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Disappointed
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Author:  JerryJames [ Sun Oct 04, 2009 9:25 am ]
Post subject:  Disappointed
I did 2 shows this weekend 1 at a bar and 1 private party and there was a fight after both of them. Blame it on the full moon or blame their redneck. I really hate drama and it’s about enough to make me think about getting out of the business.

If I’m responsible for my shows and I am. I need to change the way I host my shows. I do good job promoting a good time but maybe I should tone it down just a bit. But I know there will always be some that just don’t know how to act.

As a host do you feel responsible for all the good and bad things that happen during your show?
Author:  Karen K [ Sun Oct 04, 2009 9:46 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Disappointed
I don't think we can claim total responsibility for the behavior of our show attendees; on the other hand, we all know the power of music and how it can affect peoples' behavior in general. If we run a loud, high-energy, hip-hop/death metal type of show, people will respond to that, not necessarily in a good way.

As with everything, this is certainly venue dependent, as well. If your club is a "diaper club" (my term for clubs focusing on the 21-28 y.o. crowd), there is a tendency in that environment for alcohol to bring to the surface a lot of ugliness, and pretty quickly. "New" drinkers (compared to those who have been drinking for 20 years already) often overdo it out of inexperience maybe? Doesn't take much to push someone beyond their ability to reason and it's like the measles. Pretty soon the entire room is involved. I also believe (based on experience, not some sort of prejudism) that the possibility of drug use is higher in that age group. Add alcohol and the reaction between the two can be very unpredictable, often resulting in aggressive behavior.

Unfortunately, whether it is our fault as hosts or not, too many fights at a location often leads to a police presence, as has been the case in our small town, where there is something like 6-7 bars in a 2-block distance.

I would wonder about the role of the bartenders and servers at your venue, and whether they are 100% aware. Maybe they're not keeping their eye on things like they should? Is there security where you are?

So many variables. If it were my show, I would certainly keep a close eye on things and ask for assistance from bartenders and servers (which they should be doing anyway) to keep things at a lower level.

If someone is hellbent on creating problems, there isn't much you can do except hope that the management will either 86 them or limit their access to alcohol, and remove them before they create a huge problem.
Author:  twansenne [ Sun Oct 04, 2009 9:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Disappointed
jayvan @ Sun Oct 04, 2009 11:25 am wrote:
As a host do you feel responsible for all the good and bad things that happen during your show?


I assume you me by bad things, is ppl fighting/being idiots. No I don't feel responsible, I am not a bouncer. This one time (at band camp...LOL) I just got done setting up, and there were 6 people in the bar, including me and the bartender. All of a sudden one of the drunks starts a fight. Was it my responsibility, NO.

Lots of ppl are idiots, and get worse when drunk. It is not my responsibility to police/babysit them. But I have dialed 911 when things got WAY outta control.
Author:  jerry12x [ Sun Oct 04, 2009 10:24 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Disappointed
jayvan @ Sun Oct 04, 2009 5:25 pm wrote:
As a host do you feel responsible for all the good and bad things that happen during your show?


No. Only the good things. :wink:
Author:  Ronny D. [ Sun Oct 04, 2009 12:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Disappointed
I'm not a host but I work to back up our bouncer at my #1 watering hole and we too commented on the full moon Friday evening, wondering if there would be any fights as they seem to happen more often when there is a full moon out. Any correlation, I don't know. There was a cat fight that broke out Friday night late and it wasn't due to anything our host was playing. We have a large segment of our customer base of the 'baby diaper' genre and that it's probably more the thing, and their drug use.

