Karaoke Forums

It's been a while for me, but I had main books, and several smaller books with new songs....eventually merging things, but in no hurry........worked rather well, especially when crowded.

so Far it seems to solder the rings is the best bet. Makes sense since people will find a way to rip the tape and leave the book in disarray as always . Adding some blank cover slips to accommodate updates is super easy, im not a fan of the Binding option, if it works for you guys awesome, I just update too often and it would have me pulling my hair out. I DO use online and Iphone/android/tablet capability but MANY users still want the old fashioned book

Non-reinforced heavy books will not withstand the rigors of nightly handling in a bar environment.

Pages coming out of place or falls out all time? Here’s my solution. Easy does it! Drill a hole in both the center of the release ends, insert small metal rod cut to size & secure it with caps tightened with a pair of pliers (no slack, tight enough that the release tabs doesn't move backward or forward). Avail @ home depot. Less than $10 for my 10 books. The rod will prevent the books from unnecessary opening.

Want to add more pages for new songs? No problem. No need to detach the rod. With two fingers, the ring(s) will open up with just little space gap enough to insert plastic sheets. The opening of pages will function normally as the rods are in the middle & will be not be in the way. I completely update my books twice a year to incorporate new released songs. That’s when I remove the rods.

_________________
To be fortunate enough to derive an income from a source as fulfilling as karaoke music has got to be as close to heaven as we can get here on earth!

Brian, That's very ingenious! I ike the cap nuts for a really neat and tidy appearance, but would nylon nuts prevent loosening a little better? Forgive my suggestion if you have already tried that method. They make 2 types of nylon nuts: 1) all nylon, 2) metal with nylon insert. Both are available in the size needed. Great idea!

Brian......*THIS* is precisely the kind of thing I expected when I came to these forums. Absolutely fantastic, creative problem solving. I may just change my books completely now after this post. Thank you!

-Chris

_________________
-Chris

mrmarog: haven’t tried the nylon nuts but I’m sure it will work. Oh, the reason for ‘plier tight’ & not finger tight - to prevent the cap nuts from getting loose and/or for anyone trying to open it. Who would bring a pair of pliers @ the venue?

_________________
To be fortunate enough to derive an income from a source as fulfilling as karaoke music has got to be as close to heaven as we can get here on earth!

Thanks for the compliment, chris. I myself benefited so much from other posters as well, such as recommendations, equipment upgrades, etc. That’s what these forums are all about; exchanging of ideas.

_________________
To be fortunate enough to derive an income from a source as fulfilling as karaoke music has got to be as close to heaven as we can get here on earth!

Chris - the problem I see with many of the book making ideas here is that they revolve around expensive books that are not cheap, nor easy to replace. If you take the time to get your costs under control, you don't have to worry about making a book last "as long as possible". Here's how you do that:

1) Get your own copier. You don't need the fastest one on the market. I use a Canon imageClass MF6540. The cost was $450 less a $250 rebate. Also, research the cost of toner ahead of time (see #2)

2) Toner is the cash cow for copy machine manufacturers. Don't be tricked into believing that you can't buy "imposter" toner cartridges. I use $25 cartridges from Ebay, and have used nothing but Ebay toner cartridges ever since. Canon wants $200+ for their authentic toner cartridges.

3) Be sure you are using a 2-collumn format. If you aren't, you are needlessly printing twice as many pages.

4) Buy your own laminating machine for the covers.

5) Use your own binding system - not one you have professionally done. There are a lot of methods out there. As mentioned, I use a comb binder. My buddy uses a "zip tie" system. The method you use should be one that is fast - it doesn't have to be the one that produces the most durable book. The best method will be one that incorporates speed as well as durability while understanding that there is a trade off between the two.

Once you have your costs under control, you can simply run off a book for $1.50-$2.50 - depending upon how many pages you must produce. I'd rather replace books for that price and always have newer books on the table than constantly trying to salvage the same books that have been on the tables for a year or more.

_________________
I'm not a cheerleader, but I paid for my pom poms with my own money!

It's really not any hassle at all. It takes 10 seconds per book. It's hard to explain if you have never used one. The comb binding machine is small & light, you could just leave at at work. I use it for the professional look it gives the books , combined with the fact that I don't have to stuff pages into page protectors.

The page protectors turned out to be more trouble than they were worth in my area. They didn't really "protect" anything as a drink spill just gets inside that nice plastic sleeve and holds the moisture IN, insuring that the page gets ruined.

