Karaoke Forums

The venue that I have my karaoke show is a family style restaurant. It is BYOB (which seldom happens, but does on occasion). I live in the "bible belt" of N. Georgia - but there are also some "rowdy rednecks" (I resemble that remark) in the area.
We have a handful of patrons who are regulars at my show, that don't seem to like ANYTHING that people sing. I have a wide variety of music in my book (but I don't have alot of the new "rap", or whatever this new genre of music is that teens are listening to now is)
We do have some kids (ranging in age from 6-17) that come to the shows, and I DO make sure that they don't sing anything with explicit lyrics in it. (even if their parents are with them). But the "kids" don't seem to be the issue. Some of the popular songs at my show are: "Redneck woman", which has ticked off ALOT of people, because it says "hell yeah" in the lyrics, or "Devil went down to Georgia", because someone says sonofab!tch (which is how the song was originally written) instead of son of a gun, "Baby got back" because it says "prostitute", and....get this......
"Like a Virgin" (which was popular when I WAS younger).
OMG - HOW am I supposed to determine what is going to tick someone off at any given time!!!
Now, I can understand songs like "The rodeo song", or "I-95" song NOT being sung in a family restaurant - but the local KJs and I are hearing ALOT of backlash from patrons about these songs. (BUT......they STILL go to the shows everynight of the week, because after they "tried" to "Boycott" a karaoke show for music they didn't like, they realized they were running out of places to sing, because ALL of the shows played at least one of the songs they didn't like in a night.
My theory is this: Just like a singer you may not like to listen to, the same is with a song - if you don't want to hear it - Take a bathroom break, or walk outside. It's only 3 1/2 minutes of the evening -the world is not going to come crashing down for ONE 3-4 minute song. It only hurts for a little while. GET OVER IT, and HAVE FUN!!!!!! That's what karaoke is all about. If they can't appreciate the singers for the talent they (may or may not) have, and the courage they have to get on stage, then start a karaoke night at your local church, and sing whatever you want ALL NIGHT LONG, but as long as you are in a public venue - you are going to hear a WIDE variety of genres, and songs - as each person has their own interests.
Any opinions on this matter??????

Thanks for letting me vent!!!!!!

In a world as diverse as we live in, you're going to run into songs that irk you, or flat out you hate or despise!

My suggestion is to tell people "karaoke is audience participation. Not everyone thinks the same or does the same thing. It'd be pretty boring then anyway!"

The song "Redneck Woman" always goes over well in my area, and "Devil Went Down To Georgia" is a standard that gets people pumped up. You want profanity alertedness??? You'll be watchin' EVERYTHING!

Life is too short.

"Shut up and sing" is my motto!

I grew up a short distance from the buckle of the bible belt (next to the county with the most churches per capita) and lived all over the bible belt.

People will get offended at almost anything. I tell them that peoples choices in songs will vary and that because it's a public venue you try to censor the selection to nothing worse than you will hear on the average radio station. Let them know that there are songs that are just not appropriate and you don't play them. If they still complain a couple rounds of the 'Pussycat Song', 'Big 10 Inch Record' 'Shaving Cream' or 'Blow Me' should really get thier knickers in a twist! No curse words, HEAVY on the innuendo, and only dirty if your mind is in the gutter.

There is such a thing as hypersensitivity and even ifyou go with 100% 'Christian' artist you're not likely going to appeal to the 'bible-belt' crowd. The first time you play a Petra or DC Talk song they will likely be upset for the 'type' of music. Even if you sang hymms somebody would get upset because the lyrics didn't agree with their beliefs.

Relax - karaoke is supposed to be fun. When it stops being fun is when I'll stop.

Personally, if songs contain the world "Hell", "Prostitute" or even (God forbid) "Virgin) etc. I don't care, not as long as we have way more serious problems in the world like drug abuse and alcoholism and abuse. When songs that have defined swear words in them (and I don't have to name the words) they're out of my book.

The drunks that ALWAYS scream those words into the mics are obnoxious ________(fill in your own word) and I don't need to entertain those type of people anyway at the club. You don't like that, find another club where foul language is appreciated or give me as KJ the boot.

karyoker thank you, that was an interesting link that everyone should read.

