Karaoke Forums

You miss the point of his post Chris, they told him to stop using SC period and he didn't want to run his show without it. If I'm playing a venue and the owner who pays my salary tells me to not use a brand in my show, guess what I won't use it for that particular gig. If someone asks me why I'll tell them the truth, and let them argue with the management.

Actually, they didn't tell me to "stop using Sound Choice". They really didn't understand what the issue was and didn't want to. They have no idea who Sound Choice is other than I told them I used them for many of the songs I played. They brought up the fact that they paid fees to several companies and wondered why that didn't cover everything (I know it doesn't and I explained it to them and they still didn't get it). The bottom line is it was a hassle they didn't care to deal with and I couldn't blame them. Hey, the decision was pretty much mutual. I got into this as a hobby and this was more hassle than it was worth for me.

Let me say that I don't see things as black and white or one side versus another nearly as much as others do. I actually think most here have more common ground than they know. No one posting here likes the pirated drive selling or using. Everyone probably thinks it has hurt both the Manus and some KJs. We may differ on the degree but that's only natural given that each has their own views and experiences to go on. Probably 99% here think that companies like Sound Choice should be able to fight for their property but feel they should have gone about it quite differently. The wide variety of opinions falls on the minute details after that.

I can respect other opinions even if I don't agree with them. For instance, I don't agree with the three options Chris lists as being the only three options but I respect his opinion. I can do that because I get a strong feeling he stands for what he feels is right and it's probably not far off from mine at all. From what I gather, Smooth came here looking for free karaoke but changed his position after being educated on things and he's doing what he feels is right. Both Lonman and I (and probably everyone) used the file sharing sited when they first came out but stopped once we were educated on their effects. We aren't as far apart as it seems when we all believe and stand for doing things the right way.

So then the venue owners wanted you to use more variety in your show, and not just the SC label. I guess that blows the idea that SC is so important to the success of the show. Actually by you using them predominately it cost you the gig. Have a nice day.

The value of SC to a show rests largely on where the show is and what level of exposure to SC the patrons have had.

Smooth claims SC doesn't mean much to his area. I am guessing because people simply aren't exposed to it nearly as much as other brands.

In my area, SC has been used rather extensively by pirates as well as legitimate hosts and customers by and large are aware of SC.

Also, since I have made a conscious choice to use SC over other brands, removing SC would impact the shows since customers would have to learn another version of the song. Had I chosen to never use SC then customers would be accustomed to using something else.

-Chris

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-Chris

Chris I have been doing hosting a long time, singers adapt quicker than you might think. I have had some singer used to a certain brand and I have them use what I have, and they have been alright with it. Sometimes they even like it better than what they are used to. To place so much reliance on one brand, puts your show at risk. About 50% of my patrons bring their own discs from home, they want to use them, even though I have the same thing. If you want to work at a venue and they don't want you to use SC and are firm about it what are you going to do? My experience has been first have the song they want to sing, the version to 99% of the singers is unimportant. If they are real divas most of them bring their own discs, anyway. It is sort of a status symbol, like they have arrived. Have a nice day.

Why? What risk could I possibly have?




That is your world, not the rest of the world. While I have seen many people over the years bring their own discs in and I used to do it myself, it is a trend that is rapidly dying.

I have only been hosting for about 3 years now, but in that time I have had less than 10 requests to play customer discs. I don't even have disc players at any of my shows any longer because it doesn't make sense to invest in a player for so little use. I also have a rather extensive variety of songs AND manufacturers so I can accommodate even odd requests.




That is an *IF* that I have never run across. I have pitched to many, many venues in the past few years and not a single one has told me I could not use a particular brand of music. On the flip side, I have picked up 3 different gigs from venues looking specifically for certified hosts.

*IF* a venue ever tells me I can't use SC and stands firm, I will seriously consider letting the gig go. But I don't expect to ever be asked to do this.......ever.





I have experimented with swapping version on people in the past. Since my software keeps a history of the exact version a singer uses, I can use that to choose a different version. About 50% of the time I have had to stop and swap back to what they are accustomed to or get an odd look or get asked about it afterwards. The point being, once people start singing a particular version of a track, they don't like changing it later. The longer they sing a particular version, the more attached to it they get.




I forgot to mention earlier.....the ONLY people that have ever asked me to use customer discs are.....older patrons.......younger patrons (35 and younger) don't buy discs for much of anything any longer. It is all streamed or downloaded to them. Discs users are a (literally) dying breed.

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-Chris

Yes you have only been hosting 3 years, I have been doing it over six times as long. I'm glad that you don't even have a player. Many times I'm asked if I can play discs, I say no problem. I wish more hosts were like you and send the disc people over to me. It is comforting to know that you have more than just SC, since they don't make every song out here, that is requested.

It is quite evident that you and I are after different target markets. The single largest group demographically is the Baby Boomers of which I am a member in good standing. I'm not interested in the 20 to 35 market, and yet I get quite a few young families coming to my show. They know I specialize in family entertainment, nothing vulgar or trashy. The Baby Boomers are the egg going trough the snake and have the most disposable income. Many young people can't find a job and are coming home to live with Mama and Papa. While we might be a dying breed we are still the majority, that every government rep knows will possibly bankrupt the country in the next few decades. In other words we are not dead yet. When they pass on most likely I will to. Don't be so glad to see us go, the next generations entertainment taste might change, and karaoke will join the list of fads, like disco, and mechanical bulls. Have a nice day.

