Karaoke Forums

Songbook questions:

How many books do you have out?
How much time do you devote to song book maintenance?
How often do you update?
What would you estimate your cost per book to be?
Do typos/spelling errors drive you crazy?

We have 13 books (I know, odd #), 8 by song title and 5 by artist. Should have done it the other way around - more by artist as that is the books people fight over. I maintain the books very well - there is nothing worse, in my opinion, than going to a show and finding books that are outdated, dog-earred, sticky, etc. I have to replace binders probably twice a year but have found the local Goodwill to be a good source of inexpensive binders. I use 2-inch binders, the heavier the better. We keep them wiped down. I add music probably every two mos but only re-do the entire book twice a year, depending on how many "add-on" sheets end up being in the front of the book. I spent money on a home laser printer so I can do the reprints at home. I DESPISE doing book maintenance but figure it is one of the first things people see when they come to our show. I think at one point i estimated the cost of the books to be close to $50, all expenses considered. ARGGGG!

Oh, as far as the typos- I use Music Book Deluxe and have found that they have very few mistakes in their database. Sometimes I will catch errors when I do the add-ons and will, much to my chagrin, repair that as soon as I can.  

I print 1 master book with both title and artist then make 10 copies & split them down the middle for 10 title books & 10 artist books.  Then I take the master & make it my bible.
Redo at minimum 1 time per year, but usually it's 2.  I update with every disc buy, however not a full reprint, I print a new section to place in the front.  I don't just continue to add pages on top of pages, but when I get a new disc, i'll reprint the entire new section with the new discs denoted as being new this printing.
I type all my own books from scratch so spelling/typos are minimum.

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I am an amateur who does gigs for friends and non-profit organizations. I have a smallish library of 4,500 unique songs (6,900 total, all listed with mfr). I printed up 8 bound books that you can turn upside down to get either style -- title or artist.

I have had the trouble of losing them, how I don't know. But people run off with them -- I think maybe kids, since I do all family events like picnics and church festivals. I am down to 3 books left, but it is time for a reprint anyway.

You might consider using kiosks.  Although books are still a must-have item, my books got a lot less wear after I switched.  Customers like the kiosks because of the instant search and they no longer have to write out slips.  When you're drunk "SC207-15" looks about a hundred miles long and that darn pencil just will not stay still.  Updating your kiosks is free.  I like free.  Free is good.

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Okay, who took my pants?

I'd rather worry about a $10 book, than a $100-$300 kiosk!

I've never had a book lifted though security did catch someone trying to carry one outside at a casino I worked at - thankfully I did get it back. Something I have considered is burning my book onto CDs so that I can hand someone a copy in preparation for their next visit - they can take their time and write out a gazillion slips.  

On the subject of books - I will always have books because I know that if I go someplace and have to sit at a computer terminal to enter my songs, I am not a happy camper - I work on a computer all week long. Books are a social thing - I have watched people peruse a book for the entire time they're attending a show - talking about songs, singing at the table, etc., etc.  I'm not good at remembering song titles and I know if I don't have a book, I will be less likely to go back to that show.

Then worry about a $10 kiosk.  Old computers are cheap.

Karen K:

It is true that you lose the "thumbing" aspect which is important to some folks.  But if your books are getting slowly thumbed you will need one for every person.  Haven't you ever been to a karaoke bar where there just aren't any books left?

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Okay, who took my pants?

All I have in my books is the artist and title The books  are just memory joggers. It is so easy for somebody to walk up say hi Have you got s & so by so & so? In one second Yea... Next?    Yea You got it... It takes 3 seconds.  Next they turn in a slip with 4 or 5 songs.  My regs dont need books or a kiosk....

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Usually a thumber will at least have the courtesy to allow someone else to look up their song, or they can come up & ask me & i'll write it down for them.

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I guess I must spoil my regs - I don't wait for their slips - just start calling them up - I am blessed (or cursed as it may be) with a great memory for song titles and #s - mostly newbies look at the books. People are great about sharing, too. Never had a fistacuffs over a book yet!  LOL

We've got 10  books by artist in front and title in back.  We painstakingly try to make sure that all are free from typos and gramatical errors.  We also make sure they are clean and complete.  Each time we add songs we add them to the books in the "general population of pages and we have a section at the front of the book which is only new songs.  Like Karen K, I usually just toss a song or two in for my regulars as soon as I see them in the bar.  I even throw them a curve (new song) once in awhile.  They all have lists they hand me to enter and I punch up whateve song seem appropriate when their turn in the rotation comes along.

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All work and no play make Homer something something

I like book with large font size. At size 12 even with my reading glass with low light I can read them. But then I am old

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