Karaoke Forums

Some kj's are eliminating books altogether for kiosk systems, phone apps, or no books at all as they seem to think singers don't really care either way or don't need the books.
As a singer what do YOU like when going to a show.

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

Looking at the book gives a chance to see other artists that you may not have thought of to try or might trigger another idea for a song.
No we do not keep the book all night either to keep looking at it but look at it for a little while and then hand it off to the next person.

I get quite 'stressy' without a book, especially in a new bar. A book is a huge comfort blanket - and I love perusing the pages playing 'guess the disc brands' by the tracks listed and then selecting my song from the options provided rather than play the "have you got *insert song here*... no? Or *insert song here*... no? How 'bout *insert song here*... no? Oh don't worry I'll sing *insert any song from the top ten most sung songs at my own show here".

I'm in the process of developing an app. my book has been online for 6 years now and all of my regulars over 45 have given me strict instructions not to get rid of the paper books. I've managed to avoid the kiosk idea, most of my younger crew just come up and ask or let me choose for them. Three use the app. and even then it's because it easily links to youtube and lets them hear the song before hand.

I be interested in how many new hosts vs older hosts see books as important. I remember every karaoke you went to had books, slips and pens. Now more don't than do and customers are getting used to it and don't see books as the norm any more.

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

Remember i'm not concerned about the hosts thought on this, only as a singers point of view.
I too love to grab a book at a show & look through it at my own leisure. Often times I see something that I wouldn't have thought of if I was just asking the kj or had to go to a kiosk station where I wouldn't have the time to sit and peruse but would feel the need that i'd have to just pick something to open the kiosk to someone else.
Now I do not see the kiosk as a bad thing neither, but would like to see a show incorporate a few books to those who do like to look at them.
Phone/internet apps are nice as well as I can look at a kj's books whenever. With more places offering wifi, a small tablet or netbook/laptop can be brought in as well if the kj offers their books online.

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

as a singer I prefer books...as a KJ I offer internet books/smartphone app in addition to the printed books.

_________________
"Integrity is choosing your thoughts, words and actions based on your principles and values rather than for your personal gain."
Unknown
"if a man has integrity, nothing else matters, If a man has no integrity, nothing else matters."
Lee McGuffey

When I am not singing from my own personal discs (whether by choice or not), I like to have a book to look through. Sometimes I stumble onto a song title that I might not have thought of on my own, and then decide to try it at that show (or make a mental note to try it at home).

I like having a book to look at, but a phone app would be fine, an e-reader would be fine. I never saw a kiosk, so I couldn't say if I like it. I wouldn't even know how to list my book online.

_________________
I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

There are several ways to do this - easiest would be whatever program you would actually print your book from, get a pdf creator (there are free ones) and print to a pdf file - this way anyone can download the pdf from home, laptop, tablet (that has pdf capability). This you can link to any web site including Facebook. Then there are searchable databases that can be created like the one I use (thank you Micky), search as you type, can use word combos, etc..

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

I absolutely need a book to find my songs, and especially new songs.

As a singer I have no need for a book. I know what I want to sing.

As a KJ books are expensive and people destroy them, with the number of singers on the decline i don't like putting money into something not needed. Everyone should have a phone with internet by now and be able to find and look up songs.

As a singer I prefer a book. I have not been to any shows that use a kiosk. And going out with friends and playing with a smart phone all evening is not my idea of fun. When I go out I like to enjoy the company of people Im with. Sing a few songs and kick back a few drinks. I have to be on a computer during work all day so when I do get out I just don't feel like playing with a phone or tablet. I know maybe Im old school but so many young people are tied to thier phones they miss the real world right around them. I would like to see and use a kiosk but having to go up and tell the KJ what I want to sing all evening no thanks.

liquiddye says "Everyone should have a phone with internet by now and be able to find and look up songs."

People are so absorbed by their phones that they have no interaction anymore. Books are far less invasive and far easier to scan for songs, especially for new songs. Some types of technology gain aren't the best things for social engagement. I see so many people go out to eat somewhere and everyone at the table is looking at their cellphones, and not saying a word to eachother.

