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First real negative
https://mail.karaokescenemagazine.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=13740		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Nlouch [ Fri May 30, 2008 5:19 am ]
Post subject:  First real negative
I had my first real negative experience last night, where KJing is concerned.

OK, a little back-story: I have been doing this for about 3 years ILLEGALLY. What
I mean is, I did it for mates who had a party. Using an amp, 2 mics, 2 speakers and a laptop with about 400 songs. It was something I looked into for a laugh, and got requested to do.

As soon as I got a booking to be doing it professionally - I BOUGHT all my CDGs (and am still buying). I have bought good equipment, and doing it properly now. I know the difference and that's why I changed.

I have a friend who owns a pub. His brother is a KJ. He couldn't do NY Eve due to a committment, so I did it - my first real paid gig. It went well, I have had tonnes of gigs since, and keep reinvesting. But the catalyst for all this is my friend telling me to do it, go for it, I am good, and we all enjoy it - I get bookings via him all the time.

His brother has always been really helpful too, telling me what sort of equipment is good, suggesting I mirror his setup to an extent, showing me the ways of Compuhost, etc. He really helped my find my wings.

I now fly free - I am making my own decisions and choices. Case in point - I got a Giraffe stand, he saw it liked it and also got one. I thought - cool!

So - last week he had a gig ion Friday night. After the singers, for some people, he would play an x-factor "Simon Cowell" clip. I found this funny, as I had just lined u the same sort of samples into my Compuhost setup.

I had a gig on saturday in the same venue - different crowd. I play my samples.

Last night I get an email off his wife telling me I am a copycat - I am stealing his ideas - I am trying to be him and but he is way out of my league. How I buy the same equipment as him (giraffe), etc.

I point out, I bought it first but who cares, we target similar audiences and it's a common piece of kit. She retorts that he SAID he was gonna buy it first. Sheesh. Then she brings up the clips. I tell her I felt awkward about that but end of the day - we both happened to do it the same week an who cares?

I didn't repond to the "out of my league" comment because I couldn't be civil if I did. He is 100% better on a mic than me, but by the same token, I am an actual DJ too, I can mix properly whereas he plays pre-mixes. Would I ever point that out? No - because it's not a big deal to me. I merely said that he was someone I respect and if I can be as good as him someday then fair enough.

But it really knocked me- really made me question if this is a general feeling (apparently it is not) and made me wonder if want to carry on with this sort of thing.

Is this industry that petty and bitchy?
Author:  docbob [ Fri May 30, 2008 7:34 am ]
Post subject:  Re: First real negative
Aren't we all copycats. We are playing another artist's music and singing to them. We are using software that others use. We are drinking the same beer as others drink, wearing the same type of clothes, going to the same bars. It is usually the person that is threatened by someone else that lashes out like she did. Apparently she is somehow threatened that you are good. If he is so good, he shouldn't have to worry about you. I think you took the high road and gave him respect and didn't throw mud back. I would have probably made a smarta$$ comment about having higher standards and that there is no way I would have settled for her as a wife. LOL

By the way, you can tell her that Karaoke Scene is a great place and that you told the whole world about the Simon clips. Now at least one other person, me, will also be copying the idea and if her husband is any good, he will come up with something better than that. When he does, please post here again so I can be a copycat again. Unfortunately, I'm on the other side of the pond so I don't think she will bother me much here....damn, no fun. Don't stop doing it if you love it. There is always competition in anything you do and plenty of work to go around, especially if you are good.
Author:  Nlouch [ Fri May 30, 2008 7:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: First real negative
Thank you for that - made me laugh :)

I do think that she only lashed out ebcause she feels threatened. I mean, if I WERE copying him but was no good - then who would care?

I think it has irked her a bit that I have been doing this for months nd am getting quite a following. Whereas he plays the pub and draws 10 people.

But I don't see a need to fall out oer it. He is not a great DJ who I am copying, he plays the same 74 minute Grandmaster mix at every gig. The edge he has is a little more mic confidence, and I am certainly growin in that area.

And yeah, wow, 2 KJs from the same neck of the woods, using the same suppliers have the same stuff. Especially when we setup/down on the same stage and chat. Who would have guessed.
Author:  docbob [ Fri May 30, 2008 8:27 am ]
Post subject:  Re: First real negative
Nlouch @ Fri May 30, 2008 7:54 am wrote:

And yeah, wow, 2 KJs from the same neck of the woods, using the same suppliers have the same stuff. Especially when we setup/down on the same stage and chat. Who would have guessed.



As slong as you two don't try to be Brittney and Madonna and start kissing each other on that same stage, I think the wife should stop worrying about you. On the other hand, if you think he is cute, I will worry about you.
Author:  Nlouch [ Fri May 30, 2008 8:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: First real negative
LOL, not my type at all. I prefer people with hair.

And boobs.

But I like the guy, look up to him. But after last night, neither of them having the balls to say anything to my face when I went to see what the issue was...