Amazing how people try and justify their, umm... great expenses .

I suppose i'd rather have a wet sheet protector and one wet page or maybe even three to replace THAN having an entire books wet and replace THAT!

Sorry but flimsy books "in my area" aren't really considered professional after 2 shows they are bent, written on, have wet stains, and food dried on them.

But to each his/her own i guess....

I personally don't mind reviewing pages of my books and reminding myself WHAT SONGS i have while putting them into sheet protectors. Good therapy and only takes a second per page.

It really depends on the show and the venue as far as what you can get away with--even the size of the tables. At my older people's show the books remained pristine forever. At the young animals show they would get soaked, even inside the page protectors, the first time out. That show almost needs fully laminated.

Brian, Great Idea! I am going to do just that this coming weekend. Great idea!

I second or third or fourth that Brian too.

And that's a lot less expensive than buying the spring post binders, although they ARE awesome, but don't have front page inserts.

LL, isn't laminating an entire book very expensive?

Back in the day i know it costs me lots $$ to laminate my front/back page inserts.

But surprisingly last week at costco, i saw a super cheap (like $16) for a laminator with 100 sheets...that's very reasonable.

Picking a fight eh? OK. I'll bite!



If $99 is a great expense, you are in the wrong business. Oh sorry... Hobby.



I replace them every few months anyway. You see, that's the advantage of owning your own $99 binding machine (at GREAT expense ) You can print up and bind professional books anytime you like.



Flimsy, eh? Comical! Hey you keep justifying your industrial Walmart three ring binders and staples page protectors. I'm sure they look fantastic. Maybe you could get a nice backpack to carry them in to complete the middle school look.




Exactly.



Times a few hundred pages, times 12 books. Enjoy your hour of therapy. Talk about great expense!



OK. That was fun.

It's too expensive for me--just saying that is about what it would take at some places. I remember there was a fellow who used to post on here that did shows aimed at the 21 year old crowds and he mentioned he had to laminate his pages so he could take the books out in the back yard after each show and hose off the vomit, etc. Bill W? I think. Thought that was pretty funny then but now I know what he means.

@ Llizard's post - Very funny! Hose off the puke! Ewww. Need to reach for paper towel to wipe of coffee spits from laptop screen.

Some warm heated discussions going on up there. Only means a lot of people are participating & discussing this topic enthusiastically!

Drilling a hole to the binder release tabs can be a little tricky – but not if you use a center punch to make a little ‘dimple’ right where you intend to drill a hole. Otherwise, your drill bit will be all over the place. But you guys already knew that - just a little suggestion for others not quite as handy.

Just open the release tabs, tilt at 45d angle propped it at a wood block & drill away! Good luck!

_________________
To be fortunate enough to derive an income from a source as fulfilling as karaoke music has got to be as close to heaven as we can get here on earth!

good suggestion, but not worth the hole in the hand I would almost certainly get, being the klutz that I am..

Optional Velcro Strap when your binders get thick & heavy. Very easy to do. I like it because it prevents the book from opening like ‘butterfly wings’ & also firmer better hold when they pick it up. You will need the following:

1. Grommet size 3/8” or 10mm http://www.lowes.com/pd_308798-355-BFG2 ... facetInfo=

2. Heavy duty hole puncher. http://www.homedepot.com/p/General-Tool ... Vuaejc4qF8

3. Industrial strength Velcro. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Velcro-Indus ... VuJFTc4qF8
Front: Cut to size rough side (hook) Velcro 3½ ” long, width – 1” . Remove the backing tape; press middle Velcro at the edge, then press flat & overlap. Make the hole. Align grommets, hit puncher with a hammer (tool #2). That’s it.

Back: Same process, same width, but length longer to function as a strap. Length depending on book thickness. Length on mine-7”. Cut Velcro hook side (smooth) X 2. Yes, two pieces. Remove backing protection, (attention to alignment, those suckers can adhere to one another like a sonofab*) press both sticky side together but not the whole length, allow 2 ½ inches opening at the end, one goes above, the other below it. Punch hole & grommet.

_________________
To be fortunate enough to derive an income from a source as fulfilling as karaoke music has got to be as close to heaven as we can get here on earth!

Finished product.

_________________
To be fortunate enough to derive an income from a source as fulfilling as karaoke music has got to be as close to heaven as we can get here on earth!