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I think karaoke is the only musical area where being called a diva has such a negative feel to it. It's also funny that the people that are calling other people divas are fighting for their right to take up a customer's spot in the rotation so they can showcase themselves as an entertainer instead of just doing their job as a host. I'm so glad that they have themselves convinced that their audience is clamoring for them to grace them with song. Talk about DIVAS! I want the KJs to be fair to all of the singers; not just me. It seems that there are quite a few KJs who take themselves out of their rotations once it get above 5 singers. I wonder what their reasons for that are? Hmmmmm. Maybe they think that it is their job to make all of the customers feel special instead of making themselves feel like the star of the show?

Ok see this makes NO sense. You will put a spot in for the non-singing requestor (guessing this is an insertation method), and will sing the song for him when his turn comes up which may mean singing in front of others in said rotation - instead of just placing that request at the end of the rotation.
If he wants you to sing a another song - of COURSE he would have to ask.

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

Actually both opinions are valid.

The only way to run a karaoke show is the way that makes your bar/venue the most money.


-James

Still technically you are singing it so it is technically your turn singing a request since they are a non-singer, their name shouldn't be in a 'spot'.

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

I have gotten requests in the past to sing duets with people (on there turn) and have obliged. It did not take away their turn. But I would never include myself into the rotation.

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Electro-Voice Evolve 50... Taking Sound To The Next Level.

the nerve of those sons of bit**es

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Electro-Voice Evolve 50... Taking Sound To The Next Level.

So you are saying you would tell the nonsinging paying customer that requests you to do a song for them (not with them), you'd flat tell them no. Since they arent a singer they dont deserve to be included in the night? Basically telling then to f off

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

A. They don't know any better.
B. They're afraid if they don't give you the recognition you so desperately desire, you'll throw a temper tantrum.
C. They have no place else to go so they tolerate you and your ego.

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Electro-Voice Evolve 50... Taking Sound To The Next Level.

Alan B. can!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Oh, and by the way, so much for this comment!!! I see you decided to post more after that. One just HAS TO LOVE IT when someone says they're through with a specific topic thread, and then feels the NEED TO COME BACK AND GET THE LAST WORD IN!!!!!!

Ask any karaoke singer if they would rather have 20 people in the rotation or 19 people in the rotation? Ask any karaoke singer if they would rather have 36 people in the rotation or 35 people in the rotation? I think that almost EVERY karaoke singer would choose the lower number. That being said, The KJ has the power to make the rotation lower by taking himself out of the rotation. The better KJs do just that. The others don't.

I don't think I've ever heard a karaoke singer say that the rotation was too short; "I wish more singers would get here so I wouldn't have to sing an extra song tonight. I only know 3 songs". Maybe someone might feel that way if the place was dead and there were only 3 or 4 singers? Who knows?

I didn't plan on it. I just decided to respond to comments that were addressed to me. But since I'm here...

May I say something?

Visiting many karaoke venues over the years, both as a singer and a KJ checking out the competition, I've discovered many things:

1. Most of the hosts were pirates.
2. Most were terrible hosts.
3. Most didn't care about their customers and were only there for the beer and to flirt with the girls.
4. Most showed favoritism among the people they knew.
5. Most of them had terrible sound systems.
6. And yes, some of them were part of the rotation.

I made a commitment to myself that when I started this business, I would be different from the rest. That I would settle for no less than a professional, quality show. That I would make it about the customers, treating everyone fairly, and making sure everyone has fun.

I have discovered from this thread, that there are many unprofessional KJ's here. These people who try to justify why it's OK to include themselves in their rotation, astounds me. They are NOT professionals, they're singers.

A professional is going to make it about their customers and not include themselves, taking up valuable space in the rotation. There's nothing wrong with singing, but don't do it while you're hosting. Doing so creates a dis-service to your customers.

Now I know most of you will try to defend yourself and say my customers love when I sing or have no problem with it. Believe what you want but singers want to sing. Again, ask a singer if they would rather have 19 or 20 people in the rotation. What do you think that most will say?

