Karaoke Forums

It appears the differences in how a person in these cases feels hinges on possibly their individual experiences with what "getting up in front of an audience" means, or possibly SHOULD mean in the eyes of those of you that work in the business. I'd think alot of this has to do with past experiences as performers, but MORE-SO the frequency in which a person is used to being up in front of the same type group. Obviously, you do something 4 times a week for a year, you get used to it.  It's not new or different. So it makes sense as to why someone who's a "KJ" or "DJ" would not feel as uncomfortable (in their familiar setting) as those of us that seldom worked the same venue on a regular basis would feel, or those of us that were taught a performance isn't a game, it's for you to do the best you can. I don't think Don was talking about "how does the KJ feel when it's their turn to sing in a friendly environment they are familiar with",  I think Don's example Alluded to "How does the performer feel when it's their turn to impact the crowd".. That is how WE were brought up as musician/performers meaning when it's our turn, we damn well better be good, or else people will scoff at us for having gotten up onstage to begin with. This is pre-Karaoke or performer conditioning still living on for a few of us.. We don't view stage performing the same as many of you that work a Karaoke setting...Those of you that are KJ's, can't experience things from the eye's of the formal performer that never knew "stage" as JUST a game like "Charades". Or never got involved in the stage singing aspects of Karaoke.  I think in Don's example, his context assumes the singer is a performer and crowd pleaser, and the Karaoke singer being good (in his example) has shifted crowd mood now to "we want to be performed mode"... those of us that grew up in a pre-karaoke setting, being on-stage was just that.. We didn't evolve into the realm of "just for fun stage presence".. Obviously when you as a KJ work the same venue the novelty wears off and you become somewhat desensitized to the novelty other's of us consider to be a "performance". All of us became desensitized in time, even as formal performers... Yet I sensed in Don's example he meant "newness" and audience is more formal...It appears to me at least Don was perceiving things as the entertainer who's "up next"...or in a "competitive" atmosphere (which is why I thought of "battle of the bands", THAT was when an audience might care if you are good, and judge you), or an actor/musical performing art type setting....or even the person giving a singing recital... That is when there are expectations, yet this is how we grew up knowing stage to be...

In such cases YOUR purpose in being up there is because you either are performing, or training to be an "entertainer".  This was never a game for us. Fun was singing in the shower, or behind closed doors, NEVER in front of a crowd, this never existed and we didn't easily evolve into it. Not everyone and anyone was supposed to be or meant to be  up on stage... It was a select few that made it (unless you were in school).

Do those of you that enjoy singing Karaoke (and don't get up in front of the same the same familiar group day after day) consider what you are doing nothing more than, "your turn to play the game" ?  some of us do feel as though this is  "Our turn to get up in front of the class and give the report". I'd assume a "KJ" couldn't possibly feel the same self-consciousness being "up in front of others", that the singer/performer who doesn't frequently get on stage in an informal setting feels;  To me, performing means formal setting..  yet when I'm home with a tape recorder, in this case it's for me, "who cares" noones listening (thank god)... I don't know any other way...(unless of course I'm giving an anesthetic, and the audience consists of medical students watching my surgery behind a one-way mirrored operating room).

I think many of you that are "KJ's" in this particular "You're up next" example are quite familiar with Karaoke, almost "game show hosts" of sorts, yet for some,we've been conditioned to "possible hostel audience" in a way that even signing a check in front of a line at a bank makes us feel self conscious...(camera's and people around you possibly watching)... Some of us grew up taught that "The audience can be your worst nightmare", I don't know differently assuming the audience is a NEW and LARGE crowd watching me.  It's not the same for those of us that either got used to performing the same venue day after day however, or those of us that weren't "regular hosts".... Some of us performed because it was our bread and butter and we HAD to be good and please the crowd.  To turn on and off these feelings doesn't work when you've been conditioned a certain way... that takes time

So noones wrong in this case except perhaps those of us that can't "let our hair down", because as Billy said.... "we lose out on the fun"...

Different settings, and life experiences.. There's always a voice in my head before I get up in front of a crowd that says "Knock em dead"... not, "have a blast"...

