Karaoke Forums

Sorry Marble, the only part of that post that was mine, was the kara-oupies part. The rest I copied and pasted from an earlier post and responded with kara-oupies.

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KingBing Entertainment C'mon Up! I have a song for you!!! [font=MS Sans Serif][/font]

I can see both sides of this being true. I think the distance people would need to travel, where their friends are and how they are treated at the new bar could all be influencing factors. We do a 6 hour round trip about 4 times a year to go back to the place where we sang before we moved. But we wouldn't do it EVERY weekend.

On the other hand, there isn't anyone who couldn't be replaced, should the right person come along--not trying to diminish talant--just saying the world is a constantly changing and competitive place.

Sorry, I missed that it wasn't you that posted it. I shall redirect my comment back at DangerousDanKaraoke.

Again, what I'm taking specific exception to is any KJ who feels that if they were no longer the host at a certain venue that they're going to "take everybody with them" and the venue would be dead. My position is there are many factors that make up the size of a crowd at any karaoke venue - PART of it might well be the host, their sound gear, their mixing talent, their library of songs. As an aside, when I took over my Wednesday night venue they had a host who had been there for SIX YEARS! When they replaced him (I was not the first replacement) they still had a decent crowd even though the guy I replaced was absolutely horrible. Granted it wasn't the same size of crowd as they once had and I was able to build that back up. But to see that kind of crowd for this guy's awful karaoke show...certainly you have to attribute SOME of that to the regulars who'd been there for years and were there because of the bar and not the karaoke host.Exactly my point. The BAR had a regular Wednesday night crowd who came for karaoke. Even this horrendous KJ had people there. I wasn't hired for my library (5,000 songs) or my sound (the other guy also brought in subs) but my personality. So I agree that personalty is a MAJOR factor in attracting a following. Which makes it all the more incredulous to me when I see very vanilla milquetoast hosts boast they have a "following". What do YOU do that other hosts don't? Is it the way you say, "Give it up for Sally! OK, next up is Jimmy...give Jimmy a hand!" By the way, any venue who doesn't already have a good crowd throughout the week - even if not perhaps on the night they want karaoke - I'm not interested. I'm not taking on building their karaoke night AND promoting an empty bar no one knows exists. I've gotten my share of calls from bars who even on a Friday or Saturday you can blast a shotgun in there and not hit anyone. Sorry, you need more than a great KJ. A venue needs a critical mass of people who at least KNOW about the place to work from.

I guess there's also a certain "comfort level" that singers achieve with hosts. They know the right mix, they have the version of the song they like and the patrons of the bar become like "family". But how does that qualify you to start from scratch with a brand new venue to get people talking about YOUR show and making it a DESTINATION instead of just convenient?

Cueball, I enjoyed your post from the archives. Next time I'm in NY (I'm originally from there) I will certainly look you up. I agree you have to have a certain amount of ego just to do what we do - get up in front of a bunch of relative strangers and entertain them. I do believe that KJs each have their own entertainment qualities that make their shows unique and a "destination".Like it or not, I think Turi speaks for the silent majority. Casual singers who don't envision themselves as Idol contestants. They sing because it's fun to do and fun to watch while you get your drink on. Next time you become bamboozled by your regulars all blowing smoke up your @$S consider there are actually more Turi's in your crowd than you think.

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[font=Lucida Console]DangerousKaraoke.com[/font]
[font=Lucida Console]"Sing for the day, sing for the moment, sing for the time of your life!"[/font]

it's not so silent, DD. I've heard singers like Tori say that they'll keep going to the same place, and hope and pray that the new KJ can learn and adapt to the way the venue likes it.

And many of those sit around and biyotch a bunch about the time it takes for that KJ, IF they ever do learn. They biyotch about the rotation, they b about the crappy sound, and why is there feedback all of a sudden, and the mic is too quiet, or no echo, or whatever.

I also think some areas have MORE of the "silent majority" than others. Many areas that are well established with karaoke will have the groupies and maybe that's where WE are speaking from.

I do know that there are a lot of the "S.M." folks in MY area... which is why I'm having a hard time finding a gig. Few people care about quality. They want a cheap price on karoake, and shuddup about the illegal libraries... how many songs do you have and can you get more? To which I wish them luck and continue to looksee. There are some pirates that set up there, and of course, don't last... but those guys don't care. To them, it's all about the money, what little they can eek out of the place.

