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How do you end your show?  Does the KJ sing the Last song ? If So is it the same every night?  or do you play some Regular Music.

Most nights I have this one regular sing "My Way"  it doesn't matter if he is up in the rotation or not - If he is there I let him sing  the final song.  

After the last Karaoke song I always play some regular rock/dance music as I am packing  up books, mics and everything else I need before shutting down.

Best Closing Songs:

You Don't Have To Go Home - Gretchen Wilson
The Closing Song- Red Peters  ( Adult content)
Girls Look prettier at Closing Time - Mickey Gilley
Closing Time - Semisonic

Used to do a group sing - anyone that wanted to come on stage & do either Goodnight Sweetheart or Na Na Na Kiss Him Goodbye or something else that the crowd would want, the group song happens on occasion anymore as the crowds have changed over the years.  Rarely will I close a show as a kj, my personal belief is the kj shouldn't sing during a show if there are people wanting to sing (just takes away from their time) & if I can get someone else that has been waiting to sing or me to close, i'll choose the customer 9 out of 10 times.

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I usually play 3 or so dance songs, then end with 2 slow dance songs, which I picked out earlier in the night.  I sometimes get suckered into playing another song or two or I just will..while I'm picking/cleaning other stuff up.  I'm in the minority, I generally do more DJ than KJ....In the event there is waiting lines to sing.  I still end the show with 2 slow dance songs, just sung instead.  I don't think I've ever ended the show with me singing, never even crossed my mind....MrD

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

Most of my (amateur) gigs are family-oriented for groups that seem to have a fairly spiritual bent, so I have most often ended with "Amazing Grace" as a group sing.

On New Year's Eve, we end with everyone's arms on each other's shoulders, singing "Lean On Me".

I rarely ever sing the last song unless the crowd is asking for it. I feel to much pressure to get as many singers in before close. I truly would rather let my patrons get another song in then me.

I love this song, The Closing Song- Red Peters. I've only played it a few times while I was tearing down. I think it is so funny, but it has to be the right setting as to not offend anyone.

For a short time I let the same regular sing the last song every night because he was so helpful to me. This only caused jealousy and complaining by certain regulars, so I stopped. Now I stick to the rotation. It's less hassle.

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Guess I am the exception - so many of my regulars hound me all night about singing - "Why don't you sing? Why don't you sing?"  - so just for kicks, I started calling myself "Granny Zeppelin" and sang Black Dog to end the show. Always surprised people who had never been to my show...and the regulars would come running in from the smoking area... Of course, the last singer in the rotation ended the show at my appointed closing time...then my singing was done on my own time while hubby or helper gathered up books, etc. I always made sure people knew that.

At the gig I refer to above, when I would sing last, they hired me specifically for my singing/entertainment ability, especially to attract new people, so I never felt bad about complying with the patrons' requests -- and seldom does anyone expect L/Z to come blazing over a mature woman's vocal cords! There are, however, some places I would never bother to sing - most of the time because I was just too wiped out and ready to go home!

(One of these days I will figure out how to post a song on this site...

Some of my favorites are:

Goodnight Sweetheart - by Spanish

Goodnight Sweetheart - David Kersh

One for My Baby - Frank Sinatra


I like singing this song as folks that don't sing karaoke quickly get the idea that it's time to go and it gives them time to drink up. I find that most folks love to sing along to Goodnight Sweetheart by Spanish and they look forward to it at the end of the evening. I usually have a couple of extra mic's to hand out.

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Scott

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years ago, I used to sing "Closing Time" by Semisonic... but that was when I was a house kj (running their system). Once I got my own business, I'd just play an exit song that was about 35 seconds called "Get the F*** out!", or I'd just get on the mic and thank them for a great show, and then play a video while I was tearing down the karaoke setup... then after the vid was done, I'd tear the rest down!

normaly I have my cohost do the opener. I prefer chantilly lace as its always the same when he sings it and I use his first song as a sound check. Ive almost always got things dead on before i even press play for the first karaoke song but its insurance. normaly I sing song 2 as the rotation always seems to start thin, but it isn't a rule. we used to close the show, but if i have singers wanting to sing I prefer to let them.

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the voices arent real, but they have some good ideas

Karen made a good point -  If and when I sing a closer it is always on MY TIME.

The problem with MY TIME is everyone expects me to play to 1:30am every night when my time is up at 1:00am ........I really do need to ask for a raise


ONE of my favorite songs to SING for a closer is the LOAD OUT/STAY by Jackson Browne ....OHHH won't you staaaaay

"The problem with MY TIME is everyone expects me to play to 1:30am every night when my time is up at 1:00am ........I really do need to ask for a raise"

This is the reason why I was never a fan of the 9-1 show or 9:30-1:30 or anything near that.  Customers as well as owners....then, want something for nothing!  Heck I have enough trouble...ending the night at 2am when the waitress is screaming that everyone has to get out now, there is still 2 or 3 people wanting to sing or hear another song.

