Karaoke Forums

As I see it KJ's take pride in their show,  they wish for it to be professional.  Techs need to know some principles that are grounded in actual science... These aren't "hack" concepts.. As Singers, don't we have a right to wish to be quality sounding "Karaoke singers" ?  Do people believe it's really just backing and the KJ that enables the overall performance to sound acceptable ? Why must Karaoke for so many mean "Singer doesn't have a responsibility in the overall picture" assuming they too wish to be performers ?   Is it wrong for the Singer to also wish to maintain dignity as a performer in this overall process ?

Like so many things... Karaoke can be as much, or as little as a person wishes it to be !   I want to do it well !   I respect that others can do as they please, but would hope there's some allowance for those of us that really do wish to retain some of the older principles regarding "stage etiquette, presence, realizing when we are on a stage we become performers, and there ARE certain expectations some in the audience have of us",  I don't wish to transcend this.. I believe as a singer, I have a responsibility to be able to sing.. It's MY personal preference.. Is it wrong ? What this means to me, is I understand my place as a singer among those that are VERY GOOD singers, meaning.. I wait my turn, enjoy within limitations I find suitable to retain dignity in my own concept of what constitutes "Performance". etc

It's just MY OWN way of wanting to do something well and not become another "hack"

Those that are KJ's complain about the quality of entertainer going down the tubes, this to me is a VERY reasonable concern..  I worry about too many accepting it's OK to get up in front of a crowd and sing sounding offensive.. The KJ wants to retain dignity in areas of being a KJ,  I wish to retain dignity as the person trying to sing.
I believe this to be fair.

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

For years a typical show had a few dozen drunks trying to sing and maybe 2 or 3 good singers. I have seen many singers at their virgin performance and watched them improve for 2 or 3 years. The drunks are becoming less and less There are nights when we dont have even one. But the ratio is exactly opposite now in this area. I have 5-10 singers that totally blows away anybody that hasnt heard them before. I rely upon them very much because they make the show. We  can compete with any band In fact at benefits we have been sandwiched between bands and out performed them with singing and with system most of the time. The only advantage bands have is wattage. We have a local radio DJ that does Elvis impersonations and the first time he sang on our system  was blown away.

A direct answer   to your question we dont cater to drunks we cater to singers that take pride in entertaining an audience I wish we could get rid of the myth that karaoke is a bunch of drunks trying to sing.

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Getting rid of such a myth around here, would mean getting rid of at least 75% of the kids in this area on a thursday, friday, and saturday night.  Hence, the few KJ's that think they ARE KJ's would be out've jobs, at any-rate it'd be necessary to get rid of these hacks too..  In order to end a myth Ollie, it must actually be a Myth.  Fact is, the one night that Karaoke catered to those that could sing was a sunday night, and although there were fewer people, those of us that were there spent a lot of money, because we were having a blast.. Sunday night was veteran Karaoke night in this area.. Sort've like what you're describing before it evolved to noise...  Those that were the first KJ's (A few were radio personalities and DJ's in the mid-80's that started KJ'ing, and these guys NOW in their 60's COULD sing)...  God, do I miss sunday nights in the veteran R&B circuit around here.. I really started living to head out sunday night and be with friends who allowed me to sing third backup on Stylistics songs, and we sounded really good ! (well,  I'm pretty sure my microphone was turned on but I can't be certain )

Honestly,  I think around here, it would've been more respectful if Karaoke was allowed to run it's course and end with some degree of dignity instead of become the hibachery it's become in this area. Hacks with little sense of mixing and running a board handing a microphone to whoever runs up first (even if it's the same guy three times).. Karaoke ended a few years back.. Folks just don't know it yet.. What they are resurrecting isn't something that should be kept alive because it's not conducive to keeping others sitting around the bar... Thing is Bar tenders and similarly non-local owners don't know this yet.. Or maybe they do. I haven't been out to one of those places in a few months.  It was just about over.. in all but one place.  Those that don't wish to travel at least over 1/2 hour around here have one option for Karaoke, and that's Karaoke Scene.. or private homes assuming they exist that have it.

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

let me see if i have this right.....you want great singers that spend a lotta money drinking but yet never get drunk....hmmmmmm...

i believe the drunk has his place in the karaoke world....not talking fall down drunk just people feeling great....you know what i mean....
without those so called drunks you would have no need for karaoke, it's the drinking that gets most drunks up to sing, gives them the courage, on the other hand the skilled singer doesn't need a crutch to get up to sing....while the good singers r up singing the bad singers r busy buying drinks in order to have the courage to get up there....brb ....Bud Light Please.....ok where was i......
 i thought a bar was for people to get drunk...r at least drink...it used to be anyway....now has it got to the point where people have to stay sober because they're having karaoke?  Make That A Double Rum  

i know a lotta people go to karaoke just to hear the bad singers sing...i'm 1 of um....i think they're a blast,  they don't care, they're up there just having fun and don't really care whether u like um r not....it's their 15 min... and yes i love to hear very good singers too but i'm sure you know that if a person walks into a bar where most of the singers r very good most not so good singers won't get up....i've heard it plenty of times people saying, (i'm not getting up there i'm the worst singer in here, all these singers r great.....)  i think the very good singers can run the bad singers off....and i also believe a bad sound system can run a very good singer off.....
i believe there's room for all,  has it come to the battle of the karaoke bars now? seeing who has the best singers? lord i hope not..... Give Me A beer Chaser

i went to karaoke the other night, wed. night....the place was packed and it was only 730, i think he starts at 6 and goes until....i believe every person in there sang and i also believe there wasn't a bad singer in the club....
it was more like a club act than karaoke.....!!! HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET TO SING IN THIS PLACE?!!!!

