Karaoke Forums

Hey everyone,

This post is in response to dbk1009's post in the previous thread on karaoke contests. I was thinking of running a karaoke contest this summer and would like to get everyones input on how to run it.

What is the most fair way to run a karaoke contest?
How much prize money needs to be awarded?
What is the best format?

If anyone thinks of any other questions, please post them.

OK...have at it! I am sure there are no shortage of opinions on this subject.

Thanks!

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Patrick
Twinbrook Sound
Waltham, MA

Ice,

There may not be a really FAIR way to run a contest. It is so subjective ...the best singer very often doesn't win, as we all know. More than one judge would be required, persons with integrity (and no friends or acquaintances in the competition).

Prize money?......Enough to intice really good singers to come out. Around here, at least a couple hundred dollars. Your contests would get a reputation of having quality singers, and would draw good crowds..... more fun for everyone involved. (Question: Who usually puts up the prize money? The KJ himself? The club owner? Split it 50-50?)

Format?......I personally don't like the "so many weekly winners go to the finals" type format. A really good singer can win week 3, for instance, then have a bad cold several weeks later, and be unable to compete in the finals. I think a contest should be held on one night only, and singers should be required to sing at least two, or maybe three songs. And be judged on diversity of music styles they select and how well they can perform each. Most karaoke singers seem to fall into a groove..country, metal, urban, old rock, etc. The VERY BEST singers can cross over to different styles and do each very well. It would probably be more clear to everyone under this format who the winner should be. No "one song wonders" could survive.

Just a few ideas. Great subject for discussion!

I like the crosover aspect! The only problem I could see with that is you would lose the one song wonders from even competing. And as far as the 'One Night Only', not everyone is available on any given night. I think a crossover competition, with say a short lead in- maybe 3-4 weeks could work.

Logistically, 20 singers in a competition doing 3 songs (60 songs) times 3:00 a song is 3 hours. That leaves no time for warm up, judging, or filler- unless you run a longer than 4 hour show. Don't get me wrong- I LOVE the idea, maybe we can all refine it a little....

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Let's Kick the Tires and Light the Fires!

On the topic of Karaoke contests... I won't run one. Like mentioned earlier, it's not really a karaoke contest, but rather a popularity contest most of the time. I went to one a last year in Alabama where one of the singers (a nice black lady) got up and sang her heart out to RESPECT and nailed it better than anyone I've ever heard. Then a few other more popular people sang and were okay, but nothing special. Anyway, you all know what happened. The one who should have won didn't even place in the top three. She seemed upset, and IMHO had a right to. The only karaoke contests that I think are ever even close to being fair are the ones held out of town where none of the singers are locals and none of the judges know any of them like on MTV or something like that.

On another note... How'd it go last night? I'm sure we all want to know.

If you're going to have a contest, DO NOT call it a Karaoke contest. It is a talent contest where karaoke is the vehicle used to run it. Yes you'll get the best singers when you run one, but you will turn off your regulars who want to sing. When the contest is over the "professional" contestants will not come back and it may take a while for your regulars to come back. Also be prepared for all the complaints. Even though you're not judging it, everyone will come to you to complain.

The only type contest we run is that everytime a person sings, their slip is put into the hat and a random draw at the end for whatever the prize is.

I stopped attending a Tuesday night show because they started to run a contest. Often, the KJ would have to make announcements several times in order to get enough participants to actually run a contest. The owner of the bar insisted on doing the contests. The winner was determined in large part by the owner’s judgment of who got the most amount of applause. As we all know, that means whoever has the most friends in the club at the time. I go to shows to sing and be entertained by others signing. The whole contest thing spoils the experience for me. Once in a while would not be so bad. But most would rather just go out for plain old karaoke and not worry about competing or witness some unfair judging travesty.

Just my opinion.

Yeah, I'm not a real fan of contests either, and I am going to avoid getting into them in the future. I hope that I don't run into the situation as a KJ having a club owner insist that I run a contest. It does kind of fly in the face of all that karaoke stands for....fun for all and all for fun.

From strickly a singer's standpoint, I have mixed feelings about contests. Let me preface this post by saying I enter every contest I run into. I once took two days off and flew over 1000 miles to sing in the finals of a contest I happen to run across while driving one night in Conroe, Texas. I stopped in the bar, sang "Johnnie B. Good" as a warm up and "Mustang Sally" in the contest. Won the weekly prize (Two drinks! which I gave away, my doctor hasn't let me have a drink in seven years) and then was told the finals would be in Three weeks in Houston. I was then sent to West Virginia on a job...caught a plane to Houston three weeks later and sang in the finals...came in 5th out of 15...no prize....but I had a great time and it gave me something to do... Karaoke -- Oh, how I love it!!!! I have NEVER entered a contest expecting it to be fair and have never entered a contest expecting to win. I enter because I am guaranteed a slot to sing and love to perform. The competition just gives me a little "extra energy" and USUALLY the audience/people are more attentive and appreciative during a contest. Nothing is more discouraging to most singers than to face a crowd that is not paying any attention....of course in that situation, it becomes a challange to make them STOP, LOOK and LISTEN...ah, well, i will cease and desist my rambling......

