Karaoke Forums

What does everyone do with the customers who decide just as you are closing that it's time to sing?

In one of my venues, I have 2 women (who sit with a large group of friends) who hate being told no. Without fail, no matter how many times I say, I will do my best but may not get all 2/4/6 of your songs in, before the end... they will kick off and complain the moment I close. They are repeat offenders and habitually turn up half an hour before the end, and expect special treatment. Tonight it happened again, I announced that anyone who wished to sing needs to let me know now, because I'm running out of time, one of the group came up with 2 songs (I'll do my best but you may only have time for one etc), managed by running over two minutes to get both of her songs in started my closing dj track and my goodbyes and goodnights, then one of the 2 women decided NOW was the time to sing jolene, she starts screaming / waving and jumping up and down... and whilst I said no, she promtly gathered up her friends (including the one who had just sung) and dragged them to the stage mumbling it's only five minutes....

Wel it's not five minutes, infact it was half an hour, (I refuse pushy people getting one over on the polite), because I called up all the other people I had said no to, and anyone else still in the venue who would have natually got another song if they had kept their place in rotation.

It's a "local pub for local people" and all in all they are a wonderful crowd, but these two women, have a bit to drink and lose awareness of how long i've been working, pay etc, because all they see is a mean host out to ruin their fun (they also forget the number of times I have run over to accomadate them). It also tends to be quiet towards the end of my show, so they are loud enough for the whole pub to hear.

On the plus side, it's not just me they are like it with, my partner has lost patience with these two women countless times, because after a few drinks they do become self centered and forget the concept of queuing.

It's worth noting, that the landlord isn't always about when it happens, and trusts they way I run the show... they also understand what these customers are like to be honest it wouldn't cause a problem, if i just switched everything off the moment they started... but I would prefer to finish on a good note, rather than dead air and people mouthing off in the pub. The bar staff are lovely, but by that time more interested in cleaning and serving than dealing with my end of night routine.

So how do you deal with the "one more song" crew? and has anyone got anyone "one liners" rather than rationale that will let me close down my show on a high note on time?

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'A genius is one who can do anything except make a living'. Joey Adams.

I just say sorry time's up and continue to tear down. If you don't and let that person sing, then others will also want to continue and then when do you stop. I have a start and finish time and that's it.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

Same here. I state that I am paid until this time and I make a policy of not accepting money from anyone other than my client (the bar). If they are willing to spend another $50, which I know for a fact they aren't, then I'll continue the show but otherwise I am shutting down.

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The Line Array Experiment is over. Nothing to see here. Move along.

I have a cut off time that I do not accept any more slips from anyone. Usually about an hour before show close on most nights. I do a last call for slips - but always leave myself a few extra minutes open for whatever. If anyone gives me that one more line, I take their slips & will tell them that I cannot promise anything, but will try and stick them in at the end of the round regardless of where they where in the round - unless however they already have a slip in. Often times I can get them up for the last song or close to it.

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I have a scrolling marquee, and show the next 3 singers. My program also shows ME the approximate time for start and finish of each song. So, when I see that I have all the requests possible, I will announce that we'll take no more requests. Also, when I see that there are 4 singers left before quitting time, I'll announce that "up next is whatever name, followed by whoever, next name, and SO-IN-SO will be the LAST SINGER of the night. That is giving people PLENTY enough notice that the show is over. If someone insists, I say that I don't have time, due to the fact that I have to tear down my equipment, etc, and EVERYONE would like to get out of here on time. Try coming back next time and starting earlier. If they get nasty, I just tell them "you need to get over yourself". Although that does tend to pi$$ them off. Oh well!!!!


Rosario

You've stated exactly what I do in the above post (though it's next six), and I will assume that your customers read the scrolling info... I also have a cut off time for slips, which is when I collect the books in.

The draw back in this venue, is that I finish half an hour before time at the bar, and because two of us pack down it takes 15 minutes... so the WE ALL need to go home on time doesn't work for this situation, we are home when people are still sipping their final pint.

Telling them to get over themselves, although deliously apt and funny (to me)... may not end the show on the high I'm looking for.

I may go down the "is the bar willing to pay me extra" route but it's not the humourous over the mic banter I really want to engage in with them... (not that I want to engage them in banter anyway... )

I am open to any other suggestions and thanks for your quick and sensible replys guys.

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'A genius is one who can do anything except make a living'. Joey Adams.

1 hour before the end of the night, I remind patrons that the Karaoke will shut down at 11.00, and another reminder 1/2 an hour before close.

At closing, I say this is the last song for tonight.

Once its done - Thank you ladies and gentleman, I hope you had a lovely evening, GOOD NIGHT. *SMILE, quickly shut down laptop and mixer and put on the ugly lights on stage*.

