Karaoke Forums

I saw a guy playing Guitar Hero in a Futureshop store just before Xmas.  The thought crossed my mind at that time that this might start appearing as entertainment in bars... and so it has!    a new fad it may well be, but I am old enough to remember when karaoke was considered the same!  Can also remember when skateboarding was "just a fad".  

Actually, GH reminds me a lot of that game called "Bopper" when one has to follow the sequence of pushing, pulling, twisting and bopping the thing... quite addictive and fun!

What are you talking about?  You don't have to learn to play an instrument, it's a interactive game that uses a guitar shaped unit instead of the handheld controllers.  If you do not know what it is, check it out for real before you come to any conclusions.

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  WOW!!!.......I BAD!!  I had no clue this was a "game". Thought this was a "real person" type of thing. I gotta get out more. Funny...in all the venues I've done or visited....NO ONE....has ever mentioned this "Guitar Hero" thing. I wonder why that is...but I'm gonna find out what all  the "hoopla" is. Thank you all for "enlightening" me.

             Donny "B"    8)

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http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Activisi ... tDetail.do

They just came out with an all Aerosmith edition (you buy the individual games separate that contain all the music).  Legends of Rock that contain mostly 70's-90's classic rock.  Rock the 80's - all 80's hair metal.  And they are supposed to be announcing several new editions coming out as well.  
Then they have 'rock band' where several players compete at the same time to play a song in sync using the various game instruments including guitar, drum kit & mic for singing.

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I dont think i could sit for a night of watching people pretend they are Jimi or Stevie. I might be curious to see how it works---but i dont believe i could sit through an entire night of watching something kinda akin to air guitar or blow up guitars. Ill take singers EVERY TIME over pretend guitar playing.

Maybe it would be suitable for an off-Monday or Tuesday night as filler entertainement--but i cant see it replacing a full-on karaoke show bringing in consistent full crowds.

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"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVUgd8ot6BE

I'll rest my case on this example of dorkus erectus in action.

Never take the place of karaoke.  If you saw someone at karaoke acting like this you would be outta there.   An entire night of that???   NO WAY  LMAO

See the toilet in the background?

Yep remember hearing people say the EXACT same thing about karaoke when it came out in the late 80's - an entire night of bad singers???  NO WAY  :no:  LMAO  

You never know what is going to be popular.  Actually I am going to talk with our bar manager about possibly making a night where we do some of the GH showdowns.  Again, it is pretty popular up here where one of our bigger casino lounges does it & it packed out & they are talking about contests so you never know what is going to take over.  I remember before karaoke, lip syncing was THE huge thing - it lasted about a year or two, where they actually held contests on the one that lip sync'd the best, but you wouldn't think something like that would be popular either.

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You know what happens with karaoke contests and you think this will be different?     I can see the smashed guitars flying now.  :dancin:

Kinda the reason I started this thread Lonnie....  just wanted to give you KJ's a heads-up (well, those who aren't quite aware of GH) so they can take a pro-active stance and not be caught by the cow-catcher on the GH train!

My kids have this game on PS2.  I am THE video game master at my house, but I'll be d@mned if I can play it.  I guess I'll take the PS2 with my system if that is what it takes to make money.  I was told karaoke was a fad and would die, but they were wrong.  Who knows maybe we will all be out of a job soon.  

Do you think the artists will go with this idea?   After 20 years they still don't like making money from their songs on karaoke.   What's the difference if some drunk's singing them or playing them?   Will they run into the same legal rights?  Do they have to pay ASCAP?   They should.  Music is music.

You hit the nail when you said the KIDS have this GAME.     Do you picture yourself or anyone you know doing it in public?

I'm a female and not a kid and I know many females who like both Guitar Hero and Rockband.  I read an article talking about how while record companies are having a hard time selling their music cds/mp3s, Rockband is selling their game songs like crazy.  If its a phase, I think it'll be a phase that lasts for quite a long time.  Very possibly enough to wipe karaoke out (sorry to say).  Like others said, you can sing AND play guitar and drums with Rockband.

I myself debated whether I should get myself a karaoke system for my home use or just download Rockband game songs   I chose to get the karaoke system too because Rockband has less songs available than karaoke right now.  This may change in the future.   I can easily imagine not only KJs but karaoke program (i.e. karafun, powerkaraoke, etc.) and karaoke product distributors losing a lot of business in the future.  The market seems tough to me already (though I'm far from an expert).

Personally, I think it is a fad.

The difference between karaoke and GH is that when karaoke is done well, it is real musicianship that translates to singing and music in a huge number of applications and situations. When GH is done well, it is....well....pushing five buttons on one particular piece of software.

DDR was the big thing three years ago -- how is it doing these days?

The way I look at it is get involved now & incorporate into your show.  It wouldn't have to be an entire night, but I could see on slower nights maybe a GH section.  I'm actually thinking about how I can incorporate now, actually sounds like fun.

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Artists will go for this idea more than they will with karaoke because there are no sync rights (lyric swipes).  It's easier for a company to get JUST music rights than to get for karaoke.
Yes ascap & the likes will still have to be paid.  As far as them not liking to be paid, it's not ALWAYS the artist that denys the synd rights, it's more often not the publishers of the song.
Yes kids love this games as do MANY MANY adults.  I hear about it almost nightly anymore when a song comes on that is in the GH hero package.

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I think it's a fad as well, but again they said the exact same thing about karaoke when it started.  So you just never know anymore, for those with open minds, it might be something to consider to adapt & incorporate into a show.  I threw out the idea over the mic tonight & had a HUGE reaction!  Only problem I see is not enough music at this time & can see it becoming boring after a while.

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Most people I know have moved on from Guitar Hero to Rockband. Who knows what  will be hot in six months. This whole genre is not settled and in total flux. I'm not sure if you added it to your show if you could stay on top of it right now.

I can't wait to see them do "Please Come To Boston" and all the other love songs and ballads.     It's gonna be a head banging entertainment.  Most karaoke singers won't have the stomach for it.  Could cause a lose of a karaoke crowd if mixed in with it.  Taking up singers time is the issue plus the head banging.

The headbanging part wouldn't be any different than now at our show, majority of our singers do the rock from 70's-90's anyway - including the metal.  
I seriously doubt we'd lose customers over a couple of GH sessions a night for a night or 2 a week, especially if the majority of our singers play the game.  But again, it is one of those things i'm going to be watching locally.  If more clubs start popping up with this &/or RockBand with success, then damn straight i'm jumping in.

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What type of an investment would it take to make it look and sound professional?