i like sitting there making fun of bad singers throwing things and just putting them down....please don't take that away from me....they sure do it to me.....

OOPS GOTTA GO I'M UP TO SWING. SLING, I MEAN SING.....DUCKKKK

Oh my singers drink They dont get drunk. We KJ/DJ for a dinner crowd. They serve until 10p A typical scenario might be 4 people come in spend $60 on food and drinks and are gone in an hour. This place doesnt depend on drinks alone for income.

About 9:30 or 10 we crank it up more and party. Its working because the owner wants to expand Its getting where we are SRO during the show.

I guess you can say I dont do karaoke (got burned out on it) I provide entertainment and put on a show. And its a hell of a lot more fun.

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I know in my particular case I don't care how much people drink Billy, they could drink a quart, or nothing at all,  but I don't like being around "sloppy" drunks anyplace, or a place with mostly kids that are learning what we learned at 16 or 17. In this case kids that can't control their actions and feel being rip-roaring drunk is an excuse to give in to any ugly impulse because it's cool to do that when drunk... because when they're drunk so is the whole world.. and nothing else matters. I need to stay away from those places these days, because some of these kids can be really obnoxious, and even offer to rearrange my face because they feel like it at times.. Given liquor laws around here these days however, there aren't as many sloppy drunks like there used to be.  Most of them get thrown out've the bar assuming they are that noticeably drunk. Knowing how things are these days, some likely lost their drivers license for DUI the first week they passed their driving test and got their license.. Assuming they were really drunk at a bar, doubt they'd be called up on stage, Of course around here it'd likely at times be the KJ that's drunk and obnoxious too, screaming into the microphone and hurting everyones ears that's not as anesthetized by alcohol as him...

I don't mind drunks singing and playing... From what I recall I did OK in that state.

I think a decent KJ can balance the system to allow for some of these obnoxious screaming kids, maybe lowering volumes when necessary etc..Problem is THAT'S what we don't have around here.. Unlike Ollie I can tolerate a certain amount of mixture between non-singers and singers,  I'd just hope that most are respectful of those that are singing, and have SOME etiquette when it's their turn on stage.. Even if the song is one I can't stand, I just think being onstage should never be an automatic license to alienate a whole venue of people.. In MY opinion for what little it might be worth however I believe people (sober and drunk) STILL have a certain responsibility to conduct themselves somewhat reasonably, and at least have SOME respect for others, and the process of singing and being on a stage.. Of course I won't go to a bar where out've 200 kids, 150 are drunken rowdy, under 25 banging into everyone, forutneately that's VERY uncommon today with cops parket in the outside lot..  BUT, that's my choice, to either go or avoid certain places.. If kids want to be rowdy, and scream into a microphone and their friends love it.. That's great...  Unfortuneately that's why I just ended up going out sunday night..towards the end..  It was a screamfest at times othernights and for me, I just wasn't enjoying myself being in a nearby room...  Too many Sam Kiniston wannabe types singing "wild thing" screeching like cats getting their tail stepped on... Now while that's cool for some.. I decided to stay home

Both types of karaoke can exist... but NOT too easily together on the same night given styles around here... KORN and Bisket and Cobain off-key night just don't seem to hold the Stylistics, Commodores type ballad singers..

Kids need to be kids..  I was... They can get rowdy, drunk, etc..  It's my choice to stay home.. and wish to be in environments where folks respect being onstage despite genre and ability or lack of... They can suck, that's fine.. Not my call, because I suck..BUT they've got to keep SOME element of self-control and respect otherwise I can't hangout at the place these days as an oldfart...  I'd have a toughtime KJ'ing because you're 100% correct,  it's about the singers and what they wish to sing.. Ability, genre, and level of sobriety have little to do with stuff from the perspective of a KJ assuming the person is behaving themselves and it's their turn to sing... The KJ needs to be VERY tolerant, consider all, (including those having to listen) and that should at least be somebody who's good with people, and knows how to run a show somewhat... But around here... Well, again... This area is on borrowed time..


Ollie, around here there aren't corner taverns, or country rural type pubs where there's maturity and people own up to have an element of responsibility,  these are huge venues with LOTS of kids,  and for Karaoke to survive.. It requires ALL types of music and all levels of sobriety get a turn... As for me.. Well,  I'll stay home and go out sundays.. I have that choice..