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Still kickin', jes' aint raisin' much dust !

Pat
I have run & participated in many many vocal/karaoke competitions. I have some suggestions.. it's way too long winded to write here.. E-mail me and I'll give ya my Phone Number in New Mexico. I think you can gain both an education and some real fun ideas.

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Brian D.
(BHB)

most contests i have run are judged by how well they sing there stage presence and applause we scale each area in one to ten then add them up best out of thirty wins, prize money well one place we do 250 in total prize money and it does fairly well and another were ia\m currently hosting we do 2 nights a week and bothare contests nights and we give out 1000 per contest each contest lasts 9 weeks 8 quailifing and the last week is semi finals and finals

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Karaoke The most funn you can have with your clothes on!!!

Ice:
Like you I would like to run a contest this summer, The most fair way to determine a winner of course is to have fair and impartial judges. They don't have to be PRO's , they just need to know the Guidlines
#1 What are they judging on? Vocal Abillity only? Stage Presence? Appearance? ...or A COMBINATION. I plan to use a combination with a heavier weight on Vocal Ability (after all its karaoke!) This way a great dancer and entertainer who cant sing doesn't win ! ..At least thats the way I look at it ..its not American Idol ...its a Karaoke Contest.

Okay #1 : FAIR & IMPARTIAL JUDGES

#2 - Everyone who enters and doesnt place in the top 3 should have a chance to win something...as in a drawing or raffel type of prize ( that way almost everyone should be happy ) At least all participants should get free t-shirts ASK YOU MANAGER they get them free from the beer distributors

Prize money ..Here is my Idea which I open up for comments --I would like to sell advertisement space in my song books for a period of time to local businesses - Its a great way to raise some cash for a contest and to pay for your books --10-12 books - 25-50 people every week ....Thats a lot of eyes looking at the ad ! I think its a good Idea ! --I would run a contest with a minimum of $250 to the winner $100 2nd palce and $50 for third .. I have mixed feelings on the length of the contest ? Good impartial judges and a set rating plan along with decent prize money and you cant go wrong.....

By the grace of God I have not ran one contest in 8 years of hosting shows. I sang and won numerous contests back in the early 90's. I also lost my share. But since I've started my own biz nada on the contests. The cons outwiegh the pros and why risk losing your core crowd . If you NEED to run a contest its not a good sign. If you WANT to good luck.

Jam/Ice..

I saw this done once and I think this is a great.. 3 consolation prizes of bartabs or cash (less than 2nd place) like $15, $10, & $5. would be drawen from all the song tickets of the Competing singers present.
at the end.. and the rest would be eligible for door prizes as mentioned from the above.

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Brian D.
(BHB)

Ah! The karaoke contest thread has reared it's head again. As most already know my wife and I particpate in quite a few karaoke/talent contests. We've won and lost, but still we compete. From a singer's stand point I really enjoy them, but I know I don't speak for everyone.

I prefer to particpate in larger venues, out of my local area. Usually these contest are run a lot better than mom and pop's local show, which we do particpate in frequently. Everyone is diffrent, the rules are never the same and yes the regulars are unhappy when an outsider wins.

I personally prefer the larger contest where you compete on a local level and then move up to larger contests and so on... But this usually requires sponsership from corperation or group other than the KJs or owners.

Right now we are preparing to particpate in a contest with a $500.00 prize. Singers will be coming from many venues around the area. They are required to furnish their own disc, or get their favorit KJ to lend them one. The KJs who loan these discs get mention in the program. We will get a sound check the day before and one song the night of the contest.

Strange twist to this contest, we are competing individually and as a duet. This rarely is allowed. The winner also gets recording time and air play on local stations.

The contest is for one night only and is held in a large theater, not a club or bar.

We like to use our own discs, and yes we practice. Most small contests won't allow us to use our own disc anymore, people complained that it was unfair. Some contestants complained that they did not have acsess to the same music. I think anyone can buy a disc and if their serious they should consider doing so. But my opinion does hold a lot of weight.

The real problem is judges. Finding fair ones with a sense of honesty sometimes is difficult I guess. I love the little contest that the judges are some guy who drinks there every night and anyone else that can be talked into doing it.

Well I've ranted long enough, so let me close by sayin' that there are those of use who take our karaoke seriously and enjoy the competition. I've heard those who claim karaoke is just for fun and all i can say is some of us are more serious about or fun than others. I'll never be a big star, but I will enjoy what little lime light I can get!

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

Kkid...
I'm going to bias your thread for the shooting gallery ...

You are already a star in my book ..

Keep on singin! Someday You'll make it!

Anybody can record a CD remember that!

But yours is your own work! and Gold records can be bought!

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Brian D.
(BHB)

Thank you! When I down I sing. When I want to releave stress I sing.
There is no other place I'd rater be than singing on a stage in front of a room full of people.

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