Karaoke Forums

I think that karaoke is for pure amateurs. That's why the words are put on the screen. I think the professionals singers belong at open mic nights. It's funny how so many of the "pros" seem to only show up at karaoke when there is money to be won. They wouldn't be caught dead there otherwise. I think if a host wants to sing, he should go to someone else's karaoke show and support the industry that way...as a customer.

I think that there are many karaoke hosts who started out as karaoke singers. They started out with a few of their own discs and their own karaoke machine at home and they wound up as very good singers because they had the ability to practice at home so when they went out to karaoke bars they stood out as very good performers. Fast forward some years and these people have now gotten a large collection of their own discs and they decide to be karaoke hosts. Now that they are in CONTROL of the show, they get to decide how often they will sing in the rotation to "show off" their skills. What they don't seem to realize is that they are no longer customers at a karaoke show. They are HOSTS of a karaoke show. Have you ever seen a Hostess at a restaurant ignore the long line of paying customers, waiting for tables, and sit down at a table and order some food during peak hours at the restaurant? Me either. A host is an Master of Ceremonies. he is not a singer. A host is Ed Sullivan. He is not the Beatles. Just do your job, Ed.

You are entitled to your opinions, as am I. It's funny how the KJ's who like to sing at their shows, regardless of how many people are waiting, get so defensive about it. I don't go to a restaurant to watch the Hostess eat. If that analogy is too far over your head; that is yout problem.

Let's put it like this. How many host's would go to a restaurant where every time they went in. They had to wait until their waitress/waiter was done eating before they were served?

Or go into a tire store to get tires then find out that they won't get their tires on until after the sales man get his tires put on 1st.

How about waiting at an ice cream shop for your ice cream but the server is making themselves a cone and the line of people in store is long. But they are making their first.

in most businesses I know the salesperson or host would get fired. Unless Your a Karaoke host. Many of them feel they are entitled to sing before their customers since it's their equipment and they are doing you a favor by being there.

There is nothing wrong with the host being part of the show to get things going and get them moving. But at some point (some hosts feel at 5 singers some feel 7 - 10) they need to let their customers BE the show. Making customers wait so they get to have their turn is arrogant and selfish. Plain and simple.

Either you are providing a service where the customer is king. or your doing them a favor. Because you are the most awesome'st host with the best set up the best song selection and the customer is only equal to the host and your doing them a favor by being there providing a service they are paying for while you the host is being paid to not allow them to sing as much as you do. After all the Bar is paying you to be there. obviously people want to hear you sing. Personally if you think that your customers really came to just hear you sing. Then why call it karaoke. Just call it your show and put on a performance.

One place I love to go as a customer has the hosts part of a group that puts on shows all around LA. But they also work as Karaoke hosts. When they are hosting they are not singing every turn. Occasionally they may sing one song in the night. Sometimes never. The pace gets packed almost everynight. Some nights are better than others depending on the host transition times, sound, etc. But the common thread is that they are there for the customer. If they want to put on a show they do it on the nights they have a show scheduled at another venue. I would go there more often. except it takes us an hour to get there and the bar prices are a bit prohibitive to constant patronage. Now there is a place a 2 minute walk from my house. A bit more affordable but, having waited through over an hour and a half for the rotation to get to me, and having the host being more important to himself than his customers I got up and left. I know many of my friends would have and have done the same thing. I also had that happen at another bar the opposite way also within walking distance. Thought it was going pretty well They had about 20 singers. Got new singers in pretty quick. But the Bar had 5 people working behind the bar. After sitting there 20 minutes I finally went to the bar and ordered me and my girlfriend a drink. I had actually sung my first song before i got a beer. My first impression was the Karaoke is great but were are is the wait staff. So I finished my beer thinking that maybe there would be someone coming around eventually. No one ever did. I had another song in so I don't mind waiting and applauding for everyone else. but finally went back to the bar to get another beer. This is when I noticed there were five people working behind the bar now and two of them had been in the back singing. After getting back to my seat and watching as everyone in the room got up to sing (as it should be) it appears we get to the top of the rotation again as the host sings. then they start bringing in the bartenders/staff to sing. Now I must be just crazy. because having 5 people working in a bar and customers going to the bar to get their own drinks then making the customers wait as the whole wait staff is paraded in to take turns at singing. Just seems really ODD to me. I left and have no desire to go back.

Some people say that I'm jut complaining. Is it really too much to ask that when you are paying for a service you expect that service. As a customer, I'm paying to be at a karaoke venue. I'm buying beer, food, sometimes at higher prices because of the entertainment provided. Many hosts feel they are the stars of their own shows. I don't go back to those.

And to those who think people that leave are just bar hopping. I would say they are looking for good service. As I've mentioned before in other posts. Captian Curt's in Sarasota was packed. But it was one the best Karaoke Experiences I've ever had. Can't wait to go there again one day. Host didn't sing, Bar was packed almost a 2 hour rotation. When the show is moving along it's exciting and entertaining. I talked to the host for a few minutes and one of his hosts for over an hour at the bar. (didn't know it at first until she told me) But he has a rule for all his hosts. Most important rule is they not sing. She had told me he has only sang once at one of his own shows. But he was there as a customer and it was his birthday. Now there is a Host that understands running a business and customer service. There are other hosts that feel the same way. Many posting on these forums. I only hope that more of the hosts that feel they are the stars of their shows keep running them that way. It will eventually open up more opportunists for those of us who do treat our customers as kings and not as if we are doing them a favor.

Your analogy makes no sense, though, as it's not an equivalent analogy, any more than if someone were to suggest that your position sounds like the guy who goes to a basketball game and gets upset he isn't allowed to get on the court and play with the team.

I want happy customers, both singers and non singers alike. If my rotation is low, I will sing. Especially if I can bring the mood up and get things unwound. If I have one customer at the end that wants to sing, I've been known to stay a little longer to accomodate them,,,,, even if it means I am now on free overtime.

Your analogy makes no sense, though, as it's not an equivalent analogy, any more than if someone were to suggest that your position sounds like the guy who goes to a basketball game and gets upset he isn't allowed to get on the court and play with the team.

To those that say "I don't go to karaoke to watch the host sing"..... Do you also not go to karaoke to hear anyone else but yourself sing? What are you doing while waiting to hear yourself? Listening to others? Is everything fine with listening to other patrons sing but the moment the host does, the show it crap?

Seriously funny stuff here.

To those that say "I don't go to karaoke to watch the host sing"..... Do you also not go to karaoke to hear anyone else but yourself sing? What are you doing while waiting to hear yourself? Listening to others? Is everything fine with listening to other patrons sing but the moment the host does, the show it crap?

Seriously funny stuff here.

Karaoke is for anyone that wants to sing, be that a pro, amateur or otherwise.

-Chris

The host is getting PAID to WORK. The customers are there to play and they are paying for the play time.

So the host gets a request to sing a special song for someones anniversary, they shouldn't do it to make them happy just to make you happy?