Karaoke Forums

This was posted in a different thread:

Probably not!

It's bad enough that KJ's sing when they have no need to (i.e. the rotation is pretty full throughout the night), but to sing at the end of the show when people are anxious to get their last turn isn't a good idea to my way of thinking.

However, if there is 9 minutes left and you've reached the head of the rotation, maybe it is better for the KJ to sing rather than have only 3 singers out of a rotation of twenty getting another turn?

And would it be a good idea to end five minutes early rather than allow one or two people at the head of the rotation to sing again while 18 other people won't get that opportunity?

I like to fill up the last few minutes of my show with a sing a long so a lot of people get involved!

I will personally drop out and let as many as I can get in sing, regardless of where we are in the rotation.

I'm a bit new at this but, I never, ever sing unless it's a very light night, or if I'm asked too (and even then I'll choose not to if there's a rotation of any good lenght). I'm there to service the singers and the venue, not myself. I can sing all day at home and with friends anyway. Most people don't have a pro sound system at their disposal.

NO NO NO, Singers go B4 the host, espically at the end of the night

I sang torward the end last night and had a request to do so, albeit not an eight minute song. I also stayed another 30 minutes and let everyone that was left get another song in.

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Kevin

I "backtime" signups until the end of my show. When I'm full, I'll continue to accept slips but let them know they are on "standby" - meaning only if someone else drops out of the rotation will they get to sing.

Sometimes I go through all the signups and the standbys and only then will I sing at the end of the show. Otherwise I will sing only the firt song and don't put myself in the rotation unless there are 5 or less people in the rotation.

A couple of days ago I met with a new prospective venue and mentioned my policy about singing to the manager. Her elation was incredible. She was used to her hosts singing every rotation regardless of who was waiting. I told her I don't fancy myself a singer as much as a host, although I enjoy singing and if there's a lull will do singalongs to get the party going.

I know that some shows are hosted by really good singers and the crowd actually WANTS them to sing because they enjoy it. But for the most part, I would rather wait less time until my song than sit through a song from the host.

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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]

Yes.

I feel sometimes KJ's can be a bit selfish.
They can sometimes forget they are actually working.
Perk of the job... In moderation. Maybe.

Bruce was commenting on something he experienced [b]at the end[/b] of a show regarding a KJ singing in the rotation.

Considering how much this forum has discussed, in general terms, our opinions about hosts singing at their own shows, there's no need to repeat ourselves in that regard.

So, can we stick specifically to what is best to do during the last 10 minutes or so of a show when you know their are singers in the rotation who will not get to sing one last time and you have just finished cycling through the rotation?

And if you continue the show beyond the appointed ending time, that handles the question of what you do with those who haven't gotten "their last turn to sing". That methodology, however, doesn't address the question I posed!

If there is more than eight in the rotation I will take myself out except for duets that are put in by other singers.

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The Line Array Experiment is over. Nothing to see here. Move along.

If I don't get to finish the rotation, then so be it. I go as far as I can in it. As I stated, I will definitely take myself out. If there are new singers who didn't get to sing yet, I will move them up so they can get at least one song in, rather than let the other singers have a second song. I will ONLY do this in the final rotation, near the end of the night. My regulars understand this and in fact they like it. They know that sometimes they come in later and would like to get at least one in, too.
I know if I were to sing an 8 minute song to fill the end of the night rather than let 3 singers out the next rotation (rather than everyone in the rotation) sing, they would have my head!
I NEVER, EVER finish my night early, not even by a couple of minutes, so if that means that I have to go 5 or so minutes over, then so be it. Again, my singers understand that it's the luck of the draw where the rotation gets to at the end of the night. They might not be the lucky one who gets an extra song in tonight, but they know that tomorrow may just be a different story! I very rarely have the rotation hit the end on the night "just right".

It is really up to the KJ and the venue.


If the KJ wants to sing enough that it may drive away a few potential singers, then the bar will either pay them less or ask the KJ to stop.

If it is worth it to the KJ to get paid less, and occasionally annoy a singer then it is the KJs choice to do so and also the venue's choice to keep giving that KJ gigs if that is thier pattern.

