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Our fairly new KJ does some rather annoying things in my opinion.  In an effort to be funny and to liven up the comedy/entertainment aspect of his show he will poke fun at the singers, stand behind them while they're singing and make funny or lewd gestures.  He'll make racy, sexual comments between songs then claim "you know Im just kidding, you love me for it".  I don't know, isn't it more important to be a good KJ (which he isn't, he's always queuing up the wrong song, etc.) rather then a second rate standup comedian? He really is a big distraction sometimes. Any opinions on this kind of KJ behavior?

Not during my shift. NOT during my show.. NOT while I or any of my friends are singing.

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thats a big no. i do mess with my co host, and he does with me. were good friends and its all in fun. we get a bit racy sometimes and a bit perverted at times.it depends on the crowd and the venue. I admit my show is not for everyone, but no show is. WE ARE respectfull of our singers and patrons at all times. we do a good job of getting our singers up quickly, we make sure the sound is outstanding, and let the singers entertain  each other. if the singers don't entertain one of us will do an up beat entertaining song.

it sounds to me like hees a jerk, but its up to the customers to decide if he is worth coming back to.

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the voices arent real, but they have some good ideas

Sounds like Babs, when she's PMSing it....... .....you know I am so kidding..

You need to pull THE OWNER of the THAT PARTICULAR VENUE aside and explain to him that this KNUCKLEHEAD KJ is DAMAGING the GOODWILL and REPUTATION that he has worked very hard over the last 5 YEARS to build up! Perhaps others there will also speak to the owner about it. Clearly he is offensive and NEEDS to be REPLACED. Suprising to me that the Karaoke buisiness OWNER would ALLOW this sort of thing. Need to speak with them also---as it could be even more damaging to them than the bar. I can tell u this---if that guy EVER pulled any of that when I was up singing or after wards I would be on his case in an INSTANT. And speaking DIRECTLY with the owner ON THE SPOT--not to mention on the phone with the Karaoke operator.

Hmm...........maybe its time to pay him a visit and try out his "Entertainment".

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"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

If that kj worked for me & did that, he'd be gone.   Agree with talking to the owner, then if nothing is done, vote with your feet!

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Tastes in comedy vary widely. Some may get a big kick out of him and think he's just being a "bad boy".  But if I was a new customer who just wandered in for the first time I'd be a little annoyed if he was doing his comedy shtick.  He can be very polite and charming but he keeps reverting back to this approach.  He's been warned before by management and the bartender plus he had yet another run-in with our head bartender last Friday. Some think he's funny while others really don't.  We'll see who wins out in the end I guess.  I just have better memories of the place when our KJ's were more mild mannered, less loud and the singers were the main entertainment focus.

Horoscopes ... you read something of yourself in every one.  I read your description of this KJ and saw a bit of me in there.

I don't mess with singers when they're singing.  When they've got the stage, they've got the stage.  I'm too busy fine tuning the mix and stuff to do much messing during a song.  I do mess with them between songs.  Whatever comes off the top of my head at the moment.  Those I know better, get more than those I don't.  I think it works.  People have fun.  They like my show.  No, it's not for everyone.  There's a faction of singers that try and take the fun out of karaoke nights.  I'd rather they didn't come to my shows.  They're buzz killers.  I have KJs in my area that use elements of my show in theirs.

The bartenders and owner appreciate the business my show generates (understanding that most of the crowd isn't singing ... they're hanging with friends, and friends hang out where their friends hang out - gotta keep them happy too).  There are plenty of singers scattered about, the show rocks.  People come back because there's engery, good music, laughs, etc.  Sure I rub some people ... shxt happens.  Not everybody appreciates EVOO, but Rachael Ray has a pretty good gig.

The owner of the place I gig contracts my show.  It's my show on my system.  I don't do what I do for the purist.  I throw a party.  We sing karaoke at my parties (I have above average KJ skills).  I don't tell the bartenders how to do their job and they don't tell me how to run a show.  Maybe I'm lucky in that regard.  I imagine it's tougher in a case like Lonnie's, when there are multiple KJs, sub contracting from a KJ with a reputation to uphold.  Probably even tougher for a KJ using a house system.  But as long as karaoke nights are the busiest nights of the week, I can't see the owner having a problem with my style.  The chicks dig it, doesn't that say enough?  


I'm guessing this guy just isn't funny.

you are soooo dead if she hasnt got them I will give them to her (pins to stick in a JJ dolly)  :reddevil:  :ppfftt:

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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."

  This guy works BLOCKS from me.  You must be from NJ.