Meh! Karaoke is one string to my bow - not my life - I have other jobs. He doesn't, it's his income. Fair play if they want to defend it - but I'm a good guy - and am best when spoken to civilly!
Author:  OperaKitty [ Fri May 30, 2008 9:17 am ]
Post subject:  Re: First real negative
First off, I second everything docbob said. As far as equipment, c'mon! How much variety is there? How different is a show set-up likely to be?

As for the Simon Cowell clips...well...I worked for Mme Tussaud's in New York from 2006-2007. We had a karaoke set up with a Simon Cowell figure and...whaddya know? The whole premise was based on Simon "critiquing" the singers with preset clips that we could punch up. I had a whole thing worked out to where I could even have a "conversation" with him. So, let her know her husband ripped it off from Mme Tussaud's and Mme. Tussaud's isn't coming after him for it. *teasing grin*
Author:  Babs [ Fri May 30, 2008 9:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: First real negative
Don't sweat it - I'd just ignore the whole conversation ever happened. It sounds like jealousy to me. I've never had anything like that happen to me and chances are you'll never run into another person like that. I think you handled it well. If the guy knows his wife sent that e-mail he'd probably be embarrassed - if not he's no friend.

I have several KJ friends - we all help each other when possible. I don't think this is the norm.
Author:  docbob [ Fri May 30, 2008 10:17 am ]
Post subject:  Re: First real negative
Right on Babs. I'm a dentist by day and I have had two offices in my career. My first had two other dentists in the same building and now my second has one. Everybody asks me why I would ever go to a location that has another dentist in the same building. They ask if I worry about the competition. My simple reply is that if I have to worry about losing patients to somebody else, then I am doing something wrong myself and need to look in the mirror. Just like the KJ business, we are all in it together and when everybody gets better, it gives us all a good name. The more singers that get involved in general, the more gigs will be needed to book for everybody that is a KJ. Especially in this business, I think there is usually such a passion for music and the equipment involved that it is only going to help the business grow for everybody in the long run.

On a second note...where are you finding these clips? I keep finding everything on YouTube but I can't find anything but porn in the MPG or WMA format. I've got tons of that on my computer, but I don't think it will be appropriate for Karaoke shows. I just got CompuHost and want to use it for the video clips, but I just can't seem to find any that I can use in the correct format.
Author:  Nlouch [ Fri May 30, 2008 12:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: First real negative
One of the latest "Grandmaster DJ Sets" has them, and so have ripped to mp3. The disk is only about £20 and has already caused £30 of grief! LOL

I had some lovely emails this afternoon. The owner and wife of the pub involved came to see me while I was out - actually came round which is a big deal to them. They left a message to call them. I did - they are more than happy with the job I do and have no idea what sparked all this. Moreover, the gils hubby found out and is going mental at her. Both on a personal level but also this is a job, a business - you don't do this in business.

Anyhow, he is hosting tonight - she will be there. I'm off out for a few drinks. I'm just very glad that I only responded with positives, praising him and how I look up to him - rather than stooping to her level. The worst I said was "Copying? Aren't we both a bit mature and sensible for this argument? It's beneath both of us."
Author:  Flipper [ Fri May 30, 2008 12:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: First real negative
I have to agree with Bab's ....It's a jealousy thing

There is nothing wrong with trying new things that others have to enhance your show. I have several KJ's in my area that I continually share new ideas with and we all grow our shows by learning from each other.

If something is really unique I will always ask the person if they mind if I use their idea and if they have no problems with it I will.

Your friends wife took things too far in my opinion. You should not feel like you did anything wrong. She just looks at things a different way. To her you are the competition.

Don't let people like this derail you! Stay the course.
Author:  MorganLeFey [ Fri May 30, 2008 3:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: First real negative
first off (and it may be a moot point now) in business you wait till you get the businessman's own opinion, not that of his wife!! I would have taken him out for a drink complete with a printed copy of the email and sat and discussed it until I was satisfied that it WAS his opinion and he made the bullets for her to fire, or that it wasnt.
secondly...whats a giraffe?
Author:  Nlouch [ Fri May 30, 2008 3:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: First real negative
He came to me tonight, tail between legs looking really embarassed - said he didn't know what the heck had gone down, but he felt really weird about it all, and apologised for her.

I said it was all sorted, forgotten and we are as tight as we were :)

Oh and a giraffe is a manufacturer of deck + lighting stands.
Author:  knightshow [ Sat May 31, 2008 12:58 am ]
Post subject:  Re: First real negative
I agree with Vicki... I'd have gone to him with a WTF kinda expression.

I will say that borrowing ideas from friends WILL get you into a bit of a jealosy nitpick. The thing I do is I now mention to them, "Man, that's awesome. Do you mind if I do something similiar?"

In the past I just did it, and there were a few complications.
Author:  Nlouch [ Sat May 31, 2008 1:22 am ]
Post subject:  Re: First real negative
Knightshow - sure, but the issue is that I didn't borrow it from him. I had them lined up already.

Either way, sorted now! :)
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