I disagree with Chris as far as discs. I get people bringing in thier own discs almost nightly - young & old alike. Most are custom discs from like Selectatrack or Tricerasoft, others are the Walmart brands - people get used to practicing with a particular version & I am not going to deny them their enjoyment to sing a sing they learned.
As far as SC brand, not going to slice my throat to drop the brand. It is heavily used and even requested preferred versions.

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I will give you an example of something that happened this past Saturday. I was working for mu buddy, cause he was sick as a dog. One of our bartenders sings a few songs a night. Voice like an angel. One song she does is House of the Rising sun. Because I use my friend's disks for his show, she usually sings the legends version, I think. I gave her my DK version, which is MUCH better. She gave me that look and was like "this is different" I told her that it was much closer to the real song than the other version. She kept singing it, and was fine with it. People can adapt very easily.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

If they are really into adjusting discs, MTU makes a keyrite program, where you can adjust the music level of the disc, for let's say the Pioneer which are usually low music volume discs, or SGB which tend to have the music volume louder. Also they can adjust the key to match their voice on the disc. That way you never have to do the 3up or 1 down business. Have a nice day.

Sure they do, but do they stick around? That is the question. They may get through the song, but if enough of the music isn't to their liking, they find other places. Now the way you describe your area, there may not be a whole lot of other choices for people to look for & whatever you offer is going to have to be good enough - good, bad or otherwise.
Around here, there is karaoke on every corner and people will seek out and find the one the offers what they want - whether it be good sound, great quality selection, clubs with great drinks, do they play your own discs, great hosting skills, smokiing allowed, a little of all, short rotations, responsive audiences, versions they are used to, etc. You don't have what they want, they don't come to your show. Being you think the DK version was better, she was used to the Legends - it shouldn't have been your decision to force the other version. I got 2 new regulars a few weeks back because I still have and use the Pioneer laserdisc videos. They couldn't believe it because no one around here uses those anymore. Now they bring in friends and some of those people are starting to come in on their own.
I went to a show once years back that had a Creedence song Born On The Bayou - no manu code - but i'd never saw it in any book & really wanted to sing it, I put it up, the music was so bad, it wasn't singable. I had to walk off in the midst. Turns out it was a Music Maestro version - NOT adaptable. Sound Choice put it out a couple year later thankfully.

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

Huh, who mentioned anything about adjusting discs or low volumes?

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

Excuse me, but it's MY show. Everything is MY decision. That aside, if she were to come to my show, without my friend's stuff she wouldn't be able to sing the Legends version because I don't have it. I am trying to get away from using his discs, as much as possible, especially since I am now getting paid full price for doing it because I am using all my own equipment. I have only been using his stuff if I don't have the song that a person wants to sing and he does. And as I said, she was fine with the version, just wasn't used to it, because it was a bit slower.


Just listened to the Zoom version is House of the Rising sun.............sounds awesome!! I may have to add it to the collective.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

But you were working for your friend with his discs you stated. That is what you should of used IMO not pushing your discs at his show. If I was filling in for a friend, I sure wouldn't be bringing in my library.

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

That's you, Lonnie. You seem to think to are the moral authority of the karaoke world. You're not.


As I said, I use both libraries. I use my equipment and mostly my music. I get paid full price for the show, whereas I used to get only half when I was using all his stuff. The bar even considers it my show when I run it. If he ran my show he would use both libraries, too. He has no problem with it, and neither do I. When I come to hang at his show he uses my stuff, if I have a better version of a song than he does, or if I have a song he doesn't have. I bring my show computer with me. It's a netbook, so it doesn't take up much space. Since I keep adding credits to Tricerasoft, if I neither one of us has a song someone is looking for, I buy it for my library and he plays it for the customer. It works out for both of us.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

Then if you have both versions, why force the singer to sing what you want. We have multiple versions of songs. If they want DK, MM, SC, SGB, or whatever we have, we give them what they want. It is simply customer service.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

FYI, she didn't ask for a certain version. I try to give the best version I have on hand. All she said was that it was different.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

Nope you are correct, and I am glad I have at least some standards. I would never use MY library while filling in for someone elses show. Now if they were hiring me to use my equipment & library, different story.



Maybe this should have been stated, would have cleared things up slightly, but I agree, just because you think that the DK version is better, you had the other version she was used to - why force them? Let them sing the version they are used to.

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

Lonnie - You have a decidedly unique situation in that you have been at the same venue for 20+ years. You were there slinging discs yourself at the same time consumers actually purchased discs. At your average karaoke venue, the shows have been active for only a few years at best. They don't have the established long term audience that you have.

-Chris

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-Chris

What I meant is some divas are so into using their own discs the have personalized them, as to the disc level of music volume and have the disc adjusted to the key most comfortable for them to sing in. Sorry I wasn't clear.