Karaoke Forums

Ok now this is SURE to open up a BIG OL' CAN OF WORMS!!
SUBJECT: THE ROLE OF THE KJ!!

What is YOUR idea of the ROLE of the KJ at a KARAOKE SHOW? Is it as:
-A game show host
-A talk show host
-Facilitator
-Sound engineer
-Emcee
-Narrator
-A dance DJ
-The show's star and main entertainer
-Someone simply in the background
-Or nothing more than someone who can fog a mirror and stick the next
disc in the machine and say NEXT!!!

To my mind I define the role as pretty much similar to that of a game show host, that facilitates the "ENTERTAINERS"(singers), engages the crowd, involves non-singers in supporting the singers. He/she "Manages" and directs the show, yet never steals the spotlight--from the crowd perspective the KJ ALWAYS is the SECONDARY personality--NEVER the FOCUS of the show. The KJ SHOULD sing a very few times an evening, YET NEVER EVER DOMINATE the show or COMPETE with the singers for the crowds attention. The KJ should seek to get dancers up periodically to get them moving around, getting them sweaty and thirsty to buy more drinks and just cut loose dancing. I dont wear funny costumes, do  comedy routines or impersonations, the most I will do in that vein is a blues hat and shades. As a customer I find it distracting. However I ALWAYS dress nicely as a sign of respect for the customers.
The KJ must ALWAYS strive to ENCOURAGE new persons and make EVERYONE feel at home, welcome and PART OF THE SHOW by introducing and welcoming the singer and then drawing the crowd to the singer's performance when there finished by saying something that draws the crowd into applauding therby PARTCIPATING in EACH SINGER's PERFORMANCE. So bottom line, is facilitate, host, manage and NEVER EVER DOMINATE, COMEPETE OR HOG THE SPOTLIGHT from the custies. That's my take. What's yours?????

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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

Works for me!

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

I definitely agree on your points kurt... when the show becomes all about the host then it is time to find a different place to go... I can't stand the "I am the star" KJ's who feel the need to sing every other song, "help" each singer as a backup singer and who think the only people who deserve to get up and get dialed in are their friends and groupies... I have always said that karaoke, in and of itself, is boring- it is WHAT you do with it and HOW you present it that makes it successful and a host that knows their place is a very important part of a successful show... - tig

I hate it when a KJ

1. think that he is the Star of the show
2. spend more time on the floor talking a date
3. spend to much time looking for the next song
4. play to much dance music
5. set the same eq for the micx for ever singer regardlees or singing style
6. drunk

I dont mind if

1. the kj does not sing well
2. limited number of songs in the song book

I'll shoot the KJ

if  the rotation is BAD and UNFAIR

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I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott

Yep.. I agree with what he said a few months ago.. some friends of ours that are KJ's really torked me... the woman made dang sure she sang every new and popular song they had during the first couple hours of the night and put herself into rotation every other singer... Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr........... that is SO wrong!

Why do people think that a good KJ must be a good singer? Never like it when the KJ sing better than me...

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I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott

A KJ should be able to sing one or two songs well, but not the entire book!

The KJ should facilitate the show, engaging others to join in while also acting as a sound engineer to insure the sound is appropriate for the entire evening.  He acts as an MC to bring up each singer and to insure the songs are appropriate (crowd friendly  - ie if there are kids someone doesn't sing 'the rodeo song').  He insures the flow and maintains the energy of the room - just like a person managing the playlist at a radio station or a good DJ.  It's about being able to create a fun atmosphere for everyone - not just the person singing.

And as for my rotation... it's like the 3 stooges counting out the booty.
One for you, one for me, two for you, one, two for me, three for you, one, two, three for me... That way I sing once the first rotation, twice the second, three times the third, etc.  That way you can always tell how many rotations there have been by how many times I sing! (If you don't know I'm kidding you should leave now before you type something stupid!).

I'll tell you the role of a KJ:

Understand your audience and keep them coming back to MAKE THE BAR $$$

Everything everyone has said is the role of a KJ are just different means to the same end. Depending on what type of crowd you are playing to, you may have to be the center of the show (if the crowd is bored and needs to pep up), or way in the background (if the crowd has enough energy and personality to go around already!!)....whatever it takes to get the peeps there and keep them there.

