Karaoke Forums

Please don't bash me for not knowing exactly how to handle this.

I have had egomaniacs before, but this guy takes the cake. Usually when someone goes around bragging he's the best singer and acts like he's god's gift I just ignore it. They are just making themselves look bad.

But this guy gets on the mic and asks the crowd what should I sing and gives them 3 choices while I'm trying to keep the rotation moving. Not to mention people don't care. I asked him not to do this and he ignored me. He goes around the bar and tells people he can do a better job them me because he sings in a band. This actually doesn't bother me because I have a loyal following, it is more to explain what a jerk he is.

One time he got on the mic and announced who should sing next. Him being one of those people.  The crowd cheered because he mentioned one of the favored singers in the bar who had just got done singing. (Sorry but I have a rotation to follow)

I explained to this jerk I have a rotation to follow to be fair and please do not make these announcements anymore. My problem is he doesn't respect me and is going to do what he wants.

I'm not sure if I should threaten to revoke his singing rights if he does this again or maybe I should just turn off his mic until the music starts.  LMAO

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[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

For me; if I had warned him once; he wouldn't sing again. NEVER.  Of course my crowd would have booed him out of the place.  I feel for you.  I can't and won't put up with folks like that.

Had 2 tables; about 8 people in last week.  One guy in the group put up another guys name. When it came his turn I called him up and he shook his head didn't want to sing.  I "once, twice,...next"  the guy who put in his name cussed me.  I overlooked it.  Later the same guy puts in another guys name at their table.  His turn comes up and same thing happens.  After moving on to the next singer, the guy who puts in the names yells, "Come on a$$hole, BEG him."  I politely say, we've got too many singers wanting to sing.  I ain't wasting mine and everyone's else's time begging."  He says, "F@@K YOU!"

I again politely told him if he didn't like the way things were going to "hit the door." The bartender waved bye bye and most of the crowd clapped.  They got up and left.

Those type of people you are better off with out.  Not good for the bar either.  Stick to your guns. Turn his mic off next time and tell him it's your way or the highway.

Hang in there Babs!

Kelly

Well you gave him several warnings it seems, if he chooses to ignore them, then he's no longer a singer at my show - hopefully the bar will have your back on your decision.  I have a disclaimer on my rules sheet & posted on the wall as well - Lonman Productions has the right to refuse service (allowing to sing) to anyone.  I have acted on it maybe a handful of times since I started - mostly for  repeated swearing over the mic - a nono in our club.  99% of the people are fine & follow that rule, but every once in a while there is someone that thinks it don't apply to them & continue to do it - even after being warned.  If I have to tell you to stop more than 2 times, your mic goes off & I call the next singer.

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Wow Babs! This guy must travel the country!! We had a guy do pretty much the same thing last year at our show. First: It's YOUR show. YOU are in charge and if people don't like it, tough. If he comes in again, tell him that he has ONE chance. If he blows that one chance, cut him off (and I mean mic down, start announcing the next singer....don't even discuss it with him until the next singer is singing), tell him thank you but the show only needs ONE host. Then refuse to let him sing or even touch your mic. You should probably tell the management what you are planning so they are prepared for any complaints he may register. The management doesn't want jerks at their place any more than you do. I am sure they will back you on it.
Good luck!!

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Keep it legal!!!

I know management would back me up on any decission I made which is nice.
I guess I'm a bit hesitant to lay the law down because he is so sneaky about how he does these things. He acts as if whats the big deal. He has just recently become a regular so people don't know how to take him yet. I realised the 1st night he would be a handful. Very demanding ! People singing don't realise how his little announcements disrupt the flow of things. I figured too over time the crowd would turn on him, but I don't have the patience to wait.

When he comes in tonight I think we'll have a little talk and if he ignores me I'll shut him down.

Thanks guys - I just wanted to make sure I wasn't overreacting because he was annoying.

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

I've pretty much got a 1strike and you're out policy.  This guy would have not only been out of the rotation, but if he kept it up, he'd be out of the bar.  'course like someone else pointed out, my "peeps" woulda already run him out.

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All work and no play make Homer something something

One of the thing you can do is to mute the mic . That action will sent him some signal.

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I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott

Was JUST going to say that Jian!

Babs, my recommendation is when he starts to talking, mute it. Walk over to him and in a VERY serious tone, tell him WHO's show this is, WHO own's the equipment and music, who prints and makes the books, who arranged the gig in the first place, and who makes the rules in the place. This is YOUR gig, not his. If he wants to be the top man, then he needs to go out and invest HIS tens of thousands of dollars to make HIS show, and then HE can create HIS rules. And then HE can deal with the headaches of divas like HIM.

Unfortunately, there are shows across the country that treat karaoke like a fad or a lark. You'll see all types of rotation and hosting fubars, and for those of us that take this craft SERIOUSLY, it's upsetting that they do this... because anybody that attends these shows THINKS this is the norm!!

As Lonnie pointed out, Lonman Productions is HIS company. You have YOUR company, and your reputation. You can't always be the nice person... you can't always be sweet and smile. Yes, in many cases, this is the norm. But when someone openly challenges you, even in ignorance, you have to yank on their collar and chain and make certain that they know not to poop on the sidewalk!!

And I got news for you. If I were in your shoes, I'd tell him quietly to the side the first time. The second, I'd mute his mic. The third, I'd embarrass the he!! out of him ON the mic and then tell him to sing the smeggin' song, or shut up and sit down.