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

You want to change your song, no problem, only takes a few seconds.  It's no pressure karaoke with us.  We're here to make you happy.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

Steven said
That's an interesting perspective that I haven't really considered before. I have noticed the most of the people around here who play in bands will rarely, if ever, get up and do a karaoke song. Even if it's a song that they "nail" in their live performances, they just don't feel comfortable performing with canned music. Either the song is in a different key, the tempo may be slightly different, or they're just not comfortable with the arrangement. I guess they feel like they don't have as much control over the song as they do when they're singing AND playing a guitar, or drums or whatever. I would think getting on stage is a chance to promote your band.

(KJ: Ladies & gentleman we have a special guest in the house tonight. Up next is the lead singer for The Killer Fleas! Put your hands together for ...)

But I guess when performing is your life, you don't see it that way. You don't want to come across looking less than your best. Besides that, if singing is your job on weekends, why would you go on stage unless you're getting paid?!

I guess it's past experiences and different motivations and expectations that color our perspectives, and, I suppose, as Steven said, you can't just turn that on and off.

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[highlight=purple]The Truth is out there. ... Way, way out there![/highlight]

See, I perform professionally around my area both for charity and for $$ and I still go to karaoke every chance I get. But like I said before, I don't sing if I'm not able to perform up to my own expectations. It's great exposure and great practise when I'm at karaoke, especially at new venues. I can't wait until I turn 21 (only 2 months!!!) And when I'm at karaoke I make sure when I sing something, I sing it well. I'm not there to "have fun" and party like the other bar goers. I'm there, basically, on "business." And when I turn 21 I know that I wont be going to bars to drink. I'll be going there to sip water and sing, like usual, because I have ingrained in myself that getting up in front of an audience means getting up to perform.

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As far as changing songs -
It depends on the person and how busy I am. If it is a person I know will take ten
minutes to decide on another song I will suggest an alternative song, if they don't like it I will put in their oringinal pick. I don't want that much down time between singers.
If they have their new pick ready to go - no problem. Or if it is a slower night I don't mind.

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

True Roy,  While the lead vocalist of the "Killer Flea's" might be a dynamite singer. There's no longer novelty for him singing in front of a crowd, sure he could, yet how would that be particularly enjoyable and relatxing for him ? That is to "perform" on his night off.  It's likely nothing he enjoy's doing on his night off when he wants to cool off, Yet you can be sure MANY vocalist's I know that are at some bar away from home where few know them, if they are single and wish to "hit on a woman" in the bar, WILL go up and perform as a tool for his own purposes ) Yet locally on his night off HIS perspective as a pro singer is often

"This is what I do for work, Do you waiter's and waitresses enjoy being asked to work when you go into a restaurant that employ's you when you return for a leisurely night off ? I have to sing whether I want to or not, whether I'm sick or healthy, I'm saturated with singing and audiences"

The performers perspective of singing, or "Singing on Stage" is not that of the "Killer Flea' vocalist wannabe's, it's not a game for him, there's no novelty anymore if he's done it and done it ALOT, and is burnt out and just wants to be on the other side of the counter tonight and chill-out.(so-to-speak).. Additionally you raised another really interesting point, Some performing artists DO in fact have "control issues", some of us just are quirky..You find this in ALL area's of performing arts..There is pride, and an element of self-criticism in many many cases. ALOT of us beat ourselves up relentlessly. It's becomes not fun to perform, because (at least in my case) I'm ALWAYS tough on myself. That doesn't go away.. We'd rather NOT do something, than just hack at it. So we don't perform on our instruments for leisure unless we've learned how to "step off've our throne".... I hate to say that, yet I think it's true...There's ego involved. Yet also many musicians do not do Knock-off versions of songs, or exact "cover songs"... I do, yet MANY don't, they aren't used to singing the EXACT original composition, even though pitch and key signature can be changed, when it is modified, it CAN make your backup sound too fast, or like chipmonks, etc... ,  They just don't like the sound, or even KJ's setup, you name it, some of us are spoiled brats.... Some aren't.
Alot of folks are neurotic.. and get into this area because they love control.

Yet the perspective of the performer is abit different, yet of course over time can change into a more casual feeling...Yet I don't think it's possible to say that there isn't a certain amount of vanity and ego among those who are professional performers.  Most also have to be able to act abit..  We DO burn out.. Unless of course we are really tough, or change our perspective...How people like the Stones do it after ALL these years still, I haven't a clue....I find it especially perplexing when all the living members of the band are able to "seemingly" get along after all the stuff that transpires between them during that type of "fame" type existence...

