Karaoke Forums

This seems to get a lot of confusion the way people perceive it.  What is it in your opinion?  What do you consider FILLER music.  What do you think FILLER music should be.

For me filler music is something playing just long enough between 2 singers while they are changing mics.  Singer 1 leaves, fill comes up, host calls next singer, next singer hits stage, fill music goes down while singer 2 song starts.  All in all usually no more than 20-30 seconds...and that is if the 2nd singer is slow to get up to the stage.

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

You read my mind TT.....

I was starting to get the idea from Karaoke Guy that he was misunderstanding my definition of "filler music".

I use it exactly as the third choice says- just long enough for the next singer to get to the stage, and/or the next disc to cue. Also covers those sudden changes of mind singers are prone to...

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Let's Kick the Tires and Light the Fires!

Number 3 is my definition as well.  Just something to keep underlying ambient sound going at all times while getting your next singer to the stage.  Sometimes I will use the long outro of a song for this purpose as well.

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At  private parties it's usually #1 at the request of the one doing the hiring. 90 % of the time it's ##3 and in a typical rotation will not have over 10 seconds of silence.  If the singer dallies up to the stage and people get up to dance we sometimes let the singer stand there and play most of the song. We rarely have less than 10 singers unless it is the first 30 minutes so at rare times it is 2... But we can shift to any format is seconds as the occasion demands.

With dance sets and this format we typically run 60-75 singers thru. When the rotation hits 20+ we are in a high paced karaoke mode only and run more singers thru than a typical karaoke show. Crows vary, nights vary, and many other things vary but we can shift to any situation in seconds.

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I am a number 3 person as well.

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Will sing or fish for food!!I'm not quite right!!

Well I would agree that #3 is the defintion of filler music to me, but I've never used it....although I can see huge benefits to it at certain times.  I'll play set of dance music as singers get low or to livin/change the room up a bit.  Depends on the situation.  No one around here would have any idea what I was doing if I did it in the short snippet way, I would get..'what the f&($&# are you doing looks'....MrD

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[highlight=midnightblue]MrD - KJ/DJ Specialist
Visit MrD on facebook - mrdsentertainment
& on myspace - larrynance[/highlight]

You may be surprised, it's not meant to be turned up to a regular volume level just something to be playing under your announcements & singer calls - kind of like when radio ads come on, they aren't just the dj talking, they usually have some kind of music behind them.

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While I agree that there is nothing wrong with utilising filler music in such a way when it is done correctly, I must add that it can be irritating and annoying if the KJ fades the music while the song is starting.   I am referring to those instances when the filler renders the first few bars/beats of the song inaudible, usually resulting in a complete loss of timing at the beginning of the song.   As a courtesy to the singer, it is my opinion that the filler music be stopped completely before the song starts.

Yeah, I get that...and it does sound like a pretty good option for some of the dilly-dad singers.  I may give it a whirl sometime...Thanks!

Ps - Lonman, you are the KING (7) nights....ugggggh!  I can't imagine...

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[highlight=midnightblue]MrD - KJ/DJ Specialist
Visit MrD on facebook - mrdsentertainment
& on myspace - larrynance[/highlight]

It can get tricky with some intros...If I'm not sure I will crank the karaoke a little higher than normal just to make sure I don't miss any of the song. Unless it is Voodoo or the Gambler, in which case I do shut it before hitting play...

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Let's Kick the Tires and Light the Fires!

As stated in other posts "Filler" Music can be anywhere from a few seconds up to and including the entire song.  If the KJ has people on the dance floor.  This has been admitted to by several forum KJs.   And this term doesn't include the "Dance" sets that are frequently played.

Fact  #1

It wastes singing time.   Nobody can or will sing during the "Fill" music.  Nobody  singing means no singer.  No singer means wasted singing time.   It can't be both ways.    Maybe somehow you have justified it in your mind, but it's a waste of singing time.

Fact #2

Fill music probably originated in Middle Ages.   When traveling entertainers would go from town to town putting on plays or shows.    This music was a distarction to keep the audience's attention while costumes and or stage props were changed between scenes.    This continued through Vaudeville and became known as "Traveling" music.   A transition used to "travel" between scenes and acts.     It is still used today.   I.E. Jay Leno show when they cut to a commercial.  The band plays to keep the crowd entertained because nothing on stage is happening during the commercial break.

In karaoke it is used to transition from one singer to the next.


I also dispuite the statement that Karen can get 18-20 singers in a hour and still waste time using filler music.

I play a continuous karaoke show and my average is 15-16 per hour.   With no filler or break of any length.   Unless every singer is singing an oldie that lasts for 2:30 or less, it's mathematically impossible.     Most country, pop and rock songs today last an average of 3:30-5 minutes.   I use 4 minutes per singer as my average time.

I agree.  I try to make sure there is at least a second or 2 before the karaoke song actually starts.  Only time I may lax that rule is if it's an intro that will not affect how you are going to begin singing, or a long intro - sometimes the song will be starting while you are walking to the stage if I know you have time without missing a beat - but this is only if i'm in a time crunch too, not the rule.

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Actually my company works 7 nights at the club, I usually will work 4-5 of the nights and have a host or 2 work the others.  Right now I am on 5 nights with 1 other host.  I don't think I could work 7 nights for any long term.

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I have the fill music ducked with the announce mic. My host could not get used to it so he doesnt use it. With RoxBox there is a fade between player 2 Fill and player 1 the silence I have it set to about 3-4 seconds. My singers usually jabber about something during that time or during a long intro.

Fill music actually speeds up the tempo of a show.I am not trying to justify it promote it It it funny the only ones that argue against it are the fanatics. A DJ doesnt have silence A good band doesnt have silence. And we dont either. If non fill works for you then by all means dont use it. But do not equate the non use of it with inferior hosting.

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Good KJs don't have silence.

So which program do you use that cuts out all the dead silence during the logo shots of each & every karaoke manufacturer out there?  Now that you have turned another thread into your little ego driven self absorbed way of doing things, seems to be happening quite a lot lately.  Someone creates a thread or responds to someone you don't agree with & put them down, shows with the quote above.  This wasn't about "good kjs", it was what you felt was considered filler music.
Good kj's can do ALOT more than YOUR little mind can imagine.  My signature was actually created for BigDog, but now it's all yours!

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

We actually worked 6 nights a week for a stretch and talk about grueling. One night isn't enough to catch up. Wore out the books, too. Always printing slips. Spent a lot on fuel, too.

k

I don't mind a little dead space in between songs if the KJ can fill it with friendly banter.

No i just responded to the meaning of filler music.  You asked now accept my answer.

Not every song in the karaoke world has 20 minutes of silence in the beginning while the title screen comes up.

I fade most songs out, so that's not a problem.  So then during the fade out comes the singer recognition and applause.    So the next song starts.   Repeat for every song.   No magic.   No mystery.   It's not hard when you are a talented KJ.

No you were being the typical ego driven put anyone down type that doesn't mesh with your way of thinking as usual.  Your first response was sort of in line with the question however the second was totally uneccesary & unwarranted stating good kj's don't need fill music.  Giving the assumption that any kj that does is not good.  BS!

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