Karaoke Forums

I have tried various ways to encourage my regulars to step out of the box and try new songs I've tried theme nights, new song Mondays, duets, and suicide Karaoke. The immediate results are pretty decent but the next week they are all back to singing the same old 2 or 3 songs.

I've tried suggesting new songs that I believe would fit their voice and sometimes they try them and do pretty well only to fall right back to doing the same old ones.

Any ideas out there???

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Sound Choice and Chartbuster Certified

KJ I know does "Gender Bender" night..

Guys sing pre selected gal songs, and the reverse.

Funny stuff sometimes.. Not for the homophobic boobs though.

I'm thinking of running a promo for singers who sing something off a list of surefire party songs I put together.

If they sing one off the list they don't normally sing their slip goes in the hat for a $20 drawing and the song is crossed off the list for that week.

Every time they sing another new one off the list, they get another slip in the hat.

Some people are just comfortable with the three songs they like and feel they do well. Since they are regulars to the same show singing and listening to the same songs from the same people, they have already proven they don't suffer from boredom easily. Your boredom doesn't matter as much to them, as looking bad in front of everyone if they get caught out of their element. Large repertoires take time to build if you're the type that has to feel completely competent with a song before singing it more than once.

I've found the best way to get the one hit wonders to expand their repertoires is to give them what they come to karaoke for...attention and appreciation. Once you convince them to sing something new, make sure you have allies who will go out of their way to compliment the singer afterward. The bartender and wait staff are good allies in this endeavor as long as they can do it genuinely. If the singer does well, make sure to tell them that song is a keeper, and at the next show recommend that song again.
Everyone reacts well to praise and seeks to relive the moment.
Be careful Dr. Frankenstein, you could end up building a monster.

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KNOW THYSELF

That is a great idea I live in Florida and older people (me included) become content with "what they know"...... so content that a lot of them bring their own CD's, and will only sing from that CD.

Frequently I offer a drink to the next 3 people that will change their song to something fast or something they have never sung before. I always get takers, but some of the time the change is not so pleasant. So be careful of what you wish for.

Some people will rarely step out. I have one guy that is now after 20 years finally adding new songs to his 10 song repertoire.
Most others will try new songs often as I get their requests.

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

I used to do a Kamikaze Karaoke round during a week night. Essentially, you close your eyes, and open a book. You pick a page then you drop your finger down. You could pick a song from 15 up or 15 down from where your finger landed. The only way to sing in that rotation was to Kamikaze. I don't remember anyone turning away. There were a few times I let people try a second time if they seriously landed in a really bad spot for them. . Several people picked up new songs they sang regularly from a Kamikaze round.

I do the "Next 3 new singers get drinks" trick to kick start things.

We also do.....

gender bender challenges
theme nights
kamikaze
sing another version (a different brand, mix, cover, etc)

We are about to start a "Singer's Showcase" where we give the first 30 minutes of the show to a single singer to perform whatever they like.

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-Chris

A few weeks back we did a takeoff on a singer's showcase.

I brought in a spotlight, donned a tux. Turned off the video to the TV.

Every other round you had to perform your song from memory. The people who signed up to do it came in all dressed to the nines.

A lot of songs they were comfortable with, but they were moving around a lot more and putting on more of a real show.

I think it's in how you phrase it.

My approach: "Man, I would love to hear you try 'XYZ', I think you would tear that up. Will you give it a shot for me next time up??"

Afterwards, assuming it was a good fit, "That was Awesome!! Dude, you have to add that to your list, that's a great fit for you!"

Kind of like the poster above.... encouragement and attention. It can backfire if you put up a bad fit for them though. Can really turn them off from trying new songs.

I would like to see this list. Might help me some.

My goal on a light karaoke week is to sing at least one new song I've never sang before, and at least two on a week where I hit three or more spots, which gets harder as I get older and become convinced they stopped making new music at a certain point.

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Co-host of The Greatest Song Ever Sung (Poorly), a karaoke-themed podcast

The Cat's Meow in New Orleans only has a couple hundred songs to sing....... but they are all great party tunes.

Great idea for a list. If it works there it probably works most other places.

I'm developing the list now. I saw a top 100 songs I liked, but a few I thought had grown stale.

One for sure - my wife absolutely electrifies young crowds everytime when she does Fergie's "London Bridge".

Part of it's the shock factor in seeing somebody her (ahem) age do the song and the rest is attitude and moves.

The bar usually sends her a drink when she's done because the place goes into a frenzy.

I think that would work only where you didn't rely on regular/repeat customers but in high tourist type areas where no regular/repeat customers are necessary.

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

Well, even at the Cat's Meow they change the liste every 4-5 months, but on the other hand I have seen the same people singing the exact same songs for years at some area karaoke shows and the songs they sing aren't upbeat, but slowwwwww ballads and tear jerkers.

I believe this is right on the money.