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Karaoke Books going away?
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Author:  karaoke koyote [ Mon Feb 23, 2009 1:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Karaoke Books going away?
I don't think they are, or could, even with computers. There has to be a starting point somewhere. The books give potential singers some ideas for songs, and may spur them to ask for a song they don't see.

I used to update my books all at once. With disks it is so important, but man is it expensive. I don't even have disk or track numbers. Which is funny, because people will come up to me and ask, "where are the disk numbers?"

To which I reply in my best Alfonso Bedoya, "Disk numbers? We don't need no stinkin' disk numbers!" and smile.... ususally gets a laugh. Singers hate looking that stuff up and writing it down too.

Now I update ONE book evey month or two, and date it on the outside. I don't have any "update sections" however.

I have heard of one KJ (but no seen it) who has a computer near his table that indexes his song list, and doesn't have a book.

Anyone else?
Author:  EElvis [ Mon Feb 23, 2009 1:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Karaoke Books going away?
I put out the books, but havent updated them in 3 years. I printed a new set last year, but got tired of having customers asking me which version is better. So I put out what I have and tell thenm they are there for suggestions. They usually just turn in a slip with their name and the name of the song, or in some cases the song and artist....... because of all the remakes, and I select the best version. Most seem quite happy with that.
Author:  karaoke koyote [ Mon Feb 23, 2009 1:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Karaoke Books going away?
EElvis @ Mon Feb 23, 2009 1:10 pm wrote:
I put out the books, but havent updated them in 3 years. I printed a new set last year, but got tired of having customers asking me which version is better. So I put out what I have and tell thenm they are there for suggestions. They usually just turn in a slip with their name and the name of the song, or in some cases the song and artist....... because of all the remakes, and I select the best version. Most seem quite happy with that.


Yeah, I do the same. Usually Sound Choice... I'll even key change for them a step down. If they have to ask, you know they aren't regular singers. For song with cold starts, I might use DK so they have an intro, and an automatic key change.
Author:  mroctober [ Mon Feb 23, 2009 1:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Karaoke Books going away?
I do the same no need for stinking disc numbers just write your name and the name of the song down Ill choose the best version for ya, I run a Laptop with an external hard drive with about 19,000 karaoke songs (including doubles) they write it down I use the windows search engine and the song comes up i click on it it plays,,, more simple than how I used to run it,

my new books will just have the artist and song names (no doubles)

I also use Power Karaoke CD+G player as my software make it easy work smarter not Harder :) numbers are for prisoners :)
Author:  knightshow [ Mon Feb 23, 2009 1:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Karaoke Books going away?
see, and I despise books with no manu codes!! Drives me utterly bonkers.

I'm more of a karaoke snob, and want to know what manufacturer made the song. After too many dreaded Star Discs, Backstage, and some pizz o crap Legends... I want my GOOOD stuff!

In fact, if you guys automatically put up "the best version", why bother listing them at all? I would think a slug like me would just get up off their fat azzz and ask what versions the songs are!
Author:  karaoke koyote [ Mon Feb 23, 2009 2:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Karaoke Books going away?
knightshow @ Mon Feb 23, 2009 1:51 pm wrote:
see, and I despise books with no manu codes!! Drives me utterly bonkers.

I'm more of a karaoke snob, and want to know what manufacturer made the song. After too many dreaded Star Discs, Backstage, and some pizz o crap Legends... I want my GOOOD stuff!

In fact, if you guys automatically put up "the best version", why bother listing them at all? I would think a slug like me would just get up off their fat azzz and ask what versions the songs are!


Hold on thar pardner! I said I didn't list disk codes. I still list manufacuture codes, and my song slips have a place for: SC, DK, AH, SG, PI, CB, etc. and I list the meaning of each in the front of the song book. A listing looks like this:

Joel, Billy....Tell Her About It....SC, DK, CB

See? :D
Author:  knightshow [ Mon Feb 23, 2009 2:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Karaoke Books going away?
WHEW! LOL!
Author:  ericlater [ Mon Feb 23, 2009 8:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Karaoke Books going away?
YES, karaoke song books are going bye-bye!

In South Florida there are very few shows left that play discs. At one point I suggested, I think, that there are only 3 such shows left, there may actually be a few more; but definitely well less than a dozen. The trend is clearly to computerize. And no one is giving up their computers to go back to discs!

So, there are dozens of computerized KJ's.

Since the computerized KJ's can check their databases so quickly and efficiently when it comes to finding a song, the trend is not to update song catalogs. Some shows work with the last catalog they printed and let you know that they can quickly look up whatever song you are interested in.

Some KJ's don't even bring catalogs with them. They don't want to carry them, clean them, update them, collect them at the end of the show. Just tell them what you want and they'll look it up.

Now, it doesn't matter what I think. It doesn't matter what you think. This is what's happening.

And while there are dozens of reasons to suggest to these KJ's that a catalog, with manu name is crucial, your recommendations will fall on deaf ears. The people leading the trend have been in business for years, started with discs, and will not be persuaded to "go backwards".

Clearly, I can't be the only one who despises the trend, but it isn't keeping anyone away from the shows that are out front with this new model!

So, as "they" say.... "it is what it is"
Author:  c. staley [ Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Karaoke Books going away?
[Warning: Shameless Plug in Vicinity]

This is my instantly-updatable songbook on wheels.... (touch screen)

Image

No pencils, paper, slips, nada... It shows all the versions, all the brands, all the time. Just roll it in and plug it in.... done!

