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That's another reason why I like them standing there. I do a quick search and if I dont have it I say I'll try to download it. Whats a another one in the meantime? Then I log onto tricerasoft and search there and download it for the next rotation. I'm thinking of setting up wireless lan from laptop to the rack computer again so I can download directly into a shared folder in the rack comp.

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10% agreed. So much easier when my missus is with me.

But as said above - somepeople just don't "get it"...

Had a guy come up with a slip for a song I didn't have - he went to the trouble of writing a slip - why not just look?

Or the worst:

"Put my up for Jonny Cash"
"Can you write out a slip"
"..."
"Ok this once. What song do you want?"
"Jonny Cash"
"Yes, what song"
"How do you mean?"
"Which of his songs do you want to sing"
"By by Jonny Cash!"
"OK, Ring of fire "

The guy came back again and went through exactly the same thing. I explained to him about the books, and writing a ticket, and then it goes into a list. Then he just got it - and was all "Oh, ok - that's a good idea! I'll go write one, is that cool?"

Nice guy, just thick!

Ollie,

The thread was started by someone using CDG's. He needs the slips to function. And even I, using a computer, rely upon the slips to help control the rotation. I can't be distracted while I am running my show by people coming up requesting songs. Give me a slip and I 'll get to it as soon as I can!

For me, this is really crowd dependent. At my gig, I am very accessible physically. Because people can talk to me easily , they'll tell me what they want to sing and I'll go straight to the keyboard and enter the song. If I'm jammed, I tell people that if they don't give me a slip I might not remember, and if they don't get called up within 20 minutes or so to come and remind me. They don't like the prospect of not getting into the rotation ASAP so they'll usually fill out a slip.

I have regulars who've followed us for years and I know pretty well what they're going to sing so I'll always put in their first song for them without them knowing (only do this with someone I know well). Most have a warm-up song. No slip for the first song and they'll just tell me their next song when they come up - in it goes into the computer.

My gripe is going to a show where they don't provide slips! This is more common than ever now - especially pirate shows. They seem to do minimal work - books that are incomplete or out of date, no slips or pencils, and no ability to play CDGs... "We just use coasters" is the response to the slip query. ARGGGG....

Hubby and I alternate shows - he gives me a list of the things he wants to sing and I give him a list of the songs I want to sing - we don't mess with slips. We get put in when the rotation allows for it. If we DON'T put in our requests with each other, we are at each other's whim ... and that can be scary!

k

If someone asked me this I would have set them up with the song "Johnny Cash" by Jason Aldean, thinking that's what they wanted. That would have been messed up.

Regulars have their slips. I help newbies out if they need it.

Even if they write out a slip they can give you second thoughts. One came up last night. No number, just "To The Left" and her name. But I knew what she wanted because that's the first line to the song.

Hosting requires a certain degree of prescience sometimes, doesn't it? I had a small child ask me to play "Pack up the babies" years ago at a family karaoke party - thank goodness I was well schooled in Neil Diamond and recognized it as Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show - I guess the child's father played Neil Diamond in the car all the time. We all had a good laugh about "pack up the babies"

k

A guy came in with his 4 year old kid and I was busy talking to him. All of a sudden the music was goin' to hell I looked and this kid was totally fascinated with my mixer and wanted to turn every knob on it. After I picked myself up off the floor and got done laughing I hurry quick adjusted it back. After that nobody would let him within 10 feet of the rack. He sure wanted to sing and be a KJ tho...

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This is one of my pet peeves too.

The first time I will usually help them depending how busy I am. When I help them I explain how to do it, so they can do it themselves the next time. I have magnifying glasses for people who say they can't see the small print and people do use them. I bought them at a walgreens really cheap. I explain they get into the rotation quicker if they do it themselves - MOST PEOPLE ARE JUST LAZY !

I can tell if someone is just being lazy or if they are illerate after the 1st song they sing. If you're illiterate you don't read the words on the monitor.

I just tell them with a smile. I'll help you once then you're on your own ! I'm sure you understand it isn't possible for me to have time to do this for everyone and I can't play favorites.

As for this guys comment about the other KJ that doesn't use discs -
Aaarg ! I'd want to shove my foot in his rear.

Obviously he can't be that happy with this guy or he'd be at his show not yours. I don't think I'd want someone at my show that was so rude, but I do have a small solution. A couple of us on the forum use lists for the regulars. If someone has been coming on a continual basis I have an index card with all their songs on it. I've been doing this for the passed 5 yrs or so. It works like a charm. As they hand in new slips I just add the songs and their numbers to their list. When they come in I pull their card for them. Singers love this and will return to your show sometimes just because of it. It becomes an honor to get your own card. People will ask me when do I get a card. They have to come on a regular basis before getting the honor. Next thing ya know people are coming more often just to say they have a card.

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Remembering back several years ago when I was working with CDG's I did not have time to handle those requests. I would just say in a kind tone of voice...I'm really busy running the show right now so if you don't mind looking it up yourself it would really help me. Sometimes I would get one of my regulars to help them etc. If I had time I would do it for them but normally I was too busy.

