Karaoke Forums

Depends on the gig. Yes, I usually put them in if they are the type that always want to sing. (Some don't like to sing until later.) But if someone else I don't know comes and talks to me as I am setting up, I put them in first. My policy is first come first served, so if you give me a slip first you sing first.

I automatically put a small amount of effects on -- of course. It would be rude to put the singer on totally dry. But like you, I hate sounding like I am singing from the bottom of a well. It makes everyone sound pretty much the same, which is stupid.

All my other hosts? Ain't nobody but me. If a friend is helping out, they are a singer too and as such they get to sing.

I typically drop out of the rotation at 12 singers. Again depending on the gig.

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

I understand if there were not that many singers and having the host sing some too but this was a very full show, very full.
When my husband was running his show (work has him traveling now too much) he would only sing if there was no one else to sing or if people requested a song from him. Which was usually 3 Little Pigs form Green Jelly or some Ray Stevens.

Interesting....

#1. I never 'automatically' add anyone to a rotation. Ever. Sometimes even the regulars are just there to hang... not necessarily sing.

#2. I use the appropriate amount of reverb depending on the singer and the song. Enough to smooth out the sound of the singer's voice without giving them "tunnel tonsils." Evanescence, Celine Dion and a few others might have a different (and more prominent) effect altogether for example. I may or may not adjust the sound depending on the singer's request.

#3. I sing as little as I have to and will drop out at 4 (yes, that's four) singers because it will still give them a 15 min. break before I call them again.... and usually much longer because new singers are inserted.

#4. Don't need more than 1 "host"

No, I have never just put people into the rotation - even if I know they sing, mainly because they just want to sit and have a couple drinks, however I do incorporate new singers (that turn in slips) into the current round if time allows it.


I put effect on every singer to the point where you cannot actually 'hear' the effect, however would notice if it is not there. You should never be able to hear the effect over the natural voice - unless it is actually intended that way (Elvis delay backslap, Prince, long delay on many songs, George Michael lots of reverb with long trail). If it sounds like a 'tunnel' on every song, then the kj has no idea on how to apply effects. These should only enhance a vocal, not overtake it.

I only have 1 host working on any given night & they are supposed to pull themself out of the rotation after they get 5 singers singing regularly. Now if they come in on their off night, they wait in the rotation like anyone else.


Who told you they were 'good'? Sounds like either the kj's or friends of the bar.

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

When I host a show, I will ONLY include you in my Rotation once you have handed me a Song Slip request (whether you are a Regular or not). You be be there while I'm setting up, or sitting there for an hour, and it doesn't matter until you hand me your song selection. Then you will sing in the order of the Rotation.

Now, depending when you sing may also depend on when you hand me that song slip.... For example: I have 15 people on my list and I am up to Singer number 14. You just walk into the Bar, and while Singer 14 is still singing, you hand me a song request slip. You're next. Same scenerio, but now, Singer number 14 has finished his/her/their song, and I have just announced that we are back to the top of the Rotation. I have called up Singer number 1, and you hand me a song request. You will have to wait until I get to Number 15 before you get to sing. Sorry, but it's all in the timing at my show.





I always have a little bit of reverb set up on all my Mics. IMO, nobody sounds like they're "down a tunnel" at my shows. I have received the occasional request to either turn it up or turn it down for specific singers or specific songs, and I have no problem with that.




I am a one-man show/host. So, when I feel I have enough people in the Rotation to sustain the show on its own for the rest of the night, I drop out of the Rotation.



Find another place. NEVER trust the opinions of others on how good or bad a show is. You can take their opinion at face value, but the only way you will know for sure, is by going there yourself. Like Lonnie said, don't trust the opinions on websites such as YELP.COM.... they are easily stacked by the staff and the Regulars that go to that place.

I have been to many shows where I felt it was great, or it sucked, and when I told others about these shows, they did not share my opinions. So, based on what I just said, even my opinions of another KJ's shows could be left up for interpretation.

