Karaoke Forums

It's done all the time at true Japanese bars. At least that's what toqer tells us.

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

Well I don't know what is the norm overseas but here in the UK anywhere having the impertinance to entertain such an idea would go down in flames pronto. Charging an entrance fee is one thing, charging to sing, like the OP said, counts for three strikes.

Well I am an ignoramus. I had no idea that such cheek (that's the way I see it) is actually commonplace in some areas. They're making money anyway - singing makes me thirsty so it's straight off the stage and to the bar for another drink, and they are a rip-off anyway. Me knowing I could sing 3 or 23 songs and not be out of pocket would also encourage me to stay longer (and almost certainly order more drinks).

From what I understand the kj's in Hawaii do not get paid and this is part of their compensation. At least that has been stated in the past. Not sure if it is fact or not.

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

That's pretty lousy pay considering the limited number of songs one can fit into a given night, not to mention the cost of living in Hawaii.

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KNOW THYSELF

I'd charge $2.00 for duets, and $3.00 for The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

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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.

That falls into place in that case, but I still do not agree with this system. It penalises the singers, and KJs should get paid for their time regardless. The only possible advantage I see is if it encourages the KJ to call up singers back to back instead of playing loads of crap in between singers, like some do - therefore getting through more singers. In my view charging singers takes the fun out of karaoke, and the fun and enjoyment should be te driving force, not squeezing people dry.

Squeezing people dry? This is the equivalent of less than a quarter in 1970. I don't think it qualifies.

I think it's a great idea. A dollar is nothing. Someone who isn't drinking should be happy to pay, and someone who is drinking should pay a dollar to make someone put up with their vocal stylings.

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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 don't list Manu codes either. For 90% of the singers, they don't know, or care. They trust I'll pick the best song for them, and I really don't feel like wasting my time explaining every 5 mins, "What do these letters stand for?"

If they don't ask for a specific version, then I'll just select for them, and I NEVER have a complaint. If you ask me if I have "X" Version, i usually know off the top of my head, or can check easily.

I don't see what the problem is.

the $1 to sing is lame, and I'm not hooking a flash drive to my computer from someone I just met. Sorry, that's too big a risk. I don't sleep around, and neither does my computer.

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Good music, good friends, howling good times!

And since an avg night, no 1 person is going to sing more than 3-4 songs, I don't think it's a huge issue. Definitely not squeezing them out of anything. That's less than an avg house drink costs in most places.

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

It's funny when I first started I listed every version - ALWAYS had the question 'which is the better version' or 'what is the difference' in which i'd reply about the manus blah blah and that it's like going to hear a few different cover bands - some will sound spot on while others kind of miss the mark or don't sound like the original at all, in which they would always reply - just give me the best version in essence leaving it up to me. About '95 I decided to de-dup my book leaving only what I felt were the best versions (but with manu codes) - which was no questions asked after that few a few years. Up until about 2000-01 is when people started asking for particular brands fairly regularly and bringing in their own discs consistantly.

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

This has been a good read. I even learned some stuff. All I can add is Happy Belated Bday Cue.

If you don't trust a singer because he brought a few songs on a flash drive; then maybe you need to break down and buy a CDG player so the guy can bring a disc with his favorite songs? IT'S CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!

Yup, Whatyever makes the customer happy- all part of the business...

BTW- the $1 per song in Asian style bars is only part of it. Bribes to bump are EXPECTED and accepted. Not only that, but re-bribes. In other words, say someone throws in a $5 bribe to be moved up. Someone else can out bribe the briber and be put ahead of the already bumped song- and it's accepted! THAT'S how the hosts really make their money.

Try doing THAT in an American style bar.....and escaping with your skin intact...

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

Honestly I agree with this. I am not going to buy every version of a song & if someone brings in something they are comfortable with, then so be it. I've felt this way since I started my own setup in 94, nothing has changed to today.

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

I am looking at 7 CDG and CDG/Laser disc players right now that are collecting dust and there are two in the van with the book of SC Foundations and bricks (for just in case my computer goes down) But I am not really that interested in taking it in and setting it up for the one singer that might, possibly, could, but probably wouldn't, more than likely never will, show up with a disc he wants to play his version of a song from (which 8 out of 10 chances I have it anyway).

I mean I like customer service too, but I don't go into Best Buy and get ticked off because they won't serve me lunch when I am hungry.

Chances are that someone who walked into one of my shows with his own disc wouldn't stay anyway because the wait time to sing would be too long and they would leave anyway.

I look at it as I am bringing in the equipment anyway, this is just 1 more piece - if not already built into the rack. A A/B switch is nothing IMO!

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

all the software plays straight off disc anyway, why not just use that feature? forget the extra player.

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

No they don't. Compuhost does not play off of disc and not every drive supports CDG subcode, I know mine doesn't and I am not investing in an external when I can rip discs on my home computer. They want me to play their song version, they're gonna have to wait until I can get it. Hopefully it will be a Chartbuster song so all I have to do is unlock it as August I am getting the KJ Media Pro HD from Chartbuster.

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

If somebody brings in a disc I will play it. Why not whats the big deal. I still have a cdg player in my rack but I don't really need it as MTU Hoster will allow me to play a disc. I have never had anyone bring in a flash drive but I do not think I would use it. Why take a chance of picking up a virus? Just my 2 cents worth.