Karaoke Forums

Where did this thread start? .  I would recommend anyone who is getting into KJing to also be able to DJ.  Mainly if you are going into this fulltime.  I only do this part time.  And I have no intention of DJing.  I tried it and 1, was bored stiff. And two, most of the newer music I can't stand.  So yes, I am a dieing breed.  I like the interaction with the patrons from KJing.  You have so much more opportunity with KJing than you do with djing.

I also have three other guys who have helped me form a vocal group.  We don't do a lot of gigs but have found that we often have been able to fill a void that many bands have not.  And that is giving a entertaining show of a much more diverse range of music.  We all can  "play instruments" but no way could we , or could we hire a band to play all that we sing.  Country, 50/60's, old rock, big band tunes, etc.  So we use the "band in a box" concept.  If it wasn't for a full time job and a part time KJ job I could devote more time to our group.  I'm closing in on 51 and yes, I cater more to the baby boomer age and the "mature young folks."  I have personally cut  one night on my kjing.  For almost 5 years I had been doing a Mon/Wed/Sat. I'm tired, physically.  So I have cut the Monday nights for awhile and am continuing with Wed/Sat.  Which by the way has gotten bigger since I no longer work the Monday.

But back to the original thread.  Yes I would recomend anyone getting into this line of work to be as diversified as possible.

Kelly

You guys get up 3 hours before I do here on the west coast, except Kappy he never sleeps

Up until about 3 years ago I had the "Never want to be a DJ" attitude because I didn't think that I needed to be one as well. When I went computerized and I used Windows Media Player to play some bumper music I started getting requests from customers to do some dance tunes. So then I purchased OTS DJ program and started loading the DJ Top 200 songs and then some of my favorites and began writing down all requests that I did not have and built from there.

A couple of the bars that I did karaoke for asked me to do 1/2 DJ 1/2 KJ for New Years Eve so we thought what the H*ll let's give it a try.....and it was an instant hit with customers as well as us. From that I booked a couple of local Yacht Club dances and it opened up a whole new income stream for me of which I do like 10 gigs per year. From there my wedding bookings quadrupled etc.  Now I do 1/2 of my gigs or more as a DJ and really like it.

By being open to the needs of my customers it led me to increased business.

Mr October.....I would be interested in hearing more about props for impersonations what type of props would you purchase?

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FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

Probably because it's the way you present it.  You continuously stating that you are by far THE best kj & how much (including $$ figures) you make.  People come here to learn from others, not to be belittled from ego driven kj's that feel they are already above everybody else!  At least that's the way I see it!

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

Ill have to post some pic's of my costumes in my gallery for you to see. I think there is a john Lennon and David Bowie pic in there now.

As for Props for the Lip Synching D/J thingy I was thinking about, Just different wigs , long over coat , cheap electric guitar, easy slip over dresses, Boa's, hats and stuff like that so the people can go crazy with a little show as they lip Synch there favorite songs.

Ill add some pic's to my Gallery as to what I do for my MrOctober Show.
For That I sing to Karaoke Tracks, about 46 to 50 songs per 4 hour show. in Different character Costumes,   starting with My Sinatra Suit and fedora, and usually ending in four inch Silver Platform 70's Disco Shoes with some kind of wig on and some Bell bottoms...
It draws a good crowd for over a year and a half now

Last week I was told that one of the bars I have been doing for the past 3 years had been sold and the new owner is taking over in July. The bar was owned by the same guy for like 45 years.  Anyway he of course wants to keep karaoke as it is his #1 grossing night (mondays...go figure) so that's a good thing...but he is adamant that he is going non-smoking. The laws here still favor the smoker but all neighboring states have banned smoking so we are not far behind. He asked me my opinion and I suggested that he not change until the law does that way it will not cause customers to go to the other bars 2 doors down or directly accross the street. Once the law affects the other bars the playing field will be level.....

At this point he is heading down the non-smoking track

I'm a non smoker and would like the clean air but I think it is a business killer in bars.

I hope I'm wrong.

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FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

It is a killer in bars if it isn't requied by law.  We just had our laws changed this year & for the most part nothing has changed.  There has been some decreases in business across the board, but haven't really heard of anyone closing shop yet.  Most people have accepted it & are complying.  The few bars that are being rebels & still allowing smoking are getting fined & being threatened to shut down if no compliance & of course you have the tribal bars which aren't affected ( ) and are actually doing better in some ways.
But if ALL bars are non-smoking, most people don't care, it's the ones that just go non-smoking for no reason that will hurt as people will just go up the street.  No one likes to have to go outside to smoke - especially in the winter (colder) days/nights, so if they have a choice of sitting comfortably in a bar to smoke or go outside every so often, they are going to pick the chair!

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

I think in any business the more diversified you are the better. I don't
claim to be a DJ, but if my employer wants some dance music sets I
have to provide them. I think that is different than being just a
DJ. I accidently fell into partial singing gigs for myself. Some restaurants
like softer music (lounge type) during the early eating hours and then karaoke later.
They'll have me sing the 1st couple sets then start karaoke. As long as I'm being paid I don't mind.

If I couldn't find work just doing what I do, of course I would get more serious about being a DJ. At this point I am doing fine. We don't have the problem of the smoking
ban here yet, so I can't relate.

kappy - you have said before karaoke is a dying business. In my area it isn't or at
least I haven't felt it. Is this the feeling you are getting from the forum?

