Karaoke Forums

There are some things discussed here that are required for successful gigs.From years of experience with running clubs, running leagues and providing about every service for venues I offer the following questionaire. It is not necessarily a compulsory list of requirements or duties, just questions to increase awareness and suggestions that have not been discussed here. They are in no particular order of importance but things to consider. Most are impossible to do when you are busy hosting but I hire hosts and when at my shows I do most of them.

1: Are you on a first name basis with everybody in staff from owner to those who swamp at night?
2: Do you go in early and sit down with the mngr and discuss reservations or potential problems?
3: Do you have the cell phone number of all that do security or doorman?
4: Do you ever bus a table or take empties up to the bar?
5: Do you watch for potential trouble and are aware of over intoxication?
6: Do watch for signs of drugs and deals going down outside?
7: Do you maintain contact with management at regular intervals.?
8: Do you discuss with the owner what the till is and how to increase it?
9: Do you buy regs drinks out of your tab?
!0 Do you have friends or congregate with the listeners?
11: Do you help friends home when they have had too much.
12: Are you aware when security is outside and watch for trouble inside?

I didnt mention karaoke things like greeting new singers or helping take care of things the host is too busy to do at the time. This is why I think larger gigs require 2 people to run the show and both should know the things above. If you would care to add to this list feel free to do so.

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Hence the title Karaoke HOST, as opposed to "KJ". Great post- thank you!

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

I know MANY of my regulars by first name, even have their Facebook/Myspace/emails that I keep in contact with.

No not nightly, but when we get the chance to talk, yes - she often times works the day shifts & is off when I get there.
No but we are in constant eye contact if they are there & I can do a simple head nod to a table that I feel may need watching.

Not during a show, but definitely if I run a little over time, I will!

I will always let the bar know if someone I feel is too intoxicated, but I also reserve the right to refuse service to anyone, which the bar ALSO printed up a 4'x11' board of MY rules which includes that statement on the wall so everyone can see.

We have outside security that will boot anyone using/selling drugs on the property.
Hell we've partied together.
Nope, strict rule of the club is NOT to discuss the till with anyone that is not an employee - a contractor is not an employee.

On occasion & depending on certain situations.

I have partied with MANY of our regs on a personal level, been to SEVERAL/COUNTLESS after hours parties.

Yep, driven several people home after a show.

Security is mainly looking for drugs/drinking in the parking lot, we RARELY have any troubles inside & in the rare occasion we do, the regulars usually have it broken up before I even see it - had a rare instance last week where it turned into a 6 man brawl, that lasted 5 minutes max. The instigators were 86'd and the night went on.


2 people can definitely make a show run smoother, however I do not agree it's necessary in a larger club. I run a fairly large club (compared to most described here - cap 200, which is usually more (SRO) on weekends) and have never had any troubles. When my wife ran host with me, i'd concentrate on rotation & sound only & let her mingle, it was perfect. However she does not have the time to do it anymore since she works early in the morn.

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The boyfriend helps with the heavy kegs. We will stay until the bar tendress is ready to leave if she is alone. She really promotes us.

If we know there is a special event we will try to do something special or unusual. We had a biker wedding reception at the venue and they had wanted a stripper (at the reception???? well, it was bikers) but the county doesn't allow it. So we brought in an inflatable one which got a laugh. We also spliced together a wedding march out of Queen's version with motorcycles roaring in the background.

We can't do this as much as my day job is out of town but the Friday hosts make a point of patronizing where the customers work (small town).

Lonnie after you have been at a place for awhile and are a permanent fixture these things are easy but for the newbie they have to be learned and patterened into their show. I just wanted some to be aware of the fact there is more to being a host than the karaoke things discussed here and get a positive trend going.

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When I'm "hosting" I act like an employee of the venue. Other than actual KARAOKE HOSTING DUTIES ..I've been known to
Clear up Tables and deliver drinks
Discuss with bartenders and Mgrs "bar related: business like drunks, service, special etc etc .

YES --KEEP AN EYE MAYBE 2 OPEN AT ALL TIMES

If the KARAOKE show allows --Help out in anyway possible ..Why not I'm there ?

#1 - Karaoke Business comes 1st
#2 - Walk the VERY FINE LINE between HIRED HELP and EMPLOYEE

But that's just good business sense and somethings like HELPING OUT can not be learned it just comes natural.

Great Post ( probably better in the KJ section) as somebody is bound to complain of a KJ NOT BEING AT THE MIXER when they should be

I help out when I can. Especially on a real busy night. If I see the table in front of the stage with empty glasses and bottles I clear it, so others can sit down. The bar owner doesn't like it when I do it, so I keep it on the down low. We get so busy though sometimes the regulars are doing it and I think that is worse. I have a great relationship with the manager and bartenders. I scratch their back they scratch mine.

