Karaoke Forums

Some execellent points there Oneofakind.  But a professional singer and a karaoke singer are miles apart.  In karaoke if you miss a note nobody cares but if a pro does it the drunks start booing or the beer bottles start flying and you are down the road with little chance of getting another gig any time soon.

Back to the original question.  A person can improve their vocal range with practice (at least an hour a day solid) and if it starts to hurt more than a little stop.  Do you need to know a lot of songs?  For what?  You're a karaoke singer.  If you want to sing professionally you should be able to open a karaoke book at random, drop your finger without looking and do a passable job on any song it lands on.  I get away with doing that about seventy percent of the time.  It should be noted that I wouldn't go to a place that plays a lot of rap or hip hop.

Just enjoy it.  It's karaoke.

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Okay, who took my pants?

Professionals make mistakes all the time....people rarely catch them, and drunks    well yeah sure, they're sharp as tacks..... ....seasoned karaoke singers rarely make mistakes....after all......they have the words right in front of their faces..... .......karaoke singers make you money right?....I've sure seen you make a mockery of them on here......kinda like biting off your nose to spite your face isn't it........just my observation........

I had a good illustration of this tonight. I am constantly trying out new venues for karaoke, because of a few things. I am looking for great hosts and nice places, but also, in the back of the mind I am looking for that rare opportunity -- "The Mickey Show". That is where I come to a place, there are a few people there, and the host says "keep singing".

Tonight this happened. 12-15 people in the bar, apparently not a singer among them. The host was not a pro, and he said "you sound good -- do another one!"

The selection was limited, they couldn't play my disks, and they had no key changer. But I still pretty easily found about a dozen songs I can do with no key change -- some of my 0 or -1 songs.

That is definitely my favorite karaoke show. And it was most gratifying when I left after 45 minutes and everyone was telling me to come back.

This most often happens when you visit smaller towns way out in the boonies, of course. Usually you find the place by asking someone, and they say "oh, they do karaoke up at the Legion, don't they?" Then you get there, and everyone is there and bored, and you sing, and they keep asking you to sing more. It is a lot of fun to do this -- my dad and I are honorary members of the Royal Canadian Legion after a two-night Mickey show in Saskatchewan.

Hey there exweedfarmer..you are entitled to your opinion but I have to correct you. you said Karaoke singers and professional singers are miles apart..that may be true some of the time but don't short the karaoke singers who are pros in training. I got started in Karaoke. I know several other "pros" who also still sing karaoke as do I. because I get paid to sing for a living- does that preclude me from being a "karaoke singer" does that mean I can't go to shows anymore??

I'd also like to bring up some contests I've done..2 that come to mind are the karaoke Idol contest and talentquest. Both of which have over 40,000 contestants on a local level... but when you get  to the regional level (or semi finals) depending on what contest you;re talking about- I can vouch that there are some pure tee kick butt singers..who not only nail the vocal side if it- they have the choreography and costuming down as well. They are BETTER than many "Pro" shows I have seen because it matters to them and they have heart! It's not "just a paycheck"

I'm not discounting karaoke singer that do it for fun, those that are tone deaf, and those that just like to get drunk and sing...they have their place in the karaoke world-but to say that "all" Karaoke singers are "miles away" from being a pro level is just  not right. The entire reason I am ON this site is to support karaoke singers who are serious about their singing. I got sick of hearing Simon Cowell and others say "Oh that's a karaoke performance" like karaoke equals "sucky" That is definitely a hot button for me  that will instantaneously tick the crap out of me. Sorry to be so emphatic about it but you did press my button there. Bottom line there are many karaoke singers who aren't "great" But there are also many "pros" who make a living that karaoke singers would kick the sh!t out of in a contest...And- you can't deny that there is no better method of training than karaoke. So,,,again- I apologise for jumping down your throat but that's sticky subject for me.

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Keep it that way because that stuff can be nasty,  especially if it spreads from between your toes to your crotch area.  Wear sandals when walking from the swimming pool to the locker room,  it stops that crud from getting between your toes and itching like all hell !  Also Tinactin spray is good to have around.

Oh yeah,  Haven't heard that Italian word for "Texture" since I was struggling thru music comp.

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

Not to worry about the throat jumping, I thrive on it.  I figure that if I'm right, I'm not going to learn anything from that and it's useless.  But, if I'm wrong and get corrected, that has real value to me.

That being said, I'm going to stick to my guns on this one for now.  A karaoke singer sings 5-6 songs a night while a pro (the local lounge singer) does about 50.  Pros practice.  Pros might change the arrangement at the drop of a hat while in karaoke you're stuck.  Karaoke folks pick their songs, a pro sings what he/she get paid to sing.  When everyone gets tired and goes home the pro stays to finish the last set.  When the pro clears the place because his idiot booking agent sent him to play disco music in a hardcore country bar, the Pro keeps going.  When the pro gets heckled, there's no KJ to block for him/her, no one to adjust the mixer on the fly, no lyrics to read from (except in Vicki's case) it's just not karaoke.  