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

The problem with trying to "end" a show is everyone is having a great time
and "I AM TOO" but for me it's WORK a JOB and at the end of the night I just want to go HOME !!! BUT people think you are there just having a great time and complain and even once BOOED me because I shut down at 1:20.  


These are the same people that wouldn't work a second without pay at their jobs.

sometimes you just have to laugh  :D

Re: Ending on time. I make it a rule to ALWAYS stop on time - doesn't matter if a group of 10 people come rolling in 10 minutes before I'm done. They're usually drunk from spending their money somewhere else and I ask them why they didn't spend their money here? That they'd have had a lot more fun singing with us than somewhere else! Oh, and I ask those who persist in begging and pleading for more time, gee, when your boss comes to you on Friday afternoon at 5 p.m. and says he'll need you to stay another hour but with no intention of paying you, do you stay???  If you are firm and never vary from the rule of stopping when it is stopping time, people respect that. Staff doesn't appreciate those latecomers rolling in because they are the ones who then are in jeopardy of losing their license for overserving by letting these people buy more alcohol... and in this state there are always liquor inspectors hanging around. Thankfully there is usually attrition - the bulk of the singers are mid-show...others arrive late but others are leaving...I'm pretty fortunate that way and do such a fast rotation that people end up apologizing to me for not coming in earlier!

On the other hand (and it seems there's always the other hand)  if I have a big group in for the first time and they're just loving the show, I will go over to accommodate them, just as an insurance policy that they'll walk out having had the best time of their life, and plan their next outing at my show.... it's all business.

Our singing area is actually by the main entrance This has some disadvantages but when tearing down most singers and audience stop and chat and say thanks..It is public relations at it's finest... (slower teardown)

Also even if you dont smoke go out and visit with the smokers.. As far as ending we hardly do the same thing twice. My host does the normal thanks and careful on the way home stuff. If it is early (we go until 12 or later) we play some DJ and when picking up books thank and chat with the customers... I use to do a shift drink at this time but dont dare anymore...

Sometimes the mngr is begging us to stop (how many more? smile)We dont charge for going over and we are gradually building up a customer base (audience) from UNC students to oldtimers. Not drunks but very good singers. Our rotation rarely runs above 15 singers but we have a very satisfied and partying crowd. It isnt zeed when I get paid but I would guess sat it was about $2500.. It is hard to estimate because we also have ladies night and the best looking ladies in town that get very good rates.. talk about a dream gig!!!!

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I find quitting on time is a must. When you don't quit on time people learn not to appreciate your time. How would they feel if I came to their job and begged them to stay and work late for free. If you let them push you around and talk you into staying they'll expect it every time. Put it on the bar owner. Tell them it is out of your hands you only get paid until a certain time. If they want you to stay they have to talk to the bar owner or manager. You'd be surprised what a drunk mob can accomplish for you.  LMAO

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This thread is giving me an idea I might try.

I get paid to stay later if the people are there. I'm thinking if I start doing a draw for the last person to sing people may stick around to see if their name gets pulled. Most people will leave after they think their last song in rotation has been sung, so if they think they may get to sing again I can keep my crowd longer. What do you guys think? The only snag I see is I never know for sure if I'm staying until 2am or 3am.

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I don't believe in "we stop at 1" no you will not work late on friday for your boss, but if he owns the company you can be darn sure he will be working as late as it takes to get the work done and he is not paid by the hour but for getting a job done.  I base my price on four hours, ive had shows where i packed up at 3 hours and took full pay. ive also had many shows where i go untill the bar tender says to quit.  when I book a show I tell the owner/ manager that I get paid for setup and tear down, I will show up at X:00 to setup, and the state says that all patrons have to be out by 2:00. if somebody wants me to start earlyer than 9:00 THEN i will up the price or charge by the hour for the show
it is all buisness and some times if i get those late comers i will still shut down on em. if they are new people who i have not met before i may play late.

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the voices arent real, but they have some good ideas

Babs,

That is kind of an interesting idea!  Hmmmmmmm, I do get tired of the people coming up to ask when they sing...because "we are leaving, after"  Irks me a little bit.  A little twist that may help keep them around, I like it.  Not quite sure how to go about your 'hat with names'.....Thinking......MrD

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[highlight=midnightblue]MrD - KJ/DJ Specialist
Visit MrD on facebook - mrdsentertainment
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I'm thinking of asking the singers when they come up for their turn if they'd be interested in being added to the "hat of names" so to speak. That way you get idea of who's leaving early too. If I pull the name and they aren't there I'll just pull another. Ideas?

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