Sure the customer is "right" but that does not mean that the KJ is not entitled to have a good time as well, and if the KJ is willing to charge less to take gigs that let them sing.

Just because a customer wants things one way, does not mean the KJ needs to provide that. The customer/singers can leave just like the kj does not have to take a job that does not let them sing occasionally.

If the KJ hogs the mic too much that the singers dont return, they will be fired.

Personally I think that singing in most rotations makes me closer to singers/regulars at MY show. Other shows may be different.

Each show provides something a show that you may enjoy may not be my kind of show and visa versa. The only question is does the show attract enough people into the club to make it economically viable and a good choice for the venue.

Probably not because each show is different and there can be many variables.

1) Are some of those singers late comers expecting to sing?

2) Are the singers people who come and drink coffee, soda, or water? (not including designated drivers)

3) Are these singers that are drinkers and support the bar? Then, yes. Make sure they get to sing.

The most popular karaoke I have been to had the host AND co-host each sing two songs during the rotaion and the place would be packed. Every now and then they would only do one song a piece.

I for one was interested in everyone's opinion on what they do.

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Kevin

So venue specific. If I didn't sing at my Fri show, they'd have my head. Part of the deal, they say. But then they also demand "Cupid Shuffle" at about 11:15....so yes, 20-plus people in the rotation, but that's the way they want it and that's the way they get it. (There is a 76 yo female singer jumps up to do the CS with us...says it's good to get up and dance...who am I to argue with that?) SOOO venue dependent.

I NEVER end my show early unless the place is dead and nobody is getting up to sing. And, if that's going to happen, that decision is usually made by the Bar (either the Bartender or the Manager (whoever is paying me)) after 2 hours of my show time has elapsed.

As for your other question, I will start a new rotation and get up at least 2 or 3 singers (which would put me to my ending time). I usually have a good idea about how many people I will be able to get up in the Rotations. Usually I take inventory of the song slips about 40 minutes before my show is supposed to end, and I compute how many more singers I might be able to get up. Once I do that, and barring any new singers that might arrive, I will go up to the people that handed slips in and tell them whether or not they will get a turn up there. For those that handed me multiple slips (that I determined will get another chance to sing), I tell them to pick one from their slips.

I don't put myself in the rotation usually and if I do it is only once or twice when it's slow.

I always quit on time unless paid to stay later. Who ever is in line next ends the night. Once in a blue moon I'll sing the last song, but that is only if the crowd is bugging me to sing.

The more times I can let singers sing the happier they are.

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As Randy Quaid said in Vacation... Bingo!

No matter how you look at it the end of the show is tough. SOMEONE will not get to sing. It could be the singer waiting 1 hour or the bar hopper who just dropped in expecting to sing. Stick to your normal rotation and explain to late comers that THEY PROBABLY WON"T GET TO SING seems to be the best and most consitent system.

Hoster is a blessing when it comes to the end of the show. I can look at the screen and now exactly when the last singer will sing...and warn those who come in late expecting to sing that unless someone leaves, they won't be singing. I do let those people know who definitely will NOT be singing again that that is the case and give them the option to leave if they wish. Surprisingly, most will stay. I have been to places where people know they're singing their last song and they take a hike....the last singer(s) hang out, come up to sing and there's no audience for them.

Compuhost sort of does the same thing. Though it doesn't show the actual run time, it is close enough to get you within a few minutes. We have the option of staying open longer, which we sometimes do if we aren't too tired and we think a lot of money is there to be made. So we look about 12:30 and make a determination as to whether we are going to stay open until 2 or 3.

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
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I don't have a problem with a host who likes to sing in every rotation. I have a small problem with a host who chooses to sing an extremely Loooong song during the last 45 minutes of a show. If the host sang an average length song of 3 minutes or so; two more people would have gotten another chance to sing, instead of the host singing an 8 & 1/2 minute long song. It's one thing for a customer to be selfish in choosing very long songs but when the host does it, it just seems to be stepping over the line. I didn't lose a turn the other night because of it but I'm sure that two other people did.