Karaoke Forums

I was curious as to what others opinions were on visiting competitors shows ( friendly or unfriendly) to either make your show better, spy, etc.
I rarely have time to do this but am never to "big" to see another host who may do something that I think may be better than what I'm doing; software, speakers, etc.
whatcha think?

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Sound Choice and Chartbuster Certified

Yes i went to other shows when I was still hosting. Mostly because I am a huge karaoke addict and I never sang at my own shows unless it was really dead.

-James

I love to spy.

However i am friendly with the hosts and we all know each other.
Since competition is stiff i know a lot of backstabbing occurs with the Cape Town KJ's/DJ's.
My 2 best friends were top KJ's and we go out together and give constructive criticism.
EG: A local KJ using four 350 watt RMS 8 OHMS speakers and Stereo 400 watt RMS @ 4 OHM power mixers!
Speakers that sound flat distorted and dull and mics so poor that adding volume actually drowns out all background music and the vocalist sound terrible!

Or KJ'S/Dj's that still use discs and the discs actually skip when customers sing, because the discs are dirty or they are too cheap to buy a new DVD player.
With KJ/DJ ego's the size of Texas, and work for $55 PER NIGHT!!!!


I wish it was like America/UK were the KJ's generally buy equipment that works and sounds good for the jobs that they do, not like here with China shops selling z brand equipment that is dirt cheap and many KJ/DJS use.(Behringer is considered a top brand by many here so imagine when i say z grade!)

Not all KJ/DJs here in Cape Town are like this but most in my local area playing at pubs are all of the above.

This is common around here and we have to criticize.

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LOVE YOU LOOOOONG TIME KARAOKE.

I'll go once in awhile to support any karaoke show, just to do my part in keeping this small local industry afloat.

For the kjs that i do know personally, i go by to check out how their crowds are, what new (If any) equipment they're using, and how the "sound" is. More importantly, i listen to their banter and how they communicate with their singers.

Truth is, MOST of them aren't very good at speaking, announcing singer's names, they mumble, talk too fast, or repeat the same things over and over again...

2 male kjs i know, and not personally as friends, hit on women over the mic inappropiately, or make crude remarks. Makes me sick.

Most of the other kjs just pass mics and rarely address anyone. lots of dead air. no background music. Yet they have lights, lasers, and fog....

So i learn from all their shortcomings, realize my own, try not to do the things they do i find fault in, or pick up tips from things they do right, say, or songs they rock and get great responses from.

Unfortunately here, most of them have never seen a professional show put on. And the djs and kjs tend to get DRUNK, not just buzzed, at their shows. I've witnessed quite a few sloppy lazy kjs at the dive bars, but at the nicer venues, the pros usually are originally from the mainland. Like me

And vice-versa. They come to my shows and see how its run. they usually remark that i "DO TOO MUCH". ....

Yes I have gone to my "competitors" show. First off he is an illegal multi-rigger that has been in business for as long as I have.

The guy that owns it IS a really good host, but that is the problem. He will go around himself, and give away a free gig to get in the door. Then he does a few more shows for the venue, then the show is passed off to his flunkies.

His flunkies are crappy host. Lots of rude remarks, bad rotations, hitting on women, ect....

Funny part is he is based in a town of about 75K people, and he drives to my area, 45 miles away to get gigs, which the biggest town here has 5,000 people. My theory is that he has pissed off a bunch of bar owners/manager in his area and can not get gigs anymore. I don't understand how he can have gigs 45+ miles away, pay 2 people to host it, and only charge $150 to $250.

I don't go to too many shows besides my own since I work six days a week. Come Sunday the last thing I want to do is karaoke again, since I don't want to get burnt out. One thing I have found though at least two or three competitors come to my shows, just to let me know their out there and of course they are trying to work my crowd, and venue owners, hasn't worked so far, as getting them some of my business.

Not so much anymore, either working or wife has us going out of town camping or something. On occasion we will hit clubs where we land, but not often.