[here's the video if you're interested: http://dkusa.com/video/songfinder.wmv ]
Author:  ericlater [ Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Karaoke Books going away?
CStaley

One question...

Are people hogging the computer? I have set up something similar that will overcome the updating/printing problem but it also requires a computer which I call a "kiosk". My kiosk is not the same as the "kiosks" others refer to where you input your request and etc..

My set up will let people, if I so desire, to sample the track... but I am concerned about hogging, with or without the option to sample
Author:  c. staley [ Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Karaoke Books going away?
No they really don't hog it...

HOWEVER, if you're planning on allowing them to put on headphones and "sample tracks" then you are encouraging them stand there for a long time as their personal karaoke jukebox and you better have a number of them.

I wouldn't recommend putting a sampler on it. You also will have to have a HUGE hard drive to hold all the samples (or your entire library) and a fairly hefty processor.

The machines I use are literally rescued from the dumpster, have a Pentium 166 chip with Win '98 and only a 3gb hard drive.
Author:  ericlater [ Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Karaoke Books going away?
CStaley

Thanks for the input. I have a brand new machine and a 500G internal hard drive. And, yes, the sampling would allow them to put on a headset.

So...if I allow the sampling, I believe that it must be limited as to how much of each track is played and as to how much time in total each person has. One of the things my assistant must do is keep an eye on that.

My wife has one of those 9" thinkamagiggy's that contains the entire data base, as well. But I don't know if that will be available for my new assistant once I find and hire her?
Author:  mckyj57 [ Mon Feb 23, 2009 10:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Karaoke Books going away?
c. staley @ Tue Feb 24, 2009 12:46 am wrote:
No they really don't hog it...

Agree. Last weekend I saw another one in my travels, which brings me up to about 4 installations I have seen. (This was in Evansville, Indiana.) I walked in at ten minutes before start time, to a crowded bar. The kiosk was unoccupied. I plugged in my song, but while I spent my two minutes about 6 people lined up behind me. I asked the host how I would know where I was in the lineup. He said "I announce it", so I thought *oh brother*.

I was the first singer.

He also did a great job of announcing, letting you know who was on deck and "in the hole". I had to wait about 30 seconds to plug in my next song, and sang again at 9:25 or so.

Turns out they are a 6-night-a-week karaoke club, so the kiosks are well-known and people get their songs entered in literally seconds.

I have yet to have a bad experience working with a kiosk, and have talked to a couple of the hosts who used them. They like them a lot.
Author:  diafel [ Mon Feb 23, 2009 11:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Karaoke Books going away?
I have a kiosk, although it's down at the moment. (networking issues that I haven't had time to work out). I found that people really didn't hog it at all and in fact many were helping each other search for songs.
When I get back from my holiday (4 more sleeps!!!) I will begin devoting my time to getting it going again.
Having ssaid that, I myself prefer to browse a book as I know many of my singers do. For that reason, I will not phase them comepletely out.
Author:  karaoke koyote [ Tue Feb 24, 2009 12:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Karaoke Books going away?
Ok, this sounds neat. Is there software to do this... how do you set one up?
Author:  diafel [ Tue Feb 24, 2009 12:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Karaoke Books going away?
I use AutoKDJ for my hosting software which works with Winamp. I also use AutoKFE for my kiosk which works with AutoKDJ. Both programs are totally free.
http://www.autokdj.com/
Author:  Jian [ Tue Feb 24, 2009 2:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Karaoke Books going away?
karaoke koyote @ 24th February 2009, 4:01 pm wrote:
Ok, this sounds neat. Is there software to do this... how do you set one up?


c. stanley have a working program:
http://karaokesongfinder.com/
Author:  Lone Wolf [ Tue Feb 24, 2009 8:22 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Karaoke Books going away?
I have never been to a show with a kiosk so I really don't know what to expect but I would have some concerns about one.

It's hard enough to keep singers from coming up to the stage with smokes and drinks in hand how do you run a show and keep an eye on your kiosk too.
I sure wouldn't want some drunk tipping a full bottle of beer into a kiosk/computer/keyboard/monitor or what ever. Its bad enough to have wet books (thank God for sleeves).

Also if you go to a venue that you have not visited before how do you know just what the KJ has? Do you stand there and browse the kiosk, while others are waiting?

Easier is not always better.

Lone Wolf
Author:  jamkaraoke [ Tue Feb 24, 2009 8:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Karaoke Books going away?
not better..just an alternative and not for every venue or show
Author:  Lonman [ Tue Feb 24, 2009 9:28 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Karaoke Books going away?
EElvis @ Mon Feb 23, 2009 2:10 pm wrote:
I put out the books, but havent updated them in 3 years. I printed a new set last year, but got tired of having customers asking me which version is better. So I put out what I have and tell thenm they are there for suggestions. They usually just turn in a slip with their name and the name of the song, or in some cases the song and artist....... because of all the remakes, and I select the best version. Most seem quite happy with that.


Then you just list the best version if 9 out of 10 times the singer is going to rely on your opinion anyway. Why list more than 1?
I print a new full book about once a year with a new disc supplement everytime I get a new disc. But it doesn't just get a new page, I reprint the entire new section with the new discs marked as newly added. I have seen some places that just add a new page every time & it gets really confusing after a bunch of new discs get added over time.
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