Karaoke Forums

I've been to shows and hear a lot of KJs on here talking about how swearing on the mics is an almost inpardonable sin.  I don't get this.  I'm sure there are varying perspectives, but what gives ... You only have to be 17 to go to a movie and see all the T&A and swearing you can handle.  On cable channels you only have to stay up past 10pm.  

Most of our regular karaoke shows are in bars where the legal age of participation is 21.  Most of the people are consuming alcoholic beverages and some smoke cigarettes.  I can't even tell you the number of times I've seen T&A in my hole in the wall.  F Bombs are a dime a dozen.  Why is it taboo on the microphones if it's keep within reason and within a certain context?  Most of the people that sing in my venue don't ad lib much anyways, and the few that do are usually making an announcement or just being a jackass, and with the latter I'll mute their mic.  

These are the kinds of questions that keep me up at night.

I guess to some of us, of my generation, it just ain't "cool."  Just because someone goes into a bar for a drink; to relax, listen to folks sing and maybe even dance, doesn't mean they enjoy hearing the f bomb every other word or other vulgarities.

Before the club I'm at finally let me start calling the shots on karaoke, they lost lost about 10 or 12 good customers.  I finally said enough is enough.  I get a wide assortment of folks.  21 years to 75.  And I appreciate those in that age range being some what mature.  I know what makes for good karaoke.  Unfortunately the boss doesn't always.  It has always also seemed to me that those who are 'potty mouth" are that way because they don't seemed to have a good understanding of the "kings English."  I've also notice that more times than not those are also the ones who seem to cause the most trouble.  And I've also found most decent ladies don't cater much to it either.

Yep, I guess you might call it and "age thing."  Or probably more correctly stated they just haven't had proper up bringing.

Kelly

Depends on what one considers "Within reason and within a certain context".  Depends on the type venue you host. Get into that habit, and screw up like that at a religious wedding, or private function it's a foolish thing to do.  What's the point in using expletives at all ?  The places I go nobody (perhaps a few) would notice or care, but it's still classless. A dinner crowd likely doesn't want to cool off to that type stuff either.  In a hotel lounge with business groups, or seminars, family, etc.. It's a really foolish mistake to make.  It's also a good habit to break because it accomplishes nothing positive.  IF you curse in front of your crowd, do you want a kid to get up and feel at liberty to start yelling "Yo, you __kers, where's my A##hole buddy who's supposed to be __cking singing this _od_amned duet with my A@@ ?  Is that the type crowd you like, want to draw ?  Message you wish to relay ?  All depends on your venue.  If you KJ for that type of crowd, it doesn't matter much I suppose.  Do you want a crowd that respects you, and your equipment ? I would. I don't want wild kids swinging my microphone and feeling just about all goes, so "within reason" means where you wish to draw a line, but the venue also has certain expectations.  I'd keep it toned down, and run a straight respectable show. Cursing is generally a more rowdy atmosphere, I wouldn't wish to encourage a rowdy crowd if it's my equipment and show that I need to keep in control,  you set the example.

It's ugly sounding I suppose is the bottomline to those that are mature and more mellow.  Not the end of the world,  just ugly to hear thru a microphone.
JMFO

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

That would be up to the venue, whoever is paying you, or if minors are present.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

Only if it's that one Alanis Morrissette song with the lyric "do you think of me when you **** her".  But seriously, even if the clientele is a rowdy bunch, the KJ himself or herself should refrain from vulgarities. It just demeans you as a person and demeans karaoke in general. Just like Senators should not "hook up" in public restrooms.

It just depends on the company that you are in.  If it's not appropriate, then it's you, the kj's job to either not let them sing the songs that are offensive or warn them ahead of time.  I have many songs that are of this nature.  The KJ should know the songs.  This also applies when DJing, if I'm at a class reunion early or high school dance I will NOT play the song if I don't have the 'clean' version.  I try to get the clean version of offending songs, for this very reason.  A lot of the music out there, that the younger crowd likes...what you get on the CD, isn't the song on the radio.  If the situation is not right....the songs don't get sung.  Even at the bar, if it's early in the night and don't have the right crowd in there....no one is singing 'she f*ckin' hates me'!  However, if it's 11pm or later, almost anything goes.....MrD

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[highlight=midnightblue]MrD - KJ/DJ Specialist
Visit MrD on facebook - mrdsentertainment
& on myspace - larrynance[/highlight]

Obviously it is up to the business owner and host, but personally I don't like lots of swearing. It is  not offensive to some, but is offensive to many. It isn't really necessary.