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

Odie I would make a call to the Manager and let them know this is happening.

If I owned the system and I heard my KJ was doing this I would not even attempt to give him or her a warning, it would be the last time it ever happened at one of my shows. This guy is not fixable and will continue to cause problems for the business.

What a Jerk!

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FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

I would go in and listen to him banter...  I wouldn't go by 2nd or 3rd hand reports. Once you had proof of how this happened, as his boss, I'd act appropriately.

If I received similar reports from the Bar staff and customers I would not need to hear it for myself. Generally customers and staff have different viewpoints, when they concur you can almost take it to the bank. Now if it were just the customer or customers, I would check with the bar staff to check out the story as sometimes customers can give a false accounting of what happened as they are generally drinking at the time.

Some things are easier to discuss and work out with the KJ and it's worth the effort. However this behavior is not one of them.

I would not be willing to allow this sort of behavior to continue as my reputation as a business is at stake. That's what keeps the quality gigs coming my way and I'm not willing to sacrifice that. If that sounds callus....well sometimes you have to be when the situation calls for it.

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FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

So very well put ! I was thinking the same thing.  You need to be able to read your crowd and singers to pull this off. I mess around with my people too, but I've known a lot of them for yrs. We joke , sing and dance together on stage and have a blast. I actually have people ask me, why don't you sing with me or why don't you dance with me.  LMAO I try and make sure that is what the person wants before I do it. It is their moment on stage, not mine. I would never want to take that away from them.

What you are talking about is a KJ that is trying to be funny and is being rude and insulting. It sounds like he wants all the attention even if he is being inappropriate. I agree that the owner or manager should be putting a stop to it. I'm surprised the crowd hasn't rebelled and done things to encourage him to change.

I've noticed in my venue that if a singer acts in a way that people don't like, over time the crowd has a way of changing them. What is socially exceptable in the bar over takes the enviroment.

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Thanks Babs ...

If I thought I was doing karaoke, my venue, or others harm with what i do, I'd know it before I had to be told.  I'm the standard in my area.  I have, no kidding, four KJs asking me for help with their shows right now.  I offer it gladly, and then when I'm at their shows can take pride in passing along something that works.

Feeding off the crowd is paramount to success in this industry.  I used to get complaints from a couple of people that I didn't play enough country.  Those complaints stopped after a while, but I think you've got some that try and shape to show to their liking.  I've got a split personality crowd ... mainly rock and country, but later in the night the hip hop crowd crashes the party.  

The fact that management is telling him to change his show, and he doesn't is all that needs to be said.  Ultimately it's the bar owners call, and the bartenders have a lot of pull when the owner isn't around.  Those are the ones that ultimately need to be kept happy.

Bad KJs are a dime a dozen.  I cost a quarter all by myself.  

I agree Odie, his comments have gotten a tad out of hand. I think he just wants all the girls to flirt with him.  At first his "aww, you know you love me" was kinda cute, but it got rather old. And yeah, his comments relating to sexual things are over the top sometimes.

Problem is, the KJ's who hired him are never there to SEE... and when they do show up, he's on his best behavior.  :shock:

Even his mixing has gotten lazy, he's too into being funny and flirty to pay much mind to things like "sound", and at times he's not even prepared to change songs for the next singer... and to think I was ashamed at being such a brat the first time he KJ'd there.  LOL

He's nice and all, and funny if you're in the mood.... but honestly, I'm constantly worried that my hubby is gonna throttle him if he overhears some of the banter that goes on. He does need to draw a line- and not cross it.  Being funny and flirty and trying to get along with your clientele should not include sexual innuendos of that nature.

Ya want me to beat him up this weekend?  :D

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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. ♥

welcome back charmin...would love to see ya take him on!!!

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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."

You're a little angel compared to this guy!  LOL  Nah, let hubby Lonnie beat him up! You just relax and have a vodka cranberry!

That's the problem with trying to fix the situation. They are on their best behavior the moment you walk through the door, then the moment you leave they go back to what they want to do.

It does not surprise me that his behavior is distracting him from mixing and running his show. One day he will either tinkle off the wrong person (like Charmin's Hubby) and get clobbered, or the regulars will tire of his behavior and he will get the boot.

Unfortunately the KJ who owns the equipment will be the one who loses the gig. The KJ (employee) has no vested interest and loses nothing.

I have found that once a KJ starts down this road it is very difficult to get them turned around. It's so hard to find a good replacement KJ as they have different motivations for being there.

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FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

Yep, you've got the picture at our little bar just right Flipper!  :yes: