Karaoke Forums

This method has always worked well for my shows. The rule is posted at the signup table. Sing one, bring one. Duets (or larger groups) count as 1 of the persons turn.

Any one singer can only sing in two songs per rotation (once for his/her turn and one more as a partner using somebody else's turn). This prevents the mic hogs from pairing up with anybody in the place that normally wouldn't care to sing just to get up more.

I use a rotation list like a bowling sheet - names down the left side. Round numbers like frames. A "spare" mark is made when a person sings. It get made into a "strike" if they get up again as a partner with somebody else. The "X" indicates they are done singing for that round.

With my method, you will only see any one singer up on stage 2x in any rotation at the max. Even with a group of 4 or more.

I like that idea. Do people actually read your book covers? Around here, everything can be spelled out to them 5 different places and they still have to have it explained....stupid drunks.... As a person sometimes asked to help someone with their song, I hate feeling penalized just because they're too nervous to sing alone (most of the time I'm singing with the mic in my chest so only they can hear me and build up their courage). I think your idea is a good solution in that situation. Do you handle it the same way when it's a "True Duet"?

I have been building my show size steadily and this issue is beginning to be a real problem.....

I am trying to make it so each song counts as one persons "turn", but in the past that was not needed. I tend to have a lot of duets (or larger groups).

The big problem is that over the last month my shows seem to have gone from 20 singer average to 40 different singers trying to get their turn in a 3 hour show.

What seemed to work well with 20 singers, would be 10 sang once and 10 sang 2-3 songs each. Everyone was happy and little worry about getting your turn on the rotation.

Last night for a long show the rotation between the first and second song for singers reached 3.5 hours (50 different primary singers!!!) it was a 6 hour show (8-2am). This disappointed a few of the regulars used to a 30-40 minute rotation. But what can you do when that many want to sing.

Keeping everyone (old regular and new singer) happy when the show "changes" in this way is a big task.

As for mic hogs that want to come along and sing with anyone.... I try to see if they were invited by the primary singer, if so it's ok. But if not they are discouraged.

A few weeks ago a bachlorette party went to the bar where I had my show and the bride-to be sang duets with many of her friends. It seemed ok with the crowd that she got many turns, but hey its all about keeping the crowd happy, and that group had filled up much of the bar.

The natural progression when a show gets that POPULAR is some people who want to sing more than once a night MOVE ON to a less popular ( ie shorter rotation) show. This of course will bring your show back to an acceptable and manageable rotation......hopefully It's a cycle many shows go through....tough part is just keeping your CORE customers.

I experience a slow crowd change over about every yr or so. If you are in one place long enough this is natural. I have a few lifetime regulars, but most regulars change from yr to yr. I still have old regulars visit from time to time, but don't come on a regular basis any more.

It is hard to keep everyone happy when you have a long rotation. I understand the pressure to get as many singers in as possible. One thing that has helped me with group songs and duets is no one sings more than twice in a rotation. I don't allow long songs like American Pie unless they don't mind me shortening the song by cutting it off at the break six minutes in. Usually once I tell someone how long the song is they don't want to sing it anyway.

People who want to sing a lot may move on to a different karaoke bar where there is a smaller rotation. One thing that helps with that is creating a friendly karaoke group. If someone is new I encourage the regulars to take them under their wing and include them. There is nothing worse than having different groups that are clicky. Once they become one of the family they come back to have fun with everyone they know not just to sing. I find a lot of die hard karaoke people will come in by themselves. They will be more apt to come back if they know people and are comfortable. I hate to see someone sitting by themselves just waiting to sing, so I'll introduce them to some of the regulars and before you know it they are a part of the group.

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

I wish I could find a host like you! I like talking to people, but I hate trying to make friends/meet new people on my own. If someone else introduces us, we're like old friends within minutes! None of the hosts in this area do anything like that. Keep it up!

Working in the same place for so long I can tell you it definitely is a cycle. The show starts out slow, so people get to sing a lot. Word gets out you get to sing a lot there, people start coming in more. Rotations eventually grow little by little until it grows to a point that people are only singing 1 or 2 maybe 3 songs a night waiting up to an hour or more between their songs when they used to be able to sing 5-6 songs or more. Now people start finding other places because it gets too busy here & they want to sing more. Now the crowds start to drop a bit & the rotations shrink little by little until we get less crowd & people are singing more. That cycle can repeat itself a few times a year.
I also notice that 'core' crowds change out about every 2 years to a new 'core' crowd. Always will have a few stragglers from the old crowd but not the entire groups that used to come. They either adapt into the new groups or move on to other shows.

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

First of all, let me say that I've seen it done many ways and I don't really believe there's a wrong way as long as you keep your policies fair across the board.

Personally, I never allow the identical group to sing twice in a rotation. Flopping around the names doesn't change the makeup of the group and is bound to tick off my regulars when the same people are seen up there 2 or 3 times.

If someone wants a duet, fine, but tell me who's turn it's under. The other will still get a turn as long as they're singing solo. If the duet partner comes up to join them yet again, that's it, I **WILL** cut the song right then and there.

If my rotation hits 1.5 hours or more, anytime you are on the mic AT ALL, that's your turn. I never institute this policy until we start a new rotation so as to be fair to all. And once I do, it applies to EVERYBODY including myself. At that point I've taken myself out of the rotation but some of my regulars like me to do backing vocals for them or duets. Once I've done 1 in a turn, I will not sing with anyone else for the duration of the rotation. If I enforce a rule, I have to follow it to. Most of my singers appreciate this. I have 1 however who always seems to think he can do better. (It would help if he actually had a voice though)

HD I've been thinking of doing what your doing with the duets when it gets to be a long rotation and have a few questions on how your implementing it. If I'm to understand right you have duets count on one persons turn until it gets busy. I normally handle duets this way. Then when your rotation hits an hour and a half you switch to them only singing once in a rotation no matter what (counting duets, group sing or solo).

When you change rules in the middle of the night do you just make an announcement?
I've been afraid to try it because my regulars are so used to the rules in place already and I like to stay consistant.
Does anyone get mad when you change the rules midnight?
I would love to know how you do it, so if I try this on a busy night I don't get myself in trouble.

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