As far as rotations, I am a very good singer but only sing when I feel it is needed, i.e., I sing the first song so that everyone is eased into turning in slips (I always make a point of it to sing a very unitimidating, mid-tempo type song as well or else I'm just gonna scare those that are already apprehensive!!). I then pretty much don't sing the rest of the night UNLESS there is a lull in the rotation OR a string of ballads or bad songs where the crowd starts to lose interest and needs a high-energy pick-me-up.

Beyond any single thing (song selection, system quality, etc.) regulars will come back and stay all night when they know they are going to get a shot to sing 4-5 times a night, and though I can't control how many people are in the rotation (it's really my job to make the rotations LONG!!), I can keep it from being LONGER by putting my ego in check and taking one more body out of the rotation (myself)!! On the flip side, those that do not sing will come back for karaoke night when the energy level is real high and everyone around is having a good time.

My role during the show is energy, fun, personality, and help for the newbies (to find songs, etc., not to sing with them!!), not singer.

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C Mc
KJ, FL

1) Use whatever talents they have to put on a good show.  Comedy--play a musical instrument--whatever.  Particularly important when not many people are singing.

2) Have a good selection of dance music for breaks.

3) Help singers not take things too seriously so they have fun.  To do this a KJ needs to set the example and not take themself too seriously.

4) Don't complement singers to the crowd.  It often times feels condescending.  Instead just say "Ahhh, give it for ____!!" or something like that.

5) If a singer is really singing badly, give them some light-hearted teasing so they laugh about it.

6) Try to harmonize on songs when asked by the singer.

7) Male KJ's should show a lot of character--charisma.  Be in command and entertaining.

8) Women KJ's should show a lot of skin :)

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I only date Karaoke singers.

I agree -- This could be history in  the making --EVERYBODY AGREES  :hi5:

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Teri Jo
...May the road rise to meet you... just, not too quickly, and not too hard!

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I'm sure #7 applies to male and female and that #8 is tongue in cheek, if not, this is the point at which I don't agree.    

Susie

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You do it in the shower,
you do it in the car,
Ccome do it with us,
and be a star!!!!

Karaoke with Full House Entertainment

[scroll]Just because I have a short attention span doesn't mean...... [/scroll]

Yea... I've seen some female KJ's that I'd hate to see show skin.  With them I'm more likely to yell - Put it on!

See #3

Oh c'mon most bars are full of men.  I hear guys complain that there aren't enough women in the place all the time.  I tell them if they want a place where there are more women than men, then they have to go to church

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I only date Karaoke singers.

Actually a KJ should be able to sing so on those rare occasions where there are no singers, so he or she can entertain the audience.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

My #1 job is to make the bar money.

#2 is to get paid, more the bar makes the more I make.

#3 ensure everyone has a good time, singers and non-singers

I entertain, tell jokes, play music, sound engineer, emcee, sing a song or two.

I play music between all singers, it keeps the non singers entertained. I generally play 6 to 8 complete dance songs a night.
I recently added video to my shows, so now I don't just play music I play the video.
I like to sing but I try to keep it to a min, when rotation is under 5 I'll sing a few. When it's busy I never sing unless it's the male 1/2 of a duet or someone request a song.

If its a slow night---Ill sing in the regular rotation---or less. But usually half of those I invite someone up to duet with me on something like SWEET HOME CHICAGO--Ill sing leads and they join in on the chorus--so its not actually just me singing--and the crowd likes that and the singer gets to try a new song with help if needed. If its really busy I will only sing 1-2 songs total--One to get it rolling(either CELEBRATION or DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC). Later to fill the dance floor Ill duet with someone on BRICKHOUSE or maybe ZOOT SUIT RIOT. (nothin like havin a dance floor full of CUTIES surrounding ya!)  :)

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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

Probly the MOST IRRITATING KJ's are those that ARE THE STARS OF THE SHOW--singing on EVERY Filler song or going out and singing backup on LOTS of the singers songs or going out and doing some kind of "DANCE SHOW" behind singers or on the fill music. It GETS OLD REAL FAST and I, anyway get TIRED of watching it! Then what happens within about ohhh an hour or so of this, one by one the tables start to empty out and what is left is an EMPTY BAR. Ive watched this happen MANY TIMES.
And what is REALLY PITIFUL to watch is when that KJ then asks over the mic "HEY WHERE YA GOIN!!!????"

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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