Karaoke Forums

Maybe I should define my use of 'showmanship' in my previous post. I believe that the host plays a vital role in involving everyone, whether they are there to sing, just listen, or to cheer on their friends.  I don't mean that they are the focus of the show. The host acts as a cohesive agent...available to the singers and other patrons. Happy to answer questions. Able to give someone assistance with singing. Capable of clearing off a table so a new group entering has a place to sit. Being agreeable about ordering new or requested music. Being personable and helpful. Mixing everyone with the same skill level.

This is as opposed to a host that just sits behind their computer or mixing board the whole evening, is monosyllabic and just recites the name of the next singer, does not interact with patrons or employees of the hosting establishment, is prone to playing favorites, doesn't bother to mix everyone equally, and maybe drinks too much and gets irritated with newbies, cusses and tells offcolor jokes without worrying about offending anyone, etc. etc.

Showmanship is a term I apply loosely to being "on." You are a personality more than anything to the people who come in. You are an agent for the hosting establishment. Sometimes that involves entertaining and sometimes not. That is, I believe, what makes a show a memorable one.  The shows I've to where the host could be described as similar to that in the second paragraph above are the shows I will never return to. Why would I? More importantly, why would I NOT return to the show where the host is like that described in the first paragraph?

The whole sense of 'belonging' or 'feeling welcome' again and again is very important. I believe the host is responsible for creating that sense of welcomeness and belonging. That is what building a following is all about. There is nothing worse than going into a place as a new person, where no one greets you or shows the slightest bit of interest in you, where you feel like you could sit all night, die in the chair, and no one would notice.  

And of course the method by which you make new singers feel welcome is as varied as the establishments and singers themselves. Lots of times a group of younger people comes in and they cloister themselves and really aren't interested in anyone speaking with them. You have to respect that. Maybe that have one friend in the group that likes to sing. They only pay attention to that singer.  And that's fine with me. You have to read your room.

I guess there's as many ways to host a show as there are singers that attend shows. All I know is that I don't feel like I've done my job right if a person walks into my show and out again and I haven't greeted them, asked where they usually sing, what their favorite songs are, introduced them to some of the 'regulars' and made them feel welcome.

Why do we have to hijack this thread and not make a new thread?

_________________
I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott

I think the original thread was petered out anyways. That's the beauty of the internet, stream of consciousness communication. Although I can see your point though Jian. People might not see this discussion who are looking for information about or a discussion of good KJs or bad KJs.

  Yup, these are earlier discs:  SF064 and -069.  I bought the first one for " The Night Has A Thousand Eyes" - now also available on Zoom ( only).  Don't even remember why I bought the second one...

_________________
"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

they may have improved but I still hate them...bout the only track I use is the ballad of lucy jordan

_________________
"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

Try Karaoke.com I think you can find better a quality disc then Legends.
Just my personal prefrence.

I have a friend who has quite a few of the Legends disc. I don't care for most of them myself. They are playable and will get you by but there is much much better quality out there. Guess once you get used to quality recordings it hard to sing or listen to mediocre ones.

Monster disks are horrible.

not ALL of them.

I tried many, and DO agree with you. However, Moster put out two Tom Petty / Jackson Browne compilations that are REALLY good. Some stuff that others never released!