Karaoke Forums

[shadow=darkblue]"White Trash Mafia"[/shadow] ......[shadow=red]I LOVE IT!!!!![/shadow]  LMAO  LMAO

[shadow=darkblue]"White Trash Mafia"[/shadow] ......[shadow=red]I LOVE IT!!!!![/shadow]  LMAO  LMAO

I think that may have spread to my neighborhood in Texas....Look out everyone here we come!!!!

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Will sing or fish for food!!I'm not quite right!!

I have to agree that it's rude, but...singing a long song shouldn't sabotage a whole show unless it is pretty lame to bring with.

Being "new" to a show shouldn't matter in terms of the applause you get. I am always "new" because we travel all over the country, doing karaoke at different places, and seldom returning to the same one twice except in a few select cities. At home I don't go more than once a month and usually not even that, so I am not a "regular". I really don't think being a regular should matter.  They will applaud either way, but the amount of applause usually depends on how good you are or what song you pick, not on whether they know you or not.  Sometimes, though, the crowd is just not a very enthusiastic one or very reponsive to the singers.  They are there to chat with their friends, get drunk, etc. and don't care much about the singers.  Not much you can do about that, other than not go back.

Here are my comments about singing slow/long/boring songs.

If the crowd is large, then I stick to fast, upbeat songs.  Most people don't want to hear the slow songs and karaoke has a lot of them.  Especially if it is a big crowd, then they might not even hear you if people start talking.
However, from what I can tell, most karaoke singers tend to pick slow ballads, whether they are good or not....and don't seem to care what the audience thinks.

Pick faster songs and you will get more applause and more people paying attention!  That song is way too long and I would never do it in live karaoke.
Sometimes if the show is just getting started or there is hardly anybody there, then it might be ok to do a slow ballad. Otherwise...it is not good to sing a slow song, IMHO. I don't like people yawning or talking during my song.  Sometimes if it is a really good song they will still like it, but I have found over many years of doing karaoke that they really do like faster, more upbeat songs.

Some songs I have done, even I was bored while I was singing them, so I knew not to do them again....like "Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac.  Yawn!

One thing I tried and it really works, to get people to pay attention when I am singing.  Have your song memorized and look at the crowd.  Look them straight in the eye, and go around the room with your eyes, looking at everyone.  If your singing is good, they will look back and pay attention.   You are sort of daring them not to pay attention that way and they do respond.  Unless you suck, then...they won't  But if you suck, stick to faster songs and they will still pay attention and applaud when you are done.

It will also help if you learn to dance around a little while you sing, move your hands, etc.  Practice in front of a mirror or with a video camera.  Then you are really performing and they will want to watch you.  Props and costumes might help, too...it all depends on what you're willing to do.

Good luck!

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~Suzanne Lanoue~

"Dance and move around"--thats why I ALWAYS sing with a mic stand. Lets me get up and groove and do hand gestures and be free to not have to hold a mic. As to song choice---for me its always blues or swing---and never Tear in your Beer drag your (@$%&#!) in the dirt blues--but always uptempo dancable jump or chicago blues. And  if its a big crowd with a good size dance floor-it's Brickhouse, Zoot Suit, Play that funky music, KULO, Baby got back, Return of the Mak or even OPP. Anyone of those to fill up the dance floor and particularly Brickhouse--no one can resist that one---espcially the line about "Make a strong man get down on his knees"-at which point I promptly drop down to my knees  with the mic stand in front of the nearest pretty girl dancing and make like I'm begging while I sing to her! Works EVERY TIME!!!

As to duets/sing alongs---Sweet Home Chicago is the all time favorite--the others never know it but I lead them and then they all pick-up up quickly and join right in. And then we freestyle it home(no words) on the bridge and outro. And afterwards they always come up and tell me how cool that song is.

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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've heard singers sing so badly that the sound they spewed out hurt everyones ears.  However, they still didn't sabotage the show.  As far as I'm concerned the only person that can actually sabotage a karaoke show is the KJ.

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Singing just for you

I too have heard this phenom....And the crowd claps wildly when they are finished because ...well...they are so happy they are done....Hey wait a minute the crowd claps wildly when I am done singing...Maybe that is MY issue...

That's ok, I figure it is all supposed to be fun, right?

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Will sing or fish for food!!I'm not quite right!!

To deliberately try to ruin anyone's show, whether you dislike the KJ or his/her views, is more than a bit low class (trying to keep from being too rude).  I agree with everyone else--if you're being treated unfairly LEAVE, but don't try to disrupt everyone else's evening because you feel out of the loop.

everyone

Oh yeah, songs that put on the brakes?  Amazing Grace has an astonishing way of doing that.  Unless it's a bluegrass version, I am in Kentucky after all

You should have sang "I'm an A$$HOLE"  LMAO
Since you were trying to fit in.

