Karaoke Forums

I take mine with me too.  Just tip the KJ and it's fine.

yeah I was wondering how I got pulled into this conversation ...

wow my first post  like others have said  I don't mind if someone wants to use their own disk  I usually joke around and tell them "it's one less that I need to buy "

Hey John ---is this the John Im thinking of???? This is SWINGCAT in Portland.

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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

Hey John ---is this the John Im thinking of???? This is SWINGCAT in Portland.

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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

I'm not sure, but could some of this also be an age related thing ?  Here's what I mean;

Some of we "middle-aged" folks can recall a time that we'd refuse to play other's 33's, and 45's because if the records were in bad shape, dirty, etc. It might affect the playback device. It just was a policy of many older DJ's not to do it, but the reasons were logical. In the least case scenerio sound quality was impeded, NOONE liked putting scratched or dirty albums on their turntable. Same with tape that was in bad shape.. I'd have people ask me to put their cassette in my player, perhaps tape that was brittle from sitting in heat, or cold. Maybe just old, and In the case of 8-track (try not to laugh), often the grommet in the cassette would melt over time, and make a mess out've the tape player.  Standard cassette tapes might break and grab in the player and cause hardware probs (as tape became brittle such an occurance was frequent), etc.  While probs like this are likely minimal (if existent at all) in CD media.  Some of we older folks recall a time when it really was to our advantage NOT to take the time to inspect, and play other's albums, tapes, etc.  Some folks are creatures of habit. Depending on the nature of the venue we were hosting, how far out've the way to accomodate the customer we'd go varied too in the "old days". We didn't always need to "bend over backwards" for the audience, especially in radio stations, and certain other events. So it might also depend on where a KJ is coming from.

Not sure, just wondering.

Kj's that allow customers discs ROCK!

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[shadow=deepskyblue]I'm impressed, I've never met such a small mind inside such a big head before.[/shadow]

Well, on here...they changed my mind...so, i do allow them. Funny how reading why from people who do the same work as you can change your mind.

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 Hello My name is Bob Sears , owner of [glow=deepskyblue]Gemini Karaoke[/glow] in Salina ,KS as a KJ  everyone attending my show knows from reading the rules in the front of my book that I dont ALLOW costumers to bring their own Karaoke CDG's to any of my show..personally I think  its very rude and impolite to even do so...with way over 8.000 there is something for everyone..Im sure that you can find something in my book..but if your heart is set on using your CD then dont attend my show because it wont happen....everyone is well aware of my NO DISC policy including the bar owners and staff. Not being rude but thats just the way it is..it is also stated on my website as well.

Bob,
Welcome. you say you have over 8000 songs to choose from so don't bring my own cd's. But are you going to have sweet home alabama on KaraokeBay? Maybe you think yours is better but If that is the one I sing with then what? Friends of ours who are KJ's have well over 15,000 songs, but I will not sing some of the songs I like because they do not have the version I like. Doesn't mean they buy garbage, It is just some songs I will only do by a specific manufacture.

And chances are he has no discs by Canadian karaoke manufacturers.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

smoothe move on getting a web site posted ....see how long that post last's.
Count me out of going to that show. My rule is I sing whats on my disc's that I bring or I dont sing . (which would probably please some people)

My reason is the same as anyone else's who bring's their own. I KNOW the track's.
last time I used a Book Disc I was embarrassed by the crowd ( wait that was Roberta Flack).  Ill try again:)
I was caught off guard by a totaly different beat and ungodly noise that sounded like Zamphier was playing his Pan flute right next to me to keep me on key.
I'll stick with my disc's
Remember Customers have there Own rules too, the KJ down the street will get my and my friend's business.
Just a thought,
Michael

Steve :  Crackin me up wiith that whole senario, 33's , 45's, and my Favorite 8trk.
But thinking about it it could be a very true mind set.
however it's The 2000's now......things are probably better

besides I dont think Too many here are as old as us anyway.
Damn how depressing is that.

I can picture Dave-Sinatra now sitting alone is his room contemplating this whole thread in 5 years in his depends...

Welcome to this forum
Heya Gem, it's me from the other site.

I flat out feel YOU are the one that's quite rude with not allowing a customer disc. I can understand not allowing burns, but not allowing a disc at ALL is weird. There's no way that you can POSSIBLY have what a visitor to the area would want. One reason folks buy their own discs is some shows don't have either the right version of a song that they want to sing all the time, or the company in question doesn't even have the song the customer MIGHT want.

I sir, have over 15,000 songs.

so you have a website, but you also don't have your songbook online, so I as your customer have no way of knowing what songs you DO have UNLESS I visit. Well, since you've flat out said not to show up if I can't bring my own disc, I won't. Karaoke is by definition "Empty Orchestra"... what if your orchestra CAN'T meet my needs???

