Karaoke Forums

There is room for everyone.

Different people like different types of entertainment. Karaoke thank goodness has gotten so popular that it has branched off into many forms. I run an all karaoke show, but I have a crowd who wants all karaoke. If I played music they'd hang me. Other venues in my area are KJ/DJ, but that is what their crowd demands. Believe it or not some people don't like karaoke.  LMAO So they pander to a mixed crowd. Some venues only have karaoke contests. There is a certain crowd who only like to compete. Bars want to make money, so they tend to do what works for them to do so. I am not threatened by different forms of entertainment. I say there is room for all of us. Has karaoke changed? No. People are still singing from words on a screen.  :D

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It seems to me that it is highly beneficial for participating KJ's in our forum to be aware of all the different approaches to running a show that are being used by their peers, and what techniques are employed in doing so.  

On the other hand, I don't understand the point being made by those who keep posting over and over how they will only attend pure Karaoke shows.  I can't change what format I HAVE to use.  All I can do is try to improve upon what I am doing.  And nobody, even a pure karaoke show, is going to satisfy every karaoke singer.  

While my show is often not 100% karaoke, I too prefer to KJ over and to attend 100% karaoke shows.  However, the shows I put on and the shows I go to are not being conducted for my benefit; they are run by the majority of those in attendance who vote with their "pocket books".

So for all of you "Purists", stop your fussing, stop your whining it's irritating already!

PS: If, as a businessman, I ignored what the audience wants I'd then be labeled "stupid", and rightfully so. My show is designed to cater to the audience THAT IS ACTUALLY IN ATTENDANCE - not some hypothetical audience that has yet to appear at my venue.  And I can assure you that if 30 karaoke singers descended on my venue, they would have a great evening of non-stop karaoke all night.

The biggest change in karaoke over the years is that there's now so much of it. Everyone's scrambling around trying to find a formula that works for them because there's literally karaoke everywhere. I'm not in a major metropolitan area but there are still at least a half dozen rooms within reasonable driving distance from mine.

Out of those there are at least three of us that do pretty much karaoke and nothing but. So it's easy to find 100% karaoke if that's what you want. And I think that's what you were asking.

I'll bite. Mcky what do the Japanese say about the origins?

Contests: I have been in one. The KJ did 2 rounds, one warm-up, and then your contest song. He picked 2 people at random from the audience to be the judge. They had various criteria like stage presence, etc. At the end, he would add up the scores and guess what.. his friends would always win and no you can't look at the score sheets.

Then again, if the best singer won every time, it would be the same few people every time!

One KJ here does a random drawing on slow nights... put a song in, your slip goes in the hat, drawing once per hour. $5 prize

YES, THE BEGINNER GETS MARGINALIZED. I feel that they shy away when there are so many good singers (the regulars). I like the idea of a theme night or OTHER METHOD (?) to get the regulars out of their rut and get them to make a few mistakes.

I don't know -- that's why you have to ask them.

I believe that singing as a form of musical entertainment at parties has been a tradition for a long, long time in Japan.

I have been running a Show at Tommy's on Thursday Nights, every Thursday...all year for 3 years now. And my show is Karaoke/DJ...may not seem like a difference from DJ/Karaoke but in this area it is. I Cater to my singers, if at 9 I have 1 singer, they sing. I have the largest selction of karaoke in my area, and yes it is all bought and paid for. I do what my crowd asks for, the more singers there are , the more karaoke is done. When I have alot of singers Idon't play as many songs in between sets, it just all depends on the crowd on that night. Just in the same way I play different music depending on the bar and the crowd. The other night at a regular venue I have a large group of older people, so I started my night with some old country, I kept those older folks on the dance floor for 2 hours, my singers catered to them as well singer older songs, at he end of the night the bar owner hired me for 2 more gigs per their request and tipped me an extra $25 for keeping them there. It just isn't right to spout pure karaoke for those who cannot do it, because the crowds demand otherwise.

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It's always time to sing!

If you don't like karaoke, then why would you go to a karaoke night and expect the world to change for you?  Take a hike.   Go to a DJ bar or come back on a different night.    I as a KJ, am not and will not try to accommodate you.  EVER.   Why should i ?   Didn't you or couldn't you read the sign?

If I have one singer to start the night, the two of us take turns until more sign up.  If there are no singers, then IMHO, it is my job to fill in until someone else signs up.  I carry NO DJ'ing songs with me AT ALL.  I am not a DJ and never will be.  