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

I get compliment's when I sing that.  People tell me "That's you" !    

I suppose there is something I can sing after all !!!!  I have the toughest time memorizing the lyric's to the chorus though.

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

I have been intrigued in reading this thread. I just had to comment. I dont usually go to karaoke places. I usually sing on stage with a band. I am lucky to be able to do that. There have been a few times where I had to play and I was not able to take the band with me. In those instances, I have used my guitar and backing tracks to do a show. A lot of people do this now days because of economics. I have a friend that does a kj show all of the time. She has one of the best shows in town and draws a big crowd every night. Here is her big problem. There is a lady who goes to her show that has to be the worst singer I have ever heard in my life. She is so bad, and she is absolutely the ugliest lady I have ever laid eyes on, and people literally get up and walk out when she goes on stage. I was sitting, listening to the show, and I heard a guy tell his wife that he was going to tell the kj that he should start charging her for having to listen to the terrible singer she keeps putting on stage.  I laughed at this and walked up to her to visit for a minute or two. She kept me there with her to help her out for the rest of the evening and I really had fun! Kj work is a blast!  I told her what the crowd was saying, and her reply was this. "I know Mike, but I can't do anything about it. I have to let her sing because that is what the management wants. They dont like her singing either but I have to be fair to everyone. I had to respect her for that.  My ears and my eyes hurt, but I had to respect her. You guys who do kj work, dont always have it very easy. At least at my shows, I am the only one who is going to sing on stage.  I like that much better, but I do respect what you guys are doing.--Mike

I hear that sometimes too from people. They tell me someone is so bad they shouldn't sing. The funny part is I don't see them walking up to the person and telling them they shouldn't sing. The thing I can do is turn down their voice and add effects to hopefully blur their voice into the music. I turn up their monitor so they think they are louder than they are, but turn their voice down on the mains. Sneaky, but it makes everyone happier.

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

Funny Babs, but that is what I suggested for my friend to do.  It worked pretty well!  The crowd my friend plays for is pretty set in their ways. They dont mind telling this lady how bad she is.  The problem is, she thinks they are kidding with her. She has no clue how bad she is. While I was standing there with my kj friend, this lady walked up and asked my friend if she should do a certain song for a contest that will be held in front of about 1500 people! I couldn't help it, I just started laughing. I tried real hard not too, but it was just too funny!  This poor lady will get laughed off of the stage! No, she won't make it past the preliminary judging. I think kj's have a real tough job sometimes.--Mike

Wow - Another way to get people to come to reality is to record them.
My best friend heard herself recorded and never sang again.

I don't know this woman sounds a little touched. Maybe she likes the negative attention.

The only answer is [shadow=white]EAR PLUGS[/shadow]  

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

Babs, recording her won't do any good from what I hear!  My friend said that she has tried that before. The real problem is, she is so tone deaf, she does not hear pitch at all! Even hearing herself, she thinks she is right on pitch and is doing a wonderful job. She asked another friend of mine (the guy who wrote the song that I get air play on) if he thought she could get a contract in Nashville. He laughed and told her "NO!"  She laughed and told him not to be such a kidder! This lady definitely just wants attention period! My friend has her hands full! I have a lot of respect for people who are kjs after hearing what she goes through! --Mike

a lot of people think it is all fun and games being a KJ.

Sure I look like I'm always having a great time, but that is my job. You have to put a smile on 24/7. Just like professional singers. They are there to entertain if they are sick, there dog died etc.. they still have to put on a smile and get out there.

It is nice to be appreciated - thank you.

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

ML-Texas - You should drop in the discussion forum. We could use
more people like you.  :dancin:

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

At a local karaoke here in LA where the crowd is mainly supportive, some guy sang Edmund Fitzgerald and it was as if he was purposely trying to sing bad and people did go out for their smokes..  The song was so dragged out with his bad singing that I was ready to go out for a smoke and I am anti-smoking!!  Then there's another guy, who looks like his name is Woolly Bully,  that sings the long version of American Pie and is such a drag as a singer, the KJ banned him from singing it... The one good thing that I have noticed that comes out of it?  I have on occasion, been the one to go on stage after them and I have so much pent up energy and have an upbeat song ready so that can help revive the crowd.

Personally I think that if they are going to have songs like these available on cdg, they should have shortened versions...end of story....

I totally agree. I would offer a short and long version if they were available.
I have people complain about long music breaks in the middle of a song too. People don't want to stand on stage picking their nose waiting to sing again. I have great songs people will avoid singing because they don't want to stand up there through the long music break. Why would you need 3 minutes of just music in the middle of a song if it's karaoke. I don't get it.

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