Karaoke Forums

Here is a thread for what is the best way to give the singer a good send-off as they leave the stage.   What do you say?  How do you elicit applause from a sometimes self-absorbed crowd.  How do you make the shy-newbie singer feel less so?  How do you as a host do the "hostful" thing, that is, bring grace and humor to a performance whether good, bad, polished, or rocky.

Here is perhaps an example of a method not to use.  I attended a new show for the first time awhile back.  The KJ appearted to be fairly new at it as well.  One singer sang three songs from the 80's.  After the first song, the KJ said something like "Gee that song is old.  A dinosaur from the 80's!  Thank you X [whoever the singer was].   The second song got the same dinosaur reference, as did the third--"And X with another dinosaur song from the 80's".  Wow, hard to believe!  Maybe the karaoke show should have billed itself as Jurassic Karaoke.   My guess is that the singer felt all the songs they were singing were maybe 10 years to old, or possibly 300 million years too old.  By this time they were probably madly searching the karaoke book for a song to be released in 2010 to make sure what they picked a "safe" song.  The feeling was that maybe this KJ only wanted really recent stuff in his show.  

So that is probably an extreme example of what not to say.  What are good things to say?

"Let's hear it for..."
"Thank you Mister/Miss...."
?????
What do you use?


One KJ I know gives all of their singers a nickname, usually a play on their name related to a song or band, or the area of town they are singing in.  That's kind  of nice.

SOunds like that kj should just edit his books to allow what he wants played so as to not make rude comments to the singer making them feel like crap.
Sometimes to get applause from a otherwise non-applauding crowd you have to use your voice over the mic, you have to sound enthusiastic & almost a yell, but not.  
Instead of " Let's hear it for Tom", i'll get really excited & say "PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER FOR TOOOoom!" - dragging out the name just a tad.  Not just Tom, but TOOom! This will usually motivate people to applaud.  I've heard hosts that just use their regular speaking voice over the mic or very monotone personality.  
I try to change it up each singer but will use
Give It Up For
Put Your Hands Together
Give A Nice Round Of Applause - on rare occasion stopping the applause on this one & demonstrate a "round" of applause by applauding while making the circular motion with your hands getting everyone to do it as well.
Sometimes it will be just as simple as That was {singer name}, doing a little {band name}.
WHatever is used though it needs to be done with great enthusiasm & the audience should know who just left the stage, never insult a singer or a song choice - EVER, seen this done as well, totally unprofessional.  Even during the performance, I am usually right next to the board if the singer is unsure of a song, I am there to either bring them back on track or just to give them a nod of reassurance like Yeah You Are Doing Great or You Got It Now - this is sometimes very much appreciated in itself.

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The KJ sounds pretty young.   If he thinks 80's songs are dinosaurs, he's still wet behind the ears.

I can't think of too many things that could be more insulting to the singer.

Something from the 50's would be right after the big bang...

We used to do that in choir in high school!  We also would "give (someone) a hand", and then hold out our hands.  Or give them a cue, which means your hands form the shape of the letter Q!  

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