If they are very persistent, I will put on an unusually long song like American Pie/ Bohemian Rhapsody and invite everyone up to sing, while I tear down my gear.

By the time it's finished, they know I am done because my stuff is packed- and it gives them a chance to tell each other what a swell night they had

I have also found that it is easier to put the blame on someone external to avoid stupid "just one more song" type talk - "my wife will shoot me in the behind, if I don't get out of here at 11.00.", "The boys are waiting for me down the road- it's my birthday", " My son needs to be picked up at 11.15" etc.

Good luck!

If the venue manager or bartender wants me to stop right on time, that is what I do. If they don't care and the customers are still drinking and tipping, I don't mind my show going late for friendly/polite singers. I always take time to announce that the show is supposed to be over, that the bartender has graciously allowed a few more singers to perform, and the guests should tip the bartender well for her patience. This usually works out well.

I flat out tell the pushy ones if they are being rude. If they don't like it, they can go to a different show.

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Jeff Wheeler, moonlight DJ/KJ

Just say no! It is your show.

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No venue to big or too small. From your den to the local club or event, we have the music most requested. Great sounding system!

Perhaps catering a little to those 2 ladies...? Like an hour before you end your show, tell them specifically that if they want to sing to get in a slip now. Maybe only take 1 song from them each time and do the sing-one-bring-one thing. If they fail to put one in it's their fault and they were warned.

If you haven't already be-friended them, get their names and treat them like friends. Perhaps reminding them in a friendly sweet manor will prevent them from blowing up and taking their friends with them when they leave.

I put out a "SORRY WE'RE CLOSED" sign i got from a hardware store on the book table after collecting the songbooks and also attach one onto the front of my rig with velcro so everyone has no choice but to see it.

Good Luck to ya! Tell us what you decided to implement...

NOT recommended...bad suggestion to make a situation worse. This is a tactic used by people who have limited professionalism and a personal short-fuse.

A TRUE professional will win them over using the right words and actions, not scaring away PAYING customers and their friends. IF it got violent, that's very different.

ALWAYS behave professional..or you'll get a bad rep that will/can follow you everywhere into the future. Don't burn bridges.

One thing a good KJ does is control the flow of the show.
Every show has to end sometime.
Otherwise you are hostage to your singers and have zero control.

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The Line Array Experiment is over. Nothing to see here. Move along.

Agree! Don't be a pushover and let your customers control the show you run.

But DON'T be a rude arrogant entitled jerk kj and act like a 5 year old..it WILL haunt you both prefessionally and personally later.

Be the kind but forceful Parent while the kids are drinking and having fun.

I use Hoster - gives me a pretty close approximation as to when the last song ends. I have had to be pretty brutal at times - always with the drinkers who conveniently FORGET the stop time, or they've totally lost track because they're inebriated. My regulars NEVER do that sort of thing. Anyway, I just look at them and tell them I am totally exhausted, would LOVE to play longer, but ... It is the most frustrating thing in the world - in fact, had it happen at my new show Thurs night - room full of regulars and two young women who came in at the very end of the first rotation - 32 singers. As I hadn't finished the first rotation yet, they went at the end and thus got to sing not long after they got there. They tried to tell me they had put in their slips at 8:30...and one of them was adamant that her friend should get to sing a song alone -- that she hadn't. I said if she chooses to sing duets then she has been on stage the same number as others. "Well I'M NOT COMING BACK" she says. Okay, well then I won't say see you later, just see you. Talked with the manager who said he had just talked with them outside in the smoking area and they had mentioned how much they just LOVED doing karaoke there. Oh well. Last thing I need at the end of a show is some little snip being demanding. Not gonna win that round with me.

Johnreynolds had it right. Approach the ladies when you are taking your last slips in and tell them that they need to submit slips NOW, or they won't get in to sing. If they don't hand you slips, you will need to stand your ground and tell them, "Sorry, I asked you for slips, but you didn't give them to me and I am done for the night. Please come back a little earlier next week, or give me slips when I ask for them."
Remember, YOU trained them to pull this stunt by allowing it to happen all the time.
Much like a child with a bad habit, you now need to untrain them.
And much like children, they may (WILL) moan and complain the first few times, hoping that you will cave like you have in the past, but they WILL eventually stop if you stand your ground.
Unfortunately, I don't think you're going to be able get off Scot-free without at least some whining and complaining in the beginning.