I had 7,000 for many years, but didn't mean that they were good versions, or even the songs that many people wanted. Even with 15,000 songs I'm CONSTANTLY asked if I have THIS song or THAT song... I just bought a PHM song (even though I'm completely covered by the monthly releases by THM six packs every month), because they didn't do the song 1985 by Bowling for Soup!! My G/F found a Kenny Chesney song I didn't have... so I'm getting that.

The point is, a customer could bring in a disc with either of those two songs, and feel MORE than comfrotable that I can play them. In fact, "Swingcat" is a member here, and he's always brought his own discs in when he stops by to visit... he likes doing more obscure songs that I just BET you don't have... I had three of his top ten requests! And he was frankly surprised I had one of THOSE! Only reason I did is I've been a loyal buyer of ALL the monthly discs by PHM until 2004, and that song was on one of those monthlies.

As I stated there is no GOOD reason why a kj shouldn't allow customers discs.  THEY are the ones that ultimately are paying the kj's salary.  If the customer isn't happy, they aren't going to bother going back to a place, why not try to make them as happy as they can be.   I highly encourage people to bring their own in & even sell discs to my customers.  It's not feasable for a kj to have every discs with every rendition & every genre - unless they have the "bigger is better" mentality.
The kj may not think they have lost anyone as a customer & that EVERYONE conforms to their specific rules, but if the rules are out of line or a little far fetched, they may not even know they lost customers as they just won't come back.

Also on rare occasion - it's happened a few times throughout the years - someone who brings in their own disc will end up giving it to me after a while to add to the book if I want, just to show their appreciation.

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

HOW is it rude or impolite, sounds more to be an ego thing in your case?  8,000 songs isn't even really alot these days & there is no possible way you could get everything ever released or even versions that someone may be used to.  Why do you FORCE your singers to be so limited to "stock on hand", with that small of a selection, you would think you'd WANT your customers to be happy?  I've been to shows that have books the size of an unabridged dictionary boasting over 50,000 songs & I STILL had songs on my personal discs that they neither had NOR could even get anymore for that matter.  I can see you saying I will never play a burned disc (for legality reasons) & that I can understand, not knowing if it's a bootleg or not, but someone's original...c'mon.

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[shadow=deepskyblue]I'm impressed, I've never met such a small mind inside such a big head before.[/shadow]

Okay...little melly will weigh in now. I too used to feel EXACTLY the same way you did. If i am paying for songs for people to sing...HOW DARE you insult ME by not using my songs?

Well, let me say...the more i have allowed others to bring their discs..and i then GET that SAME disc with their version they are comfortable with...i have brought many MORE returning customers to my venue. there are those who only do karaoke at home and so are then comfy with the song THEY are used to...and now with sooo many more manufacturers making them...not everyone is comfy with what i have

Granted...i am still working in the same venue i started in eight years ago..and so yes, MANY of the singers started with me and are used to the versions i have...but that does not mean i cannot extend some help in letting my customers feel that i care about them having fun. Which for me...just my opinion...is why i do this. I have stated i do not do this for a living...just part time. Yes...the money i make is very nice...and it has helped me in some situations..BUT..for me...i want them to have fun, and so if this means...finding a new and nice way to bring in more people...then i will. For my little show...its a WIN WIN situation.  I want to make clear...this is MY opinion only. AND just like Lonman...i have had people give and even BUY me discs. NOW that to me is way cool...and i love them for it. It did not offend me in the least..it made feel very appreciated.

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I always wondered if there was a KJ who had a No Other Discs policy, Welcome to the boards Gemini.  Still one has to see his POV, or at least his songbook.  Plus it depends if he is computer only and no back up.  

When I'm in that situation, be it trying out a different venue or visiting from another town, I have to make due with what that KJ has.  And I try and find a song to appeal to myself and also know that it probably hasn't been done to death among the regulars or even to the KJ so he can't think "Everyone is singing this same song on a weekly basis"  Even when I have to end up singing another song I am resorted to,  I'll still subtley give hints to getting the songs that I wanted to do in their books eventually.

My song collection is almost as small as yours (GeminiKaraoke) and I am not even a kJ. I drag them along karaokeing.

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

you are the boss... if you put down a rule, you must enforce it. If you told them one disc at a time, then when they hand you a 2nd disc, you hand back the first one... if they say "Oh, but I'm still going to sing that", then you be polite but firm in your resolve about yor rules!

I personally don't have a problem with multiple discs. they just stack up on the side, and since I work with a queue system, I know two-five songs in advance that I'm working with a customer's disc.

My song slips have a section for "customer disc - Yes or No", so that helps me a great deal in that situation.

Both Lonman and myself have our songslips available online for how they look...