Saturday night, last night there was another fight. In both cases the bouncer and myself put a lid on the situations real quick and ushered the actors outside, even permanently banning one of the two fighters, both females and young and suspected meth users. But, in answer to your question it rarely is the fault of the Karaoke hosts at our venue IMO. Just the nature of serving large volumes of alcohol (a lot of tequila shots) to the 21-29 crowd so much liquor and one of them wanting to show others just who is the c_o_c_k-of-the-walk as we used to say even some of these young women fight like men. :D
Author:  diafel [ Sun Oct 04, 2009 12:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Disappointed
I worked for years as a bartender and cocktail waitress. There is definitely a correlation between the full moon and people's behaviour. Ask ANY bartender who has been around for any length of time and they will tell you the same.
I find that 2 days before and 2 days after is the "key" time regarding this.
Last Thursday at my show, the doorknobs were definitely out. I'm going to be cautious about tonight, but I'm betting they will be out in force.
As for the KJ being responsible for the behaviour of the crowd, definitely not. Unless, of course, the KJ gets on the mic and intentionally incites it. Not likely to happen and I've never heard of it happening.
Seriously, since when are you, as a KJ or even as just another person, responsible for the behaviour of another ADULT person?
The patrons are supposed to be responsible ADULTS that should know how to control themselves. If they're not, it's not my issue, nor should it be yours. The responsibility lies where it should: Squarely on the shoulders of said ADULT.
They get tossed because of their behaviour, as they should, and the night moves on.
Author:  c. staley [ Sun Oct 04, 2009 2:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Disappointed
The KJ "orchestrates the party" and shouldn't become part of it and in the same breath, the KJ can't possibly be responsible for someone else starting a fight or other altercation.

When a fight starts, do you (as the KJ) keep the music playing - hoping it will quickly be done with - or do you immediately stop the music and current singer?



[my answer: I stop everything until it's over. I feel it's actually safer for everyone to know what's happening]
Author:  diafel [ Sun Oct 04, 2009 4:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Disappointed
Around here, the music continues, rather than draw any more attention to it than necessary. I've found if you stop the music, then the only thing left for people to focus on is the fight, which can have a very bad impact with others joining in etc.
At least with the music going, people have something else to focus on.
I've found over the years that this seems to be the best way to handle it.
Author:  c. staley [ Sun Oct 04, 2009 4:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Disappointed
I used to do that with the same philosophy and for the most part it would work, that is until the day an innocent bystander --a woman that had no idea what was going on because the music obscured the action-- was literally knocked unconscious from a stray punch.

When you stop the music, there may be more to jump in --only to stop it-- but there are many more that will get out of the way and it's safer for them.

It's definitely a "case by case" call on the part of the KJ, but for my experience, stopping everything seems to work the best... at least here.
Author:  missbipbip [ Sun Oct 04, 2009 4:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Disappointed
diafel @ Sun Oct 04, 2009 3:38 pm wrote:
I worked for years as a bartender and cocktail waitress. There is definitely a correlation between the full moon and people's behaviour. Ask ANY bartender who has been around for any length of time and they will tell you the same.
I find that 2 days before and 2 days after is the "key" time regarding this.


You can ask teachers too. I taught 1st grade. When I first started teaching, veteran teachers would start talking about full moon before it was here. I asked what was the deal with a full moon, and they said the children would be horrible on that day. I didn't believe them until I started witnessing the trend. In the bar, it is no different. We didn't have any fights, but the week-end was so strange. People were strange. They acted strange. Full moon definately has it's affect on behavior.
Author:  DangerousDanKaraoke [ Sun Oct 04, 2009 4:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Disappointed
c. staley @ Sun Oct 04, 2009 2:59 pm wrote:
I stop everything until it's over. I feel it's actually safer for everyone to know what's happening
I let security do its job without calling more attention to it. They quickly move the altercation outside so the show can go on. Not to say that sometimes a few of the patrons won't go outside to see what's up, but most people at my shows come to drink, socialize and sing...not watch a boxing match.
Author:  diafel [ Sun Oct 04, 2009 5:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Disappointed
DangerousDanKaraoke @ Sun Oct 04, 2009 5:39 pm wrote:
c. staley @ Sun Oct 04, 2009 2:59 pm wrote:
I stop everything until it's over. I feel it's actually safer for everyone to know what's happening
I let security do its job without calling more attention to it. They quickly move the altercation outside so the show can go on. Not to say that sometimes a few of the patrons won't go outside to see what's up, but most people at my shows come to drink, socialize and sing...not watch a boxing match.

