening act for the Ultimate Fighting Challenge when they come around.
Many non-singers think karaoke is a joke because the can't sing or don't want to try so they put down the other singers or the entertainment in general.  Crappy systems/selection quality & hosts that don't know to run sound help in this respect as well.
Karaoke is what it is, if you start being afraid of the word, then maybe it's time to leave the field as you are having doubts.  If you can't be proud & stick to your guns of your field & promote it as such!!!

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

One place I was at had "live karaoke" sessions, where the band handed out their playlist and people in the bar could choose songs which they could sing with the band.   At another bar I went to regularly for karaoke, the lead singer of their regular Friday-night band would often get up to do a few songs.   Not all musicians are adverse to karaoke, but I have heard lots of negatives and have had funny looks from people when I mention the word 'karaoke'.



That's probably one of the biggest reasons.  Some of the sound systems I have heard are really horrid... as well as karaoke versions which sound like a bunch of kids plonking on toy instruments.  One of my pet hates with karaoke backing tracks is the fade-out endings... I guess this is done for singer familiarity, but it can really mess up a well-performed song in a live setting.

There were, and still are a lot of famous singers and groups who never played an instrument. Some even pretended to play instruments......but actually, your voice is an instrument, and it takes a lot of practice, along with the God given ability to sound really good. If it wasn't for karaoke, a lot of people would have never realized what a great voice they had. They never had a band to sing along with, so they never had the inspiration to develope their vocals. I know three people who never sang with a band, but after being heard singing karaoke, were asked to audition for lead singers in various bands. All three are now lead singers for some popular local groups. If not for karaoke, they'd probably never have gotten the opportunity. Just like cds and mp3s made it easier to be a DJ, karaoke has made it easier to find your niche, among all of the different musical styles that exist. Someone who has practiced playing an instrument for hours a day, over 20 years with a group of guys/gals to get it right, has got to be angry to see someone simply pop in a cd for a similar result.......just my two cents worth.....

I think that a lot of musicains (myself included) have a hard time respecting karaoke in general because it like music with training wheels.  There's no risk, there's nothing original about it, it just gives people permission to sing in public.  I felt the same way about copy bands which is why I was kicked out of so many of them.  "Ya gotta do it like it's on the record man...."  The H*** I do.  I knew the first time I heard karaoke that real music in the bars was dead.   No more people wandering in the door unexpectedly with guitars, banjos and mandolins looking for a quiet place to play and drink beer, just karaoke.  I Think karaoke is to music what "just sex" is to making love.  Having profoundly experienced the latter it is diffacult to be more than mildly amused by the former.

_________________
Okay, who took my pants?

I'll throw in my 2 cents as a casual vistor to this place.

- I think part of the "snicker" factor is that there's the perception that Karaoke is a bunch of drunks in a bar, who can't sing, trying to be singers.  And to some extent it is.  Back to the "music on training wheels thing".   Then of course there's the sterotype that its Japanese dudes/dudettes, drunk on Sake, singing asian stuff none of us "Americans" know and doing it badly.  Or singing american stuff badly.  Anyway, you get the gist...   Truth is, there's a continum of great singers to bad singers.

- I'm sure there's also the, "gig stealing" but I doubt that's it as there are tons of bars that have a either only bands, mix of karaoke and bands, or just karaoke.

- Reminds me of a different related discussion on Guitar Hero.  I love playing the game and there are tons of rabid fans.  But many people (e.g. musicians) look down on people who play and say, hey get a real guitar.   But thing is, its a form of entertainment and not everybody can pick up a guitar and jam.  Its analagous to saying, hey, go play pro football instead of playing Madden on the PS2.   So, karaoke is another form of entertainment and a creative outlet for people who can't or don't have the opportunity to perform live in another venue.

At the end of the day, just becuase there's no band doesn't mean that the singer isn't really performing.  They are, just with backing tracks.  Heck, alot of big stars perform w/out a band (geez, some even lip synch)-- Britney, Maddona, etc.

Have fun, sing and get your groove on!  8-)

_________________
For those about to rock, we salute you!!!

Oh it happens.  My club used to have bands 5 nights a week, when we originally went in, we did 1 night.  They said they made more on that 1 night than they do in a weekend with the bands.  They dropped the bands to weekends only & did karaoke 4 nights.  Then they got a call from the band that they couldn't make that weekend, they called us, & we advertised that week that karaoke would be on the weekend, the bar was packed!  We had around 65 singers the first Friday.  The next week, karaoke started 7 nights - this was in '92 & still going strong.
Another club a friend of mine works was almost the same way, used to run bands nightly, now dropped all bands & does karaoke on the weekends & dj during the week.  Too bad too, this place was a great place for live music.
These are just a couple of incidents, but I can pretty much assure that karaoke has taken over many gigs from bands as it is cheaper for the bar, is more interactive with a crowd & people of all ages can do it & meet other people of all ages with the same interest - singing!

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

Well, karaoke took a bit of the "glamour" away from the singer in a band. Actually, the band all together. Now, everyone is not so "in awe" of the band, cause with a karaoke cd, YOU can get up and be the star of the show. (albeit, for 3-4 minutes at a time)


I recall years ago you went to a bar without a band, and hoped you got a turn to put YOUR choice of songs in the jukebox... or you found a bar with a live band. There was not much else to do. Heck, prior to karaoke, I never hung in bars too much. Karaoke is totally what lured me in to going to bars, I had gotten a system at home, and the temptation to go sing live was too much to resist.


Personally, I'd rather sing with a band than karaoke- any day. But if given a choice of just going to "listen" to a band, or go down the road where I can participate on the karaoke mic.... I'm gonna head to the karaoke mic.

I see both sides though. It's not fair that karaoke has such a bad image. Even TV has promoted the bad outlook. (anyone recall the Levi's commercial that had the horrid karaoke singing? and a few movies as well have thrown in terrible karaoke performances)  There are many people who have never played an instrument or been around them in the home, and never would have found a love for singing, if not for karaoke. Granted, hand them a guitar (or play it for them) and expect them to sing in proper timing, many can't.... but why should people who can do that run others down for wanting to sing.  

But I too see why bands would hate the way it's pushing them out in some places. We certainly have no shortage of bands around here..... maybe in my small town, where everyone's only hope of ever getting anywhere is to be "discovered" singing at karaoke, but live music is still alive and hopping in the Northwest.

Am I babbling? Sorry...... Mark started it all:)

.

_________________
♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥

Which is why this site was started
http://www.karaokesucks.net/
.  You'll hear from musicians & bands that hate karaoke because they take over their gigs.
Would be funny to get a shirt & wear it while hosting a show though!

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

Sorry, I guess I should READ everyone's post entirely before typing. I copycatted you in a way, partly- didn't mean to. (with my above post) But hey, at least we agree:)

.

_________________
♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥

The dislike of karaoke by professional musicians all started when a portion of club owners opted for karaoke over live music.  I remember because I was playing in bands back in the late '80s and early '90s when it first started happening around here. Club owners found karaoke as a more inexpensive form of entertainment with emphasis on inexpensive.  It really was based on the battle over money and job opportunities.  A lot of musicians seem to have a stereotype in their head of the bad, no-talent, silly karaoke singer that just ham's it up on stage.  Of course that latter perception isn't always true by a long shot. They form a resentment thinking "I lost one of my gigs because of this?"

On the other hand, some karaoke singers think of listening to a live band as boring, no fun and "what's in it for me? I'd rather be singing".