Karaoke Forums

Do your regular singers who aren't very good taint your show? My opinion is that they definitely do. While I sincerely appreciate their support and loyalty, someone singing the same song off key every week can sound like someone dragging their fingernails across the chalkboard. Offering them suggestions for other songs, dropping a key, etc. often fall on "deaf ears" (no pun intended) and it effects the other customers in the venue.
I notice countless people when I'm hosting at my weekly shows that as soon as they see the "tainted" singer hit the stage they run outside to talk on the phone or smoke a cigarette to avoid the performance all together. To actually see people wince in pain or move to another table has me a little concerned.
Almost all these type singers have the unfortunate belief that they sound amazing and their egos always get in the way from any kind of constructive criticism that would actually help them out.
I hope I'm not offending anyone with this question. I am just trying to gauge whether anyone else feels the same as I do Thx

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Sound Choice and Chartbuster Certified

It's karaoke. At a bar. It's not Star Search. The bad singers spend the same money as the "good singers". If the "good singers" can't get over their egos for one song then THEY are the problem. I've never heard anyone say "I'm never going back to that karaoke bar because that one guy was so bad". I HAVE had people say they aren't coming back because of one "good singer" who was so full of himself that people didn't feel comfortable around him and the girls were tired of getting hit on.

Yeah. Some of my favorite karaoke people are terrible singers. I mean, not hitting the notes, not hitting the rhythm, but they are a ball of fun. We did a "thrift shop" theme night at a karaoke spot that has sadly since closed down, where everyone wore the most ridiculous outfit they could find, and the guy who is probably my favorite worst singer ever came wearing a hockey helmet, a football jersey, a skirt, two different color shoes, and a backpack and was the hero of the night.

Admittedly, the really awful ones that think they are awesome can be an enormous drag, just as the really good ones who also think they are awesome. Guys like Sanchez, who I mentioned before, can be a boon. People would root for him to get a song right at least once and, in his own way, he became a rock star on the local scene.

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Co-host of The Greatest Song Ever Sung (Poorly), a karaoke-themed podcast

From the standpoint of a spectator, I think that the truly great singers DO up the entertainment value of a night. I mean, who doesn't like watching a great performance? Form a participation standpoint, I think that any really great singer can make other performers uncomfortable. More than once, I've said to myself "I do NOT want to follow THAT person..." I've found that non-singers are less likely to try it out on a night with a lot of ringers.

As far as getting people to sing a different song, I don't have much advise. I try to make suggestions to our regulars, some of whom go for it, some don't.

I believe that there are sometimes people who are so bad that it would be in the best interest of the bar if they were barred from singing. However, that is a dangerous thing to do. If their lack of singing ability is due to some sort of disability, you may have a lawsuit on your hands. I know of one guy who is in a wheelchair that sings around town. He doesn't sing, more like grunts. And, when he settles into your karaoke show - he's there for the entire night.

You CAN do something about it, but you have to do it for everyone. Your first song of the night is your audition. If you pass it, you advance to the next round, where you get to sing another song. At any point, if you fail, you are done for the night.

That would be about the only legal way I believe it could be done.

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

Seriously!????? I wouldn't even suggest this!!!!!
My son has Downs Syndrome and loves karaoke.
"Hello ladies" is his usual opening call on the mike. He's sings his heart out every time and gets a great reception after his songs. Karaoke helps with his speech and self esteme. To think a KDJ would consider operating a way of removing singers not considered good enough is deplorable.

Hold on, big fella. Karaoke is not a competition, its an exhibition. If you feel like you're competing with other singers, then you're in the wrong mindset. Besides, karaoke is the carrot to get people in to the bar to buy alcohol.

My best friend is tone deaf (legit) and he is so much fun when he sings. He doesn't murder the tunes, but he wouldn't be hired for wedding gigs. The whole point is that people could see he was enjoying himself and the audience was in on the joke (so to speak).

And if you do have divas or 'raoke whores who consider themselves better, then it only fuels their fire to get up and put their talents on display. I have rarely seen karaoke enthusiasts leave because of a bad singer.

Now its a different story if that singer happens to be the KJ who keeps inserting themselves in the rotation...

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Karaoke should be a selfish pleasure.
Check out my Facebook page "Griff's Karaoke Adventures" to see how many tunes I can do without repeating!

In the end, the real problem is that there comes a point when it is subjective, and who are we as the KJ to decide where the cutoff is?

Also, I 100% agree that my patrons appreciate a bad singer who's having a good time much more than a good singing diva with her nose in the air telling me to skip the bad singers so everyone can hear her.

But I give them both their fair turn. Karaoke is about as far from elitist as you can get, and that's why you get such a wide variety of singers. Treat them all the same!

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C Mc
KJ, FL

Yes karaoke is fun and people have fun but when you get a singer, especially a regular, who has people leaving the bar and not coming back, that is detrimental to business both yours and the bar's.

