Karaoke Forums

I see a number of disputes, (conversations, arguments, debates) about who is better, DJ or KJ.

As for me, I think the talents overlap, and one can and should do both if possible.

A friend of mine, (Nice lady KJ) noticed her KJ shows dropping off, and attempted to overcome this problem.

She did the DJ thing anyway, and came up with a new slogan for her Yellow page ad.

DJ for clubs, parties, and weddings. Karaoke of course is allways free with DJ bookings...

What a concept.. She is so busy now, she can't take a nap..

What are your thoughts?

JD

My own feeling's regarding your post Jerry,  is that it should be obvious to most that talent exists (as does lack of ability) in all area's of interest. Some just have training and a knack for what they do. More do not.

Karaoke isn't a huge area of interest for me. As a musician, I view it as a practice tool for vocalists, and an inspiration to sing for many that might never have picked up a microphone otherwise. I have been around awhile however, and over the course of the past 5-8 years (although not a long time period) have been to numerous area clubs that have provided Karaoke as entertainment. It wasn't until I joined this board that I heard the term "KJ" used. "DJ" however has been around for many years.  I think many more "mainstream" individual's recognise DJ as meaning Disc Jockey, I think the percentage of people that recognise KJ as meaning Karaoke Jockey are considerably less..

In brief:  Assuming that I wanted to advertise I provided entertainment in this area, (perhaps in the local paper as a person looking for wedding, or smaller private party type gigs) I wouldn't just put "KJ for hire", and make the assumption the older folks hiring entertainment have a clue as to what "KJ" stand's for.  I recognise this is a daily word for all in here.  You all know what this means, because this is a specific area you have an interest in. For some it's a job or career..  To others however, Karaoke is a very small aspect of life, and unlike the radio, or club/disco "DJ" (that's become a well established term to we middle-aged folks especially) due to notoriety during the 50's, 60's, 70's, and 80's as a common entertainer within the club, radio, and even TV realms;  many reading "KJ for hire", won't recognise your service as having the significance of the "Disc Jocky" or radio, entertainment personality most of us grew up with.  Many still haven't a clue what "KJ" means..

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

For some reason when people hear KJ they think it limits them to JUST karaoke... now a DJ that can also do karaoke is something more in their eyes... they think they are getting 2 things for the price of one... now i have seen KJ's who couldn't DJ if their life depended on it and i have seen DJ's who couldn't KJ even if there were only 2 buttons to push... it is mostly a perception from the customer standpoint... marketing yourself as a DJ who also offers karaoke can be a bigger selling point than saying you are a KJ who plays music too even though usually there is no difference... - tig

Basically, this is how we advertise ...

However,  we say Karaoke is also available for private parties and Night Club entertainment.  We don't "give away" Karaoke.  It's extra music, extra equipment, extra time setting up and extra help.  (I've seen a lot of DJ's work alone, but a KJ usually needs some assistance with audience questions, taking requests, etc.).  Typically, if someone books us for a wedding, party.. etc .. and also wants Karaoke ... we add an additional 75-100 dollars to the fees.  We do, however, always throw in "free" cocktail hour/dinner music as part of any private event.  

We stay pretty busy.

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[shadow=tomato]If you want your significant other to pay attention to EVERY word you say::
  TALK IN YOUR SLEEP   [/shadow]  

It's all the same.. The booking insures you get paid, and like most business, anything "FREE" is included in the price. It's just an advertising slogan..

As Steven says, not everyone has skills and/or equipment in both areas.

But for those that do, the work is there..  :dancin:

Such a good point Kappy makes. I say KJ and people look at me
as if I have 2 heads. I usually have to say karaoke DJ for them to understand.

The problem being I don't consider myself a DJ. I can DJ also so, but not very well.
I am not set up for it and don't pretend to be good at it. I specialize in KJing.

Excellent idea about advertising. If I ever do need to branch out I'll know how to
handle it.

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[shadow=pink][glow=deepskyblue]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

I don't believe one is better than another (KJ vs DJ)  
I do  both when opportunity allows.  I consider myself a KJ (to most lay people that just means a DJ who also does karaoke) .  I specialize in offering KJ entertainment but will do just DJ work (mobile DJ  I don't do CLUB work ).

