Karaoke Forums

Hi, seeing as I am fairly new at singing karaoke (6 weeks now), I wanted to start a thread for "contests". I have yet to enter any, but there are two coming up next month in my area and I have no clue about them.

Maybe those of you that have had experience could share some do's and don'ts, or what is the best way to pick the songs you sing. Do you always sing a different song when you go on to the next level like they do on American Idol? Do you hit them with you best song the first tier of the contest or do you try to hold that for the later stages of the contest?

These are just a few questions that maybe the experienced amoung us can answer. Thanks much in advance.

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Simply Celtic

Contest are a sticky subject. My wife and I enter quite a few in our little area of the country, but it's been my experience that most KJ's don't care too much for them. I enjoy the competion and the money is always a plus.

Pointers.....

1) the songs you choose depends a lot on the rules of that contest, most of the time you are not allowed to use the same song in the first few rounds, but most venues will let you use the song you qualify with in the finals...you don't want to apear as a one song wonder....

2) the songs you choose are as important as your preformance...

3) warmups are important too...it's sorta like the judge tellin' the jury to disregard those last remarks...if the judges for the contest are in the room they will hear you....

4) I prefer to use my own disc, but in this area the KJ's have don't allow me to use them in contest...they claim it isn't fair....mostly there has been a few on the circut who have complained that it gave us an atvantage...I say if your serious about your Karaoke, buy your own discs....PRACTICE

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[glow=blue]Tequila & A Song
KKid[/glow]

Thank you very much for your imput. I have to say, I am in no way a "one hit wonder". In just 6 weeks I have sang probably around 50 different songs! Each week I look for more ideas for songs and I sometimes pull them out of the archives, as the ones I usually pick, no one sings. I like to be different and create my own style, not doing the top 40 thing. Plus, I am a high tenor and tend to pick songs most guys don't sing because the range is too high.

Anyway, again many thanks for the information.

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Simply Celtic

CelticCircle1961......Greetings!

I am right now agonizing over what song to sing in a contest tonight, where I am the winner of the last week's qualifier ($50 richer for it).
I turned in My Maria, by Brooks and Dunn, as my song that night, then in a last-minute change I substituted Chantilly Lace, by The Big Bopper. I almost fell off the bar stool when I won over 14 other contestants.

I did this song over the protests of my son, who swore that My Maria is my best song. Then, they asked me to come up and do a song, and I DID do My Maria. According to those watching, the contest judge really got into the performance. Now I am kicking myself for having used it then. Do I sing it again in the finals, and risk the "One Hit Wonder" pigeonhole? Maybe there will be different (or additional) judges for the finals, who knows?

I guess that is what is exciting about contests....there is a lot more to it than just getting up and singing. WHAT you sing and WHEN you sing it is just about as important as HOW GOOD you sing it.......(almost)!

Yeah and that is exactly what I thought. When you watch some people do a song you can tell that they shouldn't even be singing it. It isn't in their range or fits their style of singing. An example would be, I cannot for the life of me, sing Elvis songs, but I can sing Simply Red. Go figure. If I tried to sing a song that doesn't fit my voice I will bomb horribly.

Thanks for the information and good luck on your contest tonight. I guess I will learn through trial and error which songs to sing when, if I make it pass the first tier.

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Simply Celtic

Thanks for the good wishes! My son (who also qualified for this contest a couple weeks earlier) says that he has heard some of the other finalists. He says we probably have about NO chance of winning...there are some really good singers in this thing. We'll see.

Good luck to you also when you get going on the contests in your area. It really adds another dimension to the whole karaoke thing! Oh, and by the way....aint this a cool website?

Awesome website!

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Simply Celtic

Up the page they were right when they said most KJ's don't care for contests. Usually the reasoning is along the lines of the whole idea of karaoke is to have fun and enjoy it. Seems a lot of people get the feeling they've been ripped off when it turns into a popularity contest, or the judges seem to pick certain "regulars", or the crowd just doesn't agree with the judges. The other thing is, from a KJ's standpoint, you hate to see a couple people happy while the rest of your crowd is dejected because they didn't win. It's just one of those things.

If you're getting into one - go for it! Have a good time and don't have any preconceived notions. Just roll with the flow and enjoy it. Once you've been in a couple of them you'll have a much better idea what to expect. Good luck.

Thanks. Yeah, I kinda like just hanging out and hearing the others sing and cheering them on. It is fun. I don't think I would want to always sing in a contest, but once in a while would be cool to try. I like that I have met some really cool people while out singing. Great bunch of people.

Thanks for your tips as well.

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Simply Celtic

Well, there WERE some great singers at the contest last night! The young guy who won it knew his song perfectly, and kinda wandered around as he sang (wireless mic) with his eyes closed, not looking at the monitor at all, which impressed the heck out of the judges. He was excellent, and I find no fault with him winning.

There were 2 additional judges, along with the original lady who judged the 10 preliminaries. This lady came to me after the contest and said,
"Boy, it was really hard not to vote for my favorite song!". As I feared, I'm sure she assumed that I had heard that she raved about my performance of My Maria as my encore song after I won the preliminary
the week before, and just chose that song for the finals because I knew she liked it. Actually, it is probably my best song, and I would have sung it anyway. I felt good just to be there, and I told her so. I am not in the league of excellent contest singers. Although I have played lead guitar for nearly 45 years with some good bands, I have only been singing Karaoke for a few months.

