Karaoke Forums

I probably hate rules more than most people, but lets face it, there has to be a few.
Tarzan listed a few of his in another thread, which prompted me to start this thread.

What are your rules, and where do you display them?

No drinks on the dancefloor/stage area (people spill and fall down too often)

Please don't scream on the mics

No F-bombs on the mics

don't cupp the mics or swing the corded ones

...i'm pretty easy, not many rules, mostly mic related rules as you can see. Don't have many problems fortunately.

The "No Drinks" rule I can't stand, and will not attend a show if the KJ refuses to let me bring a drink up during my song. I sometimes need to take a drink during a particularly difficult song to clear my throat.

Heck... I got folks that use song breaks for "beer breaks" and I'm gonna tell 'em they can't drink while they sing?

Silliness. Provide a place for them to set their drinks a don't let them set their drinks near your equipment. I never have a problem. Most people understand, and I say, "Its not you, I just don't want someone stumbling into your drink while you're singing."

Works every time.

If they cup, I just turn down their mids. If they can't be heard, that's their problem.

My rules are:

Respect the equipment and other singers. Don't boo or criticize another singer's performance. Don't blow or tap the mic's. Etc.

Most important rule: HAVE FUN!

_________________
Good music, good friends, howling good times!

I don't mind drinks on stage.

I'll list a few -

No strong language unless it is in the song.
Don't swing the mic by the cord
No beating on the mic
No screaming in the mic
No heckling
Uninvited guests on stage will be escorted off
If you smell take a bath

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

! Now just how do you enforce that one? ( I need the answer! )
My rules are pretty standard also.
No cupping, tapping, swinging, blowing or yelling into the mics.
Absolute NO drinks on MY table with my equipment. EVER! On stage is fine!
NO BEAT BOXING! (spitting into my mics! YUCK!)
Respect other singers and NEVER EVER boo or otherwise dis a singer.
My rules are not posted or written down anywhere, but you can just go ahead and break one. You'll find out soon enough what they are!
Seriously though, I only rarely ever have to enforce them because most people have the common sense they were born with and just don't break them. Those that do find out real quick that it's not a good idea.

I do not allow drinks on stage, nor cigarettes due to a couple of incidents quite a while ago that found someone dropping their drinks into the monitors. You can bring up to the side of the stage where there is a place to sit it & grab it during a music break, but cannot hold it while you are singing.

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

If I might suggest an inclusion to the rules above, it would be:

When someone is singing try not to yell, especially at the person sitting at the same table as you, particularly when you're sitting right in front of the singer.

My rules page is on the cover of each of my "menu" books. Here's what it says:

WE HAVE MORE SONGS NOT IN THIS MENU – Don’t see your favorite listed? Ask your host! Or look through our Master Song List. Note: The Master List must stay on stage.

SONG SLIPS & PENS – Are on the table next to your host. Please print with Your Name, the Song Name and the Song Artist and HAND to your host. No song number needed!

SING ONE, BRING ONE – Hand in only ONE song request slip at a time. After your song, you may hand in your next request. Your requests must all be under the same name.

MULTIPLE SINGERS – Count as one turn for EACH singer. Please respect our singers! No person may have a microphone unless their name appears on the request slip.

NEW SINGERS – Don’t be shy! We blend new singers into the rotation throughout the show. It’s our goal that everyone who wants to sing gets stage time at least once!

LISTEN FOR YOUR NAME – If a singer leaves and we call their name, the request will be placed at the bottom of the rotation. Going out to smoke? Please let your host know.

TREAT THE MICROPHONE LIKE A PRO! – Don’t “cup” it on the top, hold ONLY by the handle. We’ll mix the levels throughout your song so you sound great. NOTE: Swinging the mic by the cord or excessive screaming will result in the immediate end of your song.

BE HONEST, HAVE FUN! – You may not sign up your friend or any another singer, only yourself. Singers who turn in requests under different names trying to defeat the rotation will not be allowed to sing for the rest of the show. And we’ll all boo, too!

*** I don't know how many people actually read through all of what I call "Karaoke Courtesies" and occasionally I will mention on the mic that since every host does their shows differently, if people are new to the show, they should give them a look. At least I'm covered if someone doesn't follow them and comes to berate me over them or I have to take action against them.

_________________
[font=Lucida Console]DangerousKaraoke.com[/font]
[font=Lucida Console]"Sing for the day, sing for the moment, sing for the time of your life!"[/font]

Dan - very well done !

I really like the New Singer rule. I wouldn't be able to keep that promise 100% of the time, so I can't use it, but it sounds very friendly and inviting.

As for drinks on stage - I think it depends on how the KJ is set up. If a spilt drink can or has caused damage to my equipment I wouldn't allow it. I am fortunate enough to have a set up that it isn't a problem, but I won't fault a KJ if they didn't allow it.

It isn't always the KJs rule to not have drinks or cigarettes on the stage. When smoking was allowed I had an owner that didn't want smoking on stage for safety reasons. You can't assume it is the KJs rule. It may be the owners rule too.

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

Depends on your set-up. This rule came from the owners as our dancefloor/stage area kept getting drenched with beer and people kept falling down on the way to the bathroom.

This came from singers and dancers who brought their drinks to the stage area.

Koyote, look outside yourself and YOUR situation before posting your "silliness" remarks. There are other venues outside of yours. -john (originally from b-more)

Rule 1. Adore your host.
Rule 2. Buy your host a drink.
Rule 3. Ignore rules 1 & 2.