Karaoke Forums

I've been wondering this awhile & decided to gather a few opinions on whether bringing your own disks to karaoke is ok or not. I realize it will depend on the KJ but I'm looking for an overall consensus opinion.

The only time I've taken my own disks is when I've done the contest that I enter once a year. I didn't the first time I entered it & then after seeing that KJ had pretty little to offer and everyone else was bringing their own disks then I did too.

There's a guy around here who has thousands and thousands of songs but very little new female songs. He's got new male songs but not that many female songs. He's a great guy & lots of fun and is the most popular KJ around here but I'm tired of singing the same ol things when he's around. I haven't brought my own disks because I'm worried that I might offend him. I know him but not that well & don't feel comfortable asking for fear of upsetting him.

Now the other night I went to someone new & somebody had brought their own disks. That KJ mentioned that they don't care if you want to bring your own disks & said they'd be back New Year's Eve so if you have disks - bring 'em.

What is acceptable & what isn't? Plz tell me your thoughts.

Thanks,

I have never turned down someone with their own disks, and I bring my own customs when I go slumming.

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I encourage people to bring in their own. I try to buy as many requests as possible, but it's not always feasable as 1 song may come on a disc that I need absolutely nothing else (or already have) so I may not have "their" song. I will tell you where to buy it or where to custom discs made.

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

I don't mind people bringing thier own disks if I don't have the song already. I f do have it I prefer that they use the one I already have. I don't keep bad versions of songs in my book, so with mine I know what everyone's gonna hear. I've played other people's disks before and I've gotten versions that were unregognizable.

When I lived in NY, I went to a KJ that had the largest songbook I've ever seen. If he didn't have your song, and it was on karaoke, he would get it. There was no need to bring your own, thus I didn't even own any.

I didn't realize how spoiled I'd been until I moved to FL. Nobody I've gone to (even the good ones) has anywhere near the book this guy had. So I started buying my own discs to ensure I'd be able to sing my songs when I went out. I'm up to 57 discs now and always bring them with me. If I went to a show and the KJ refused to use my disc, that would the last time I went to that show. It's that simple.

When I'm at a venue for the first time I look over the selection and see if the songs I sing most often are in the book first. If there are songs I want to sing that are not in the book I ask the KJ if I can bring my own discs. I typically ask them before the show how they would like me to handle giving them a disc - and I always put it in a jewel case with the slip sticking out the side.

When I'm hosting I tell them that if there is a song they want to sing that I don't have to let me know and I'll try to get it. I let them bring their own disk but require it be a karaoke disc in good condition and prefer they give it to me in a jewel case w/ the slip inside. If I have the track I ask them to try the version I have first (unless I know my track is of poor quality - ie some of the SGB tracks).


BTW, I often look at how the KJ is handling the discs and equipment before I ask. I've seen some KJ's I wouldn't let handle anything I own (throwing discs on the table, laying laserdiscs on top of the mixer, and far, far worse treatment of equipment).

Never deny anyone that brings in their own even if you "think" you have the best version, reason being is that their own disc may have the version that THEY are used to.
Pefect example was I had I Hate Myself For Loving You on a BMB/Nikkodo disc. This was the only version available at the time & it sucked. Couple years later Sound Choice put it out & the version darn near mimicked the album musically & lyric wise. When I replaced the version in my book, ALL the people that sang it wanted the suck version only because that was what they were used to - even though the new version was true to sound & had ALL the lyrics, they wanted the old version. I still list only the new version but get some of my long time customers still wanting the old version & I give it to them.

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

In that same thought, if you are giving a disc to a kj, make sure the damn thing is cleaned. I don't have time to clean other peoples discs & if I see one that is smudged I will do a quick wipe on it & some people being anal about the way they clean their discs better not complain if I clean them my way.

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

You will normally find that people being anal about how they clean their disks, won't give you a disk with a smudge on. Anal people normally care.

I don't mind if you bring your own disk. Before I started Kj'ing went to a show where he put the disk in a wooden rack thus scraching the disk. Not happy at all. But because I wanted to continue going to the bar I made some protector sleves from an old page out of my cd book. And when I wuould take a disk up it would be in that.

That's what I am talking about. I had a lady give me a disc & it had 3 big smudges on it & I cleaned it before I cued it up & she flipped out claiming I was going to scratch it - it's the same way I clean my own including my 8125 - so you have to figure I will take care of it. I told her that it was smudged & she again asked me not to clean her disc, so that's when I handed them back to her & said i'm sorry I won't play them until they are cleaned. She walked out & I haven't seen her since - OH WELL!!!

Also I can't believe how many people will hand me loose discs. I finally went out and found a little loose cd rack that will hold them. I would never think of giving a loose cd to someone. I know several people carry their discs in the binders & in that case, always carry an extra jewel case for the disc you are playing, just to hand your disc to the kj.

I also have a disclaimer sign stating that my company nor the club will be held liable for lost, stolen or damaged discs. If you bring me one, it is your responsibility to make sure you get it back from me (although I normally will return it myself directly to you). Any disc that is left over 30 days will remain our property.

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

I agree with Lonman, the "best" version of a song is the one the singer is comfortable with.

In our songbooks we list dups and our discs are listed so that the brand is recognizable. Personally, when I go to a show I want to know what brand a song I want to sing is on. I understand some KJ's don't list dups but keep a complete book for themselves with all brands... Frankly I wouldn't know which KJ did their books that way and would feel uncomfortable asking them if they have the brand I prefer for each song I want to sing; if they don't it might make them uncomfortable and, if they do, it would take up alot of their time that could be better used helping all of us have a good time!

I do take some of my own disks to a show and ask the KJ prior to turning in a song if they will play my disc, if not, I'm sure I can find something!

We will also play someone's disc as long as it is not burned or, if it is, that we see the original. Works for us!

Susie

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Never feel uncomfortable asking your host a question like that. You will know what kind of person (& probable host) they are after the first question & that actually may determine whether you'll want to remain at the show or not.

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

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I don't have a problem playing someone's disc (even though most of the time we have same/decent versions of their songs). Personally, I don't enjoy attending to/getting flooded with customer discs, but it happens.

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Sounds Great! Entertainment
Bartlett, Illinois

Oh c'mon, we're not going down that road again, are we?

That's a good idea - I hadn't thought about that. I have my CD's in a binder & was trying to figure out how to haul my jewel cases with

99% of my customers that bring disks are burned. I would never expect anybody to bring thier valuable originals to a bar.

I never do deny anybody but I always will mention to them that I do have the song and it is a good version. If they still want to use theirs I will play it for them.

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