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

steven not sure where u go out to but here there's nothing like u described here, that i know of anyway...yes u have a cpl drunks, but most r grown up men/women, and the kids/21 yr olds pretty much behave...

but this is the south and we shoot people for just being young here....so come on down steven ur safe....l...

the comment before this 1 was just to get a rise, i need a cig....and i was bored....didn't work....tc my friend

Kappy my high rise is the north end of the UNC Campus We also have a junior college here Thirty miles from here is CSU and they have a junior college over there also.

At any given time we might have kids singing from 5 years to 21.  We get our share of college kids. I Become grandpa to some of them Most are from small towns like out of Nebraska and first time away from home. They are good kids and need family, not rules or laws or regulations and an atmosphere like back home.

We are starting to get a young crowd and believe it or not they sing the old songs. I know it's hard for some here to imagine a karaoke show without a bunch of drunks and most of the time after 10or 11 we are cranked and partying hardy. But still nobody falling down stupid drunk.

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I know that but your point is valid.. The KJ working in the bar is part of the bars revenue and needs to work with what is. The bar needs to make money selling alcohol or something. I think Ollie exaggerated OR, like you said, and I've been trying to maintain..demographics IS a huge part of our inidividual experiences.. When Ollie describes where he goes at night, and when I go out, it's very different than what MANY experience depending on location and lifestyle.. Demographics makes a pretty big difference..

BTW... I need more coffee,  I can hardly keep my eyes open and this sucks.. I'm addictied again.. Yet eating well, and modifying my other behaviour SUCKS too !  So I'm in a pissy mood....Somebody throw me a fish, and pet my snout !




Whatever works,  I haven't a clue what else matters   falling down stupid drunk had it's place too, yet not for those I landed on



I'm not getting into this with you AGAIN !    People need a balanced dose of BOTH.  We live in a society with others today (2008) rules and laws exist !   This will be my last post regarding THIS area.. I'm not getting into rebel stuff here, Like it or not the world goes on WITH or WITHOUT us and our opinions.  It's no longer the 1960's, and there are OTHER parts of the country VERY different  !

I won't pursue this.. We've been thru it and it goes nowhere..  It's also not "Singer" related directly..  THread is about singers wishing to keep dignity in singing and performing as singers and having such a right despite what goes on..

My concern is might Karaoke change peoples feeling that something should be practiced prior to "performing" in the real world ?  Or will there always be the respected difference between "Real-world performing singer" and "Karaoke singer". Will Karaoke change the face of performing etiquette as we once knew it ?  Meaing those that aren't good feel they have everyright to be on a stage along side those that are very talented and skilled ?   Will someobody in time be called "prejudiced" and sued for not hiring the person many might consider "tone-deaf" over the trained schooled artist that's aesthetically more suited for a part when hiring time comes for the lead role in a broadway musical ?

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

Thats what I have talking about for Christs sake  They do at our shows !!!! We have singers not drunks!!!!How can I make it any clearer ????

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OK,  but this is why I was confused Ollie.  Whoever the entertainer is (in the venues in my area)  MUST cater to ALL who are bar patrons.  The KJ has NO choice or freedom to exercize descretion as to "Who" he caters to.  He caters to those that pay the bar and nothing more...  The entertainers (when I entertained), and currently around here have LESSER rights than the paying patrons.. The patrons if paying customers and drunk yet not misbehaving are ALL that will make the bar money, without liquor sales there's NO entertainer..  The entertainer is hired to increase bar income,  not to improve "singing" quality.  That only matters if the venue can't get away with half-assed sounding entertainment.  Unfortuneately around here quality doesn't matter to the young kids... BUT where you are I'm sure things have changed..AGAIN DEMOGRAPHICS, how much music matters in given areas, how artistic such areas are, etc..  So there's a difference between my own preferences, and what exists in night clubs around here..  There's really no longer any such thing as a Karaoke bar in my immediate area that would have a draw..  Karaoke just happens to be one source of entertainment at times.  Those of us that like "quality singing" need to hit an open microphone night or concert. Or stay home and hit singers showcase. Thing is there ARE no longer open mic nights around here, there are almost NO active bars with live bands weekdays.. and BARS in general are suffering and struggling because they aren't wanted by government these days.  They've fallen by the wayside, and are perhaps only a step above "Houses of Ill repute" in terms of acceptability... Still around here,  alcohol establishment to many means "Cheap, Wanton, out've control, prostitution likely exists"...  This is a VERY old White Anglo Saxon Protestant historic wealthy uppitty area where poeple like Jaqueline Onassis (SP) or whatever her name is or was went to private school (3 blocks from where I live), etc..   It's a puritannical New England area in it's roots


What this means is a proper middle-aged jewish slutty thing such as myself needs to get the $(@# out've here and relocate to a classy place where people are willing to be people and hedonism abounds !

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

Ok Kappy  LMAO You tell me what they have in those systems where you open mic and IF I dont have it I will go buy it..

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To give you an indication of what's around here.  The House Karaoke speaker system at the only place that has Karaoke within 20 miles of here is 4 BOSE 301's placed at 7 feet in room corners

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