I didn't say that some karaoke folks can't sing and sing well.   I said there's a lot of difference between a pro and karaoke singer.

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Okay, who took my pants?

Paula if you ever want someone to critique honestly...thats if he will do it...then it is weedy...he may seem ornery but he isnt, he's probably one of the nicest people I know and I would love to meet him when I am in US next year
<snogs weedy stupid>

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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."

Nevermind the long post I just made here... I think it would piss a few off. So I'll condense it a bit:)  

But, to be honest, I see a huge difference in "pro" vs. "karaoke singer".  

I've spent the last week working at the local county fair. Lots of bands and other musical acts were there on the 5 stages. I heard a guy last night who sounded okay (not grand, but not too shabby either)..but the band seemed to be playing some awesome music...  so I headed towards that stage to see who it was. It was a lone guy, with a karaoke system. No band, nothing but him.  I walked off totally uninterested. Seeing SO many people do karaoke at bars, I just couldn't be interested in listening to one single person do an hour or so performance of it. Same singer- if he'd of had a guitarist, keyboard player, drums, fiddler, etc behind him, might have made it more interesting to me. Or, if there would have been more singers (doing a karaoke show)... but him attempting to be a "pro" singer, with nothing but karaoke cds.... kinda paled in comparison to the bands I could go listen to instead. Other side of the fair, I came across a full band with a gal singer who could sing like there's no tomorrow, and they did some covers but quite a few originals too... and I planted my butt on a bench to listen to them for a bit. (Coyote Creek... awesome band)  

I guess maybe it's all a matter of who's listening/paying. Personally, I'd do it again with a band, but I'd never attempt to get a gig singing solo as a "pro" act- with karaoke cds only. I'd be a tad embarrassed of being tabbed a "karaoke singer". I love to karaoke as much as the next guy/gal, don't get me wrong, and I do believe that karaoke helps a singer vocally... but it just doesn't fall into "pro" category. It belongs in bars and karaoke contests... And, here of course;)

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♥ 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 don't understand why it so often appears as Pro vs. Karaoke. My thoughts being that often it's those within Karaoke that cheapen it the most.  When I talk "pro" I lump in "pro-ability singer" (often better in some cases), despite lack of money earning potential for likely numerous reasons today.  Why can't the extremely talented singer exist within Karaoke settings and still be considered "A Singer" with the rights of a singer ?  Seems to much of the time the mindset is "No No,  that's Karaoke so there's no need for singing ability or skill, it's out've place here".  

Where does Karaoke in it's definition preclude exceptional talent ?


(just a thought)

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

Sortuh like the old saying

"When life deals the pro singer lemons,  the singer can still participate in Karaoke" <Sumpin along those lines>


New tag time

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

I'm not even sure I understand what 'pro" means anymore.  I've seen plenty of bands lately appearing on TV shows that are flat out lousy.  I'm not just saying that because I may not care for the style, but because  they really can barely sing or play their instruments proficiently.  But technically because they are on a national TV show, they're "pro" aren't they? In cases like this, I'd rather see and hear a good karaoke singer anyday!     To me "pro" doesn't mean much anymore.

I don't think it precludes exceptional talent. I've heard many a karaoke singer that I think should be in a band making money... there's a few at our bar that are just awesome. And, on the flip side, I've heard band singers that I think should spend their time enjoying their hobby by doing karaoke:)

I just think there's a difference. I'm not talking just how good or bad their voice is, I hear outstanding voices sometimes at karaoke- and sheesh, there's a few in SS that SHOULD be on radio. (no name dropping... )

I just don't think, when you're talking about the "pro music" industry in general, that karaoke performances can hold with the full 5-6 piece bands... it's just... a whole different category of music. Maybe, if in the future, we have karaoke radio, and karaoke performance records selling millions, and they start pushing original artistry off the charts, you can come back and tell me how wrong I was. But I don't foresee that happening.

And this is all.... my opinion only.... call me snooty, but:

I love listening to live bands, but I am listening to the singer, the guitarist, the keyboard player, the drummer, the bass player- not just a voice I think is good, throw in the fact that you don't hear JUST cover music... I'd never in a million years pay to see some lone person perform karaoke songs over and over.  Many people do, and I know there are many who make money doing karaoke as solo acts. I'm just saying, it wouldn't interest me at all.

And again, just my opinion. I'm as big of a karaoke addict as most people here, I love to go karaoke... I just don't put it in the same category as I would... singing with a band.

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♥ 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. ♥

What I believe  

               By me  (Kappy)


I believe that Karaoke can be an indispensible learning tool for the college music dept classical vocalist that often does not have the oppt of instrumental accompaniment, and gets tired of singing solfege.

