Karaoke Forums

I hadn't lost a microphone to stupidity for six months, until last week. Two nights in a row, I lost a microphone. That totals two in two nights. Excuse me while I scream..........

I had to lay the law down on night three. I told everyone that I had a new rule: If you drop my microphone you are done for the night. Sure enough, half-way through the night a "newbe" leaned on my mic stand and the mic went tumbling to the floor. I stopped the song and told him he was done.

It definately got everyone's attention, and now everyone is super careful with the mics.

How do you all deal with this type of thing.

I deal with it by buying SM58's! Never lost one to a drop in 15 years - and they've been dropped ALOT. What kind of mics were these?
I write it off to a part of the cost of doing business - stuff happens. You are in a bar with people drinking. Accidents will happen. If a mic slips out of someones hand while they are holding it or trying to place back in the mic stand, oops, pick it up say it's a good thing it's a Shure & move on.
Now if someone delibrilately dropped or tossed the mic, then yes they would be done. Have had that done as well on occasion - dented the wind screen pretty bad, I replaced the screen & moved on. Mic still works fine.

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

They get dropped countless times and I don't know if there's anything you can do about and still run karaoke.

I've lost one mic in the 2 1/2 years I've been doing this. A Beta 58 had been dropped so many times that one of the cartridge wires broke loose, and they're so small that my solder repair didn't hold.

I replaced it with a used one I picked up for $75... half price. It's not worth it to buy new mics for karaoke duty. I mean, really....

The only other suggestion I have is to put carpet down in the singer's area if it's a hard floor. That can really help. With feedback too.

I'm sure everyone wonders what kind of mic -- I know I do. I betcha it wasn't a Shure, AKG, EV, or Sennheiser wired. I doubt it was those wireless either.

I agree with Lonman 100% on the Shure SM58 mic.

Check this out--> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33QPLbQi9FI

A little extreme, don't know if I believe it all, but they are tough.

_________________
Music speaks to the heart in ways words cannot express.

The mics I use are, in my opion, a great choice for just such instances. I use Behringer XM8500 for everything. They are inexpensive, sound as good as a Shure 58, at about a fifth the cost. Plus they are very durable, I have had mine for over 4 years, and not lost one yet. Plus they still look good too, no dents, paint is excellent. Don't get me wrong, I also like the Shure 58's, terrific mics, but if you are looking not to break the bank on a good mic for karaoke, try the Behringer.

Scott

I can never grasp how some KJ's will put expensive mics out for Karaoke. Makes no sense. I will never EVER put expensive mics out. THEY WILL GET DROPPED. The average karaoke singer cant tell the difference if its expensive or not. So KNOWING they WILL get dropped and damaged eventually---then put out cheaper ones!! Cost of doing business---keep your overhead down. Youre dealing with drunk people who mostly have never handled a mic before. They drop them, bump them off the stand, damage cords and on and on and on. Karaoke doenst warrant EXPENSIVE mics. And trying to cut people off when they accidentlly drop them is rediculous. Blatant deliberate abuse is another story altogehter. But common night to night accidental happenings----just save the cost and put lesser mics out to take the nightly beating. Keep a couple extras on hand with you. Make a deal with your music store to get a discount if you buy in quantity--say 5 or more.

_________________
"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

I bought 3 new SM58s in 1997 ($99 each from G/C) when I did my original outlay for karaoke equipment. I still have those original three, plus two cordless 58s. Picked up another used (essentially new) corded 58 on Craigslist, with cord and carrying case. Had the switch go on one of the cordless and Shure sent me a new one essentially for $75. I also have two Shure 58 headsets, one purchased on E-bay for $250 (used once) and the other off CL for $100; both work perfectly well.

Part of the sounding good rep we have is related to mics. I will NOT go back to a show that puts out a $20 Radio Shack mic for singers, cordless or not. I know I want to sound as good as possible. Gawdbless Shure for making the 58s so indestructible. I'll always buy Shure products.