If you allow swearing, you are excluding a certain portion of the audience. Again, certainly the choice of the host and establishment. I say the host, because they have the power over what is carried in their song books.

As for extraneous F-bombs from the mic, those are simply impolite. I wouldn't allow them, though I must say I have never had much trouble in my family-oriented amateur shows.

I know the owner of the venue I work in prefers no swearing on the mic.

The fear is that it will offend some customers and discourage them from coming back. They want it atmosphere friendly.

If it is in the song it is allowed, but other wise discouraged.

I'm not talking about a he!! or dam once in a while, but more offensive language.

I let it slide here and there, I'm no tyrant, but I don't think the rule is a bad one.

I personally don't need to here someone scream the "F" word repeatedly over a mic.

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My other thought is : It isn't like the singer is in conversation. He is up there to sing. If someone is talking to someone swear all you want. There is no reason the singer should be carrying on a conversation over the mic with the crowd anyway. I think a few comments in reason and keeping the swearing within reason is okay. I think the KJs are talking about the over the top people.

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Just so there is no misunderstanding.  It must be in the song or at least a singer modified version of the song, which I have a few people that change the words to their liking for a particular song.  I don't allow swearing on the mic....just to swear on the mic.  If there is......if they're lucky....they will get a warning, if I'm not in a great mood..they get muted and cut off for the rest of the night!  MrD

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[highlight=midnightblue]MrD - KJ/DJ Specialist
Visit MrD on facebook - mrdsentertainment
& on myspace - larrynance[/highlight]

So you are saying you are wondering why some KJs don't allow songs that have swearing in them?  Sorry I'm a little slow today  LMAO

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

I don't think your bad song here and there that has some off color words is a biggie.. lots of people enjoy those songs, and that would depend on the venue and KJ's preference.

But a KJ with a potty mouth? I would find it very distasteful. I heard one ONCE.... my niece took me to a new place that was mostly a younger crowd.... and the KJ was horrid. He seemed to think the young kids thought it "cool".... when actually, I think only a couple of the Ho's did:) I thought it made him sound like a jackass.


.

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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. ♥

But did he get lucky ?  If he did,  swearing is good !  :worship:  :worship:  :worship:

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

Ya dayumed dirty ol' man!!!

(and yeah, I believe he did, cause I went back the next day and asked him outright for the dirty details)  :whistle:

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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. ♥

(OHHHH,   can I make a comeback now and be a total wise-a@@... but I won't)  LMAO

NOPE... Not gonna do it !!!!!  LMAO



Why must there be such a stigma attached to this ?  It's just a hobby, something that brings me pleasure !

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

Well, spoil my fun day why don't ya?



So I've heard. I plan to be a dirty ol' lady someday too, they say it's really worthwhile.....

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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. ♥

Sometimes the one thing that makes life worth living (as much as I hate to say it). Dirty is such a bad sounding term for a person who's a healthy perv.  Younger studs get called cool stuff like bastard, or pig.... But when we are older we are dirty..  I still like to consider myself a pig !

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

Oink, Oink, Steven!  Move you "Ham" over and let me get my snout in there!


Kelly

I still feel 18 in so many ways Kelly.  It's Scary !  I can still relive the sensations, and mindset of going to the Jr Highschool, and High School dances..  Cursing was never big among me, or my friends.  If we fell off our bike, smaked a funny-bone and something REALLY hurt I suppose the ocassional expletive would come out,  but there's likely a socio-economic element here as well.  Parents didn't curse, parents didn't ALLOW it, school personel punished us for it.  Kids seemed less inclined to get into the habit.

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

Kappy

When I was 18, i liked 18 year old girls..

40 years later, I've not changed..  LMAO