Karaoke Forums

Several years ago, I had a mild case of chapped lips, that lasted for about a year. I was living on Chapstick, and I thought for sure I had caught something off of a microphone. I then chanced upon an article, that stated toothpaste companies changed their formulas from time to time, and new ingredients could cause problems, such as chronic chapped lips, in customers who had used the toothpaste for years without problems. I used Crest all my life, but I changed to Colgate to see if my lips would clear up. In a few days the chapped lips were gone, so I went back to Crest again, and the chapped lips returned. I repeated this experiment about a half dozen times over the next few months, always with the same results. I then changed to Colgate permenently, and haven't had chapped lips in a few years. I swear this is a true story.

Interesting story there, Reverb, and good thing you stumbled on the answer.

I don't worry about germs on the mic for some reason.  What about the the bar glass of PBR in front of you with the lipstick on the edge.  Sure it is clean lipstick, after all, the the bartender just swished the glass through the dish water a few seconds ago (by "swished", I mean like my old PE coach used to yell at shower time, "Get in get wet get out!").

The worst thing I've seen at a bar was a few months ago.  I'm sitting there and all of a sudden one of those giant Northwest spiders runs across the bar in front of me.  Right then an there I invented a new use for a bar coaster.  Seconds later, that spider was climbing the stairway to Heaven, or perhaps hearing Hells bells, you never know.  I threw the coaster with spider glued to underside in the garbage. But then, like a minute later, ANOTHER spider runs in front of me.  I nailed this critter with coaster #2.  I probably should have sung Love Lies Bleeding, or maybe Ziggy Stardust afterwards, or maybe Eight Legs a Week.  After that, for several weeks I was on the lookout for spiders...my Spidey senses were tingly.  I do not want to get by one of those things.

Funny you should bring up the issue of kids eating stuff off the floor and not getting sick. I was probably the worst mother in the world for that. Kids ate stuff right out of the garden. We ate food on the way home from the grocery store. We had the 10-second rule in our house - if you dropped something and picked it up within 10 seconds, it was considered 'safe.'  I lived in Central America and ate food straight out of the markets there and never got the turistas. I just never worried about germs - had a reasonably clean house but didn't use antibacterial anything. I know people that are so focused on antibacterial everything and seriously, they are sick more than the average person. If you have a marginally healthy immune system, you'll probably be alright.

k

These are different times(What you talkin' about Willis?). If you think Terrorists aren't bringing deadly biological agents into our countries. Unstoppable, all they have to do is use their body as the vehicle, and soon we'll all be dead. I heard they do have karaoke in Hell.......only have Sweet Gorgia Brown versions, though......

Hey, i've just always used Lysol spray on my mics at the end of each show to combat colds.

It covers the screen as wipes do but some gets inside since it's a spray.

What, if anything is wrong with that?

Tell you what, anybody with a mic that has NEVER pulled the foam out of the screen - DO SO!  You may be actually sickend by what you see.  CLEAN THEM!!!!!!!

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Uggggggggggh!  I've cleaned my screens and foams a few times over the last few years.  I never though about doing it after every show.  I want to go home right now and boil them, after reading all of this!!!
MrD

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[highlight=midnightblue]MrD - KJ/DJ Specialist
Visit MrD on facebook - mrdsentertainment
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The only thing wrong with it is thinking you've accomplished more than making your singers and yourself feel better....

Maybe you should disinfect the mics with some of that vocal spray for singers.  That stuff is NASTY!

I'm adding a new RULES page to my books starting immediately

Once your name is called to sing please follow these instructions:
All Can be found at the table next to the KJ

*APPLY PURELL HAND SANITIZER TO YOUR HANDS PRIOR TO TOUCHING THE MIC
* AFTER APPLYING THE PURELL PUT ON THE PAIR OF SURGICAL GLOVES
* PLEASE PUT ON THE ATTACHED REQUIRED SINGING MASK
  AKA - sars mask http://www.areyouprepared.com/sarsmask2.html
* Gargle with the  cup of Listerine that has been poured for you
* Do not touch the MICROPHONE to your lips there is no reason and the Microphone ball has been modified to emit a 50watt shock if it touches your lips or if you feel the need to CUP it in your hands ( no it doesn't look cool)
 LOL  LMAO  LOL  :hi5:

Look, the way I see it - 80% of karaoke is sung by women.

If these women want to lick my balls...

Oh no I dit'nt!

80%????.....where is that?....I've karaoked in half the states, and never have seen that kinda ratio....guess I could go to a Lesbian bar, being a Lesbian myself, though imprisoned in a man's body, attractive one, if I might say so myself... ....tell me more, my friend.
Now back to the subject....."studies have shown that excercise kills germs.....trouble is......it's hard to get those little buggers to excercise"  :drums: (Quoted from Dean Martin)....

Of course there are germs everywhere you go, and even places you don't go.

Like the keyboard you just used to type a post on karaoke-forum.com   When was the last time that keyboard was washed?  And the mouse?   At least the microphone gets a good dose of alcohol mist every 3-4 minutes!

Please, please tell me you guys are cleaning your mics at night. Lon is right about taking the sponge out. Although I've never boiled my balls, ouch !! I take the mic apart scrub the head with soapy water and spray it with Lysol. The same with the sponge. I've also been disgusted with seeing lipstick and actual crusty things inside.

I did use wipes for a while also, but decided it was rediculous to try and wipe off the mics everytime someone used them. I set out hand sanitizer and wipes and no one ever used them !  :O

I decided as some of you that germs are everywhere. Door knobs, pencils etc...
Cleaning the mics regularly is a must, but above that you'll have to be at your own risk.  :D

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Just leave the wipes out for anyone to use & give them the illusion they are sanitizing!  I just ran out of mine, someone would use it nightly.

Here's one GAS PUMPS!  No telling what people do to their hands before grabbing a gas pump.  I mean - yeah I always wash my hands before filling up  :no: .  What about these people that have literally 'crappy' jobs that don't get a chance to wash before their fill up.  Or the sick person who sneezes into their hand prior to pumping. or......Endless list of disgusting possibilities.

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Just remember the old adage -- If It Doesn't Kill You, It Makes You Stronger

Considering just how closely germs are exchanged just when handling money in retail, if you share a microphone with many many people seems you are SOL in that dept.. Perhaps among the worst offenders in the "germ exchange" dept.

Only surefire means of avoiding exchanging germs is sing at home alone.  Not sure there're many prophylactic devices for microphones, but my you should be able to rip some water balloons off've your local pharmacy !!!

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

One of my friends brings his own foam Pop filters to shows. I harass him by telling him to put his protection in for safe singing....guess he isn't all that crazy (about this at least)

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Let's Kick the Tires and Light the Fires!

Just imagine how the foam filters feel when they never get cleaned, poor little guys.
All caked in lipstick, saliva and bar popcorn.  LMAO

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[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]