I totally agree with Ron.....You have to do Karaoke for the enjoyment of it, and leave the head games that contest singing plays behind, unless you are a VERY good singer. There is an adrenaline rush before and during the contest, which I saw replaced with a lot of long faces last night.

Good luck to all who try it! Let the (mind) games begin!!!

Hey, if I never win a contest it isn't such a big deal. I would like to see if the possiblity does exist. I am very certain there are much better singers out there than I, but I have to say at least were I sing presently, I have quickly become one of the favorites there. At first I just thought people were being kind, then I had some staight talk with a few people that have been singing karaoke for 10-15 years and they assured me I am one of the better singers out there. Still hard for me to believe. I know I am not bad and I do pick very difficult songs to sing for most men, but those are the songs that work for my voice.

I really appreciate all the advice given on this thread. I may find after being in a few contests that it really isnt' for me. I don't know, but I will always like to do it for the fun of it and to entertain the fans. And that is the point, isn't it?

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Simply Celtic

That is EXACTLY the point. Sounds like you have your head screwed on pretty darned straight! You may be well suited to the contest thing. I hope you do very well if and when you decide to go for it.

Good luck to ya!

Thanks, Tymzdad.

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Simply Celtic

Hi, and welcome.

I've entered a couple of contests--- but mainly just for the fun of it. I go into the contests knowing that I have about the same chance of winning as finding a snowball in H*** , but I just use it as a chance to practice (probably due to the rather unique choice of songs that I do). One thing I have found is that the best singer and/or performer doesn't always win (you may want to keep that in mind).

Yeah, so I have heard. Makes sense. There could also be favoritism, but who knows? There is one starting up this month (April) and may continue each month, but it is a different kind of contest to try and get more people out on a Thursday night.

Instead of the best singer winning, they are giving out points for first off showing up and then points for each song sung and will last the month (4 weeks). Person with the most points wins. Never heard of that kind before, but it does give the guy or gal that doesn't sing so well a fighting chance as long as they come out and sing.

Anyway, we shall see. I will let you all know how it goes next month. You are right though. I do not anticipate winning. Guess if you go in figuring you won't win and then you do. Hey, nice surprise.

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Simply Celtic

I gave up on contests as a singer. I sang everything from 'Just a Gigolo' to 'Wild Wild West', and always seemed to come in 2nd (or 3rd if that was out of the money).

However, I am interested in running one, and would like some ideas on how to do a fair one. Not the typical"Don't do it" answer. I like the Kscene idea of having the contestants judge, and they can't vote for themselves. What do you guys think would be the major downfall there?

And P.S. Celtic- ALL CONTESTS are to get more people out!!
I know you knew that- but it had to be said.

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Let's Kick the Tires and Light the Fires!

I can think of several major drawbacks with having contestants judge each other (even if they can't vote for themselves). Judging criteria becomes arbitrary since there are no set standards by how to judge each individual and the fact that if someone does do really out-of-mainstream songs, they will have no chance of competing.

The best way to try to ensure fair judging (at least as I understand the theory behind it) is to:

1. Put down in writing what exactly is being evaluated (e.g. rhythm, interpretation, intonation, etc.)

2. Divide songs by categories and judge only within category.

3. Have the same panel of judges evaluate ALL songs (should have a minum of 5 judges and eliminate both the high and low scores).

These are just a few items which come to mind. There are others.

Ron has my sediments on competitions.. he has seen me sing compitetions, his shows .. prepare for contests.. and so forth. I Have also seen his daughter sing and her friends sing.. so I also know pretty much when a competition is a bad ordeal. to prepare for those contests as a singer you just can't go in with 10 well rehearsed songs.. it takes 55 to 70 or more well rehearsed songs with stage presence and routines. most of the time most don't even look at the monitor.. they are looking at the audience. A well rehearsed song is only 1/3 done in most cases.

Now go from there.

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Brian D.
(BHB)

Thanks, Sprocket. That is the most honest advice I have gotten so far. Thank you for telling it like it is. It always helps to know what to expect and to be prepared.

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Simply Celtic

1-Pick songs that you know and know well. It's best to be able to sing it without ever looking at the monitor.

2-Try to pick songs that the crowd will know and be able to get into. You may be able to nail Ave Maria, but a good rendition of I Love Rock and Roll that gets the crowd singing along and clapping will do better every time.

3-Consider the judges. Are they young? Old? Male? Female? Try to select songs that fit the demographics of the judges. Chances are good that judges over 40 are not going to be familiar with "I Believe in a Thing Called Love"

4-Avoid songs with long instrumental breaks like you would avoid the plague! Unless you juggle kittens or dance like a maniac, these instrumental breaks are brutal. It's just you standing on the stage with your thumb firmly inserted!

5-Be sure to look out at the judges and the audience while you are singing, and try to look like you are having fun. Let the audience feed off your energy.

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Spreading the karaoke gospel