Karaoke Forums

Do you?

Are there certain singers you try to help with advice or criticism?

How do they respond? Does it make them better singers and more loyal to your show? Does it help to get them ADDICTED to karaoke?

Are there certain singers that you trim your board for? You know, either attenuate them cause they are screamers or acent them because they are really good and can use a little reverb or EQ?

Do you kinda "showcase" certain singers?

I'm not asking if you show favoritism. I'm asking if, and how do you cultivate good and fathful talent....I've noticed that many in the audience want to hear great local talent. They never sing, but instead attend to hear "The person next door sing well".

The only time I offer a singer advice or criticism is if they ask for it. Otherwise, everyone gets, "Nice job with that one!"

As far as the mix goes, my board is the best tool I have to gain repeat customers. Being able to use the board to make each customer sound as good as possible is the goal you should strive for. Yes, you cut the levels for a screamer. Yes, you turn it up for a soft voice. Yes, you turn up the reverb or other vocal effect depending on the song. Yes, you tweak the EQ to compensate for "holes" in their voice. That's what keeps customers coming back.

If they have a choice between two karaoke hosts, with all other things being equal, I want them to say that they're going to combe by Big Mike because I SOUND BETTER when I sing with him!

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Spreading the karaoke gospel

Yep

I agree with you 100% Big Mike!

You make sound good, I will come to your show forever!

I have done it once or twice, but like Mike said - it was only after they mentioned it or asked.

If you want to try it - maybe have a little checkbox on your song slips saying "Please critique my performance". But if you do this and the singer is just horrible, you can go "Beating around the bush" with your critique.

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A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!"

It's not uncommon for me to suggest songs to singers, especially my regulars, so they don't get in a rut. I think they also appreciate that this tells them that I actually listen when they sing.

I don't ever suggest that someone NOT sing a certain song, unless they ask for my opinion. Even then, unless I know the person well, it's usually "Well, I don't really like the song to begin with, so it's hard for me to say if you sounded good." If I'm feeling bold, then it's something like "Well, it looked like you were having fun up there!"

I agree with Big Mike on the mixing. Anyone can call a singer, cue a song, and go talk to their friends. The good hosts are the ones that care how the singer sounds.

I have a few regulars that when they started singing the same two or three songs over and over again. I started suggesting differents songs for them to sing that I knew they would really like. Now, they are singing about ten to fifteen different songs instead of the same two.

Suggesting songs for my singers to sing...The props I give to the customers, good and bad, are what keeps them coming back. Like if I tell a customer that I know they can do a song, most of them will try it, then after the first time they sing it, I will suggest a little change here and there...I have never had a customer not like the constuctive criticism I offer. But I take criticism from my customers just the same.

I've also done that. If a singer does a song well, I might suggest something in the similar range or style for them. I tell them, "You know, Blah Blah might be a good song for you to try. It would be a good fit for your voice."

That's especially if it is a regular who is wearing me out with the same three songs!

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Spreading the karaoke gospel

Yes, it seems natural to suggest new songs for your regulars....You guys know it's all about the singers. They want their 3 minutes of stage time and a good applause afterwards. I'm sure most listen closely to your suggestions. And in that way, you win them as loyal clients.

If a singer asks a particular question, I try to give them the best answer I can. If they just ask, "How did I do?" I tell them they did good...even if they sucked.

I mix every singer, every song. No two voices can be given maximum reproduction quality with exactly the same mix.

When a singer nails a song, I put a little extra into their "Give it up for..." The crowd's already going nuts, who am I to put a damper on it?

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Paid2Party
"I love karaoke. Where else can you get paid to come out and party with your friends?"