Karaoke Forums

So Friday Night I am auditioning for what could be a regular weekly Thursday Night Gig.  I plan to get there EARLY and  make sure of an optimum area to setup, I am planning to bring my larger set up (instead of 12" speakers and a powered amp)
I'll use 2 15" speakers on stands and my small rack.  (sorry no sub yet ).

I 'll be picking up a few NEW BOOKS I had printed just  for the audition and plan to bring some 'BLOW UP Instruments and some glow bracelets I've had left over from a  recent party I DJ'd.   (little corny??? )  I've thought about dance lights but don't want to go over board ...  I'll print plenty of request slips and re-fill my pencils.  
Want to make a GOOD first impression for all the customers.   I am also downloading some NEW top 40 stuff ( dance /rock /hip hop  country) .
Owner wants me to do a MIX of KJ/DJ and mentioned she "LIKES" when the KJ sings when no one else does...go figure

Besides a clean change of clothes  LMAO What else would you suggest for a NEW GIG.

breath mints!

funny you should day that --I always bring mints or gum !!
doesn't taste good with Coors Light but I do what I have to

Why Friday night?   Do they already have a KJ Thursday?    

If they already have karaoke on Thursday night and not Fridays, the crowd that will be there Friday won't be a karaoke crowd and not expecting karaoke.   Could not be in your favor.    If you are replacing a KJ on Thursdays he will be telling his crowd to stay away.    You will be swimming against the tide.    You better bring some of your singers.     Is the bar advertising the Friday karaoke?   If i planned on going to a particular bar for an evening and they had something going on that was unexpected i might not want to stay.

Jam congrats and good luck!

i suggest a small "cheat-sheet" you carry around to remember announcing venue name, bartender/staff's names, drink specials, and types of karaoke genres you carry ( i say we have country, disco, motown, top 40, oldies, rap ,hip hop, reggae, and classic and modern rock songs for you to choose from).

Also the glow necklaces are a nice touch, but i've learned to "hook-up" your staff first, then WAIT to give them to customers. Wait staff usually gets asked where they got them from, they say YOU the KJ, and next thing you get an introduction from a hot chick who wants one FROM YOU personally.

I think a dj light is a necessity- not an over the top thing. Bring it if you're always gonna bring it. It definatlely adds fun atmosphere and upbeat energy to any room. Use it sparringly through the night and turn it off during slow songs.

Also if you hit a dead spot, usually at beginning of show, in getting people to sing, i usually do sing-along-songs like sweet caroline, new york new york, santeria, don't stop believin', mony mony, margaritaville, or love shack to get people involved. Ask them to "help you" and pass around any wireless mics or walk around and let them sing snippets of it- it should "hook" a few into singing more.

The inflatable guitars we set out gets used after people have a few drinks, and we also supply/sport  wigs for bohemian rhapsody and sweet child o' mine. This being at a young persons venue here.

I would go so far as to wear a NAME TAG if you don't have signage stating your name anywhere other than on books or slips. You WANT them to remember YOUR NAME, just in case they are auditioning other kjs for your position. Repeat your name without shame- it will stick with staff and audience for days- good or bad.

I KNOW you're a seasoned KJ Jam but thought i'd post this stuff in case it could help another kj or newbie.

Once again, the Best of Luck to you Jam! Please post how it went. J.R.

JR - some very good suggestions !!!   Thanks  

SW- The Friday is just so the owner can "hear" and see me in action.
I 'm guessing before she replaces anyone she wants to be sure she and the crowd like me  :D -  I'm not to worried about THAT .  The FRIDAY night is usually DJ music only but I was told by the owner to do BOTH and see what happens .

In my initial talk with the owner we did discuss that I was not making any claims to the amount of people I would BRING IN.  SO we will see how it goes and I'll update on this topic over the weekend or Monday Morning.

Congrats, break a leg, knock em dead!!!

I agree but i was just saying that Friday nights crowd isn't Thursdays.    Totally different expectations from the crowd perspective.    Some regulars will not like it and leave.  Other will give it a try.

It's not a good comparision to make an accurate decision.

She may be able to judge you and the sound and crowd acceptance and reactions but it won't be a real karaoke night reaction.   So it will be you against the other guy.

Do you know why she is trying out other KJs?   Customer complaints?   No crowd?    Bad KJ attitude?

-Jam, it seems she might be looking to see how "tight" your show is- meaning HOW WELL your transition from to dj to kj and back goes.

This is the part where you gotta REALLY read-the-crowd to get their attention BUT have enough dj music on-hand to play what would appeal to them.

