Karaoke Forums

Unfortunately with some of the kj mentality in this thread, hoping for the best after singing is all one could expect. I will still try to get people to applaud - again - clap because they were good, or clap because they were done! EVERYONE deserves applause!

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

Cue, I hear what you're saying about blood from a stone. There will always be cliques or even whole venues that only want everything to fit into their little box. I know we've lost some singers and venues simply because we don't fit their mold. But lately, I really appreciate those kind of severances. One of things I really like about running my own business (both as a provider and my "straight" job) is that I get to make it exactly what I want. I may not get EVERY job, or impress EVERY audience member, but no matter how hard I try, I won't anyway. What's happening is that the people who aren't into our show, or those who don't help create our kind of evening, are not coming, and the people who dig it are.

The right kind of regulars are enthused to be there no matter what, and it shows in their enjoyment, applause, buying and tipping. And that energy grabs any non-regulars who happen to be their.

I have to disagree with your assertion that you are not part of the entertainment. As a host/provider, you are the one who booked the gig, you bring the equipment, you keep the show moving along, you've made the investment and you take the risk. Sure, this type of entertainment requires heavy audience participation, but your show wouldn't happen without you there.

Being, originally, from Long Island, this made me smile!! Thanks Cue.




As for this whole applause thing, I don't usually have a problem getting people to clap. But it depends on where I am. My Wednesday show has a very energetic crowd, who are very supportive of each other, and supportive of me. My Friday show the crowd changes every week, except for a few regulars, and there isn't much support for anyone.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

I didn't know that was a NY phrase (kinda like saying, "Your Brooklyn accent is showing.").

Yeah, pretty much is a lower NY, NJ, and Philly thing. I always get made fun of because of my accent. I sound like I grew up in Queens. My mother was born and raised in Queens. She raised me. I was born and raised on the Island, starting in West Hempstead, then moved to Smithtown. I kind of wish I could afford to be a snowbird. I still miss home, to an extent.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

I wholeheartedly agree with this. Myself and my hosts are part of the entertainment and I have started going out of my way to make sure that the hosts that run shows for me are engaging and entertaining. I want my business and shows to be known for more than just having hosts that, call names, push buttons and twist knobs.

I recently upped the ante on my hosts and challenged them to learn the basic line dances so we can engage the non-singers on the nights we need to change it up.

I have offered to pay Toastmasters dues for anyone that wishes to join and refine their speaking skills and stage presence.

I am looking around for some comedy workshops for myself to take just so I can have something in my back pocket for that really slow karaoke night.

The point being, I want to differentiate my karaoke company from EVERY OTHER karaoke company out there. I want the name of my company - Feel Good Productions - to represent how people will come away from a night at one of our shows - feeling good.

I believe the hosts are a critical part of that experience. Just standing there calling names for 4 hours doesn't cut it anymore in my opinion. It will always be a karaoke show that showcases the singers first and foremost, but I am going to weave in other elements in small amounts and experiment with new things to make sure that coming to a FGP karaoke night is more than just making sure a singer has a song on the list when their name is called.

-Chris

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-Chris

Agreed. It's STILL the Karaoke Host's job to keep the crowd revved up, attentive, and appreciative. The crap I mentioned above makes it harder, but a good host should be putting out his/her best effort at all times.

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

I didn't want people clapping much for me much when I hosted. My job was to entertain, not show up other singers or draw attention to myself. I would finish and slide off the stage before the outro if I had one.

People who sing and have more friends with them are going to get a good start on clapping and it can take off. Someone who doesn't have a crowd with them may have a hard time getting things going.

A not so good or even bad singer with a stage presence is going to draw and keep the audience more times than not. A great singer with a poor stage presence will not keep the audience. An off the chart singer and it doesn't matter. People will pay attention.

If you're not getting applause it's because you didn't get their attention. Simple enough. "You're great" is as easy to say as "You suck." although most people won't tell you if you suck. That's really a shame. If you don't know you're bad you won't improve. Take the non-applause as the room saying "You're boring." Then figure out why you're putting them to sleep and fix it.

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Okay, who took my pants?

No not true, i've heard people sing that would muster Simon Cowells kudos and still hear crickets chirping without some kind of coax from the kj.

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

For some, there is NO improving (whether they know they're bad or not).

Funny how some think that a "good host" will get people clapping or applauding.

IF the venue is full of young people, not all, but most are minding their friends, conversations, cell phones, and won't clap for anyone but THEIR friends, or a song they like.

I've seen professional singers with stage presence FAIL repeatedly to get barely a clap for an outstanding vocal performance at times despite prodding by the host...

Simple truth is that most young people in my area are SELFISH and have the "World Revolves Around Me" attitude that sucks. More MATURE singers are definitely more generous with applause, appreciation, and tips.