I don't bother them to get my coffee or water. I have free rein of the cooler and behind the bar, but have never served a drink. I don't have the knowledge or time to do that.

If I see a potential problem I always tell them and they do the same for me.

We discuss profitable nights and nonprofitable nights, but the owner doesn't take well to suggestions, so I leave that alone.

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[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

I don't clean the tables or other things that other people are being paid to do. My focus when I'm there is on my show, not the cleanliness of the bar. I would never serve a drink because without a bartender's license that would be illegal.

I do watch for trouble spots, that's in my own best interests as well as the bar's. I do keep tabs on who's getting close to their limit and will let the bartenders know (all of whom I Know on a first name basis). It's rare that I drink at my shows so even more rare that I would buy someone a drink on my tab. I've done it, but usually only if it's a regular celebrating a birthday or something similar.

I maintain as much contact with my clients (the bar owners in most cases) to get a feel for their satisfaction with my service. I don't ask nor do I want to hear about till totals or other financials. That stuff is none of my business.

I do walk amongst the folks in the bar and strike up conversations with regulars and new faces. There are some people that I know would rather be left alone, so I respect their preference. I don't spend all my time out there mostly because I'm usually pretty busy behind the console and computer making the show what it is.

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

I have always automatically picked up empties at a table and will make sure the table gets wiped and re-set --- especially if I see a group that might need a table. I work closely with servers. I work very closely with management. Open communication is VERY important. I seek out new people, spend 30 seconds with them or so, ask where they usually go, what they like to sing if they sing, etc.

I'm always back up to the board for the next song -- you kind of develop this innate sense of how much time is left on the song being sung and how much time it will take me to get back up to the board. But I don't stand behind it all night, either. You have to build relationships with your singers and your audience, I believe, even if it's only a 30-second conversation. They appreciate that you appreciate them.

Yes, great post Ollie.

I, too, will pick up empties, clear and move tables and chairs and welcome new guest to the bar...of course the karaoke hosting comes first and formost.

Also work the tables for new singers while making sure everything sounds great.

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Good post.

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

I have appointed myself as the doer of whatever is needed to help the show and the bar run smoothly. I need people to stay in the bar and be happy and safe. So looking for trouble, cleaning off tables and mopping spilled drinks falls into that catagory.

If someone starts fighting especially if it's near my setup, it could cost me to lose money if they damage anything. Second if the bar gets sues by someone because they were hurt it could cause the bar to go bankrupt and i lose a job. If the tables are dirty and people come in and can't find a place to sit they could leave. If someone slips and falls because of a drink on the floor a bar can be sued. Problems in the restroom is another thing i watch for. Plugged toilets or running water can be a serious issue. No towels or soap is a safety issue. People handle the microphones and food servers need to wash their hands. Yuk.

I have never been asked to do these things. They are common sense issues. They help the bar and me in the long run. Keeps the bar making money without risks of legal trouble. Just tonight someone dropped a giant glass of beer near my table. I made sure someone knew about the broken glass so it could be cleaned up before someone got hurt. The beer ran all the way under my table. That made me mad. We can a work together for our common good.

Anyone got any crayons?

1: Are you on a first name basis with everybody in staff from owner to those who swamp at night? Yes, I also have a contact sheet with the owner, manager, and 4 bartenders phone numbers.


2: Do you go in early and sit down with the mngr and discuss reservations or potential problems? I usually always show up and hour early just incase I turn on my equipment and something goes wrong. 99.999% of the time all is well and I will sit there talking with the manager.


3: Do you have the cell phone number of all that do security or doorman?
No. Our bouncer doesn't do much at all. We have an officer that is paid to sit in the parking lot during my shows though and he is right outside the door from me. If I need him I have a light I flash out the window.

4: Do you ever bus a table or take empties up to the bar? Yeah, at the end of the night I have some dj drops I play to get people out, while those play I help put tables back and clean stuff up.


5: Do you watch for potential trouble and are aware of over intoxication?
Only stuff that would involve my equipment or singers. There are 2 navy bases within 1 mile from the venue so over intoxication is always present, but I don't get much trouble from anyone.

6: Do watch for signs of drugs and deals going down outside? Lol, we don't have this problem, that I know of...


7: Do you maintain contact with management at regular intervals? We talk at the beginning of every night, after every show, and usually on Sundays when I do updates to the computer and get paid.


8: Do you discuss with the owner what the till is and how to increase it? Yes... Last week was their best week in 4 years! =)


9: Do you buy regs drinks out of your tab? Not usually, but we do trivia and stuff for free drinks. The bar doesn't mind at all.


!0 Do you have friends or congregate with the listeners? Of course! What a lame show it would be if I didn't!


11: Do you help friends home when they have had too much. As Lonman said, I have driven many people home after shows.


12: Are you aware when security is outside and watch for trouble inside? We have bouncers inside and a cop outside, so I don't really have to worry about that.