I have one gig that I am never permitted to go over on. At that one, I just tell them, "Sorry, management says no." Then I continue to tear down. They usually run to the bar to beg more time, but it never works. I actually like the fact they won't let me go over. Takes the pressure off me and I can head home after a long night without having to fight and argue about it.
At other gigs, I will sometimes go a little over, if I feel like it.
Usually, though, it's the nights that I'm exhausted and just want to go get some sleep (what is that, anyway?) that people want me to stay over. I usually try and end the night at the end of the rotation, so it's usually not too bad.
However, I always get at least one or two people who walk in 5 minutes before closing asking to sing. I just tell them, "Sorry, please come back earlier next week."
I also will sometimes tell them that I have to get up at a ridiculously early hour in the morning due to having a 7 year old at home. Sometimes I throw in that I have a sitter that has to be home at a certain hour. That often works, except when they claim they have to be up early, too. At that point I will tell them, "Good luck with that. You might choose to go without your sleep, but I sure won't! It's going to suck to be you tomorrow morning!" That usually stops them.
Sometimes I will ask them if they stay late at work without pay. If that question right there doesn't stop them, and they answer, "yes", then I tell them, " You must be a really nice person, but I'm definitely not that nice!". If they want to pass the hat or pay out of their pocket, I pull the kid-at-home-early-morning-sitter card. If they still insist, I throw them a ridiculously high price that they can never pay.
One other thing I try, depending on the situation and the people is that I remind them that while they've been partying, I've been working, and as much fun as it is, I'm still working and would like to knock off and go home. Most people can identify with that.
Anyway, those are some of the things I will sometimes use for persistent people. Hope it helps.

What a great topic!
I've been dealing with this a lot lately.

Usually I find sticking to my guns and always quitting on time trains the regulars that whining at the end of the night will get them no where. I can actually go long periods of time with no late night whiners because of this.

My problem is usually with the new people that come in. This month has been horrible with the closing whiners. I try to be as nice as possible with an explanation and tell them I'm closing and there are no exceptions. Then I tell them when I'll be back again and they can sing then.

But I've learned there is nothing I can say to a demanding ( sometimes drunk) person that just hasn't learned yet that I won't stay open late for anyone. I'm always aggravated by this. I wish I could come up with the magic statement that works.

I have tried several different things to say, but ultimately what usually ends up happening when they won't listen is - I state there are no exceptions. Then I leave the conversation by turning away and start putting away equipment. I hate leaving it that way, but if I've tried to be as nice as possible by trying to explain and they continue to nag I have no other recourse. It doesn't work to waste a lot of time arguing with them about it. Both parties just get angrier. So I find stating the obvious and ignoring them is the only way they'll go away. Then of course I have to ignore some people who take it upon themselves to yell their grievances to anyone who will listen in the crowd.

I don't like being a tough a$$. But what else can you do?

By the way - I hate the statement - It's your show you can do what you want. I can't believe people say this to me to get there way. It just makes be angry. I wish I had a dollar for every time I've said - sorry, it's not going to happen.

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Look Babs, it's your show, and you can do what you want......... ...I'll bring a dollar with me the next time I see you......

well for me,, I tell them, "I have a very long drive home, and all of us want me to be able to live to come back next week, right?" That seems to keep them at bay..

For the most part we haven't really had a problem with this. The arrangement we have is that if there are singers and the bar wants us to continue for additional charge, we'll keep going. Usually we can get in a last song for those that want to sing one more, even if it means running over on time a bit. When it is time to stop we say our thanks, etc, and immediately play music while we begin to tear down.

Last night was an exception. We KJ before and after home football games at a sports bar near the stadium. With the game being a Sunday evening game and finishing around 10:30pm, it got extremely busy 20 minutes after the stadium let out and stayed that way up until 2:00am closing. This has been a great opportunity to meet new locals and bring them into the fold of our regular Friday night shows (same bar). It's also fun to meet out of town visitors. Singers got pretty pushy last night and rotation was difficult due to the large number of new singers and bar turn-over. It's a lot harder to tell a new singer "no" that is trying to put up there first song. We continued to call up singers until the bar (owner) sent message to shut it down "now". Suddenly, everyone seemed pretty understanding. With only 10 minutes left before close and a nearly full bar, my wife used a cordless mic to help clear the place out.

Overall everyone was pretty well behaved and had a great time but we are definitely looking at a more planned method of shutting things down. Last night was hectic and stressful and not one of our regulars were among the "one more song" folks. I like some of the suggestions mentioned so far.

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-Kona

This is a hard one to stop....we almost always play till close & then some. Even after the ugly lights come on and the barmaid screams...LET'S GO PEOPLE, EVERYONE'S GOTTA GO! There will still be the two girls, come on...one more song!?!?! Even after cpu is closed & off, mics put away. Some people flat out, just don't get it. Great suggestions here though on how to deal with the divas, when you don't play till close....MrD

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