I think KJ'ing is actually easier than DJ'ing .  All things equal as far as equipment and pay I would rather KJ anytime over DJ'ing . In both you need to be personalble, energetic, professional.  But  when DJ'ing you have to be aware of your crowd 99% of your job in most instances is getting people up on the dance floor and keeping them there.  You're constantly thinking 4 songs ahead and must be able to switch gears on a dime if your song choice is wrong  :shock:  :shock: .

KJ'ing ...You just let the singers choose what songs to do and occasional I'll throw a dance filler song in now and then.

One better than the other NAH ...SAME ...NAH..similiar...Like distant relatives..

Some that aren't really familiar with just how vast recognition of the "DJ" is might enjoy sites such as this one.  Just to show that the term "DJ" has some history involved
http://www.jahsonic.com/DJs.html



"Last Night A DJ Saved my Life" is a pretty interesting book too btw.


I think that was also the title of an early mid-80's Disco tune done by some relatively obscure R&B group prior to it's cover about 5 year's ago.

gotta get up
gotta get up
gotta get down


One must never forget the famous breakdancers !

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

In the last few months I have spent a few hundred in dj music and use it to quasi dj and for fill...

One of my old dj buddys grins and says there arent any dj's anymore... You need something like this

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Join The Karaokle Singers Social Network. Upload Your Music!!

Yeah Karyoker,  Rumor has it that Daniel McDonald and Birmingham Sound Reproductions isn't a name known by many under 20 these days

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Who?

Most people that KJ/DJ are just a bunch of wannabe's with a few bucks in their pockets and a need to survive on $50- a day/night and will never get any further then the local bar/crap hole on the corner of the street.

Wearing a tux, having some cheesy business cards and a flashy slogan does not make you a professional.

NO?!

Dang - That is what I thought made all the difference...



<< Throwing powder blue tuxedo with ruffles in trash can and ripping up cheesy business cards with the slogan "Cheap & Easy Man for Hire" >>

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Phill Cross
Webmaster, Host Provider & Part-Time “Technical” Problem Solver

KJ / MC


services provided by:
CROSS WEB TECH

I told you before to use your spell checker.
Cheap & Easy is spelled Cheap & Sleazy :rotflmao:

Jerry, Ever hear of the company BSR McDonald ?  


Now I really feel old.  I still sacrifice rewards to the God's that sit in a corner of my basement room,  Thorens, and McIntosh.

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Leisure suits are hip, dude !    Real double-knit polyster, non of that cotton stuff. Powder blue is awesome with white buttons !  Do you have Earth boots or clogs ?
Real pewter jewelry ?   Chicks dig it.  Time to get in style !

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Ah yes you painted the belt surface on the turntable with cantslip and treated the belts with something like automatic transmission fluid..

BSR MCDonald

And dont forget Telefunken

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Join The Karaokle Singers Social Network. Upload Your Music!!

Now were talking !

ALthough I have to admit,  I prefer the newer cutting edge technology of the direct drives, and the frequency generator servo systems Technic's has on turntables such as their SL-B101. Belt driven turntables just don't cut it anymore.. Not with the advent of the latest early 1970's technology.

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

I want a couple of these

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Join The Karaokle Singers Social Network. Upload Your Music!!

You have a star here,   go buy a couple !

Karyoker, just one more thing, and than I'll apologise to JD and all for taking part in this threadjacking, and I'll procede to shutup... You know somewhere, someplace in some unknowing person's attic, there're all sort's of these tag-sale prizes just waiting to find loving homes .. Hammarlund rigs, Marantz and McIntosh tube stereo gear, older tube stuff just like the state-of-the-art technology we're talking about now; Someone, somewhere will let us have it, provided we are kind enough to haul it out from under their dusty cob-web tarps....  OK,   Enough of my dreaming here...  

Sorry Jerry, and all.... I get these flashbacks   Time to go spin the white album backwards for more clues...

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".