Karaoke Forums

A little aside to this quiestion--- if someone sings something at a venue that is definitely out of place for the venue's taste, or so far out in left field genre-wise, then does professional etiquette on the part of the kj no longer apply? And does that also mean that the singer should be fair game to the audience, regardless of the reaction, if the musical genre does not fit the venue?

Who decides what is okay to sing at a certain venue besides the singer?  Additionally, the professional etiquette of the KJ is never dismissed.   A singer should NEVER be fair game...  Fair game for rudeness?  Not at our shows...  -, not a jukebox...  

Just my opinion,
Susie

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Karaoke with Full House Entertainment

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

One night while singing, I had a problem with a guy yelling, booing, and screaming that I was an Elvis wanna be.  I wasn't singing karaoke but with a band.  After I finished the song, I politely walked over to him and told him that I was truly sorry that he didn't care for my singing and then before he could answer I knocked him clear over his table.  Now, I know that this wasn't the civilized manner in which to handle this situation, but guess what - he never yelled at or booed me again.  And what the heck, I felt better. These idiots are bullies and they only do what they do because everyone lets them get away with it.

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Singing just for you

One night while singing, I had a problem with a guy yelling, booing, and screaming that I was an Elvis wanna be.  I wasn't singing karaoke but with a band.  After I finished the song, I politely walked over to him and told him that I was truly sorry that he didn't care for my singing and then before he could answer I knocked him clear over his table.  Now, I know that this wasn't the civilized manner in which to handle this situation, but guess what - he never yelled at or booed me again.  And what the heck, I felt better. These idiots are bullies and they only do what they do because everyone lets them get away with it.

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Singing just for you

Lucky he didn't have you charged for assault.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

yeah, far be it for anyone to actually own up to being an (@$%&#!)! That's the problem with the world today. Nobody takes responsiblitly for their actions... if they hackle, harrass, or otherwise be obnoxious it's okay... but the moment someone else is offended and takes action... "hey, they hit me! I wanna sue!"

So someone heckles, what gives you the legal right to assault.  Let them heckle, they're just proving to everybody else what idiots they are.  It amazes me the stupid reasons people assault each other when not needed.  A person like that you have removed from the bar.  Unless you own the bar or a staff member who has authority to remove the obnoxious, you have no right to assault.  Even if you do have authority, you may only use reasonable force to remove that person.  First line of force is telling them to leave.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

Like a drunk that HECKLES is going to be reasonable enough to leave? Yeah right! !

and rules of assault may include "who threw the first punch", but it's been argued in court time and again about reasonable cause!

That's the job of the bar, not yours.  Obviously you didn't read my reply properly.  The first level of response is presence then asking.  The second is guiding the person out using reasonable force.  And people wonder about Americans.  Strike first ask questions later.  There is nothing anyone can heckle me with which will cause me to strike.  Now a person attempting to assault me or someone else first, that's a whole other matter.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

first of all, I didn't say anything about "Me" striking anyone, I was just agreeing with the fact that it might happen. and I can understand WHY.

In my particular situation, I'm part bouncer, so it's not the "bar's job", but mine as well.

You can heckle me, and I can take it... to a point. But the whole point is that "verbal assault" IS a condition that can and does lead to physical confrontation. The fact that you can handle it, or I can handle it ... is completely immaterial.

There's also the concept of "PROVOCATION. Always a factor-is was the person PROVOKED. And did they act REASONABLY.

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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

Too many unreasonable people in a bar to begin with cause they all been drinking too much.  I've been in places where angry loud mouths are tolerated and places where they are not.  I prefer the latter.  No time for judgements.  Throw them out.

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I only date Karaoke singers.

The KJ HAS to be in control of the crowd.  I don't put up with hecklers.  Sometimes I get the person who starts heckling or complaining.  My way of handling it is to tell them on the mic, "If you don't like what is being sung then find a song you'd like to sing. OR, find a song you like and find someone who will sing it.  And if you're still not happy, we have a front door and a back door. We don't care which you choose. And perferably don't come back!"  This usually brings a cheer from the crowd.  The offensive "person" has always sat there and shut up the rest of the night.  Sometimes I remind them ( the younger imature ones)  that your mom and dad aren't here tonight.  We go by my rules.

As far as song content.  That's MY call.  I don't put any songs into my system that I feel are vulgar, or ones that I feel people would find offensive.  My crowd is very diversified by race creed color and age.  21 - 75. Do I have the right to determine that? YES.  It's my system, my business and my personal right to do so.  I had a singer ask me why i didn't have a certain song.  i told him because i found it offensive.  He started to preach to me about it being a free country and he had the right to sing it.  I told him I agreed with him and he could sing any place he wanted to except here at my show.  He said he would complain to the owner.  I told him go ahead.  The owner doesn't tell me how to run my show and if he does I'll take my "toys" and go home.

I KJ part time.  3 nights a week (Sat, Mon & Wed) at the same place and have been doing such for 4 years.  That tells me I'm doing something right. I am also blessed with a owner who allows me and the bartender to "call the shots."  If I tell them someone needs to leave their gone.

I say all this to stress that you as the KJ have to be in total control of your show.  No one should dictate how you run it.  Be fair, and be CONSISTANT!  Your crowd will appreciate that more than you know.  

My 2 cents.

Kelly

Well as far as songs that are different or not fitting a certain "image" I actually encourage people to sing some different stuff.  I'm a bit metal fan, so I sing mostly metal, and I have a small portion of the crowd that will do a few rock and metal numbers as well.

As far as heckling, I have a unique approach.  I've only had to do it once though, most of the time my crowd is polite, but once there was a chick in the crowd who kept yelling that she could do the particular song better.  Finally I got on the #2 mic and sang in the same style as that song the words "No one cares you'll just sit there til the song is done", exactly in the verse style of the song at the perfect time.  The entire bar had a real good laugh over it and the offending lady kept her mouth shut for the rest of the show.

How to deal with a Rude and Rowdy Audience?

Make sure your venue has good security that comes running when they hear the music stop and "86" yelled over the mic that they come over and take care of the bastards.

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Living my life as Robert Cortese, 162 E. Jackson St, San Jose CA.

It's like the difference between high and low budget toilet paper, it really doesn't matter in the end. -exweedfarmer

Which is smarter? Just sticking to making/selling karaoke, while people all over the world create software FOR FREE that helps you sell it, or trying to compete with them and keeping it a closed loop while you blow your money into an industry (software) that you(the karaoke manu) knows nothing about?
-me

Speaking of assaulting hecklers:

In the great state of FL the state supreme court has made it legal for you to fight back if provoked without having to worry about consequences. Liberals call it the "shoot first, ask later" law, though it really has not changed anything in the state so far. In all other states, however, if a guy hits you and you hit him back, you are in as much legal trouble as he is. Not here!! So come on down to FL and go ahead and beat the snot out of that heckler!!

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C Mc
KJ, FL

If someone hits you, you can defend yourself by using the necessary force to do so.  It's called self-defence, but it does not give you the right to kick the crap out of someone.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

I heard at my gig this past Saturday that the FRIDAY DJ who does some karaoke had an incident late in the night with a group that came up to sing ...Of course they were intoxicated and somebody put there drink down on the table and before the DJ knew it ----it was spilled all into his NEW LAPTOP SYSTEM  :banghead:

Here in Florida I can Kill you If I feel you are threating my life. and I walk
" Dont Fornicate with Florida"....