But there is still a difference between freedom of speach and indecent behaviour

I know what you are talking about. even though i live in California far from any bible belt. I worry about content. I run mostly shows were there are kids. my rule of thumb is no songs with the F word or the B word and no song that has more than 10 swear words period. The way I handle the crowd, is that i put a warning on the fornt of the books, that there will be children of all ages present. So music sang will be watched closely and will not be sang if deemed inapropriate. I rarely have complants and the parents always have the option of leaving the kis home

I hope this has helped

Sincerly Boobear

I know what you are talking about. even though i live in California far from any bible belt. I worry about content. I run mostly shows were there are kids. my rule of thumb is no songs with the F word or the B word and no song that has more than 10 swear words period. The way I handle the crowd, is that i put a warning on the fornt of the books, that there will be children of all ages present. So music sang will be watched closely and will not be sang if deemed inapropriate. I rarely have complants and the parents always have the option of leaving the kis home

I hope this has helped

Sincerly Boobear

I had to read the Cat Stevens thread again,,, Matt (knightshow) and others made some fairly intelligent comments about this subject.... When somebody says censorship, oaths I took years ago start bubbling to the top once again,,, All in all parents are responsible for what their kids sing and their behaviour in public. Those kids and their parents constiutional rights as American citizens can not be sacrificed under any guise. I have kids as small as 4 years old ask me what they should sing and I tell them its up to their Mommy.. or his grandpa in Gabriels' case ..... I did have a song disappear right off my hard drive and I had it last week.... Do shortnin bread Gabriel.....

Do this: next time you are at the bar, spend a little time before the show at the jukebox (if this place has one). Look at the music in there. If it's good enough to be in the jukebox, then it should be good enough for karaoke.

Knightshow has the right answer. You don't program the show, you just cater to the audience. If Jane Schmoe puts in Redneck Woman, then do you think she'll come back if you refuse to play it?

When I was a kid I spent "quality time" in a bar that did have some religious values. One day the local video game vendor put in a pinball machine called "GORGAR". It had a picture of a devil with a scantilly clad woman at his hip. It brought uproar to some. Much debate was given. Bottom line is the machine stayed for a long time because it brought in money. They finally got it out, but it came back only a month later.

There are a lot of instances in the Bible that have foul language, but I wouldn't mention them to the complaining customers because you don't want to get into an argument on Bible verses.

The only other thing I could suggest is refuse the songs til a certain time. Say at 10 PM it's OK to put in Redneck Woman.

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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!"

If it's a bar, then I will allow whatever - UNLESS the bar specifically asks that songs with profanity not be listed - since they are paying me, I will respect them & keep my money coming - since I am in that kind of a club right now - well for the last 12 years now with the same rules & packed house of returning customers so I don't think people mind a bit if they can't say (@$%&#!) over the mic. If they whine about it, I give them a card with an address of a club that does allow profanity & tell them thanks for coming.

If there are children present such as a family show, NO songs with profanity will be allowed. I don't care if little Johnny's Mom said it's alright, little Betty's Mom might not like her child hearing that. If a song slips through with profanity starts (I know most), it will be cut off after the first word I hear or see that isn't appropriate & they will need to pick something else.
Someone can quote censorship all they want, so be it - GO SOMEWHERE ELSE if you don't like the rules!!!!

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Just depends on the venue if you ask me. At a family restaurant at 5 pm, you won't hear the same type of stuff as you would at a tavern at 11 pm. There's fine line between catering to the tastes of the audience and letting the audience (a majority or minority thereof) determine the content of the show. If you have an unusually sensitive audience most of the time but have a policy of letting anybody sing anything they want to, you run the risk of offending the majority of your customers, who may decide to go somewhere else. You have to figure out what will work for your particular gig, I suppose.

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Reward: nine yen in drawer.

A karaoke that I used to go to handled the issue of potentially offensive songs in this way....

In the book, all the potentially offensive songs (like the rodeo song, the yogi bear song, the w***ers song etc) were all marked "Not to be sung before 10pm" and there was a note on the front of the books to the same effect.

People were made aware that after 10pm, the music could get offensive to some, but by that time, the kids were out (there were no kids allowed in after 9pm anyway) and those who didn't want to hear that kind of stuff were prewarned)

The KJ (who was a friend of mine) never got any complaints about song content, so I guess that system worked... for him, anyway.

I would like to make one more observation and it might be one of the most important.. I spent the latter years installing jukeboxes, dart boards etc in bars and maintaining them. About 3 bars that I know of had a rep for drugs, redneck fighting till the cows come home and I told those bar owners have karaoke 2 nights a week and your crowd will change like you wouldnt believe... Yaaaa they said ... Six months later they had the best customers they ever had... I think karaoke singers are a little more well adjusted than the average folk ... Of course I might be a little biased... Anybody else seen this?

All depends on the venue itself. I've seen karaoke clubs with some of the most well behaved group of customers & have seen the complete opposite where they are drunk, rowdy & obnoxious - singing profanity songs screaming the bad words over the mic to make sure everyone knows they said it over the mic. Usually there is a mix of both, it's rare to see one group or the other.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Lonnie.. Dont be surprised if some night if some old man walks into your bar and says hi, I'm karyoker.. I would luv to sing at one of your shows.

You're more than welcome, i'll be there - well that is unless i'm off.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

now THAT's one of the most profound statements I've ever heard!

But dont you think when we are advising the newbies about which gear to buy ... That we ought to be totally honest with them and tell them they will never be satisfied and once you start buying karaoke stuff it is a life long process...and there is always something better & louder? Oh god i LOVE IT....