Karaoke Forums

While many of you may already know what I have to say, your reading it again might help improve a customer's karaoke experience.

First I am not a karaoke host and for that matter, I am not even a singer. That said, I have spent over 35 years in food & beverage management and during that time I have also consulted dozens of establishments. My involvement in the karaoke scene goes back over 20 years ago. This includes creating karaoke in a number of establishments. I cannot begin to count the number of karaoke hosts which I have encountered. This includes owner/operators and KJ’s employed by both system owners and the establishments. In short, I have been around long enough to hear a lot of karaoke.

Establishments have karaoke to increase their revenue. Karaoke is a service provided for the enjoyment of the customers. This includes both singers and non singers. The idea is to get customers to stay in the establishment longer. The longer a customer stays the more money they are likely to spend on both food and beverage.

Being a KJ may look easy, but it is not. It requires knowledge of sound equipment and the ability to mix audio. Being an excellent singer is not a requirement. However, being a fair singer, who is not embarrassed to perform, is necessary. The KJ is an entertainer with no ego. Another talent is the ability to keep the singers rotation correct. Patience is also a virtue in dealing with poor singers and people who may have had too much to drink.

The KJ, who hands the microphone to a singer, hit the start button and does not take a few moments to listen to the singer and adjust the mix, is not doing their job. All songs tracks are not recorded at the same volume. Adjustments in the volume of the singer’s vocals or the music track, the equalization, or the reverb maybe required.

I have heard KJ’s with older analog systems, lacking state of the art electronics do a much better job of making singers sound better than a number of KJ’s with the latest digital computer based systems. This is because they take the time to listen and mix the audio.

Customers want to sing as often as possible. This requires the KJ to move the singers through as quickly as possible. What was been long gaps of silence between singers in the past has been replaced with fill music. This fill music should fit the owner’s desired customer base and demographic. This may not necessarily be the music tastes of the customers that are present, but the owner is paying you so they set the standard. The type of fill music should be discussed with the owner to make sure it is appropriate to their wishes. As I said, karaoke people come in to sing. They do not want to sit and hear dance music, while the KJ goes out to smoke or chat with customers at the bar.

Some owners may feel that the lyrics in certain songs may offend customers or their target market customer. Women are especially sensitive to this. KJ’s should discuss with the owner songs that contain obscene words or foul language. These songs might be deleted from the music library. Rap can be a serious problem in this area.

The best KJ’s are usually the ones who sing the least. When a KJ finds they have a sufficient number of singers (usually 10 or more) they should remove themselves from the rotation. Announcing this to the audience lets them know the KJ is trying to speed up the rotation. The exception to this would be the customer, who wants the KJ help them with a song or do a duet with them.

Keeping the singers rotation correct can be a major problem. Skip a singer or mix up the rotation and you have unhappy customers. If you get a reputation for doing that often and the customers will go elsewhere. That means revenue for the establishment drops. Too many complains to the owner and the KJ will be out of a gig.

Worse yet is the KJ that adjusts the rotation moving a singer up that tips well. KJ need to remember they are hired by the establishment and the establishment makes it money from all the customers. The only exception to this that I know of is a KJ that said “if anyone wants to sing next, just buy a round of drinks for the bar.” Funny thing was every so often there was somebody who did.

Near the end of the evening (last half hour or so), when a KJ know there are enough singer requests to fill the rest of the evening, they should announce that to the audience. A customer sitting around thinking they may sing one more time when there are no available slots left also makes an unhappy customer.

Thank you for posting this Dennis...may I share?

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"Integrity is choosing your thoughts, words and actions based on your principles and values rather than for your personal gain."
Unknown
"if a man has integrity, nothing else matters, If a man has no integrity, nothing else matters."
Lee McGuffey

@Dennis H

I Agree with most of what you said except these two points



This is not necessarily true. while I do skip myself when a patron asks me to sing a duet with them, I always Sing once per round. The difference is that I read the room and sing songs I know that will get the crowd going. I usually do not sing songs that I personally would like to sing for myself when Hosting. This is most helpful when you have a bunch of guys singing Pink floyd or a celine dion ballad and bringing the room down.



NEVER Make that kind of announcement over the PA! Deal with the individuals that come request songs one at a time and tell them you are not certain if you can get them in before the end of the night, but you will do your best. This way people that are still buying last minute drinks will not hear that you are almost done and take their group and leave (Loosing sales at the end of the night). Also, I made that announcement once years ago and several people left, but the people that were supposed to sing in that last 20 minutes of the night had left for other reasons leaving me with nobody to sing at the end of the night. it's hard to tell sometimes, who is still there and who has left, in a large venue.