I think it mostly depends on the venue, crowd, particular night, and even less on the host's skills at encouraging, begging, demanding, etc applause. Some nights good, others, not so much support of singers.

A host can't get blood from a rock or an applause from a group not interested in karaoke.

Some bad singers know this so they act like idiots and dance and scream on the mics begging for attention. They mostly get ignored too!

I've seen great hosts with awesome banter, manners, etiquette, timing, jokes, etc... fail one night then crush another. It mostly depends on your audience. Yes you can encourage, but just TRY and force them. Stupid move. They won't return. Nobody likes pressure.

The WORST hosts are the one that "think" they can control a room with their type- A (azz) personalities that are too pushy, think they're funny, playboy attitude, think they are excellent singers when they're not, unattractive FAT middle-aged men that need a style update, need to stop drinking so much, stop hitting on all the women, and did i mention, THINK they're funny when they're actually very obnoxious.

This describes 80% of all the djs and kjs i know, even some of them i've met at Mobile Beat DJ Conventions. THEY think they're great while the audience, client, customers think they're unprofessional, unfunny, annoying borderline alcoholics begging for the attention they may have once gotten during their "Glory Days". Pathetic actually.

Sorry for the rant. Point being most kjs i know suck much worse than they think they do. It's nearly impossible for them to forgo their EGOS and instead learn what it takes to succeed. Passion, competence through learning, confidence through knowing, and the realization that the show or event is NOT about THEM. Leave the egos at home and you'll do MUCH better.

Sure you can "train" or "condition" your regularly scheduled audience to behave like pavlovs dogs and ring a bell or clap, but if your audience is ever-changing and growing with young people, good luck with that. They don't want to be told by an old fat parental host what they should be doing. They're too independent and do what THEY want to do, including ignoring you. Truth hurts.

Hey! I sound like Bruce on this rant!

Ah, but then why have karaoke at all if everyone is just going to ignore it?

Good question.

Because ultimately it is about butts with money in seats spending said money.

I wish karaoke was all about people appreciating performances of other people, but the reality of it is we are there to get people to come in, spend money, and keep them there spending money. If we fail at that, then we get replaced and go looking for another gig to fail at.

However, done right, we can enable and promote en environment where singers feel welcome, listeners appreciate it (and show it) and people do come in, stay and spend money. It is both an art and a science and, IMO, doing only one with out the other will mean for a short run at a venue.

The glory days of being the only gig in town are over. You have to differentiate, promote, and add value way beyond what the other hosts are doing. It takes time and effort. It means taking a few risks now and then and trying new things. Know what works well for you, refine that, and then build upon it. Then be willing to change things up and make your show different from other shows in the area.

-Chris

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-Chris

I believe that one reason for a lack of applause is we now have an entire generation of people who have had little to no exposure to live shows or performances of any kind. Therefore many of them simply do not know how to respond.

I realize this may sound silly to some, but think about it. Most people 30 and under have never seen a live play. A great number of these folks get their entertainment from some sort of electronic device or a download of some kind where there is little to no audience response. They don't know that it's OK to clap for something that you enjoyed seeing or listening to. Kind of sad. I'm over 40 and remember being taken to live shows such as plays or the Ice Capades as a child, and learned when to applaud and when to be quiet. I even remember when people would applaud in movie theaters at the end of the film.

I guess times have changed.

Unfortunately, I agree with these two statements.

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

Wow, Johnny Reynolds. You're quite bitter. I happen to be a middle aged, FAT guy, who lives in Florida and dresses casual but comfortable. I have to say that I resent your comments, a bit. Just because a guy is fat doesn't make him a bad host.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

Because people like to perform, even if it's just to crickets. If it's still filling seats & bringing in $$, that's the bottom line.

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

I go with "because people like to perform" but I go more with "they like to perform to a bit of acknowledgement." That is part of the adrenaline rush that feeds their performance and vice versal.

BT may have a point. Many of us older people did grow up being trained as to how to behave at a live show. But I do hear the younguns cheering and going wild for some things, including DJs.

I came from an initial karaoke experience of it being a supportive group. The mix was mostly good singers with a few not so good but people supported the not so goods because they usually knew their story--it was a courage building therapy for some. Those type of shows ran for a long time because people didn't want to miss seeing each other each week and there was a good mix of entertainment, socializing and dancing. Being supportive did put butts in the seats and also kept them coming back long term.

I feel the differences as I'm at a venue now with an older group on one night and the savages on another. I run the show differently for the latter and do agree with adapt or die but I think that just the nature of karaoke makes it more fun with a supportive group. As far as the days gone of being the only show in town, I never knew them. We started the actual business only a few years ago when there was karaoke on every corner but not much we wanted to attend. We set out from the start to be different and give extra value.