Karaoke Forums

Books. They Are Good.
Books. People Love Them.
Books. They're alright.
Books. I use them and I use a kiosk. When there's time.

I always have both with me. Setting up a kiosk is time consuming. Sometimes there's just no time to set up the kiosk, computer, monitor, router, stand, signs, you know, all this stuff that goes with it. On the other hand, it takes only 30 seconds to pass out books. Some people won't use either, they'll just come up and ask for a song or write it on a slip.

I love having a kiosk and when it's up and running people do use it. I like it. It looks good. It looks professional, mine is customized.

Anyway...books have always been. Let us respect the power of the book. Let us love it. Let us bond with it. Let us become one with it. Feel the power. The power of the Book.

Thank you. Yes, thank you.

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

Good luck with that. Last suggestion I gave cost me my license for SBG and KFM.

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

I can set up a kiosk too. But you are right, time-consuming. I have seen the one-piece kind, and that might make some sense.

But I get the best of both worlds. I have a rack-mount computer with wireless hotspot already connected. All you have to do is point your smart phone to the wireless network called Karaoke, and you are connected.Zero setup time. Terminals in everyone's pocket.

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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.

why does it take you so long i set my up in 3 mins

i have all my stuff in one case so all i have to do is turn it on

dont blame it on the kiosk if you are setting things up 1 at a time

mount the router and your dj puter in one case i dont under stand why some of the dj/ks here set up 1 thing at a time then you have a table with stuff every ware that is why there are road case's they make it look nice and neat

Why?? Because I'm a professional, that's why! I don't just slap my stuff together. I take the time to do it right and it shows. It takes me 10 minutes just to hang my signs, one suspended from the ceiling over the kiosk and the other one in front of it. Which by the way, I designed and had professionally printed. They look great under a black light.

So the point is, it's not just the quality of my work that's important to me but also the visual presentation and appearance of my equipment. So, if the wham bam, thank you mamm style works for you...great! But as far as I'm concerned, I'll take the extra time to do it right. I will never compromise the high standards I set for Firelight Karaoke. That's just one of the many things that sets me apart from the rest.

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

Forgive my ignorance Danny but what is SBG and KFM and how could making a suggestion cost you your license?

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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

SBG is songbook generator and KFM is Karaoke File Manager. I made the same suggestion as toqer did and got my licenses pulled as well as a rude email stating that the makers of AutoKDJ should have made their naming conventions the standard rather than having them create a new standard to add to his programs. A few months later They added it and claimed credit for the suggestion.

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

My current set-up situation is a mess. I'm a part-timer these days but my gear is all over the place; cords, power strips, crap all over the place. Need to tighten it up.

Can you suggest where to start?

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Terry O'ke--- Fake Music for Real People.

To start off with, get wireless mics, thereby eliminating mic cords getting tangled and all over the place. Then, get these:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/produ ... largeimage
Get tons of them in every size and secure and wrap all of your cables neatly together. For example the Power cord and VGA cable that goes from the singer monitor to your laptop and power strip.

You want to neatly secure all your cables so that it:
1. Looks good.
2. Provides safty.

Cover any other exposed wires with gaffers tape or a strip or carpet. Be proffessional, look professional. Get rid of the mess and take your time setting up. Don't rush. Take the time you need to do a professional installation. Allow yourself plenty of time. And that's a start.

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

may not need to be said, but find the way to set up that works for you, then do it that exact way every time. if you have the routine and follow it every time it will get done easier and faster over time.

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

As a singer, I love to have books to look at during karaoke... it not only makes me think of songs I wouldn't ordinarily think of, it gives me something to do.

I can certainly understand why KJ's might not want to have books, especially when they have 10,000 songs... but even if you only have, like a book that has "the most popular songs" or something, that would be better than nothing.

I realize that printing them out is a pain, and costly, and customers get them all sticky etc. Seems that it should be part of the expenses of being a KJ, though.

The KJ at Metro Cafe, the place I go to in Atlanta, doesn't have books, but he was saying that they are upgrading their system and so that hopefully you will be able to look at his list of songs on your phone and then tell him via a text message or some app which song you want to do. That sounds pretty cool....

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~Suzanne Lanoue~

Fine, as long as you arrive in plenty of time! I hate it that so many KJ's start late. Nothing worse, especially for those of us who like to get there right when it is supposed to start, and sing before the big crowds get there. I can't tell you how many times I have called a place and asked when their karaoke starts, then I get there and it starts a half hour or MORE later than what they told me. Of all the hundreds of times I've been to karaoke, all over, I'll bet I could count on one hand how many times it has started on time. It's really annoying. Some people have work the next day and can't stay late...

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~Suzanne Lanoue~

I provide books, but not ones that are complete or up to date. For some artists, my entries say something like:

Carey, Mariah*
Against All Odds CB
Hero CB,SC
We Belong Together CB,PH

* More songs by this singer, see KJ or electronic listing

Nobody sings Mariah Carey where I am. Why would I list the 30+ songs I have? Same for many singers. If the song has ever been sung at my gig, or the artist only has three or fewer songs, I list it. I also list all songs in the SC Foundation and CB Essentials 1 & 2. Ends up being about 5,000 unique songs. It gives enough for people to browse, and I have never gotten a complaint about them.

I think a lot of hosts don't mind providing books if it isn't a constant update situation. In my case, I provide a wireless network that has a kiosk for use by a smart phone. Those are quickly becoming ubiquitous.

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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 will always arrive early for a gig, usually an hour to 2 hours before show time. This way, I'm not rushed and can take my time to make everything right. If I'm finished setting up in plenty of time, I'll play music or if there are people ready to sing, start early. Many times I'll start early and play later without asking for anything extra.

As far as Kiosks, they're great...but I still bring 5 songbooks with me for the tables. And as far as smart phones, my hosting software (CompuHost) allows you to use your smart phone to search for a song either by title or artist and submit it using the phone. So, we try to accomadated everyone.

Thanks,
Alan

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

I don't think I'll ever get rid of the books. My clients/singers like them, like to browse through them... and that's good enough for me.

As for having a kiosk, or having folks message or text me with their requests... well, let's put it this way... I've had a blackberry phone for nearly three years, and I've yet to do so much as take a picture with it... let alone use it for karaoke requests... (I wouldn't know how..)

I have my books printed and bound professionally even though the costs have skyrocketed over the past couple of years... They're now costing just over $17 each, an increase of about 60%. So, I keep the two latest editions available at all times (six each), and give away earlier editions to our regular singers.

It now costs me in the neighbourhood of $100 every six months... just a (income tax claimable) cost of doing business.

Oh, by the way, I still use request slips 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]

The other thing about phone requests is a person can put them in at home and come in later and be in later and get right up to sing, especially if there is a friend there to help in the timing.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

@timberlea: "call ahead singing" I'd have anarchy if I tried that one! You MUST be present to submit a song.

I have my books by Artist and Title just like everyone else, but I go a little bit further and break the books into 3 catagories

1). Country (all new and old)
2). Oldies (1920-1980)
3). Pop (1980-current, and some older hard rock stuff)

It has taken me years to sort all this out, but it is very effectitive when trying to find a new song. It keeps the books smaller and contains only what they are interested in singing.

BOOKS ARE "GRRREEEAAAT" (Like Tony the Tiger says)

Not at my show. You can't do it from outside, only from the show area.

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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 would allow it if it was a regular or someone I know I can count on. Especially if they are at work and they don't want to wait an hour to sing once they arrive.

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

They'd have to call me on the phone to get that done. The kiosk part only operates on my closed wireless network.

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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.