Karaoke Forums

I am always looking for new -- fun -- ways to introduce singers...

Examples, I have a frequent singer named Aleta -- I always say "just a bit more than a quart"... (Get it?)

When I encounter an uber masculine singer, I often introduce them as "the lovely and talented 'so and so',".

If someone is singing for us for the first time, I say "in their inaugural performance here at (name of bar)".

If they're someone who sings a great deal (and they can take a joke) I say something like "a frequent performer here at (name of bar) -- in spite of our best efforts."

You get the idea...

So what sorts of introductions can you add to the repertoire?

Call Aleta's name and as she's walking up, sing into the mic "Aleta a lot of Aleta and never get full..." This would be particularly effective if she's old or ugly. Be bold, be adventurous, you're going to offend the easily offended but who needs them anyway? Vanilla is boring!

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Okay, who took my pants?

I never say anything about a singer unless I know them vary well. I may say something like " here there are well primed and ready (name goes here) "....

I've used background music like american idol theme, or what you'd hear when they announce winners at the award shows, like a big orchastral music. And of course I'll jabel on while the intro music is playing with something like: "you know her, you love her... please welcome once again for your listening pleasure, the one and only _____.

I've used theme music from cops, kill bill, darth vadars theme. It all depends what works for the night. For example one guy we refer to as the Italian Stallion, he gets the Rocky theme for an introduction. But usually, everyone gets an introduction, not always with music but made to feel special when I call them up. I try to create enthusiasm at my shows. I even give out the special Firelight Award once every couple of weeks for outstanding vocal performance by a human being.. It's engraved, looks professional, that I had custom made and they love it. Singers are randomly picked by Hewlit Packard so no ones feelings are hurt. It's all in fun.

I'll spend a lot of time in the audience. Sometimes I'll introduce someone and walk them up on stage arm in arm. (girls only) I'll do anything for a laugh and to create a fun atmosphere.

I do everything I could to make it an awesome time for the singer, my guests.

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Electro-Voice Evolve 50... Taking Sound To The Next Level.

I have nicknames for many of our "regulars"... There's 'The Reverend' and his younger brother 'The Deacon'... 'Wicked William'... 'The Professor'... 'Lady Joan'... 'Eugene The Dancing Machine'... 'The Champ'... 'Miz Bette B.' ... and so on...

I try to find nicknames to fit the personality, and the patrons seem to love it... I've even had one or two complain that I've not yet hung a moniker on them.

We have an older gentleman, well into his 80's, who's name is Wilson... When it's time to call him up to sing, I'll say something like... "and the throngs are calling for.... and the crowd shouts out in their best Dennis-the-Menace voice... "Mister Wiiiilllllson...."

I too, try to make our shows all about having FUN... and after close to 40 years as a wedding/party DJ, and several years in radio, I've learned to ad-lib fairly well... I try my darndest not to fall into the "Here is... That was" trap.

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Earl
(BS, PHD & Certified CurmuDJeon)

[font=Times New Roman]"Growing Old may be mandatory... but growing UP is still optional."[/font]

I used to do some kind of 'fun' intro for each singer years ago, but when I took a poll on things they did/didn't like about our shows, the fancy/creative intros were amongst the top of the list of things they didn't like. Nicknames are still ok, but otherwise they just want to be called up and singing.

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

My old karaoke host/acquaintance used to introduce me with "Back from an extensive tour of internet porn sites, its... JAMES"

talk about embarassing, but hey it always got a really big laugh.

-James

very interesting replies

i don't really say anything out of the norm, when introducing someone. the most i'll do is find an intro song that fits them best. like, a girl named roxanne used to visit before she moved and the obvious song to play is "roxanne" by the police. but i usually played "roxanne, roxanne" by utfo and cued it up when the song says her name as she walked up.

when it's a lady's turn, i play a female artist. any female artist. when it's a guy's turn, i play a male artist as they approach. any male artist. it's not guaranteed, but regularly.

i just remembered something humorous i did at the end of a singer's performance

it was a male/female duet. they sang a rap song. nice, clean-cut, post-college aged couple who are semi-regulars and they know they shouldn't cuss that hard, but they were doing the song so very badly, they cussed their way through. i think they were expecting the radio edit version, but we only had the real hard version, so they tripped throughout the song, gave up and just did it with all the cussing intact, i guess to be funny but it was backfiring because the cussing was too grimy.

