Karaoke Forums

Seems like a given

But we all know it's sometimes impossible to get folks to come see you at karaoke

It took years to get family to come see me. One day I realized they would never come unless I trick them. So I told them I would treat everyone to dinner. Nobody even knew where I worked. It was a hasty surprise for my mom's bday and I tried to get all of my best singing male regulars at the last minute to drop by and serenade her all night. The venue i work at has a few peacocks who love to croon to the ladies. I'm talking: they get down on a knee hold your hand the whole time while singing Teddy Pendergrass "Turn off the lights" type showoffs. Full eye contact because they memorized the words. And they sing it like it's not a joke they're ready to bed you down. Only 1 showed up. Lol. At least. She had a good time though. Had I more time to plan it better, I'd push my dad to sing. It'd be so out of character for him, she woulda loved it. He woulda done it because it's cheaper than a gift. Lol

Only my wife. My parents are not bar people.

_________________
-Chris

Yup. my parents and my sister come out every few months just to hang. my sister sings but not my parents.

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

I should also qualify this - I live in WA state and most of my family lives in TX. So they won't be coming to any of my shows any time soon. I have been singing at karaoke though for 20+ years though and none have ever come to karaoke with me. In fact, the last time my father heard me sing in public was at his wedding some 28 years ago.

_________________
-Chris

H-A-S my family seen my show?

A few times when i buy them dinner and drinks

not really, although my Father and sister was at my wedding and basically saw what I did because I hired someone to run my equipment for me.

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

My mother has seen/heard me sing on many occasions but has never seen a show. My mother lives in Iowa and I live in Florida, and she is 99 years old. Travel is difficult for her but when I go to Iowa she is always ready to go somewhere for dinner and a beer or two and then to karaoke. I was in theater in college and she always came to see me by bus, because she has never driven. She is my best supporter.

Brother & sisters from out of state come to my show once a year.

They were so proud seeing me run the show for the first time. They said “you’ve certainly come a long way indeed, such considerable progress & improvement from that sheet lyrics minus-one & cassette karaoke tapes……..”

_________________
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!

my sister has gone to karaoke with me a few times, and my mom came on my birthday. But neither one was one of my shows.

-James

My Mom & Dad used to come out a couple nights a week until their schedule changed to not allow them to stay out past 9. I have cousins & Aunts that come out on occasion. When I had kids karaoke shows, my kids (then 4 & 7) would come out.

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

Mom and Day are gone but my sister and her other have didn't know I could sing. I showed them. My daughter and I go out all the time if I'm not doing a show. She now goes out of her way to help out at my shows if she has time. what a blast. So much fun with family around.

that's freakin' awesome!

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

I am having a 100th B'Day party for her on September 19,2014. She is a very spirited lady and remembers everything! I am having my 45th class reunion the following week Sept 26 & 27 so I will be able to spend plenty of time with mom.

I should mention - my wife as my assistant is with me at all my karaoke shows. I’m behind working the rig & she’s my one woman ‘welcoming committee’ to new patrons; pr work such as explain how the show works, rotation, pass & collect books/request slips, etc. Be the first on the dance floor to draw & encourage the guests out onto the dance floor; even teach them the basic line dance steps.

These may seem unnecessary as customers can just help themselves, or ask me but I know my job would’ve been a lot harder were it not for her help.

_________________
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!

When my Mother was still living in Hallandale, I took her to this restaurant called Mai Kai once (on one of my visits to see her). She was 93 at the time. The place was expensive (I think I spent about $250 (Tip included) for the 2 of us). They had a Polynesian Fire Dance show as part of the entertainmnet. My Mother loved it there, and I told her that I would take her back there for her 100th Birthday. She replied back (jokingly) that she might not make it to 100, and I told her (jokingly) that this will give her something to strive for. Well, unfortunately, she didn't make it to 100. She passed away 2 months ago at the age of 97.

Anyway... here is the URL: http://maikai.com/

They are in Fort Lauderdale, and it is well worth the money. The food was excellent, and the drinks were phenominal!!! I don't know how far you are from Fort Lauderdale, but you might want to consider this place for your Mother's 100th Birthday.

None of my Family has ever seen me while hosting a Karaoke show, but most of them have seen me sing at Karaoke. Whenever I used to visit my Mother (when she was alive) in Florida, I used to take her out to Karaoke shows with me. She used to love to see me perform.

One of my best stories was the last time I took my Mother out with me for Karaoke. This was in December of 2011. We were visiting Harryoke's show near Palm Coast. We had been there twice before (a year apart on each visit there), and the Regulars used to always ask me to sing "MOTN" from Phantom. Well, that last time, I decided to surprise everyone (including my Mother), by getting dressed up in full costume to sing that song. The only person who knew I was going to do that was Harry (Harryoke). Harry gave me a 3-song notice, and I quietly walked away from the table. I went to the Bathroom to change into my costume, and was ready for Harry to call me up for my turn. Harry called me, I came out of the Bathroom and approached the stage. While I was standing there, my Mother walks up to Harry, and tells him that she doesn't know where I disappeared to. Harry is sporting this giant smirk on his face as he points to me. It still wasn't registering to my Mother, and Harry finally said, "Mom... he's standing right in front of you." My Mother took another look, and then went, "Oh My God!!!", smiled and went back to her seat. Needless to say, I received a Standing Ovation when I finished my song, and my Mother was non-stop hugging me.

That is the stuff that memories are made of. Great story Cue. My mother lives in Iowa and a trip to Florida would be out of the realm of possibilities, but thanks Cue.

Sort of.

My family is very, very religious, and my shows are not very religious experiences -- even the few family restaurants I do get a wee bit rowdy after hours, and my bar shows are foul and decadent affairs, and I'm still not ready for my parents to be privy to that.

I did, however, catch a break one night when I got called to take over a show ten minutes from their home. It was a restaurant they liked, and it was an early night to boot -- 7-11 as opposed to my usual 9-1. So they rounded up a few friends (and my wife) and occupied a table to watch me work.

Unfortunately, I had literally no singers. The previous host had managed the show so poorly that nobody was really interested in coming out for it anymore, and I hadn't had the chance to turn it around yet. To add insult to injury, it was a country show -- nothing against country or those who like it, I simply am not one of them, and I was probably a poor choice to take over the gig -- so even the songs I sang were far from my "A" game. They were simply the easy country songs I keep in my back pocket just so I can have a foot in all genres.

I had fun hanging out with them, but it really wasn't a chance for them to see me in my element. I hope to make that happen one day.

Yes and often. karaoke has become somewhat a family business as well with a few distant relatives in different parts of the country also running karaoke businesses. We have 3 generations here in our state and a couple of extended family (nephew and sister in law) running companies of their own as well. Karaoke is a family pastime