Just to clear something up the opinions we got about this place were from other bars that do not have karaoke or other people. They were not from Yelp. I only look at sites like that just to find places that might have it then I call the particular bar just to make sure. I never make a judgement call off sites like that since I know people will inflate one or the other a review.
We have about 6 other places that we will check out over the next few weeks. We went here first cause it is also a resturant and it was dinner time so the supposed 7pm starting time that the person seating us fit well with eating first then we found out about them really starting at 8 from our server. Then when he went to get a book at 8 so that he could see what songs they had he was told that nope they don't start putting the books out until they start at 8:30 and then when that time rolled around they already had the regulars in que with no slips.

On any given evening, I will have at least 25 - 30 "regulars" show up. Most often a number of them will be there socializing even before I arrive... and they will tell me the order in which they arrived.

As more "regulars" arrive, I'll add their name(s) to the rotation automatically (using a large white-board), and I make frequent announcements for the benefit of newcomers that they need to let me know they intend to sing (and get a request slip in).
From that point forward, I handle the rotation the same way Cueball does.

Reverb.... always a little... just enough to help fill out the sound... but not so much as to be annoying.

I'm also a one-host show, and seldom sing unless asked to "duet" with someone... I've never been in a situation where I had to perform because there weren't enough singers available. Just as an aside... my regular shows are Thursday & Saturday evenings... which leaves Friday evenings for me to attend someone else's show... I get to socialize with many of my regulars... and I get to sing too.

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Earl
(BS, PHD & Certified CurmuDJeon)

[font=Times New Roman]"Growing Old may be mandatory... but growing UP is still optional."[/font]

I take myself out of the rotation when we have 4 singers as well. I'll always sing the first song, but I rarely put myself back in the rotation after that.

I automatically put regulars in the rotation as soon as I see them come in the door. If I don't know you, you have to turn in a slip. HOWEVER, I make a special effort to introduce myself to each new singer and remember their name, and if I know your name, you are a regular to me, and I will automatically put you in the rotation as soon as you arrive, then come check to make sure you want to sing before you are called.

I'm with everyone else on reverb. I've been to shows where they have the super wet reverb, and it sounds horrible. The PROPER way to use reverb for a typical song and typical singer is just like Lonman said - barely noticable, but you'd know if it is not there. If you follow that rule, the slight reverb will cover slight vocal mistakes, and that's the point. It should only be a WET, special effect if the original song contains a wet, special effect, like Purple Rain.

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C Mc
KJ, FL

I never put a person in the rotation unless they physically hand me a song request slip.

I've been to shows where the host likes to put 'sewer pipe' reverb on the tracks.. but I generally just put a touch of reverb on the vocals.. I think of reverb as a seasoning, not a primary ingredient.

Finally.. I am a KJ/DJ.. i've been a professional singer, I generally have absolutely no interest in singing anything. In fact, i'm regularly getting BEGGED to sing songs and usually decline.. so, no.. I don't include myself in the rotation when i've got a full board of singers.. I rarely sing when I DON'T have many singers.

Too many 'singers' get into the karaoke biz simply because they can't get work as singers, and can't get the local KJ's to kiss their @ss, so they start their own KJ biz so they can sing 14 songs a night.

Those people should be drug out into the woods, stripped nude, beaten with a rubber hose, and then covered in honey and tied down across a fire ant hill.

I use a sign up sheet the order goes into the line up the way it is on the sheet!



I use reverb (effects) set on all but my own personal mic, if I sing I punch it in on my mic.



I keep my name in the rotation even though I will probably not sing, when it comes up to the top of the rotation I bump it down again.
If someone comes in from one of the local bands or a national singer etc. I will put them in under my name, also if someone who I know
works at one of the bars I gig at comes in from work and wants to sing I will put them in under my name. Other than that I may sing
once during the night it depends on my mood. The other "host" that work with me know how it works and if they come to a show they
are treated just like any other patron, just as I am if I go to a show they are covering.



Tonight by 10:00 I had 37 singers on the list, there isn't time for me to sing and there is no "special treatment" for anyone!

My cut off for singing was 7 singers. After reading this, I'm backing it down to 5. If I have 5 singers, I won't sing until it's less.

Don't use reverb on hiphop songs.