at the end of the song there was silence. the couple stood by awkwardly. what filler song do I play?

i threw on a gospel song. one of those cliche, hand-clapping, big church, Jesus-in-the-title gospel songs. i had it cued up right at the good part of the song, too. the duet laughed out loud with the crowd like yes, thank-you for dousing the awkwardness. then we took a 5-minute break from karaoke while folks got out of their chairs and started clapping to the beat of the song, acting like we were in church and we don't even have a church crowd like that.

i love playing that gospel song from time to time it's called "Jesus can work it out" (the remix) it's a 6 minute, upbeat, feel-good gospel song i'll cue it up to the 1:20 mark and let it play for 2 minutes or so feel free to use it. they break it down and go acapella in the song with clappping somewhere after the mid-2 minute mark. i didn't know it until i started playing it from time to time that the song is a great crowd-uniter.

I keep it pretty simple. Some of the folks have nicknames or end up with one after something goes awry (or well!) during a performance.

I have started point out to folks that the phrase "What's Up" is never actually said in that song and I have used that as a means of playfully trying to convince them to not sing it.

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-Chris

That is because "What's Going On" was a song by Marvin Gaye.

I fell for that one once.

A singer came and asked for What's Going On and I put her in the list for the Marvin Gaye song.

Priceless. (the confused look on her face when the title screen came up with the Motown tune playing)

Switched it digitally in about 10 seconds.

A friend of the singer actually did the Marvin Gaye song later in the evening.

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Never the same show twice!

Just straight ahead intro..nothing cute, offensive or clever...a simple "alright Mary's goin to sing a littlle Patsy.Cline.......Crazy....are you ready?!!

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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

Nah... that is so boring. I wrote an intro for you...

"Ladies and Gentlemen, the time has come once again for you to be entertained by the incredible Mary. Not only is she a great singer, but she loves to sing as well! In fact, Mary has been singing since she was a baby. Yes, when she was a baby they didn't give her a pacifier they gave her a microphone. Yes, Mary was born to sing and we are so happy to have her with us tonight. In fact, it is an honor for me to be in the same room with her. Yes, the amazing Mary. Someday, we will all be buying her CD's and going to see her in concert. But for now, it truly is an honor to be able to listen to her beautiful voice. So, without further adieu, I present to you now, one incredible woman: A woman who has no equal. A woman by which other women are judged. A woman by which other women look to for leadership and guidance. Yes, a true legend.......... Ladies and gentleman, please put your hands together and give a nice warm welcome for our very own Mary!!!!!

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Electro-Voice Evolve 50... Taking Sound To The Next Level.

I never announce what the singer is going to sing up front. Let it be a surprise for the audience. I will however, at the end of the song say:
and there is.......Mary, singing a classic by Patsy Cline...........Crazy. Just how I do things.

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Electro-Voice Evolve 50... Taking Sound To The Next Level.

As a singer, i'd take the boring get me up over this. Too much talk from the host.

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

I agree. I hope you know, I was just exaggerating, taking it to the extreme.

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Electro-Voice Evolve 50... Taking Sound To The Next Level.

It does not offend, make the singer nervous and DOES GET THEM MUCH APPLAUSE FOR ENCOURAGEMENT as they come up to the stage. Tried and true and proven over many years of hosting shows.

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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

Indeed, I don't like to take time with the introduction -- I use the introduction as FILLER as the singer is making their way to the stage.

(I don't like filler "music"...to me that takes away from the intimacy...I'd rather engage the audience than just replace the dead air with 18 seconds of headbanging.)

I have my filler volume set at 10% (actually louder because of Breakaway boosting it) of master volume and I am easily able to clearly talk over it while announcing the next singer.

Something I do to keep the crowd interested between singers isn't spoken but visual. I made a bunch of very colorful pictures featuring a bunch of pre-1930 naked lady pictures and then I splash "Joe Blow singing... " up over the top of them. They are very tame and no one has ever complained. There was some minor shock value at first but that soon died away. If interested you can see them at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2q1QPMoYPQ

I used them for something to look at while prattling on in my attempt to write silly science fiction in this case.

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Okay, who took my pants?