Karaoke Forums

I don't care who sings.

The owner or the staff.  But in rotation like the paying customers.  The crowd always likes it when they sing.  It's a nice perk for them too.

But the bar owners shut them off if they can't keep up.  I don't blame them.   Keep taking the money at all costs.

Wellll, Let's see, singers from the floor, cool, singers from the staff.... also cool, as a singers, non-kj/dj (now). The Kj's I've been with keep a pretty tight rotation, and the staff knows this, in fact there have been many time that they come up in the rotation and are so busy they wave off their spot, and we go on to the next singer. No one has ever seemed to mind, h-ll even most of our KJ's sing once or twice in the rotation. Besides, I've found that with the bar tenders getting a chance to sing, some how my drinks seem just that little bit stronger as the end of the night comes into view. I guess it's all up to the KJ, but I always kept in mind who paid the bill in the end... Tom

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Any staff member that sings once in awhile knows what the crowd wants. They generally will turn in slips and help people with selections etc. It is a team effort.

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The show I like best around here has the two servers and the bartenders each get up for a "Feature Song out of rotation, they give them a one song heads up warning, and it is usually at the top of an hour.  The KJ makes a big deal out of the introduction and after it's over he really pushes folks to offer up some tip money right then for the big effort.  It's a hoot the first few times but even after the 20th time you see it you don't mind.  He generally does the same "Plug" for the other waitress who does NOT sing somewhere else in the show, gets her to just come up and he sings one "To" her while she is on stage with him.  It's a great little boost to the tip basket and he makes it look like he is pushing them to take the spotlight, not the other way around, so nobody minds.  He does this on heavy nights or light, they get to sing even if other late comers don't.

I have know for a long time that having the servers like you is pretty important to keeping a regular gig.  I have been singing "Tip That Waitress" by Loudon Wainwright III twice a night since my first gig.  If the staff makes money and has a good night they MAY tell the owner/manager but if the staff has a bad night they WILL tell the owner/manager.  I try to keep this in mind always, I am there once a week, they are there every night.

The KJ at the bar I mentioned above generally cuts off new requests early enough that at the end of the night that he has some room for the pros that come in after their gigs are over to get one in too.  I asked him about this once and he told me that the owner is generally gone for most of the evening but is always there for the last 45 minutes to an hour and closes and with all the other servers and musicians in town coming in and knowing that they will still get to sing one, well it is a full house with some excellent, non-drunken singing to show the owner.  He has a rep in the area for that and it helps his bizz.  The regulars accept this just fine, he often tells folks what is going on, "We are going to stop taking slips now so we have some room for those folks that are working still to give us a free show...", and it really does work out for the guy.   All the restarants in the area close around 11:00 so the midnight to 1:00 am hour is awesome for this place even though the regulars have already spent their wad.  

I bet that guy gets incredible service when he goes out on his off nights too...

BSR

Unless we are talking about some supurb singing talent coming in, i think my singers might not like it too much especially after they sat there all night paying money.  My singers usually come early to get a seat.  Shutting them off might make them stop coming.  It might work once a month.

It ok only if it's slow.  On a busy night I'm sure they'd rather be behind the bar making tips anyway.

I'm a bartender at a karaoke bar and am NOT allowed to sing. When I first started I was getting paid up to $40 per song from people begging me to sing their request. Some people broke the "no singing after 5 people" rule and now I can't sing. Business was up when patrons could see the bartenders joining in on the fun. I'm for it, as long as money is still being made and drinks are top priority.

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I like hearing the bar staff sing once a night.  It's always interesting to see what songs they sing.   I know one bartender that does a great job on  Heart of Glass and on Brass in Pocket.  No one else sings these songs and I like to hear her do them.  The other bartender at the same place would sing anything from new country songs to Crocodile Rock.   !Viva la diferencia!

Old thread huh? Well I wasn't around then so here goes.

I'm with most here. The staff seldom sings so when they do it's a big deal with the room and they appreciate it. I can count on one bartender to help me pad rotation early Saturdays if needed. Otherwise it's maybe once a week.

The two bartenders on shift generally split between $125 to $200 in tips during karaoke  so they have an incentive to stay behind the bar when it's busy.

