Karaoke Forums

 LMAO You have a cusomer for life now. Where do you buy those mics that take double D batterries?


Questions asked:
Can you give me some echo?
I sometimes get secretly offended by this question. I mix people to make everyone sound their best. That is part of my job.

Will you sing with me?
I love when people want me to sing with them because they aren't sure of the song. To me it means they trust that I will help them without singing over them. They know if they are doing fine I'll stop singing and let them have their song.

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You have to act like you are a sound engineer for a band.  They ask for something, you give it - most singers don't know what they want, they think they sound better with tons of effect.  ANother plus for a separate monitor mix, you can throw the extra effect into their monitor without messing up the main mix.

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Sometimes I chuckle silently when someone who comes off bragging about their singing asks me to "put on some echo." First off, I never use an "echo" - cheap karaoke machines have that horrible "sitting in the bottom of a well" echo and it sounds hideous. There are so many more better effects to use. Anyway, I always tell them don't worry, they'll sound so good...to me the whole point of effects is that they shouldn't be obvious...unless on something like the Chambers Brothers song, "Time Has Come Today" or whatever the title is - I had a guy that came in to sing that and I would put heavy, heavy vocal effects on it (can't remember which one, it was on an Alesis Wedge I used to use which sadly has gone to effects heaven) and he loved it - I'd pan it really quickly back and forth too, and the crowd just went wild. Of course most of them didn't know that I had to do that - they probably figured it was part of the song....

Oh man, I love the "vibrate" thing...Will have to save that for future use sometime when the time is right!

Did you lose my slip, comes from having 20-30 singers in the rotation 1 1/2-2 hours or more long and everyone thinks they were skipped.  Must only go to karaoke that attracts 10 singers. Anything longer and they take it personal, like you're skipping them.  Maybe not use to a fair rotation.  Their buddy plays them every other song.

Ive got one guy who has a fit if he can't sing every 5th song. he does not realise that every time he whines it gets him bumped down a song. Last night I had a singer who came up and asked when it had been an hour if we skipped him. I think we did , but it still took 3 songs to get him in. he was really cool about it and said he thought he was being a jerk to ask. I assured him that if it was over half an hour (Its a pretty new show yet)  there is no harm in checking. we do NOT keep exact rotation , but work really hard to be FAIR. he and I talked a couple times through the night, he wasnt upset and understands mistakes happen.

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the voices arent real, but they have some good ideas

I got one last night that cracked me the hell up.   I'm standing by my gear, with mic in hand.  Singer is singing.  I'm adjusting for sound.  Guy walks over and asks ... 'Are you the DJ?'  I said 'No'.  But he figured it out pretty quick.  

Not a common question but my favorite so far.


Is there anything you can do to make the good singers sound worse to make it "fair"?


It was asked in jest but there is some truth to the fact a good singer can be intimidating to those with less confidence or ability.

I think that is true. A lot of it has to do, though, with how the audience treats a) newcomers and b) any new good singers. What is bizarre to me is the "best" singers in a group getting offended or not clapping when someone else comes in and sings well.

I am the "best" singer in my little club, but I know I am nothing near the second coming of Elvis. There are lots of people who sing a lot better than I do, and I wouldn't even be considered that good in some clubs, I am sure. But I try to make it a point to lead the applause for the occasional really good singer that comes in (actually I kind of lead the applause for most people). And since I genuinely appreciate good efforts, I applaud loudly.

its not hard to do, main eq in a smiley face, turn up the bass and down the highs in the mic chanel. and leave it that way. this works really well at making everything sound like crap. nobody will know a good singer from bad. it sems to work for one local KJ . he gets lots of shows that nobody goes to anymore except his friends. none of them can sing so they like it just fine. bars must just love all the water drinkers bringing kids in.

good shows bring good singers. good singers bring more good singers.

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the voices arent real, but they have some good ideas

Singer:   Can you put me after someone that sucks?

KJ:   I've been hearing that all night long and it's screwing up my rotation.

Because, everyone wants to be after you.

Do I have time to smoke before I'm up next?  (Smoking ban in my state prohibits smoking in ANY public building)

I'm getting ready to leave, can you put me up next so I can sing before I go?

Can I sing a song? [Sure, just fill out a slip.]

Do you have "such & such" a song?

Do you have any songs by "such & such" an artist?

Except tribal owned bars/clubs/casinos.  I work at the Thunderbird in Tacoma & we are full smoking.

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1. How do i do this karaoke thing? (books and slips directly in front of them)

2. What should i sing? (i suggest "feelings" or "chocolate salty balls")

3. Am i next? (as they turn in the slip)

4. Can you help me if i suck at singing? (great then we'll both ruin the song together)

5. Can i sing just one more Puh-leeese? (after i'm half-packed up and ready to leave)


i think i get these same 5 questions asked every single night i work by at least one visiting tourist, if not 2 or 3...or 4...

...my sanity is still intact as i constantly remind myself this is what i'm paid for...ugh.

jreynolds you have my sympathy !

The one thing that keeps my sanity is most of my people are regulars and know how things work when they come in. I don't have a lot of the dumb questions unless someone new comes in.

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

Do i have time to pee first?

Yes, run both ways and don't wipe...or shake it off.  And don't wash your hands.

Babs, it would be nice to have regulars that are always regular.

I didn't count on it being so incredibly different every night in touristville when i relocated a few years back.

It's like having to recreate a fun atmosphere nightly based on whether the majority of singers are germans, english, norwegians, swedish, australians, or from good o'l NYC. Most tourists sing in groups not individually. I run 5 mics......crazy i know.

i have 4 different background (filler) discs with various songs from different countries to relate to them better. Problem is, sometimes they hear it and continue to sing on the mic after their performance..or start dancing.

Mine's not your average run-of-the-mill karaoke show...that would be nice...it's been a long time since i've been regular.

The UPSIDE; i always get tipped when the groups leave at the end of the night! Tourists can be great- and they don't stick around long enough to get sick of them...usually gone within a week or two....

I have a bunch of songs. I just tell them to look in the book if they want to know if I have a certain song.

My top five are:

1. Do you have...?
2. Can U help me if I can't sing...?
3. Do I have time to smoke?
4. Am I next?

and number 5 is my favorite belive it or not.....

5. CAN I BUY YOU A SHOT?

That is by far the best question....woot woot!!!!

....Tray-ZZZZZZZz

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Just read through this thread. ! So true!

Here's another one. From the regulars, and I don't mind. While looking down at the board..."Where are we?"

It's sometimes curiosity, but sometimes because they're hungry and the kitchen closes at midnight. There's a 24 hour Taco Bell up the street and they want to make a run. I point to the current place on the board and they count from there to their positions  and multiply by 5.  

I don't pull their slips. I'm not that much of a KJ cop.

Or the obvious answer to give them would be to say "We are RIGHT HERE at {club name}!"

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