Now I have a great hosting program that tracks rotation and singer histories extremely well, it also has an excellent search feature and I can have them in the rotation in just a couple of seconds so I have no problem doing it for them. After I have done this then I hand them a slip for their next song and ask them let their fingers to the walking from that point.

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Scott

Great idea - I know it's been mentioned before but for some reason I forgot about it - sure better than trying to remember everyone's songs. Going to implement that system at my show tonight since I have some very regular regulars, and it will help ME to get them up ASAP when they arrive and eliminate the need for them to write out slips. Most people don't care for writing out slips; I return slips to people who ask and they bring them back week after week. Saves paper, too. I also have 'readers' for people who have trouble reading the print (oh, it's too small, it's too dark) - picked up a whole pile of them and for so cheap, I don't care if they forget and take them home, though they aren't the prettiest things...which for some reason keeps them from walking, surprise surprise.

We do have a fellow who is legally blind who comes to our show and we both know what he sings so he doesn't usually have to struggle with filling out a slip. Others, you can just tell they can't read....or write. It makes it difficult to decipher their writing.

k

I would have been thrown with "Pack Up The Babies". I wouldn't have had a clue. That was great Karen.

My puzzler "To The Left" actually wasn't for me because the song that opens with it ... "Irreplaceable" - Beyonce... has been done a lot by others.

I keep regular singer's previous slips at the club with me. Each is in a small plastic tub with their names on them and they pick them up when they come in. It saves them the hassle of rewriting and cuts down on waste.

I'm just using Post-Its so they can draw on them or whatever. The most interesting messages or artwork make it to the back wall. I thumbtack them up for display.

The best drawing presently on the wall is in intricate pencil sketch a marijuana plant, with each leaf perfectly drawn in exquisite detail. Probably by someone who was stoned.

The messages... sometimes sent to me and sometimes to someone in the room... are fascinating reading. The back wall gets a lot of "views".

Just had to take a poke at the US, didn't ya!!

Not at all, I love the US - but it's true isn't it.

Most of my singers are regulars and I keep their slips from week to week, so no problem with them. When they come in they get their slips and then either bring them up to me one at a time or sometimes put them in the order they want to sing and bring them all to me. Either way works since I keep a list of my singers so I can keep them in rotation. Sometimes have some one come up with no slip and want me to look it up. I just tell them there are books on the tables with slips and pencils in pouch in front. Just like when they ask if I have such and such song. I tell them I have over 900 disks with an average of 15 songs per disk. How could I possibly remember every song I have, that's the reason I have books with slips and pencils. My pet peeve is the person who fills out the slip with song title, disk number, original artist name and leaves their own name off the slip. I try to look at the slip when they hand it to me, but sometimes you can't because you are just too busy. I handle this problem by calling them up as the "dummy" who doesn't know his name but wants to sing so & so. They usually only forget their name once. But like said previously, there really is no simple solution to people not handing in slips. There will always be someone who thinks they are special and that you have all the time in the world to cater to them.

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Sometimes I get busy and don't think to look at the slip before I place it order. Not only do I get the "Dummy" that forgets his name they forget to put the song number. Aaarg! or their name is Mike, Bob, or Bill. Please, do you know how many people have with that same name.

I usually handle it by calling out their name, say it's Bill, and adding on the name of the song. For example "Whiskey girl Bill"

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karyoker had it right. Use a computer. Use a kiosk, even if you're still using CDs. The computer can still do your rotation for you. No slips, no worries.

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Okay, who took my pants?

That is why I go by Mickey. In Chicago, the Bills, Toms, and Bobs have to be legion as well.

I honestly think there is some training involved with your singers and regulars. Because I now use a PC I personally do accept non-slip sons from regulars but they are quick to fill one out when I say "Please write it it down for me" and tap my ear. When running with disks there was a firm rule I needed a slip, no matter what. I can live with a slip with a name and song but no number, most times it's easy enough to look up.

I know we all fear losing singers and such but setting firm operating rules that are required by everyone is the only fair way to keep the show running and treat your singers fairly with the special case for vision or literacy notwithstanding (never had either happen).



Genius!

Very good point. So many times what keeps people coming back is the efficiency, organization, and predictability of a show. The "aww, it's just one" people don't get that when you let these things go, order evaporates and it becomes a free-for-all.

There are several shows I don't go to just because of this. The host has so gotten into catering into the quirks and foibles of their regulars that there are constantly 1-2 minute dead times as someone finishes their drink and saunters to the stage, or as they haven't picked their song yet and have to have a discussion with the host about it. ("What do you think I should do? Will it make me look fat?")

For my gigs I do for my friend at a bar, I always bring a reading glasses (they are about $10) in medium prescription abut 1.5 and a small flash light. I know I am getting to where a reading glasses help but don't use it yet, so those who do, appreciate it I bring it.

The other way my friend does it, this works if you have a regular gig, is to save all the songs the regulars sing in an envelope. He hands them out to them before it starts and they don't have to fill out the slip again. They just choose one from the collection or if they fill it out a new songs, it goes in to the envelop. I haven't try this since most of the gigs I do are private parties but if I do get a regular gig, I may try this.

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