Karaoke Forums

Singers who are a few beats ahead or behind of the music... many can be helped out just by singing with them for a few seconds and they get back on track.

But here's my question... really bad singers... the ones who are always way off key and make everybody cringe. Nails on a chalkboard.

Any ideas on dissuading them from putting in too many slips?

Thanks   (please don't think I'm evil)

P.S. I've thought about turning it positive and suggesting some songs for them to sing (audience participation songs) but haven't tried that yet.

GREAT idea to suggest participation songs!

I would only take one song at a time from them "really bad singers". Tell them to "sing-one, bring one".

I might announce that "everyone sing along", even if it's not participation-ish.. if it's their 3rd or more song for the night, and before i lost my whole audience.

If they were just passing-through town, i'd let them have a great time, knowing i still get paid by the hour regardless of who sings.

If they regularly hurt my show by trying to sing at the very beginning before i established a good upbeat tone, then I'd...( gonna get lots of crap for this)
MESS WITH THE ROTATION to make them wait a little longer, fake a technical difficulty til i had more singers,  perhaps upsetting them, and explaining to management/owners later WHY, if they complained.

sounds evil ,but i'm not also- ..just wanted to preserve everyones' ears, and prevent  the profits-of-many from walking out the door because of one early in the evening.
I also didn't want new customers from leaving before they got to hear a couple of good singers- which preserved my karaoke show's reputation of not sucking too bad.

I've only had to do "the above"  twice in a decade, but eventually one was later 86'd for a drunken non-related act that sealed his fate there at that venue. The other guy stopped singing when the crowd joined in, gave me dirty looks, walked off stage, and eventually got the message. A couple weeks later he returned with a female and sang a duet with her leading him. It worked out okay. He never tried a solo again.

ANYONE got a better way of handing these chalkboard singers?

I'm glad to see this topic come up because I'm having a hard time trying to figure out how to deal with bad singers and there seems to be a lot of them. Looking forward to see how y'all deal with it.

If you can't fight 'em, join 'em.

I met a KJ who *specializes* in bad singers. He makes them sound as good as they can sound, and encourages the heck out of them. In fact, he doesn't really want good singers at his shows, which are packed.

You can't fight bad singers, nor do you want to. Karaoke is not about being good. I may think I am getting better, but fact is -- I am just singing karaoke like the bad singer is.

We have revitalized our local karaoke show, and it had the largest number of singers in a very long time (rotation of 16). A lot of the singers are bad, but they are up there every round like everyone else.

What we are trying to avoid is bad singers who sing the same songs week in, week out. We are having good luck encouraging them to branch out. Actually, it makes sense because I thought to myself yesterday -- "That isn't a good choice of song for Marvin." In a moment, I realized I was wrong. There isn't a good choice for him, so he might as well try something new.

We aren't all hard to get to.  Just give some of us a tape of our singing, and we'll never hand in a slip EVER again..  We'll just go into a room and close ourselves in (like SingSnap)



No, you are sounding MUCH better, meaning "singing" and not inflicting auditory neuropathic agony upon others ! .  Although what you say is true,  there are no statutes preventing Jian and myself from singing duets in public !

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

Hubby has one that comes in on Monday nights. She has some form of mental illness, not sure what, and really cannot sing even a few notes in a row with good pitch.  All the regulars know she will be there, do something else while she's singing, and clap when she's done. Just the way it is. There was a similar thread a few mos back where the old fellow was actually asked stop singing by the bartender.

Tough situation but one where we have to consider that everyone is 'entitled' to sing -very few singers are good enough to be professional performers and thus establishing a "good enough" criteria would be difficult at best.

Karaoke is for fun, everyone's fun, not just the good singers. Thankfully a long rotation precludes too many songs from this singer, but I cannot help but think about how much she enjoys doing what she's doing. And can I take that away from her?

I do not believe there is an answer to this ... certainly someone in a position of power could ask this person not to sing anymore. I would NOT want to have to answer to that person as to why.

Have to be humanitarian about this.  This Monday night chanteuse has not done anything to the profits, and it has really given me a chance to educate some who may have griped at first, and they have actually thanked me for pointing out to them that this person loves to sing, enjoys being around everyone, and probably looks forward to her singing nights like the rest of us.

Wow, you really have a good heart and truly care about other people. I got something from your post. It made me think. Thank you Karen.

yeah, I agree with Steven!

RECORD them. Hand it to them and tell them to listen to the clarity of the recording, and mention if they're REALLY serious about improving their performance, come ask for a "critique".