As a suggestion, for a mixed older/younger crowd i usually play popular timeless "oldies" (used loosely) like December '63 and use it's 12 second intro-music to announce venue and pertinent info. I also use Build me up Buttercup for it's long intro, so when i'm done talking and i've timed it just right, the actual song takes over and I'M FLOWIN'...

For a younger majority crowd i'll do my intro to sweet child o' mine, you only get what you give (new radicals), my humps, ain't no other man, etc....something they'll notice to give the stage attention.  And always something-upbeat.

A good source of info is always Mobile Beats top 200- compiled from thousands of dj requests every year ( i've input mine for many years)- but you probably might already know these things...but just in case.

For karaoke i would keep it as familiar with songs as possible- although my song preferences are different- and might sing a famous Beatles or Elvis easy sing-a-long for the the older crowd. For the young ones something new.

Perhaps you could find out what the auditioning Owner or bartender likes/prefers and throw in a couple of those to get on their good side.... it works... and makes it personal along with professional- more brownie points for you.

Sorry for stating a few obvious points, but once again it might help someone somewhere sometime. I've always used a dummy-checklist for every event i've performed over the years and Thank Gawd for it!  Cheers!  J.R.

Well I went to my audition early on Friday - I arrived 8:00 for a 9:30 start - figured I have extra time to set up etc.   WELL .... it happens since they serve food - there was a large table of people right were I have to set up  :(  :( . The owner tells me I can set up when they leave  :shock:   So about 9:00 I start to bring my equipment in to give them a NUDGE and I'm finally able to START to set up at 9:10pm.

Now I feel PRESSURED to get up and going in 20 mins - Normally not too big of a problem but this is my 1st time here so I need to get acclimated to - acoustics - speaker placement  / monitor placement  / electric outlets etc etc.  I finally get set up and get some MUSIC playing while I set up the video to the monitor etc.
Get it all set up and the owner walks over and tells me........ I need to move the set up ......speakers........monitor....... Back a little bit so people can dance  :banghead:  :banghead:

After moving everything and getting settled I sang the 1st karaoke Song about 9:50 (not too bad) - place was ...empty  :(  The owner explained that she didn't expect a BIG karaoke crowd as THURSDAY is Karaoke and last night was PACKED  :(

Halfway thru the night the owner and the Bartender came over seperatley and told me they LIKE the setup , LIKED the music and LIKED the singing ..They also LOVED the BRAND NEW BOOKS ---I had printed and on the bar  :D  :D

The night went GREAT and even though it wasn't PACKED the people that were there and singing had a GREAT TIME and It seemed the owner knew that and appreciated it.   She told me she wants me for their THURSDAY night Karaoke Guy  :hi5:  :hi5:
I am just waiting for a FINAL confirmation after she tells the "OTHER" GUY  :whistle:  :whistle: --- oh and I did see a BIG KARAOKE
CONTEST sign out front now .... It looks like I'll be running a contest  :O  :O

Thanks to ALL

[font=verdana]Congratualtions Jam,  Sounds like you did real well in spite of the challenges you encountered.  I run a contest once a month at my son’s show and have a ball.  Good Luck with your new gig, hope things continue to go well for you.[/font]

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Dusty Rose
Blue Rose Classic Karaoke
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k

Congrats jam!

Honestly, when I was reading your last post, I was thinking along, you didn't get it. The more I was surprised, you did.

One question though: Did you ask the bar, if they are interested in another Karaoke show, or did they contact you?

Sev

I happened upon the opportunity like this.... my relative delivers goods to this bar and in talking with the owner found out they were looking to replace the current KJ.
Of course he tells the owner that he knows of a KJ and she tells him to have me call and the rest is ....history  I kinda stumbled into it?

Jam - Congrats on your success!

I had this happen to me 2 weeks ago, get there about 8, for a 9:30ish start..the place is jam packed (mostly all dinner crowd), I get told..don't worry, just hang out till most of these people clear out, then you can bring in your equipment.  So we wait, wait, wait...9:15, still busy....I'm like, well we gotta get moving or we'll never start.  So we start hauling..by the time we get set up and rollin' it's 10pm and not many people hanging around, end up having a good night..the place fills back up nice.  Well fast fwd to last weekend, I show up pretty last, right about 9pm..the place is pretty dead, set up and ready to rock at 9:30....slowly fills up, we have a good night.  The owner is a tad bit upset, he had dinner crowd that wanted to sing, but they left just before I got there.  They wouldn't have stayed anyway...it seems.  Uggggh, can't win..........Mrd

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[highlight=midnightblue]MrD - KJ/DJ Specialist
Visit MrD on facebook - mrdsentertainment
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Congrats! You'll do great!

I need to stumble into something like that too.

Thanks All --Now I just have to KEEP the gig !!!