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

[shadow=black][font=Fantasy]I very rarely change songs....I put up one slip a night with a list of songs in the order I'd like to preform them in......then I go about enjoying the evening and wait to be called.....never even pay much attention to the rotation.....at least to the end of the night when I want the infamous "another song"......and I've not been above tipping for it......

As for winning...well I'm a competitor....I love to match my talent against others.....if a person has a hard time loosing they really should avoid the contest thing....I have changed a song for a special request ....but that's about it[/font][/shadow]

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[glow=blue]Tequila & A Song
KKid[/glow]

I'd love to find a venue someplace that discusses this..

"How to deal with losing".  It's a discussion I've never actually had. It's a coping mechanism I never learned. Of course I've lost, yet my mindset sucks...

Those that think you are good... How do you survive a "Simon" episode ? While I don't care what EVERYONE says, I do care what many HONESTLY think.

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

That's a very professional attitude towards singing and going out to karaoke.
There sure aren't many 20-21 year olds out there like that I bet!

Don,  or anyone for that matter...

I just got a thought... (shhh... no wise-cracks..hehe)

Roy brought up the aspect of control, I touched on the control area too mentioning most performer's have to feel in control, otherwise being in front of a crowd without a prepared attitude can be quite scary for most, but I'm wondering..do you feel it MIGHT have to go further than "a little" control in order for us to conquer stage-fright most have ? Do we at times become egocentric pompous fat-heads ?  Is it possible that as performer's.... (and we also discussed the rigor and hell the stand-up comedian must at times subject themselves to with the "hostile audience") we at times MUST feel as if we are controlling the audience, so in a sense the performer adapts an air of extreme arrogance, or grandiosity in order to overcome a natural fear ?  Over compensation often takes place because people are prone to extreme behaviour, especially when adrenaline is pumping ?

I never gave a second thought to the mindset of the performing artist (which is crazy since I usually analyze everything to death anyway), yet this has me wondering about the whole psychology now... This was just something I did, never thought about...Now that I've stepped back from it, it's an interesting topic... The mindset of "you're up next",  and  "you are now on"... and  "How did I do" (either wondered, or asked)

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

If a singer/performer is having a difficult time feeling comfortable on stage, maybe he needs to be able to get the audience "on his side".  Compliment the audience or make them feel important and part of the show somehow.  Or maybe "play the sympathy card" -- explain to them you're feeling a little nervous/not well.  Get them rooting for you in away.

I never thought of that Don.  I suppose because I made the assumption (like when acting) you can't do that...You just had to do your thing with no allowable ad lib. Well, with the exception of the occassional drummer joke, or slapstick humor yet even that was timed.

In fact Don, I recall during school recital's being told "Don't worry hun, you'll do fine, they can't see how you are feeling inside, it doesn't show"..

I think I always believed you were supposed to hide your feelings from the audience. I guess I just assumed we aren't supposed to share nervousness with the crowd... hmm

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

I have had karaoke singers (more than one) that are very good come in and if the crowd wasn't up to their expectations (size wise) they would leave without singing a note.    They didn't want to waste their time.    And I know they loved to sing.    Talk about ego.

That's too bad.  A really good singer/player loves to perform even if it's only the bartender that claps!

I agree. I also think that it's more so in a competition than in karaoke when a performer feels the need to win over the crowd with their personality. At least, that's when its the most important. Also, I haven't and will not ever admit that I am nervous to an audience. I feel that then instead of expecting me to do well or having no expectations at all the crowd is waiting for me to stumble, and mess up. Why shouldn't they? I've basically just told them that I'm uncomfortable and short of breath and shaky... plus, they can't really relate to that in that particular moment of guzzling beers or enjoying the competition at a fair/festival so does it really make them "sympathize" with you or just write you off as an amature.

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You're right.  In a cut-throat competition setting where an audience or judges are
looking for mistakes or weaknesses then you put on a brave, fearless face and try to win them over with talent.  The approach I had is more suitable for just singing or playing in front of a casual audience that isn't looking to critisize.