Karaoke Forums

Eben, thanks for the explanation. Babs sent me some links at the oriental shopping market, some incredible prices there!

dbk1009, I don't plan on wearing it all night, just for the song, then its back on the hanger. I was even thinking of splitting the pants and using velcro so I could dress up quickly as I'm queing up people for songs. No time to run to the mens room here!

Thanks everybody...
                                                                                  bigjim56

They did a cover of Sly Fox's "Let's Go All The Way"  so you can just Clown up the lyrics.

And on Halloween, I have Slipknot masks that I get to rock "Duality" "Vermillion" and "Wait to Bleed"     And other costumes, I wore on other Halloweens I will get a song to match the costume.

I believe dressing the part is important. Also showing the crowd you can have fun.  Not so important that you be a perfect singer. For all there will not be perfect, why would you want to intimidate? Be one of them and they'll respect you more, don't try to be their superior.

KaraokeCreole, excellent advice! It will take time to get the things together, get up the nerve etc., but it looks like it could be fun and help set off my show. I would only do it when it slowed, or when the the crowed egged me on. That's the type of crowds we have here, if I get good enough at it, they would want it every night!
I believe you should have fun at your work, your work should be fun...this is a way to make it that way and to also help spur on the crowd.

Only if I try to do it when the rotation is full and getting fuller do I see a problem.
Just an occasional spark.

                                                                                          bigjim56

Dress like a KJ and get some gigs under your belt first.   Learn the equipment and learn how to run a quality show.   It's not the walk in the park you think you're going on.    Singers repect nothing but them singing, unless your are putting on a quality show and absolutely know what you are doing.   And they don't want you screwing things up.    You are begging for trouble.   Not saying this to be mean, just trying to give you some of my experience.    I have some competition that thinks they need to put on a prop show.  Everyone thinks he's a jerk.    He is and that ain't helping him at all.

I agree with Big Dog ... just run your show with as much quality and attention to the singers as is possible.  

IF you feel that the "slow" spots need a boost ..... have a few air guitars, a hat and maybe a pair or two of sun glasses available in the "stage" area in plain view ..... but let the singers be the entertainers.  That is why they are at your show ...... and it's what they are "paying" to do!  

We keep two air guitars around ..... and that is usually PLENTY.  I think they get used maybe once or twice a night... if that.  

You'd be surprised at how "simple" singers really like things.  Keeping the show moving ..... getting them on the stage as much as possible (lots of rounds) ..... and being sure they and the music sound good ... should really be your primary focus.  

JMO... of course.  

Have fun!!  :)

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[shadow=tomato]If you want your significant other to pay attention to EVERY word you say::
  TALK IN YOUR SLEEP   [/shadow]  

Agreed as well.... I hate when the KJ is bouncing all over the stage as if they were the entertainment. I dont mind them singing as it lets me know when the rotation starts again. But I'd like to see Bigjim go ahead and try it out for himself as well as maybe his crowd would like it. like he said to put some spark in his show.

I used to bring a flute to Karaoke and do some Jethro tull impressions then the owner asked me if I can put my own show together with just me doing the singing sort of a lounge club act and it went on from there. now my main Act is just me all night doing the entertaining and when I DO Host Karaoke or just go to sing I drop the theatrics and just get up and sing without any Dramatic's, I save that for my own show.

Bigjim you have to try it atleast once ..... wear Dark pants, white shirt,....
with a  jacket, hat and glasses on the side ready to just trow on for one song for effect. then loose the jacket glasses and hat.  it cant hurt.
maybe someone in the audiance will want you to do a blues brothers act somewhere ya never know
it's all about fun

i disagree, i feel dressing up would  make others uneasy. and yes the reg. singers might like to dress up too, but what about the people walking in for the first time?  

they will feel like they're at a costume party and they're not dressed for it and leave...
i know i would if i walked in a strange bar...

the people that r shy would never get up, unless u wore a mask...now there's a thought....hiding behind something is the best cure for being shy, personally i hide behind a big block wall when i sing, but that's just me....

but i have to disagree, it wouldn't work for the masses....JMO

I've yet to see a thread that has everyone divided so much!

I do think it's a good idea, but for sure the singers rotation comes first, but if its slow...go for it!

Don't get me wrong, the LAST thing I wanna do is get up there and sing! When times are slow, I usually play the KJ discs or filler music until someone comes at me with a song request. I just feel sometimes an off the wall song/performance can spark a crowds interest/desire etc. From the responses, it looks like some of the KJ's that do it have experience and know what they're talking about.