TKG

I think the original intent was for a group to gather together and have fun... which it still does retain, but alot of people think too much or get scare and it does take some of the fun out of it.

I'm DJ / KJ. If I didn't play music, I wouldn't have a job.
My karaoke is Karaoke for the non hard core singer. We like the people that are drunk off their (@$%&#!).

I average about 10 to 12 Karaoke Songs an Hour. It keeps the non-singers happy.
We play games give away free drinks and more.

My #1 goal is to make Money. I achive that but making the bar money. The bar makes money by people drinking aot, and many people being there.

SW,

Now this is the type of post that gets people all tinkled at you!!!
MrD



"If you don't like karaoke, then why would you go to a karaoke night and expect the world to change for you?  Take a hike.   Go to a DJ bar or come back on a different night.    I as a KJ, am not and will not try to accommodate you.  EVER.   Why should i ?   Didn't you or couldn't you read the sign? "

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I have used my freedom of expression to state how i feel about non singers that think they are going to control any aspect of my karaoke show.  You are free to disagree.  :handshake:

The ART of Karaoke is about singing and having FUN - People LOVE to sing and get together and have a common BOND.   NOW............The BUSINESS of Karaoke is MUCH differant.

Karaoke started out as a FAD and at the start there were a FEW places that actual had Karaoke...people would FLOCK to these establishments and wait HOURS to sing there 1 song and in some places used to PAY to sing.  As more and more places offered Karaoke people realized that they didn't have to wait HOURS anymore and if they found the right show could sing 3 or 4 songs which made them happy.  Unfortunatley as more and more places offered karaoke on same nights the POOL of potential customers spread out even though more and more people started to sing.  I think it is RARE and a blessing if you have a venue that can be profitable JUST on the amount of revenue SINGERS and their friends bring into a venue.
Good KJ's ( business side) , evolved to accomodate NON SINGERS too as they ARE THE MAJORITY OF REVENUE FOR ANY BAR ...just the facts.   KJ/DJ shows are the NORM now for most ....it's just an evolution.     The BEST karaoke show "usual" transforms because if you're too succesful and have 30 people waiting to sing ....some singers move on to where they can sing there 4 songs ( slower show)
just my $.02

Japan and everywhere else.. Every "Period Piece" video/film has a party where one girl plays piano and she or all sing.. (No TV or iPods then)

And as far back as the 1940s and 50s, here in the US, Saturday morning movies at the local theater, there was a "Follow the bouncing ball" sing along.. Just like karaoke.. only in groups.

The history of karaoke has been printed here many times. I'm sure everyone knows where this style of music came from..

If you don't, fire up Google.. find out about Japanese singers that needed practice but didn't want to pay the band.

Yes Jam I had shifted over to this about 3 years ago and most here was calling me a nut, traitor and everything else. During that time I was evolving and we should have been comparing notes and learning together. Instead we had to go through the BD era go through months of pure crap. Now there are more and more that understand this concept.

I have since evolved into about 3 stages beyond that. We actually repel the old radical karaoke singers. We cater to a bigger more party type crowd. I was fully retired and burned out and one of my best friends and KJ'S was doing alternate weekends At a place. At that time they had a regular DJ on most Fri nights. One of those $50/night was doin g some shows and after I started regulars (non-singers) and people reserving for parties was calling the bar and asking if Ollie was there tonight. Since then I hired the best host I have ever known. We started doing every Sat night. The DJ was pulling in a fairly good crowd but we slowly pulled them over to Sat night. Before the big buyout we were asked to start doing Fri nights.

Now we are going through the same childish crap like it is a brand new concept. It is old old hat to me. And the ones arguing dont know crap about doin gb shows. In the new gig thread we done a party in that bar. where they have 3 of the old KJ types. The owner told me they were putting people to sleep. We could take over Thur Fri & Sat at $200/night. The answer to this thread is this hosting is no longer what people think karaoke should be. It has evolved way beyond the KJ/DJ argument. But here we go again with the same old crap again when we should be discussing new ways. Old regular scratcher DJ'S know this also and are doing karaoke as well.

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I don't think karaoke has lost anything from what I remember.  I've been singing for 8-10 years and have been kj'ing for the last few.

I always say I don't run a purists show, but between the hours of 9:15 and 1:00 it's all karaoke.  I can't remember a night I ran out of singers.  I sometimes have to cut the rotation short at the end.  I play music sets before and after the show but don't even use filler music during it.  