The point is I know that there are terrible and unprofessional KJ's out there, I just never thought I'd find it here with some of you guys.

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Electro-Voice Evolve 50... Taking Sound To The Next Level.

I legitimately said this last night. Valentine's Day made the Friday a weird night at the bar we go to that night, as did the snow. I arrived in advance of the people I was going with, and for the first hour and a half? I probably sang five songs. I think there were five people in the rotation. It might have been six. And the place was less busy than usual, so it was basically a few of us just sitting around, singing songs to one another until the Valentine's Day crowd left their romantic dinners and arrived at the bar.

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Co-host of The Greatest Song Ever Sung (Poorly), a karaoke-themed podcast

How naïve. Why in the world would you think that this forum is some special bubble where only the awesome people are? If anything, the forums attract the bottom feeding trolls (ahem) because of the anonymity and lack of accountability the forums provide.

All of the people you mentioned above are here on these forums. Most lurk in the shadows and never post anything. Some are trolls and post just to stir things up. but they are all here.

Also, your list above is pretty solid except for two items - Hosts in the rotation (which we have already beaten down) and flirting with patrons. I flirt. I flirted a bunch last night. If Valentines day isn't a day for flirting, then I don't know what is. But just like I set limits on singing in my own rotation, I know where to draw the line with flirting. Have a hey day with that one if you like.

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-Chris

I didn't sing a single song last night--had people chomping at the bit and even volunteering to be the guinea pig (sound check) so I didn't even do the first song myself. But I still defend the host singing as I've been to shows where I as a customer enjoyed it.

Earthing mentioned the host singing seems to bond them to the crowd sometimes. I have seen/felt that. Sometimes when you put yourself on the line it is good to see the host do the same--and if they mess up you feel you don't have to be perfect either. I feel like I am getting to know them more when they express themselves through singing. When they are really good singers then it impresses me that I have a real pro for a host who knows and understands entertainment and that I've gotten to hear something special. I have some really good memories of exceptional numbers done by hosts in past years.

When I do sing it gives me an adrenaline boost that makes me feel more involved with the show and livens up my in between intros. It also reminds me what the singer is going through and lets me make adjustments that may have gotten away from me. But I'm a little different from many hosts as I started off as an audience and not a singer so I just can do enough to get by and don't really jump in that often.

Sometimes if I get a group that doesn't think it would be okay to sing their kind of music I will do that kind of song to let them know it's okay. Singing a more current song when the night seemed to be oldies is one example. Singing a Spanish song when you get an influx of Latinos who are afraid to venture up with their kind of music would be another. It can sometimes open the way for someone who was feeling they wouldn't fit in to give it a try.

I'm one of those who backs off when busy but I see too many exceptions where the host singing works to make any kind of blanket statement about it being professional/acceptable or not.

Never thought of it like that, Chris. I always thought of this forum as a gathering for the "professional" host. You've shown me otherwise, many here are no more bottom of the barrel than what you'd find at the bars.

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Electro-Voice Evolve 50... Taking Sound To The Next Level.

People who say one thing (I am done with this thread) & do another (back again for more posts) in my opinion are pieces of s—t! just "re-quoted" you!

Expect more posts from Alan!!!

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To be fortunate enough to derive an income from a source as fulfilling as karaoke music has got to be as close to heaven as we can get here on earth!

Sorry, double posts.

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To be fortunate enough to derive an income from a source as fulfilling as karaoke music has got to be as close to heaven as we can get here on earth!

And, similar to NoShameKaraoke's experience, I have also been to shows where the Rotation was ONLY 6-7 people (roughly a 30 minute Rotation). I have felt that getting up to sing twice in 1 hour was too quick, and have wished for more people to participate. Ultimately, I feel that 12-15 people is a good Rotation, but even when the Rotations are running 20+, I still don't have any issues with the KJ remaining in the Rotation (as long as he/she is not hogging the Rotation).

My sentiments exactly! I couldn't have said it any better myself. Thanks, cue.

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To be fortunate enough to derive an income from a source as fulfilling as karaoke music has got to be as close to heaven as we can get here on earth!