Sure they will. But if they are a good karaoke mic, i.e. the Sennheiser 835 or Shure SM58, the only thing that will happen is the windscreen will be dented. The 58 is probably a better karaoke choice for that reason, since you can get decent screens for $5.00 (at audiopile.net).

There was a guy around here who had a great bunch of equipment. He had EV speakers, Peavey amps, Mackie board. And he put $5.00 Nady mics out. What a waste -- and he isn't employed around here anymore either for some reason. I was going to give him an XM8500 as an upgrade, but he got fired before I got a chance.

Putting lousy mics in front of great-sounding equipment makes exactly zero sense to me. Especially when you can use an SM-58 and make it good as new for $5.00.

Im talking 500$ Sennhiesers. The Shures are excellent and reasonable alternatives. Or perhaps the Behringers. And anyone thats puts ANYTHING RADIO SHACK out for use---DESERVES TO BE FIRED!!!

_________________
"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

Yeah, the cheaper mics are the answer. I wouldn't get too upset with people who just might have accidently dropped a mic. If you yourself drop one , do you cut yourself off and go home? And before you say you "never drop a mic", just remember, things happen.

I have used two sennheiser 835's for the last two years and they are very hearty mics for mobile or club use. No on/off button for customers to wear out and they are built like tanks. They also happen to have a great full sound for singing...

tig

Same here, mine I bought in 94. Replace the screens on them every so often & they are a brand new mic again.
$100 bucks per mic is not outrageous if they last. If you are spending $20-30 per mic & have had to replace say one every few months then whats the point? Get something that will last in the beginning.

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

Gawd I couldn't begin to count how many times i've dropped a mic while hosting. Maybe I should cut myself off....

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

I've experimented with various mics over the years. Senns , Shure, Ratshack, Behringers etc. for Karaoke shows I've settled on putting out the ShureSM58, I agree sounds great and it is very durabable.

The PG series from Shure are good as well as the Beringers .
But handling noise more than audio quality seems to be the issue with lesser quality mics.

I almost think the opposite in if you where to use the MIC yourself and set up the board and mix for YOU ...you can use $40 mics and sound as good as using an SM58. but DURABILITY in a working karaoke enviroment I leaned towards the $100 mics...not the $600 mics but thats just me ...I'm still using a $50 dual wireless set up that my customers LOVE ... go figure

Wow another KJ who stops people because they make a mistake...

The more things change the more they stay the same!

Let me just add this - the only reason I don't use other mics is because these darn SHURE mics just don't break - not necessarily because I'm prejudiced about other brands.

k

I have never had anyone drop a mic on purpose. If it is an accident and the mic breaks, I'd say that is the price of doing business.

I use Audix OM2 mics. I've managed to accumulate quite a few of them, sort of by accident. They get dropped and keep on ticking. I bought most of them on ebay. Brand new you're looking at about a $100 a piece. On Ebay I pay between $30 and $40 (new and like new). The audix company is great. If one does break they will replace it free !

_________________
[shadow=pink][glow=deepskyblue]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

ive had two thrown down this summer. the first one was on and poped a horn in my speaker. it was a cheap horn and i got over it after a while. I let her sing again the following week thinking the horn may have been going out anyways.
last night I had one turned down cause a guy was being a dork singing along with everyones songs. i got sick of it and turned down the mic. then he throws it down. no damage done the mic had a foam windscreen and hit the cords piled under the stand. it was late and after i balled him out for it he left...he was pretty drunk. I only have 58s so the mics don't worry me

_________________
the voices arent real, but they have some good ideas

I use vocopro uhf-3800. They're wireless and durable as all get out. They've been dropped many times, screamed through (some serious screaming), and haven't missed a beat. I use foamies on top of the screens and that helps protect the screens.

Recently, in one of them, there seemed to be a little play (inside), so I figured I'd put a piece of coaster in there to keep it steady. Got caught on the thread (battery compartment and I ended up breaking off the thread. Still works fine, seal it with some tape. I just ordered another one so I've got a back up.

I'm fortunate that both my venues are carpeted. Gotta be firm with the idiots or they'll destroy everything you own. Control!!!!!!!!!!

I love these mics.