Hey DD Great topic! Seems there are mixed thoughts on the matter. I am currently going thru a situation were the club i worked at for 4 yrs. is being sold. It is a small town bar. one were everybody knows everybody and we see the same singers every weekend. I like to think that my following is a added value to my show.. I collected emails and phone numbers of at least 60% of the bar to stay in contact with them and let them know were i will be playing. If i should lose my gig at this club due to the sale, I have a list to take with me as I'm knocking doors looking for a new place to call home and actually show them the numbers. I'm not going to just leave and hope they follow me. I am soliciting and personally inviting them to follow. There has to be some sales involved in any business to succeed including your show. You would be surprised at how much the DJ sets the mood and atmosphere of the club he's playing in. When a new DJ or KJ plays in a club his show is going to feel different, no doubt. i'm hoping my show will leave withdraws and that they will drive a different direction to see me to get there fix..

If I moved my current show to another venue within say 15-20 blocks from where it is now I would have to say that over 1/2 of the customers would follow. Some just love the bar and would probably stay regardless of who the KJ was. However this place is rather unique and has a large walk in crowd from the immediate neighborhood.

When I was doing 4-5 nights a week I would have many regulars follow me from bar to bar. Some driving 20+ miles to come to my shows. In fact many of them still do from time to time. Now that I only do one show per week in bars it is not much of a factor anymore.

Nothing egotistical about it. They liked my show and I liked them, plain and simple.

I used to follow several KJ's but none of them are around anymore, so I go where the sound is good and the crowd is appreciative.

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FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

Okay I've calmed down now. I just got a little frustrated with the egotistical and foolish statements.

Cueball - I also enjoyed your link.

Dan - I'm glad to hear you don't think we are just button pushers and to be honest really didn't think you thought so.
I could see how some KJs think they have a following and don't. I think that is more of what you are saying. To assume you do just because you have a crowd is wrong.


I think it is important to point out that just because you don't have a following doesn't mean your a bad KJ. My setting is just more conducive to it.

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[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

There are several types of singers who make up the "CROWD"

You have your friends and familiy who become regulars who will follow you ANYPLACE.

You have your regulars who BECOME friends and likewise depending on where you go and the type of venue ...probably will follow you

Then you have those who are REGULARS to the venue and not so much to your show. They sang Karaoke their before you and will do so after you no MATTER who the KJ IS and what kind of show they run.

There is no right or wrong answer only opinions of the KJ's involved.
Then there are singers who SAY they will follow you because "you're the best" but if they have to drive 15 extra minutes ..all of a sudden your not worth it

Funny story about regulars:

I have a couple who have been coming in for about 3 yrs 3 times a week without fail. He called one of the other regulars who he knows works just down the street from where I have my gig.

He asked him to walk down to the bar and tell me they wouldn't be there because he was sick and he didn't have my number. The guy laughed at him and said, Are we in school? I don't think you'll get detention if you don't show up.

I think it's sweet they wanted to let me know they wouldn't be there.

My point is some regulars think they are part of your show. They think where ever I am they have to be there too.

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

I get that one too from quite a few regulars. They'll tell me if they can't come in on their usual night. Or why they didn't if they missed.

I don't think it's over the top. We're close.

Would my group go with me if I moved? Yeah a lot of them would. We just know each other well. Not just karaoke stuff. The relationships they're in, their work, what they're going through at the moment. And I share stuff with them too. Last Sat I dumped on a couple of them and they're good with that. I think I just got dumped and I needed people I trusted to unload on. I trust these two people more than anyone else in my life right now. And they'll do the same with me.

Ya know, it occurs to me we're having a hard time differentiating between the "Crowd" and your friends. Yeah I have friends that I built through time that will go wherever I am. However they're going to go out and hang with me even when I'm not working so they're not really the "crowd" when I think of it.

If you have 27 to 40 people in the venue that are close enough for ya'll to do all kinds of things my hats off to you. There are 5 to 7 that I am pretty close to, they'll help me move type friends. They'll go around with me no matter where I play in the area. However the bread and butter of the venue, the other 25 people that are there to sing, they're the crowd the venue has and I have no expectation of them following anyone. It's those folks that'll break your heart if you think you hold perfect sway over them.