Bigdog- I do beleive it is how you present yourself - that is why I said
I thought you were misunderstood. Sometimes it is how you say something.

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

Just a thought..

Naturally not all are great singers, and have the same skill's others have in terms of actually being "great stage" performers.  Ability to read crowd, and rise to different occassions is always a plus, but for those of you that have more technical skills how about something along these lines ?

Mobile Karaoke recording studio ?

If the bars don't have the revenue to pay enough, how about supplementing things either at malls, fairs, where you set up some type of booth, and for about $3 bucks a song, a person sings karaoke, and you mix it down to either a 4-5 minutes bulk cassette for them to have, or a bulk CD on a digital studio... They PAY you and so you aren't just receiving money to "let them sing", you are offering them a service... You record them live (which utilizes some recording ability many don't have).. I used to spend time in a side room with the CAVS JB-199 jukebox and a cassette taping myself since as I've stated I'm a "wannabe" singer.  Yet there are ALOT of us out there !  Flipper, rather than pay a cover to sing,  why not pay per demo ?  You cater to the individual and mix them singing with backing on a cheap bulk tape.. Now I can envision a problem that might or might not be tough to deal with.... "Oh, can I redo that one part again" ?   You'd have to somehow let them know it's ONE shot, one full song.... They can't  keep redoing parts, but they are welcome to return and re-record for another 3 bucks (something along that line)....

Alot of wannabe singers out there that don't have ability to record themselves

Wouldn't this go over well at malls ?  or large fairs ?

Just a thought.

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

This has been done before.  It's also very hairy in licensing & copyright issues.  Sound Choice states (at least for their own discs) as long as the customer making the recording OWNS or is buying the original media, then a 1:1 ratio recording for their own personal use only (no demos - including give aways) is ok.  If they DON'T own or aren't buying the original media, then it is not legal.

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

They have that mobile Karaoke at the stae fair in Arizona where I used to live in Phoenix...went over pretty good ...allways had a line.

Note: We will make every attempt to supply ALL karaoke songs requested.
Due to licensing restrictions, some songs may not be available in karaoke format.

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

Agreed Flipper,  I don't want to give the impression I don't favor clean air.  I'm trying to view this from the perspective of the bar owner.  This is a killer for such a business. I don't know if I could currently find 3 other local musicians that I'd like jamming with who are all non-smokers.  If I was asked to form a quartet of blues musicians to play a saturday night...  It'd be tough UNLESS (I suppose) EXTREMELY high pay was incentive, and that's quite unlikely these days.  If a joint says you can't smoke here, many smokers I know will say :screw your joint: I believe in elective non-smoking venue, not a gov't mandate. If I were able tl legislate, I'd allow smoking in restaurant venues after 10:30 PM. It'd be compromise.




I just want to share a problem I see with the smoking ban. As I stated I personally no longer smoke HOWEVER... Blues and Jazz venues, ALOT of the great old-timers smoke,  You tell a few of these musicians that they aren't allowed to smoke in your place, and you are shooting yourself in the foot.  They won't be happy at your place. Alot of the bluesman, and jazz musicians smoke. I have respiratory probs, but I'll never tell someone they can't smoke in my place. (except when I had the birds, it's toxic to them)... Many musicians and artists smoke, they aren't asking me to change them, if I ban smoking, I eliminate them... I don't wish to do that.

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

Lonman,  I assume that means the CAVS JB-99 with cassette player on side are legal to manufacturer, but in commercial venues not legal to actually use ?  So since this concept is legal to produce, the companies do it despite exploitation in bar venues ?  Similar to Shortwave receivers that come with line out's for recording, or built in recording devices... Most of that is copyright infringement assuming show's are taped without direct consent.

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

Basically that's true.  There are legal uses for it for personal use, but not commercial.  Companies assume just because it's made & can benefit them that's it must be legal.

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

We live and learn.  It's perfectly legal for me to own an air-rifle.  I take it out of my front door, if someone see's me carrying it I go to jail.  In this district they aren't legal.  Yet they are legal to buy.

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

In my locals, the main skill is the ability to get people to sing. Because I don't do resident spots, every crowd is a new one and I don't know who the singers are. I think that being innovative is very important also. One thing I have done is put a karaoke top ten in the front of my books, containing the most regularly requested songs. I set the the challenge of all of the songs being sang during the gig. This has worked very well for me.

The other thing you really need is to be very self confident. Remember, you're the expert at what you do!

But then again many smokers would smoke that Joint.... and say Fudge that bar

How about male smokers though  

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

At our Six Flags theme park there is a recording studio where you can do this. They've had it for years. At least since I've been in high school and that was a
long time ago. You pick your song, go into a little both, sing it and your done.

I have thought of doing this at my shows, but asking for a donation of money. But there is still the copy right thing to deal with.

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

Think about what you would have to charge and how long it would take to make money?   $3 a song 60 songs in four hours, if it's back to back.    With waiting for them to get ready.   Double takes and flubs.   Loading and unloading the media, volume checks, etc.    All the "Can I do it overs?"    More like 6-8 hours.   After your bathroom breaks and eating.    :no: