Karaoke Forums

Not to open up the same can of worms.............but.............most everyone here knows that I don't care for contests. However here is a situation I found myself in and what I'd like is for some of the long-time KJ's/Hosts/DJ's to give me some opinions and takes.
Couple weeks ago I found myself at a city-wide contest(wont name the venue or participants) in a professional capacity(shooting cover photo for an entertainment publication). The winner of this contest ($1000 PRIZE) was a PROFESSIONAL singer who has thier own band and who gigs with several of the prominent bands around town. Additionally, about a year ago I actually interviewed this person and we published a photo of this person performing live. The second place person was very polished also and had actually appeared on the "LIVE AT THE APOLLO" show(the one from the actual Apollo Theatre in New York). Now my conumdrum is this--are Karaoke contests supposed to be "AMATUER" or are they in reality PRO-AM or are they open to actual professional singers? And if so what's the point of regular karaoke people even attempting to compete in such an exhibition? The Analogy is that of the Olympic games I think--Amatuer vs. Pro. Has anyone ever experienced a situation like this? My own gut reaction to this situation was one of distaste. I shot the photos and did my job, but later told my editor never to send me on another contest story. In any event this situation really bothered me. And I hate to say it, but it reinforced my general opinion of contests.

Anyway---comments please. Lonman? Knightshow?

And WEBBY: could you possibly have Peter Parker chime in on this one-since he's so heavily involved with promotion of tournaments in LA.

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"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

I suppose unless it is advertised as amateurs only, then anyone can enter. That said, IMHO I believe that karaoke contests should be for amateurs only, after all that is who karaoke is geared to, otherwise we would all have bands and be big stars.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

I used to think that way as well.. until......... a lead singer of a band showed me a different view... he plays on weekends only... sings around 25 songs a night.
A regular karaoke person that goes out 4--5 nights a week could sing that many as well..
He practices with the band 2 other nites a week 2 hrs a day.
With Karaoke as popular as it is and disks and players available for home use they could practice 7 days a week for multiple hours.

His thoughts were regular karaoke ppl were as well of singers and actually know the back/tracks to songs from certain disks they like better than he will ever..
Now for me formally being in a band and knowing if you have a substitute player this could be a long nite...just like singing a song you like on sound choice then going out to karaoke and finding they only have that song in SGB version.. not gonna be the same....
I realised what he was saying and granted not everyone is a hard core karaoke person most who enter contests have karaoke experience.
So ive opened my contests up to everyone...
Even the Simpson sisters......


These r just my thoughts and how i run my contests...

My contests have always been open to anyone - kj's (just because you are a kj, doesn't mean you are a good contestant), band singers (people claim that you are pro because you get paid, well coming from experience, bands DON'T make much money unless you are on the verge of signing or are the best band in the city & some of the caliber of bands are worse than karaoke). Someone who sings in a band doesn't necessarily have any better chance of winning than someone that does karaoke contests for a living - you all know the kind i'm talking about. If a contest is of that caliber (high prize $$) are going to bring out the best singers anyway, 90% of the amature singers are going to be out of it anyway, the strong performers are the contestants that are going to be in the finals.
It all boils down to judging & trying to find people who understand what they are looking for - which is the hardest part.

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

I agree , Contests should be open to everyone , unless you are a signed artist with songs in the top ten , everyone has the same chance to win.( depending on how the contest is run) .

Just because somebody gets paid to sing ..doesn't mean they are GOOD.I've seen many a lead singer in a local band that can't carry a tune in a bucket..... Big $$$$ contests will bring out the very best talent some are PROS most are just good karaoke amatuers....

Actually, as we saw on SNL just because you have a top ten hit doesn't mean you can sing live.

The only people I would exclude are signed artists, professional vocal coaches, employees of the venue/show/judges and their relatives.

I participated in a contest early this year and the vocal coach from the local university came out to enter. We had some excellent singers, but during her 'qualification' she sang a very hard song perfectly. When the people holding the contest found out she was a vocal coach at the college they asked her to judge instead of participate.

If you spend your life singing and teaching others to sing it's hard for me to accept that you should be a karaoke contest. Each contest is different and they're not easy to hold but any limitations and rules should be posted well in advance.

The last one I saw allowed amatures and "semi-pros" (people who make money singing but not enough to make a living from it)

But its very hard sometimes to tell who's a pro and who's an amature singer, especially if you haven't seenthe pro singing somewhere else.

But I guess unless it specifically states that its for amature singers only, then its fair game for whoever walks through the door...

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Oh that same can of worms!...

As most of you already know my wife and I compete in our share of contest, both locally and regionally. In doing so we've seen almost every possible twist. Those in which if your paid to sing you can't paticpate to anyone can particpate. Usually, the larger the contest the more professoional singers come out. Money is a draw.

I don't mind, we practice, we make money singing in contest and we own our own discs. Some people consider us professional and complain when they have to compete agianst us. Oh and yes we have beat those band members from time to time too.

I just love to compete and the money also adds an incentive.

we actually lost once because the judges thought we were too good. They thought we were professionals cause we knew all the words and were well rehersed. Guess we just take it too seriously.

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