We have had disabled singers with no problems. However we do have an autistic who yaks on the mic before singing and disrupts other singers to the point where some will not come back. Neither my partner nor the bar will do anything (he seldom buys anything) because they are afraid to look like a bad guy. I have friends who have autistic kids and have seen this guy and have said this shouldn't be happening. Quite frankly he should be told to behave properly, make purchases or not come back.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

I always practiced with the concept that there is entertainment value in every performance. Sure people will bail on someone that can't sing well. But many times the KJ reaction plays a major part in whether the crown will hang in there or not. If the KJ is presenting a negative mood with words\actions the crowd will definitely follow. If the KJ is presenting a positive mood and is "getting into" the performance, the crowd may hang in there. I can't say they will. But they certainly will not if the KJ is saying "here we go again" and rolling their eyes or is hesitant..
Notes: I am not blaming anyone here or saying people here have done this as I DON'T KNOW. This is just an observation from past experiences.

How about an experiment? The next night you have some of these type performances, go way over the top to seem excited and into the performance and note the crowd. I know everyone will think they do this already but I mean really go over the top. I think it would be a very interesting.

As for "qualifying" singers, if that's the sort of show someone can run and get away with it, then go for it. I think there are very few places where you could do this but if you do, you need to advertise it that way and be prepared for some fall out over it. You WILL lose a certain amount of your crowd so the quest will be, "can I make it up with good singers". I don't see it happening unless your show is close to a large talent pool.

This goes far beyond a customer with poor singing ability, but you're right, that no one wants to look like a bad guy, complaining about people with mental disabilities.
I'll bet for years, when that stupid bit#% in Sandy Hook, would take that crazy son of a b###### of a son, to the gun range to shoot semi-automatic rifles and pistols, that there were many people, that thought this was completely insane, but were too afraid to say anything, because of this politially correct world we live in.......jmho......

I've been doing this for a long time. And, I have never cut anyone off from singing other than "drunks" - except one time at the order of a bar owner....

All of my experience tells me that when certain conditions exists, a bad singer can be detrimental to the show. For instance - a fairly busy bar with few singers - especially if it is a new show. You have a singer who is "terrible, beyond belief" trying to sing as much as possible. As a result of your short rotation, he/she is up every 20 minutes or so.

Yes, something may need to be done. I respect everyone's opinion as to why nothing should be done, and I realize that it sounds terrible. But, I've been in that type of situation - and that situation occurs week after week. And, when that situation starts to affect the show to the point where it puts the karaoke show itself in jeopardy - then you know where I'm coming from - and maybe you'll start to rethink your position. Or, maybe you'll have to lose a show or two under similar circumstances to realize what I'm talking about.

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

Actually, I've been sort of doing this for years. My shows all go until 1:30AM (Paid ending time). I usually don't stop until the last drink has been served. I announce that I am going to be going over, but it's DJ's choice as far as "Who Sings and What They Sing". Most times, everyone gets to sing one last time, and they get to pick their song. But, sometimes I pick it for them, or sometimes I have a theme for the last round (i.e. Dirty Karaoke, Tribute To The Troops, etc). Our last round of karaoke is always the best, in terms of quality, crowd reaction and singer satisfaction.

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

Well, maybe I'm all alone here, but I know for certain very bad "regular" singers effect new and old clientele. Heck, it even effects the servers and bartenders. I don't care how excited and great you as a host make the performance, in the end, it is what it is.
I'm not talking about a below average singer, I'm talking about the ones that yell out the lyrics off key and no matter how much I turn them down and the music up they still sound horrible. They show up to sing before I even get there to set up. They have a dozen song slips filled out an hour before start time and usually talk to me as I'm setting up.
I try getting them interested in other music by telling them they should try this song, etc. and they say they've been singing these songs for years and feel the most comfortable with them. I do theme nights, i.e. disco, ratpack, reggae, etc and yet these same singers sing there old stand bys. Many people, including the bartender, manager, have told me to not let these people sing if they aren't following the theme but I have yet to act on their recommendation.
They are there supporting the venue and are polite and non-assuming. I feel very torn as to what my next step should be. I should also clarify that The singers in question are past retirement age and have been karaokeing for decades. I am in South Florida so having singers 70 years old is very common.

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Sound Choice and Chartbuster Certified

You are spot on. These singers seem to seek out new shows. I suspect that this is because they feel mistreated (maybe?) by their usual karaoke host or venue?

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

And when everyone else passes the bar except for him then you still have a legal problem.
I don't operate that way nor would I want to attend a show that did that.

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The Line Array Experiment is over. Nothing to see here. Move along.

....speak for yourself. I'm in south Florida and can't remember the last time a 70 year-old walked into our bar. It's the type of bar, not particularly the location!

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C Mc
KJ, FL

It's the HOURS of the performance. I too am in south Florida and I get lots of 70+ singers and some are very good. My shows (when I do them) are 7 to 10, and I'm back home in time for the start of the 11 o'clock news. Great pay, great hours, NO drunks. A lot to be said about south Florida aged population.

With this scenario, there are several different ways to approach it. Personally, I would address the guy before the show and politely tell him he needs to respect the mic and stop yelling. If he can't control himself, then he's done. AND it can fall under the "I'm just protecting my equipment from potential harm" clause.

Just make sure its not the bar owner's brother. I found that one out the hard way.

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Karaoke should be a selfish pleasure.
Check out my Facebook page "Griff's Karaoke Adventures" to see how many tunes I can do without repeating!

They are trying out "New Venues" because they have worn out thier welcomes at the "Old Venues" and have been told to hit the road in no uncertain terms!

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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