It's very possible to run a show and be friends with everyone... provided they follow the RULES. This individual obvoiusly isn't. When you call them on their b.s., they'll whine, they'll complain, they'll say you're being a biyatch and trying to be too controlling. Tell them if there's ANY more noise out of them other than singing, they can hit the road! Trust me, any repricusions from your regulars will quickly fade. You may even get some encouragement from your other regulars that don't like this idiot's behavior, and don't feel comfortable addressing it to you, as it's YOUR show.

Best of luck m'dear!

something similar happened to me when I had a brief stint at kjing some years ago...a guy who thought he was all that (actually he was the brother of a guy who was all that but I digress) he came up to sing with a glass in his hand. He went to grab the mic and I said sorry not with a glass in your hand. He tried to put it down on my workstation, I said sorry but no liquid is allowed here..it got nasty and the end result was I banned him. Due to his and his brothers popularity there were many (mainly female) who were going to boycott the place. Now while management had backed my original decision, they kinda got worried when the mumbles and grumbles went around regarding boycotting. I took the boss aside and said...you let him sing without apologising and I can no longer work here. It was the pub's equipment (such as it was) so it was a big risk on my part, he only needed to get someone else in to host. Anyway he grudgingly stuck by me and after some underhanded tricks by the jerk getting others to put their name up instead of his, etc and me still refusing to allow him to sing, he eventually apologised. I graciously allowed him to sing.
I earned the name vinegar tits One thing is certain...the rotates were fair, there were no accidents with liquid and their discs (they were lazer discs in those days were looked after as if they were my own

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"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

Ego man came in last night. I was so horribly busy I did not have time to talk to him before the show. What I said to him Wed. night seemed to have some effect. He gets on stage and announces (By popular demand, 54 to 5, I am singing this song) It appears he polled the whole bar to see what he should sing.  LMAO  He figured he was appeasing me by polling people ahead of time and not on the mic.  LMAO  But being the egomaniac he is had to state the over all total of his poll. Next time he came up to sing I turned his mic off until it was time to sing. He totally got the clue because I don't do that to anyone else.

Now he is singing his song and decides to pick up the mic stand and fling it around while he's singing. I leaned over and said put the mic stand DOWN ! What an idiot - He held it up for about ten seconds more than realized how heavy it was and set it down. I explained to him after you will see "real rock stars" do this on tv, but their using a tripod stand that is not as heavy. - not a live rock concert. The mic stands are not yours to be abused and the mics aren't to be twirled by the chord either.

I think this guy will be fine. I just need to be patient and correct him after ever mistake. I feel like his mother. He is going to try to get around the rules if he can. He is annoying as heck, but after time I think I can tame the ego animal in him. If not bye bye egoman.

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

yeah... there ARE those kinda folks out there Babs...

Maybe you can do a three strikes and you're out kinda thing. Tell him in private that you're going to ONLY give him three warnings... strikes. After that, you're banned for a month! Next time he does something stupid like that, lower his mic and say "THAT'S ONE!"... I don't think he'd have a problem getting the hint!

Course, that's me! !

P.S. Good Job on the mic muting... as you said, you don't do that with others and it really sunk in!

[quote="Babs @ Sat May 26, 2007 5:10 pm

I think this guy will be fine. I just need to be patient and correct him after ever mistake. I feel like his mother. .[/quote]

Hey, I might be well behaved at your show.........but even a nice guy like me could use some motherly attention from a sweet lady like you........underneath this old, beat up exterior, lies the brain of a young immature child......... ......gimme some of that motherly love, pumkin........

Hey, I might be well behaved at your show.........but even a nice guy like me could use some motherly attention from a sweet lady like you........underneath this old, beat up exterior, lies the brain of a young immature child......... ......gimme some of that motherly love, pumkin........ [/quote]

roughly translated is he loves boobs and secretly desires to be breast fed  :whistle:  LMAO

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"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

You sure saw my next move, Morgan..... ......I'm a really hungry child........so you better give me both barrels............

 LMAO

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"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

as long as he doesn't want to wear an adult diaper, more power to him! !

Wow,  My eyes are really going.  I entered this thread after reading the heading (at least three times) thinking Babs was asking, "How do you handle Ergomaniacs".   Naturally I was going to respond with,  "Whatever way is fitting"  LOL

Thing is,  I really read that as Ergo, not Ego..  Too much reading electronic hardware lately I suppose... Oh well.  Back to researching SLR digital cameras

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

That would be my next move.... ...you are very intuitive......actually, this whole thread has caused me to have a nightmare last night,,,,,,In the dream, I was Babs's neworn baby, and she had decided not to breast feed me........can you imagine my disapointment, when she stuck that bottle in front of my face........  :(  :(  :(  :(

Sounds as though you have the patience of a saint; and IMHO, I think you handled that situation quite well. I do agree- as the "Manager" of the business of providing karaoke service to your patrons, you have the right to refuse service to anyone, especially if it adversely affects the service you provide to the other 99% of your clientele.

It happens at bars, WILL always happen when some get up on stage after having a few drinks.  If ever there is a time potential a@@holes become full-fledged a@@holes it's when they are drinking and step into the limelight esecially when their goal is to impress.  A horrible mistake I made when really young (more than once), (that I'll never make again) was to let "supposed" guitar players sit in and damage my equipment. Too often it was THESE types of characters exhibiting acts of testosterone (while disregarding that it's somebody elses valuable material possession they are royally beating to shlt).  As I've stated, bars are NOT the best places to find proper etiquette displays.  You folks are lucky that these jacka@@es are handling METAL objects that are made to endure some element of roughness.  These types are notorious for gauging nice guitar finishes, blowing speakers, amp heads,  and nicking and breaking music instruments when they sit in.  I learned the hard way.

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