A busy night and I would'nt do it at all, like I said I DON'T WANNA SING...I just want to spark interest and get people involved. Trying to think of ideas to do that.

Thanks again for the responses, they're interesting and equally divided...


                                                                             bigjim56

There is nothing like a quality karaoke show, with a fair rotation.    If you do it they will come.     But they may not want to stay if they think things are going to be Jerry Lewis does karaoke, all night.    JMO

Let me put it this way.  There is a guy in the area who is a very good Elvis (whatever they're called these days).  He's had gigs all over the areas doing his Elvis (whatever it's called these days).  He now owns a lounge in my town that offers karaoke on the weekend.  At least one other karaoke devotee I know and myself will not go to his lounge.

Why?  During the evening this lounge owner is going to come out and do his Elvis(whatever they call it these days).  He's not doing it for me.  Most of the audience has seen his Elvis (whatever you call it these days) dozens of times.

Why does he do it? Please make him stop,  please!!!???

So... I most heartily agree with BD

I get a great crowd each month at my show and the Nursing home people love it
it works for me   No Elvis tho ....hate that dude

Nursing homes are a different "thing".  There are plenty of them here is S. Florida, believe it or not, and there's one gal who does shows at them, exclusively.

In fact, she gets those gigs by promising the management she will provide a DIFFERENT show everytime.  Therefore, she often grabs other people to go with her. She provides about 45 minutes worth of entertainment and the residents don't, for the most part, sing.

As I stated in the thread on "singing KJ's", it is my opinion that a KJ should not sing much.  I feel even more strongly about not expecting, wanting or caring if a KJ is going to entertain.  When I arrive at a new show to find the KJ wearing a "ridiculous" hat, playing the air guitar and doing silly things I know I'm in the wrong place!

And as an aside, there is nothing that is more annoying than a KJ who in the process of trying to be entertaining use the (OVERUSED AND TRITE) phrase "liquid courage".

I have asked one of my friends who is a KJ and he puts on different shirts when he is working as opposed to regular shirts when he isn't working.  So when I see him walking around the club with a t-shirt, he's just another costumer showing up to sing or help out with his partner who is working the club.  When I see him with the button up shirt, he's the guy I go to with my song slip.    He says its more of the presentation of the business he is working, its not always Casual Friday everday.  I don't think a guy should KJ looking just as another customer.

I always wear clothes in public.

I wear a shirt with my logo on it.   I don't dress up, I want to be just like everyone else.   From a phycological aspect.   Just a regular guy that isn't putting himself above everyone else.     I want to be easily approachable.     Keeping people more at ease.    Not coming off as some uppity stuff shirt.

Stick around for awhile !  People are only being this agreeable now because it's a jolly time of year.  Wait til people are themselves again, Credit Card statements arrive January,  or just wait until around feeding time !!  

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

When we sang at least 5 times a night, the whole gang of regulars had fun with a prop box.

However, with a BD style show geared for serious singers, stuff like that could kill the business.

I would be prepared just in case. Oh, and don't go for full costume--too much of a pain. Hat and sunglasses will work in a pinch.

It sounds like you are really being the kind of bar owner we ALL want...trying to give your paying clientele a fun evening. As a bar patron, I really appreciate the effort. You set a good example.

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[glow=darkorchid]Musica delenit bestiam feram[/glow]

I use a few gag items, at times.   They get some good laughs.    But I have nothing out for the singers to play with.  LMAO     As was mentioned.   Everyone can have as much fun as they want, but that can get out of hand quickly.    Drunk people can get a little wound up and then things get dropped or thrown around.   Now you are getting in to a liability situation if someone gets hurt on your prop(erty).

I have also said some things that I thought were funny but were taken the wrong way.    Like John Kerry's recent backfired joke.     One word in the wrong place in the sentence can change everything real fast.

Well, for all of you who enjoy KJ's who dress up and become the show instead of the singers, could someone please come here and get the Elvis (whatever it is they're called these days) who's ruining, in my opinion, a local karaoke show?

Having discussed with my wife the matter of dress when we have our own show, we believe we can find clothes in our closet that will be appropriate and distinguish us from the audience.  For those who might not find that our dress reflects who we are, perhaps the fact that we're running the equipment will provide a big enough clue?

As previously noted, my wife is looking for the RIGHT hat to wear.  Any suggestions in that regard.  I'd think I'd like to wear a beret?

How many hats does a woman need.   Is that like a shoe thing?     She wears a mom hat, a bill payer hat, a chef hat, a chaffier hat, take the animals to the vet hat, a maid's hat, the dishwasher's hat, take care of my man hat......  :shock:  LMAO