The KJ and venue have a lot to do with the style.  I'm MC'ing a party, and that can be difficult playing strictly karaoke, but a good KJ will keep a crowd entertained throughout.  I haven't seen a decline, or a needed change to keep things fresh.  Good selection, good sound, and personality are the main ingredients to a good show at my venue.  

I hear a lot of people on here talking about keeping the show 'clean'.  Most of us play in bars, everyone's at least 21, what, is karaoke supposed to be PG?  If I have a choice I will always opt for an 'R' rated movie over 'PG'.  I know it's going to be a little bit edgy.  I like that, so do most of the people that come out for my shows.  Be fair, be consistent, and people will appreciate the show more.  They start seeing a KJ playing favorites, or falling over drunk, or messing up a rotation so they can't figure out what's going on and your going to have issues.  People will start complaing and that resonates.  No one wants a negative vibe.

Karaoke show's are parties, find a way to help people do just that.  Make them feel like you're there for them, like they're part of the show.  Screw with them, give 'em nick names, play around, make 'em laugh.  Most of all, don't get too close to any of the drama, no quicker way to divide your crowd.  I don't claim to be a professional, but I think I could pull it off because my services are in demand.  Gotta be a reason.  

One KJ just tried to compete with me on Wednesdays.  Bad move.  Granted, he wouldn't know if he didn't try, but of the eight bars in town, no other does anything on Wednesday nights in town.  I've always found that odd, but I'm not complaining.  Guess I've monopolized it.  They all fight over Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  More DJs and bands than necessary, but it makes for a cool night out.  Consider eight bars within stumbling distance from each other all with something going on.  Wednesday's are mine, and Fridays I share with 3 DJs and two bands and still keep a nice crowd.

Party people, it's all about the party!!!!!!  I don't think at any given time the singers comprise 10-15% of my crowd.  SW, if you honestly think that non-singers have no place at a karaoke show, you've been misled.  They buy more beer and whiskey then the singers will.  Somehow I've got to keep the others interested too.  You start getting snooty and you'll find yourself alone before you know it.

And as DBK1009 has already noted, a show with 15 or more singers around here is "huge". We've got to have high energy and play to the whole venue.  As Croak said.... keep em partying.  

Any KJ who doesn't realize that their world is not static will be unprepared for the changes that are coming and, most likely, will have a rude awakening, like SW.

Meanwhile, an angle that has never come up to my knowledge involves KJ's and private parties.   I just did a private party for about 100 people.  When I was done setting up, I found one request slip, and that person did not want to sing first.  During the course of the three hour party I only had 12 request slips.  

Meanwhile, everybody had a blast and the party was a resounding success.  I kept them entertained including offering and teaching  a couple of line dances.  I guessed, and was correct, that they would enjoy doing the twist.  In short, you have to read the crowd, play to the crowd and particpate with enthusiasm in everything that is going on.  HIGH ENERGY

During those parties I will have teens if it is a young crowd do a search in RoxBox and make up a playlist and even let them run the show. I then save that playlist for future events. After several of these parties you are equipped to do any type of venue.

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In all the years I've been involved in karaoke, it doesn't seem to have changed very much. The only difference I would see is a lot of people who have become VERY serious singers. (when Idol comes to town, a lot of them try out but no one has made it yet, surprise surprise)....

What gives this form of entertainment such longevity is that there are still people who haven't tried it!

Another point, and this may be related to the fact that us northerners are stuck inside for so many months of the year, is that people are pretty serious about getting out on a pretty regular schedule - people have their weekly shows they go to every week, rain or shine (or snow as the case may be). I've seen the same people at the same shows (I don't go regularly but do pop in to do homework) for years now.

Of course depending on the venue, there are the big partiers and not a lot of them will sing, but they may have one or two people in their group who will sing and they all get involved at that point ... but then it's back to whatever it was that they were doing. Our Monday night show is a pretty good mix of singers who come JUST TO SING (and who, by the way, clap very nicely for EVERYONE...) and the younger kids who come to kind of listen but are predominantly throwing darts or shooting pool.

Totally different types of shows - serious singers and the party kids. But I don't see it losing it's original intent, which was really self-entertainment.

We focus seriously on making it a good experience for singers - sound and selection, and catering to their requests, etc., and we have been blessed with a really nice following of singers for 10 years plus now... Good show = good singers = people hanging out to listen = more $$$ for the bar.

k