That's my theory as well. Security will generally take care of it rather quickly (most times), so there's no real need to worry about it.
The only full on brawl I've ever seen (just like TV!) was at my Thursday gig last year on my daughter's birthday, of all things. It was not a full moon, and it was over some girl, as far as I could gather. Drinks and tables were flying and a custie had to duck as a flying drink narrowly missed his head and crashed into the rock fireplace chimney behind him. I happened to be singing at the time (Any Way You Want It - Journey) and just did my best to avoid everything and carried on. Didn't miss a note. However, it was kind of a moot point, since at least half the bar was involved. People KNEW.
When all was done, there was a tiny puddle on my lappy next to the mouse pad (didn't get IN, thank goodness) and a quarter-full beer laying inside my pole stand case, but not a drop was in the case itself!
Having worked in bars for years, as I said, that was the "BEST" bar fight I'd ever seen. A movie director couldn't have staged it better!
Author:  jamkaraoke [ Sun Oct 04, 2009 5:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Disappointed
If at the end of the night most people are drunk and fighting I assume it was a good show :roll:
Author:  Karen K [ Sun Oct 04, 2009 7:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Disappointed
Oh you silly people, if you want to see the BEST fights, go to a hockey game!
Author:  Babs [ Mon Oct 05, 2009 12:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Disappointed
Fights are rare now for me, but I do notice it tends to happen at the end of the night, if it's going to happen.

Testosterone and alcohol don't mix.LOL It's not karaoke that makes people fight. It's the person that makes the decision to. I believe that if you make the decision less appealing it happens less.

Having an atmosphere that doesn't allow that behavior detours it from happening on a continual basis. If the individuals are dealt with quickly and escorted out of the bar as a rule they learn that type of behavior isn't tolerated in your venue.

I don't believe for a minute hosting karaoke makes people fight. When I started I'd see at least one fight a weekend. The owner hired a bouncer for about a year. I haven't needed one since.
Author:  Avg Joe [ Mon Oct 05, 2009 10:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Disappointed
Karen K @ Sun Oct 04, 2009 9:54 pm wrote:
Oh you silly people, if you want to see the BEST fights, go to a hockey game!


Hasn't been the same since they tore down the Chicago Stadium. Second balcony had it all!

Wait a minute. Did you mean on the ice :?: :lol:
Author:  karyoker [ Mon Oct 05, 2009 10:42 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Disappointed
After the first rotation my host and I had to quit singing esp back to back. It created a riot and fisticuffs.
Author:  karaoke koyote [ Mon Oct 05, 2009 10:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Disappointed
Karen K @ Sun Oct 04, 2009 7:54 pm wrote:
Oh you silly people, if you want to see the BEST fights, go to a hockey game!


Or, "I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out!" lol.

I've had fights at my shows, but it never has anything to do with me, the music or anything I'm doing. Its about a girl, or some "slight" someone perceived, and the alcohol started talking.

I only worry about my equipment and my safety and let the bar handle the rest of it. :D
Author:  ripman8 [ Mon Oct 05, 2009 1:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Disappointed
Haven't had the fight experience yet, well, not totally true but anyway, my music will be turned off until things are back to normal. Even though I haven't been in this business long, I've been going to bars and clubs off and on for many years. When a fight breaks out, sorting out exactly what is going on, who started what and what needs to be done can be confusing enough without loud music making the communication process tough on the bar personnal. I even wrote a college paper on the subject once.

Just my opinion.
Author:  Karen K [ Mon Oct 05, 2009 1:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Disappointed
Just out of curiosity, you say a college class - for what subject might you have written about fights in bars?
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