Karaoke Forums

Hey Guys...I've been browsing these forums for some time now and realised today that I should put in what I take out. I hope that my experiences as a DJ/KJ and karaoke equipment supplier may help somebody.

I am, however, curious as to what materials people use to construct their Songbooks. I'm still trying to find the best way to get a light but durable book cover.

Thanks in advance...

S
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I'm guessing that most people here are using binders with the pages in clear sleeves, but if you are looking to go a different route, a laminated sheet of card stock will give you a durable, stain resistant cover for just about $1 per sheet.

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Spreading the karaoke gospel

Thanks Mike... I've tried pretty much all of those things. Binders get too heavy where as other styles are harder to update.

S

I use the heavy duty gauge binders with the page protector thingies. At one of my gigs with a house (corporate) book/music, their book was done with a laminate cover, the plasticy spiral spleeny thing and all it took was a few beer spills to trash 'em. Get the "D-ring" style binder and you will save space. Don't under estimate the value/impression of your books.

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Sounds Great! Entertainment
Bartlett, Illinois

We use duotangs with transparent plastic covers.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

Using regular binders purchased from Staples/Office Max
Heavy Duty Presentation Binders with the Clear Covers for inserting
my COVER. Inside I use the heavy duty sheet protectors.

I've used all KINDS of binders and sooner or later ...one will tear or get ripped apart from some drunken patron........

I would like to find a CHEAP disposable alternative ..use them 1 or 2 shows and then TOSS THEM ,,,,

Just re-did my books last month. I use an Excel spread sheet, 12 point Arial, worked out to 108 pages.(I have 1 section for new songs,1 by song titles and 1 by artist) I printed out a master, took it to Staples and had them do 5 copies and bind them. I had them use these plastic binders, kinda like a 3 ring only about 20-30 little holes. A laminated cover page with my logo and a hard back page. Used hard plastic dividers between the sections. The plastic binding was about $3, $10-$15 misc. expenses(dividers, lamination for covers etc.) Copies were about $40 and $5 for assembly. Right now, I've just added 1 page of new disks by sticking the page in, however when I get more new pages I can take them back to be added for the $5 assembly fee. I was using 3 ring binders with plastic covers, so I've saved hours not having to re-stuff all the books as well as printing them myself and having to buy at least 2 ink cartridges. I've already been complimented on how professional they look and after a month they're doing fine, just hope they last.

From a singers point of view. DONT print the page with font size below 12. Try reading it in poor light without reading glass and if you are above 45

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I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott

Ditto what Badsinger just said, I tried going to a double column page but the type was so small I couldn't read it without my glasses in good light let alone at the bar.

Hey hitwtom, I do my books almost exactly the same as you. So far, it's worked out great for me. One thing I did different though is use a larger font (14) with alternating white and light grey rows. Then, just for kicks I even made a book in landscape format with 18 font for my parents just to sort of rag on them a bit for their age. As it turned out, some of my regular patrons prefer that one when they get really hammered. Guess I can understand that though. I can get a little dyslexic at times too when I over indulge (NEVER while working of course).

I use the double column and the trees in california love me for it.

I introduced my new songbooks... check out my "songspage" on my website... I have the files available in viewable .pdf format. The Dual column has won everybody over. And nobody had a hard time reading the fonts.

I don't know any way to realistically do the size 12 font for those with visual impairments... at least with my files. I did look into it. Size 11 is pushing it, and I'd have to get extremely creative with the columns. That means manually moving the longer song titles / artists titles... for every single one that does that!

We've got the Binders Of Doom chock full of reinforced page inserts and just over 150 double-sided pages. I also make my book available as a PDF file.

So far they've held up rather well - considering beer, abuse and all.

I need to reduce the pages, though - besides removing duplicates I've got to see if I can go double-column or something - it costs over $25/book to reprint them... even at 9pt Arial! :-/

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DJ Shadowfax

i use the binders, i like the ones that are the bright colors by Dura binder.... then i use AVERY sheet protectors. why avery??? cause i have used other brands, and the avery's are easier to load and unload

for printing i bought a Minolta PageWorks 1250 laser printer, 1200 X 1200 DPI.... paper i use is the standard bright white laser paper, 24 pound.

I print front and back on the pages
I have about 8 books, so to reprint the books i have to make 3 runs for each book (artist, title, duets) so that is 24 print jobs

I use MS access for my database and have more versitility with it

I used to run into issues when i started that if a book got ruined, i would have to reprint all of them as i had the database updated.... then i came up with teh idea of putting a field in my DB called NEW, when i print the books, all the tracks labeled NEW won't print. When it comes time to re-print te entire book, i just go through and unselect the NEW field in each record (dwn arrow space bar, and repeat)

for type size i did market research.......
I printed pages in 9, 10, 11,12 and 13 pt font, and took them to the bar with the lights ar bar level and asked which one was too small to read..... 11 pt was what we came up with, 10 and lower is too small... we call that "bar readable"

if a book gets ruined, I just take my "original" printing, one I keep for this very purpose, and run it thru the copier... then it becomes double sided, and I only have one book to stuff.