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

I went to a club last night for the first time in 8 months with my 30 year old kid. The place was jumpin'. I just fell old anymore ( I'm 60 ) but I had fun anyway. Too loud but at lest I could hear myself sing.

Yes, I don't sing at my own shows, so my wife and I go out a couple times a week. We are friendly with most of the other KJ's in town and enjoy going to their shows. Not spying, just out to have a good time.

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Swing Time Karaoke

Yea about twice a week..hang out with friends and chat with KJs

I not only go to their shows, but I have been to their homes for parties and holidays. Over the years I have helped several KJs improve their shows by showing them some (if not all) of the tricks I have learned over the past 22 years. Why? Because I think it is important to improve how the general public feels about karaoke. My thought process for helping other KJs is: If I can help them put on a better show then more people will have a positive experience when attending a karaoke show, and that "good experience" will be spread to other people that may have had a less than desirable notion about karaoke.

I know that I will never get very far with this goal, but it has made my time at other KJ's shows a more enjoyable one, at least for me. Pay it forward.

With my current work schedule I do not get a chance to go to other shows. I do have several other host show up to a a karaoke show that we do once a month at a local Legion Hall and I get to talk shop with them.

When I first got into the business we did visit a few shows. I now rely on this forum and some of the DJ Forums for new ideas.

Bill

On the rare occasions I have a night off I will go sing at a competitors show as a fun night. At my own shows I am too busy to just have fun and sing. Some competitors are glad to see me pop in and will ask for suggestions or just show off new "toys". Others are cold as ice. I do not "spy", I do not try and solicit the venues or customers , normally I am approached by groups of the singers who recognize me within minutes of arrival and ask me to sing one of their favorites.

The last show I attended left me longing for a set of Bose L2 speakers for smaller venues

I applaud your positive outlook by devoting your efforts in helping others improve their skills thus fulfill their potential - for betterment of the karaoke industry. Inspiring! Bravo to you, mrmarog!

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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!

I agree as well Mrmarog, but i have unfortunately felt the sharp end of the stick helping other kjs improve their shows and skills. They all too often end up copying down my songbooks, getting the same exact equipment, binders, songslip size and just add their name, same lights, lasers, pretty much copy everything...the pass it on their OWN idea and claim that I copied them!

p.s ...and one of them comes in every few months and "talks" to my customers trying to lure them to his show by using the :i have these same songs"..that he copied from me.

Thank you Brian & Johnny. I have said it many times on this forum that if you want karaoke to grow in popularity WE have to improve the image that we display. Some of us feel extremely passionate about karaoke and others are enthusiastic, but are happy with what they offer.... even though it could use some improvement. Promoting drunks behaving poorly really does us all more harm than good.

I too helped a competitor improve his show and he in turn purchased ALL the same equipment that I own. He still ended up putting on a lousy show because he lacked hosting skills. Even then it was still a positive thing because his over all sound was way improved. He had been a pirate but, when SC came through the area he did purchase a lot of SC discs directly from SC. There were plenty of other good things that came out of it that as well. I do not go to his shows any more.

I enjoy going out to sing at least occasionally and definitely try to learn from the other hosts. Even the bad ones usually have something going on I can learn from if I just pay attention.

when i get a chance i will stop by anothers show, however working so much that is not as often as i like.
when i find the good guys i like to talk with them and help them get even better. they all have me on their phones and we will converse during shows if they have issue or need a bit of help with something. this 6 nights is killing me.

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Paradigm Karaoke, The New Standard.......Shift Happens

Not a hijack but kinda related issue (@ mods, feel free to transfer). Do you ever find some pages missing from your books specifically; pertinent info page such as rotation rules, singers' guidelines, nice graphic arts, etc?

And only happens when another kj ‘competitor’ come to your show? I wish they’d ask me first as I am willing to give them a copy.

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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!

I get out when I can, but it is pretty rare anymore. I work too much at my own gigs with KJ and DJ weddings etc. I love to go out to other shows but not to spy, just to have a good time. If the show is horrible I will just mark if off the list, if it is good, I will go back when I can to support that venue!