This is just so amusing to read. For the last year or 3 people have been espousing how good kiosks are and books are dead and why do you even bother with them. Over and over more than one has said they would rather run a show with just some kiosks and they wish they could get rid of their books.
BUT then you do the poll asking about the singer side and BAM! now all of a sudden the vast majority would rather look at books to find their songs or ideas for songs.
IMO you can not have it both ways - as a KJ no books but as a singer books. But that is my own impressions from reading the posts over the last few years.

The kiosk method will really take off big time when people can use their smart phone, Ipad, Kindle, Nook, Android pad etc. to scan the "book" electronically using a wireless connection or the book is somewhere on the internet and can be looked up. I don't have a smart phone, Ipad, Nook, Kindle or android pad, but I'm no doubt in the minority. I still like the idea of having an actual book when I go to a show to flip through and try to decide what to sing. For me it's part of the experience of going to Karaoke.

To me books and slips are KISS. They get the book, fill out a slip and bring it to us. No looking at phones, checking e-mail, etc while doing a show. No arguments about when a song is turned in and position in the rotation. No putting a song in while enroute to the show.

_________________
You can be strange but not a stranger

I like to have a book, as I often see songs I wouldn't otherwise think of. I do use my smartphone to send my song request to the kj, however.

I like books, especially with the available manus included with the entry.
In my opinion, every song you have..."need not" be included.

Sorry bro but that doesn't make much sense to me. First of all I agree with Lonnie's mentality towards this subject.

Books and slips are simple but how is that any more simple than looking at a phone or checking email? Those are both pretty simple. How does a songslip avoid an argument over a phone? Actually if not already in place, a phone entry could be programmed to be traced back to a time, a slip can't. Putting a song in while heading to a show, is that complicated? I don't know but it could be convenient for those that work late and want to get in the rotation a bit sooner.

I like to have both available,,,,, the KEH method (keep everyone happy)

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

As if we don't have enough to do while running a show now you want us to check emails too? What happens if there is a delay in server time and the email they put in to get the song they want don't show up for a hour or so.
I know that I don't get emails as fast as someone says hey I sent it 2 minutes ago how come you haven't gotten it yet.

Sorry I will stay old school with books a slips that way no one can say hey I put in a slip and you forgot me...I'd just tell them if you can find your slip in the trash your up next.

_________________
I like everyone when I first meet them. If you don't like me that's not my problem it's YOURS!
A stranger is a friend you haven't met yet

As a singer, I don't really care about the book itself. When it comes to song choice, sometimes I let the host pick, if I know them, and I probably do more kamikaze stuff than the average patron (last week, I shaved my entire head in a fit of "well, if I'm going bald anyway...", and found Sinead O'Connor's version of "Nothing Compares 2 U" on screen when I got up to the mic).

At new shows, I often like flipping through the book, but unless it's a very small menu, it doesn't really help me with song selection--at shows with what I imagine are pirate hosts, the size of the book makes browsing terribly difficult, and even a 20,000 song book at a legit show is a lot to process. I think of it in terms of an actual menu--it's much easier for me to order food at a place with fewer selections than an enormous catalog of foodstuffs that requires 15 minutes of reading.

That said, an idea has been kicking around my head--what if karaoke books were, well, more like books? People buy me karaoke-related gifts regularly, and in my bathroom now sits that "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" book, which offers various suggestions for song choices, themes, and the like. I would be terribly excited to show up at a karaoke night, pick up the book to absentmindedly flip through, and see a one page insert with song suggestions around a theme: genre, artist, mood, or whatever.

Example:

"Going through a horrible break-up and need to get that feeling out over a microphone? Try:

• Alanis Morrisette, "You Oughta Know": Particularly appropriate if your ex is Dave Coulier.
• Frank Sinatra, "In the Wee Small Hours": Hey, it's getting to be about that time, isn't it? There is nothing more helpful at a time like this than a martini and Frank.
• Frank Sinatra, "One For My Baby": Two songs by the same guy? If it were anyone else, it'd be blasphemy, but Sinatra has probably forgotten more about heartbreak than you'll ever know."

I don't know. Something fun like that would get me excited about the book itself, and would make me want to flip through it to see what else the host has to say.

_________________
Co-host of The Greatest Song Ever Sung (Poorly), a karaoke-themed podcast