It has been my expierence that even bad singers the more they sing eventually get better. Granted if they are really bad they will only get so much better. I think some people are so nervous that they sound way worse than they normally would at home in the shower or wherever. I always tell people, take your hand out of your pocket and tap your foot and try and relax your body. Mostly have fun and it will sound better.

 LMAO

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

BUT,  thanks to science,  using a sensitive enough audio spectrum analyzer, given the necessary quantitative skills involved in subatomic particle physics, if you work with decimal places,  in some cases this can be considered leaps and bounds  :hug:
Nice thing about these "subjective" areas !!!!

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

I'm investing in a TC Helicon voicetone correct. Don't get any really bad singers (don't think it would work for really bad singers) should arrive mid February I will keep you updated on it's performance

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Regards
Brian

Once your good singers find out you put them through it, they will hate you.  It sounds like a good idea to have everyone sound perfect, but i wouldn't do it.

You said a mouthful there brother! Steve I really sympathize with you, if you are being truthful when you say you cannot sing very well. ( pretty sure you are not as bad as you say ) My nephew is for the most part a musical prodigy, he is 17yrs. old and has been playing guitar and drums since he was 3yrs old. In the last year he has taught himself to play piano, it is his weakest instrument, but he has composed instrumentals on piano already, it is amazing how he picks up instruments so fast. The bad news, he cannot sing to save his life, literally appears to be tone deaf when singing, maybe there is hope for him!

Just for everyones info, I clap for everyone, years of stage fright makes me appreciate how hard it is to get up on stage whether it be in a band or doing karaoke.

I have to disagree with you, even the pros use this technology in the studio to enhance their vocals. Depends how you sell the idea. The unit offers more than voice correction should read the review.

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Regards
Brian

Are they spending money in the bar?  If yes, then no you shouldn't have a problem with them, if not, then it is up to the bar to tell them they are not spending enough & ask them to leave!  Otherwise, karaoke is for everyone who enjoys it!

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[shadow=deepskyblue]I'm impressed, I've never met such a small mind inside such a big head before.[/shadow]

But even one of these are only going to help someone in key to begin with!  Otherwise it's going to harmonize an out of key person!  These processors are designed for good singers to begin with!

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[shadow=deepskyblue]I'm impressed, I've never met such a small mind inside such a big head before.[/shadow]

I have a couple of shockers that come in most wednesdays, right at the start,and with all their favourites written on cards in their purses. which they proceed to butcher every time.... the staff all cringe, and the smoking areas get a little busier but no one leaves the bar as a result.. wether thats cos there's no where else to go remains to be seen, i am blessed with a little town and a good crowd who all know each other, or at least of each other..

bad singing is an occupational hazard like a rude customer is for a waitress or bartender, or splinters for a carpenter. karaoke is about participating so who are we to really say who can and cant have a go purely based on ability?? A bad attitude is a different matter but the joy and passion with which these ladies sing is something that cant be belittled so you really just have to grin and bear it... and hope they don't song a 7 minute song

The biggest problem with many bad singers (tone deaf and tempo deaf) is that they don't know that they are bad or they refused to. We all have seen that kind of singers in AI. This are the hopeless case. You can't do much about it if they are paying customers. Even a recording of their singing may not help.  
 
On the other hand there are bad singers who are bad simply because they are new to singing. I have seen many of this kind  improving over time to become average to good karaoke singers. This are the group who buy cdg and practised at home.

The worst case that I come across is this nice guy who is tone deaf and way off tempo.
He always request the same first song American Pie. He sings almost one line behind and way off key.

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

You guys better not let Joechartreuse hear you talking about people who do not don't spend enough money during Karaoke shows!!!

But staying on thread:

Who says that "bad singers" are a "problem".  And, most significantly, who among us has the authority or credentials to determine who is a bad singer.?
I have a singer at one of my shows who is professionally trained.  He could probably pick apart the performances of everyone of us; not that he would.  I have, however, heard him pick apart some of his own performances!

And who determines what the "problems" are caused by "bad singers"?  I don't have any problem with any singers at my show based upon their singing abilities.  Everyone is welcome at my show!

And.. is it all about "good singers", or "good performances", or "being entertained" or about HAVING A FUN TIME?  Some of the people at my shows that are most enjoyed by the crowd are far from the best singers.

On the other hand, how many times do I have to listen to some so-called good singer singing a song I don't enjoy for the 100th time e.g. New York New York ... My Way... Sweet Caroline?

Yes, TTTenor, karaoke IS for everyone!!! I suggest those who disagree reconsider and review both Karens and (OMG) Mcky57's posts.  And Karyoker may have some suggestions on how a good host makes it a reality that KARAOKE IS FOR EVERYONE!