I don't know what I'd do if I had a pesky staff member who wanted to sing all the time. I'm just fortunate to not have that problem I guess.

On a busy night you have paying customers complaining they don't sing enough. It puts pressure on a KJ to do everything in their power to get them up as much as possible without breaking rotation. Being a KJ that is why I don't sing when it's busy.

Exception: When the crowd is asking for you to sing.

If all bartenders had as beautiful a voice as you Storm I would think the crowd would be chanting your name to sing - bartender or not. That takes the pressure off the KJ. People won't complain the help is singing if people are yelling in the audience for you to sing.

What it comes down to is people don't want to give up their singing time to someone who is getting paid to be there already and I don't want to deal with the comlaints about it.

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Yeah, what Babs said.  :)

I start off the night and lead off each rotation, and one bartender in particular works both my shows, and she gets put into the rotation too, on super slip-busy nights, I'll only put us in every other rotation or so.  We have a couple of duets that we sing so it doubles us up.

My crowd just wants to party for the most part.  80% or more of them are just there for the sound and the energy - would never think of singing.  I discourage prudes from frequenting my shows.  "Waaaaa ... I sing karaoke, bow now and pay homage to the Karaoke Artichokey!"  

What I hate most is duet management, oh and people that fart on stage.  :)

[quote="Babs @
If all bartenders had as beautiful a voice as you Storm .

Would you look at that avatar.  :shock: .......I wouldn't care if she couldn't sing a lick.........I wanna see that up on the stage.....pizz on karaoke.....  :drool:  :drool:  :drool:  :shock:  :shock:  :shock: ...oh my, I think I'm having a heart atta.............."CLEAR"!!!....BZZZZZZZ.......Bzzzzzzzzzzz....Ok, I'm back...I'm ok ...

Like everything else it depends on your "karaoke" crowd - If they are there to have fun and party they shouldn't mind the bartender singing a song every other rotation or so ....... Its usually the crybabies that start all the fuss .... WAHHH why is she singing  WAHH I've been waiting 5 minutes WAHH WAHH WAHH  LMAO  LMAO

You can sing at my bar  :wave:

Okay, here's one for ya.
The place where I've been going occasionally has a singing bar owner, and several singing bar employees.
The last time I was there, my kj friend tells me the owner tells her she doesn't have to sing the 1st song of the night, but he will be the 1st singer!
I'm not sure how alot of the kjs here operate, but my friend has always started the show with the first song, then does the very last song to let everyone know the show is over for the night. I think that's totally up to the person running the show, and everybody loves her, so they are hip to it.
But now, the owner is trying to control the show? He's a decent singer for sure, and has even tried some different stuff recently. He has a girlfriend that also sings.....the same tired, hip-hop song everytime.
Then, bartenders, bouncers, and whoever else are worked into a 40 singer rotation!!
Paying customers are complaining to the kj now. She's doing the best she can to try and accomodate everyone at her show. I've even offered to take a pass in the rotation just to help out with keeping her regulars satisfied. I'm an out-of-towner, so I feel it's more important to keep the locals happy. I just went to spend time with my friend really.
Her show is basically being controlled by the bar owner now, and she's vulnerable because other gigs have fallen through for her recently. Every place that matters in that town wants her services, but they won't accept fill-ins or her alternating between gigs on certain nights of the week. They only want her, but she's spreading herself thin trying to get as much work as possible.
Does anyone else here alternate between gigs on the same nights of the week?

It's come down to her losing the alternated nights, so basically, they'll only have her on 2 Fridays a month now because she does another place on Fridays also. No hired fill-ins for the other nights.

The place I mentioned initially seems to be her most productive gig and I'd hate to see her lose it because the bar owner is being a schmuck. It seems he just wants to be the only singer and is paying her to serve him and his friends, while other paying customers are getting in 1 song a night or less?

I feel sorry for her really.....it's not an easy job, so yes, I do respect you kjs out here for what you have to put up with.

Any advice? Thanks.

Oh, Hi Babs!  LMAO

Oh, I should also add that she has no idea I'm here.....doesn't even know about this place. I'm just a concerned friend.