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Sal "Kjmann" Esquivel
Karaoke With Sal - Website

I always make the last call for slips announcement - even have a sign that goes out. My software tells me what time the show will end in real song time. Once that time is reached, be it 11:30 or 12:50 - no more slips get taken. I might on occasion take a slip but make it clear to them that the most likely will not get up unless we get some cancellations.

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

I usually put up a wall the instant says, "I am not something, but let me tell everyone that is something how they should do it".

That said, I think most of will agree that much of what Dennis posted is fairly accurate. We all know there is no one perfect way to run a show. The subtle tweaks each of us make are what make our shows unique and our own.

I have found that most singers that don't like a new show or a new host don't because they are accustomed to a show being run a certain way or a host running things a certain way.

People don't like change, they like familiarity.

-Chris

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-Chris

Dennis, for someone who doesn't sing or host karaoke, you are WAY ahead of the game! A terrific post. Especially about hosts A) removing themselves fom a solid rotation, and B) being sound sensitive and adjusting for new singers.

The only difference we have is: NEVER announce "no more songs" on the mic. This can cause a mass exodus. If someone asks, by all means let them know that you are no longer taking slips- but NEVER announce it.

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

I disagree with that (the no announcing it), but it may be because our crowd knows. Make them know the drill it may not be a bad thing. I've not had the crickets others have stated. Most stay to do their last song.

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I stay in the rotation, I announce the start of a new round then lead the round like any other singer, I think it shows that the rotation is set and singers respect that the KJ is not abusing the rotation. Like kjmann said I read the crowd and select songs that raise the crowds mood and rarely sing a song that has been sung for several weeks and I find the it shows regulars to open up and reach into their archives and widen their song choices to find more upbeat selections.

I usually do not announce that I’m not taking more singers. I may announce that Karaoke ends at a set time and that I’m trying to get all in but I have found if I announce people bounce, and keeping them there longer is my goal. Plus the establishment may not necessary close or stop serving when I stop Karaoke often they put on a play list with the house PA and the party keeps going.

I generally handle the pre and post karaoke music. I play upbeat music before karaoke to raise the mood, and I play chilled out trance and lounge music afterwards to calm the restless natives.

I also don't like to announce a close to the rotation. I have found that when I do, not only do singers leave, but the rest of the herd moves with them. I do what I can to keep them there until last call. The bar is my partner and it is the little bonus extra things like this that makes them happy and keeps me around.

I will tell those that submit songs later in the evening that the list is long and that I can't promise to get them in. It really depends on how many other singers are left.

-Chris

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-Chris

While Dennis brings up very good points, I believe every one of them have been discussed, dug back up, discussed again and again. And again.

Bad thing? No, one doesn't like a post or thread, don't read it.

My point? Based off everything Dennis covered, I hope no forum member (except for newbies or those who read but never post) learned a darn thing! I know I didn't! Funny thing, I found myself wondering if Dennis had been at one of my shows and took notes for what to do as a host???

I do announce when no more requests will be taken. I know I appreciate it when a host does that.

I take myself out of the rotation after 7 singers unless I have a special request. I will help out with duets but I don't encourage it.

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KingBing Entertainment C'mon Up! I have a song for you!!! [font=MS Sans Serif][/font]

It really depends on where I'm at. My Friday night gig requires that I announce about a half hour before that I'm not taking anymore requests and to pick up the books. Other venues during the week are earlier quit times and we sometimes go an extra 30 minutes to an hour so no announcements. Keep them until the bitter end!!!!

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Sound Choice and Chartbuster Certified

, no I didn't learn anything either, it sounds like he took a page from my employees handbook. I've been doing all of that ever since I started pretty much, except I pull myself out of rotation after I get 5 or 6 singers.

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

I announce when I have no more time. . . (I usually have ten minutes to play with)

If I know I won't have time to sing, I tend to start drinking more.
The addicts tend to leave when their name drops off the list, which free's up time for the late arrivals.

I want customers to return to my show, so I treat them as I would like to be treated.

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'A genius is one who can do anything except make a living'. Joey Adams.

Bottom line.........an hour or so on this site could replace having to wait twenty years to figure out every good point you mentioned.......now as far as a few points you've missed, and one or two(which you mentioned), that just don't work......do a little searching on this site, and catch up.....

If you stay in the rotation after you have 4 or 5 singers you are competing with your singers for spots. Ratchet that ego back and let the customers perform.

"I'm sorry, I can not accept anymore requests. I could have fit a few more of you in but I took those spots so you could listen to me sing. It's been a great time, be sure to join me next week when I start singing at eight o'clock, drive careful, I'm looking forward to singing for you again, goodnight!"

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KNOW THYSELF

Thanks for all the positive response. I well understand that not every I said would work for all situations, but I was trying to share my observations from the establishments and non-singer perspective. I hope all your shows go great!