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

First come first serve the first round then I add new singers in throughout. Done this for 20 years. Usually a minimum 20 minute wait, they don't just walk in & get right up. We have a lot of swing shift & late night workers that come in, not necessarily bar hoppers. Not going to alienate them because they are working late. However get there too late - after I call no more slips (usually about an hour before close) - you will have to wait until tomorrow.

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

Agreed... That's how I think it should be done. *thumbs up*

And let me just say how much I love the pic in your signature

Well again about 20 minutes, so that's about 5 singers after current singer usually. After that it's a couple new, to a couple old etc. I do watch the time too as when people turn in slips, so if I get a new singer at say 10:20 they will wait until around 10:40. If I get another at 10:30, they don't get to be right after the previous new singer, they will wait until around 10:50. Some people do not like this method, but as a singer this is the way I prefer it at other shows. Never going to please all, but it is consistant & that is key. I do try to keep couples together also - provided they turn in their slips at the same time initially.

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

i do the same. my scrolling message is set to show the next 5 singers so newbie goes to slot 6, then it's old, new, old, etc. i do it this way as opposed to adding new singers at the end so the singers that got there at the beginning do not have to wait through a rotation that has no solid ending. weave the new singers in between the old singers so everyone gets to sing.

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Paradigm Karaoke, The New Standard.......Shift Happens

I'm sure this is a very NEWBIE question, but ... I'm a newbie!

When you say "slips", is that just a slip of notebook paper, or a printed form, or... ?

I'm guessing they write their name and the song/artist they want to sing on it, and give it to you?

Just want to be sure I do this right. I am more of a DJ, but keep having places ask me to do KJ, so I just picked up some music and equipment and now I'm trying to figure out what to do with it!

Yep slips are strips of paper usually found in the song books for patrons to fill out with their name, song title, artist and sometimes version like SC, CB or THM if KJ has them listed in his book.

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I like everyone when I first meet them. If you don't like me that's not my problem it's YOURS!
A stranger is a friend you haven't met yet

I use a signup sheet method instead of a rotation. Tuesday night I had 47 different singers on the cue by 10:30 closed the list at this point and put out the "MAYBE LIST". People are added as they signup, the smart ones signup as soon as they walk through the door. After a singer finishes singing he/she can signup again for another song, there is no "inserting" new people in front of those already on the list regardless of them having already been up. The only direction a singer can be moved is down or off the list by request. If a singer wants to be moved up the list to next for $10 $20 $50 or $100 that can happen (if he is already next on the cue) if he is not already next anyone can be moved to the top of the list by buying a round for everyone in the bar.

On the subject of reverb (effects) it is always on the singers mics.

Sounds crazy Thunder. What about those that can't come until later for whatever reason? Some do have legit reasons and I don't think I would want to go to your show if I had that situation, I'd find another place nearby if possible.

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

Actually I have addressed this before, anyone who works at another venue and will be coming in late can either call ahead to the bar or a friend and have them put on the list (with an apporiate time of arrival) and I will bump them down to the position that will be as close to their arrival at the venue as possible. I have two regular patrons (bartender and a server) at other venues that I do who I automatically put on the list for 1:00 every Tuesday night, because I know they will always be there within +/- 10 minutes of 1:00. But what I won't do is put someone up who has been out cruising other bars all night and then stopping in at my venue at 12:00 wanting to sing "next" or even at all.

I am going to cater to the people who have actually spent time and money in my bar waiting patiently for their turn to come up. Honestly, I think that is the biggest reason my shows keep the popularity that they do. Seeing someone walk through the door and get up in five or six songs when everyone else has been waiting 1, 2 or 3 hours to sing would certainly make me take a walk and never go back to that show.

The people that call ahead, their names are added to the list (which also scrolls in it's entirety across the screen all night) so everyone there knows where they are, who they are after, and who has been on the list all night.

Yes, you could find another place nearby where the KJ sings two songs, his friends sing a song each and then you sit through a 30 minute dance set, then the KJ sings two songs his friends sing two songs and if there happens to be anyone else there they may get to sing a song, then repeat.