I believe Karaoke will increase the general level of musicianship, and competition and in time raise the curve of "standards" since it get's more people involved in an area they'd otherwise never attempt. In doing so this increases the pool of potential "pro-ABILITY" singers.

I believe that if I ever learn to sing, it will be due to Karaoke giving me the opportunity to torture myself endlessly until I achieve my goal of being a "6" level singer...  (In such a case I'll forget all you average joe people because HEY,  that's just the kind've guy I am !)

I believe pro ability exists in ALL areas, and Karaoke is still an indispensible tool for the "creative" vocalist attempting to establish signature style, and rendition.

I believe Karaoke enables a singer the priviledge to get backed by REALLY good bands !

I believe I'm done for now.



Even assuming it's used solely as a session training tool ?

Let me ask you this.  Is the synthesizer any less of an "instrument" because it can
replicate a whole orchestra, it's strings and horns ?

Can a person with no talent today spin a turntable in a competitive setting because after all "It's just a turntable" ?

Karaoke IS what we make of it.  As much,  and for some, as little

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

Karaoke singers have to adapt to a pre-recorded track and on a lesser system than good bands. A band will "play" for the singer and when they learn each other meld into a good sounding unit.

It takes talent for a singer on a cheaper system to sound as good or better than the original artist's recording done with several thousand dollars of equiptment. In some ways the karaoke singer needs more talent. Ive been in many karaoke bars and the established ones usually have 1-5 singers that could sing with any band.  Some have a lot more singing experience than band singers.  

Also I have seen singers improve over the years esp with the more sophisticated systems. There are some nights when almost everybody sounds like a pro. One does it for money the other does it for fun...

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I am in complete agreement with you Steven.  :yes: Karaoke is an AWESOME learning tool.... even me myself ( who's still not at the *6* level you wish to achieve either) have gotten more range, more confidence, and more personality to my singing simply cause I have done more styles of songs on karaoke than I would ever have done back in the old days just sitting around with my guitar.

It's pulling people out of the woodwork who, were it not for karaoke, maybe wouldn't even have KNOWN they could sing. And it's making people better singers. Great tool for anyone who wants to sing.

I just don't think, to anyone wanting to "make it big", that karaoke is the thing to set their sights on. As a "tool" yes, as the final product, no.

(does that make sense to you? and hey- don't you dare be done yet Steven Kaplan, I'm finally in the mood and have the free time to gab a bit)  LOL

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♥ 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 believe this is true !   It's a tool that can (in certain cases) help those that have their sites on "making it big",  because I believe in the minds of some,  Karaoke is a fantasy venue where all can feel like a singer.  So why should this not come to fruition whenever possible ?


We agree Charmin,  Karaoke can be many things to a singer and guitaroke can be an immense tool as can jam tapes for guitarists.  By definition it's just "backing".

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

This is why I don't like to see "musicians" (serious singers) alienated and poo hoo'd within the Singer's Showcase.  There should be room for ALL applications !  It's a positive thing to include more and broaden the spectrum of application,  not bastardising the concept

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

Keith's back !  Hopefully we'll see more of him.  Quite honestly I need to nap now though.. Ulcer's bugging me..  Time for <had to edit>


(OK, I'm tired and losing it... later all)

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

Yeah, I've yet to see guitaroke... but I'm curious. Of course, backporch picker that I am, it would be of absolutely NO use to ME. I'm too old, and have played in my "ho-hum" sort of way for so many years, it's too late for me to ever aspire to be a "good" guitarist. Would love to, but as I said, I don't think it's in the stars for me. I can plunk or strum along good enough to sing with or follow fiddle tunes... and the buck stops there. But I'd love to see guitaroke... perhaps Harley would have fun with that.

Karaoke IS a fantasy venue. As I said, I'm not much of a guitar player, and in any case, could never have played all those instruments at once to sing along with... so when karaoke first came out in stores... I bought one and was instantly addicted. All those songs, I didn't need to learn the chords on guitar, the music was there and all I had to do was know the words.  :dancin:
(oh yeah, and the tune)  LOL

But karaoke can for sure be useful. I mentioned this once before, the band I sang with over the last year or so... on their off nights, they'd GO to karaoke and sing... all of them said they learned new songs that way, and got a feel for them. They owned a karaoke machine and would buy cd's to learn from as well. Nothing wrong with that.

I just can't imagine a:

"Someday when I grow up, I want to be a professional karaoke singer"

Great fun, great learning tool... but that's the beginning and end of it. I just don't see how other than those two areas, you can take it much farther with much success.



Yeah, I saw that;)

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♥ 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. ♥

Assuming this is the case,  I stand corrected.  I put on a few favorite songs daily and alienate all around me practicing to sing.  I assume what I am doing is practicing AND Karaoke, and breach of peace but this may not be the case assuming it's not categorized as Karaoke.

(I'm like you Charmin,  I can't pull myself away when I know stuff's going on I've involved myself in)

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