I've heard it at a few karaoke shows.  I don't remember anyone butchering it too badly, but it does sound like it would be hard for most guys to sing (unless maybe they had it put in a different key?).  The main thing I've noticed is that people often forget about that extra drumbeat in the final chorus (after "and I'd gladly stand up"), so they sing thru' it and wind up a beat ahead of the CD.

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She's going to lose her singers if she doesn't put a stop to this. She needs to put her foot down and make whatever rule she wants about it. Something like anytime rotation exceeds eight, employees (and KJ) are out, which is my general practice.  

And then lead by example by not singing at all. Even if that's her custom. Even if it's perceived that the crowd likes her singing. Because here's the deal: They like their own singing more. That's just where it's at.

Ask her what's more important: The short term advantages of this particular room, or the long term consequences of having her best singers dwindle away.

Our singers are our most important assert. You can take them anywhere. You can't take a specific bar anyplace but where it is.

I can't imagine a rotation of 40. That's around three hours. I'm pulling my hair out at half that because I've got irritated singers down my throat who haven't sung in an hour.

Thanks Bill. That's exactly what I was thinking, but worried that if she alienates the bar owner, he'll just hire someone else. He's already brought in a different dude for Sunday nights, which has her worried. He could've offered it to her instead, but didn't. She's a nice person, and the reason for the owner's current success is definitely attributed to her show.
I'm thinking there might be more to his motive.....maybe he wants her?
The nice people are usually the ones who get hurt in the end, but she has a loyal following....I've seen it for a few years now. I'm an out-of-towner, and I'm even acquainted with alot of the locals.
Unfortunately for me, I won't be able to go back now......I'm a trucker, and my job assignment has been changed after 10 years of going to the same place. I'll still be able to stay in contact with her though, and might be able to offer some helpful advice.
Thanks alot for the advice.....I appreciate it man! Right on........  :wave:

I already commented a little on this message, but just out of curiosity:  

How do you discourage people from singing it if they want to and you haven't heard them sing?  (not that _I'm_ gonna try it--it's more of a guy's lyric and I don't know how I'd adapt it to a straight female POV)  

Also, I'm wondering which songs you think "anything less than great is not allowed"?  (Not trying to argue, but I thought you didn't have to have a great voice to do kararoke.) I'm guessing you mean something like Roseanne "singing" the national anthem, right?  I remember hearing that and thinking she sounded like she was drunk--I've heard drunk college students singing "Happy Birthday" in that same tone of "voice"!  

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Babs,

In a wired mic set-up with a single bartender situation I agree with you 100%... however, in a different situation I believe they have the same rites as the customers to sing. No preferential treatment for number of songs at a time or where they are in the rotation EVER!!! (This includes the owner(s) of the establishment! )

In an environment where there are multiple bartenders at all times, one can leave the other to the task at hand when called. As a result, there should be no more time spent waiting for the bartender to get up than any other singer at the back of the room.

In a wireless environment, with a single bartender, the mic can be sent to the bar with a patron for the staff member to use. When they are done singing, they can send it back. This is the ONLY concession I will make as far as "Preferential Treatment".

NOW... as many have said, on busy nites or large staff establishments, this may need to change:

I have had to limit to one staff member per round for larger staff nites at an establishment (i.e. benefit / party nite), or once in the nite on a real busy nite.

I always start the night as an ice breaker, and will usually start every rotation as an indicator to the masses that we are on a new round... but even THAT gets shoved to the side on a busy night.

The problem for me is nonexistent now. The owner won't let the bartenders sing now when they are working. I guess the patrons complained or it may have been the other bartender comlained, I don't know for sure.

Honestly it is a relief to me. We have 2 bartenders on Fridays only because it is so busy. On the other nights I only have one bartender and there is no way they could leave their posts.

I actually don't mind if it isn't busy, but when I have people waiting 2 hours to sing it gets under my skin. I'm trying to keep the paying customers happy by singing. I shouldn't have to worry about fitting in a bartender for a song.

I go and get my own coffee and water at the bar, so the bartenders don't have to take up time getting my drinks. I think it is more important they give all their attention to paying customers, so I try not to bother them. It's just a courtesy thing.

If everyone wanted to hear a bartender sing and it was once during the night I'm sure it would be tolerated, but that wasn't what was happening in my case.

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