Karaoke Forums

OK, so this just came into my head.  When hosting a private gig (or maybe even public) and someone asks for the mic to make an announcement.  Sometimes I let them - sometimes I make it myself, but from now on I am always going to make it myself so I can check what's gonna be said..

This weekend I was hosting a private gig and a lady asked to use the mic for an announcement.  It was toward the end of the night, and I figured it would be ok, she was the organisers wife.

She takes the mic, I fade the filler and she comes out with:

"Does anyone have a spare tampon, Jenni has come on and there is no machine".

My jaw dropped and I instantly faded the music up and the mic down.

Then she gave me a dirty look.  Let me say that again.  SHE gave ME a dirty look.  I looked at her like "What?".

Then she comes back behind the booth trying to tell me she wants to speak again.  I said no, and that if she wanted to make such requests it may be more discreet to not use a mic, amp and speakers.

Anyhow, anyne had any odd requests?

He I guess it was an emergency and she was the host -- HECK I'd letter say what ever she wants at a PRIVATE party that she paid for.

The next announcement was probably to ask everyone to help her find her crack pipe.

Well, she hadn't paid - the whole room had clubbed together.  And yeah on a private gig, I have no issue handing out a mic.  But there's a level of class that I would sorta expect most people to work with.

Would you walk into a room and shout such a thing?

Our formal announcements are from staff or hosts. However we encourage our singers to be spontaneous on the mics. . Had it happened at our show I or my host would immediately have the audience in hysterics. I would be laughing my arse off. What do you want? A formal boring show?

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Formal? Hell no -  and the room was in hysterics (I instantly drapped a "Tell me you didn't just say that" look).  But I'm sorry, I'd just never openly anounce something quite so base.  Remember, we British don't talk about such things

Private party, I agree - ESPECIALLY if it's the host of the party or hosts wife.  They are paying you, let them say whatever they like, it's their dime.  Wouldn't allow it at our club, but they have different set of rules.

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Hey, let me just add this as a woman -- When you need one, you need one! I think I probably would have just gone around to some women in the room and asked privately. Poor Jenni ... how horrendously embarrassing - more so for her than you.

I probably would have quickly turned it into a comedic episode of some sort ... to avoid embarrassing anyone at all. I can imagine it caught you off guard...and being a man and all, you've never really had an episode of that horrible spot on the back of your trousers.

Just a female POV on the issue...for what it's worth.

k

It's unfortunate that the person's name was mentioned but I would have allowed the request over the mic in practically all my music jobs. That's an emergency situation!

Uh ok - never really thought how much of an emergency it would be, not going any further with that statement as it's not something I'm keen to talk on.  And yeah, the main issue I had was the name, insofar as the poor woman was sorta made a joke of while not there.  But hey, the night went on...

So back to topic in hand, anyone else had any announcements that took them by surprise?

Just the damn depression announcements "this song is going out to my dead _____ who died ____ years ago of ______, I love you ______, this one is to you!"  In the MIDDLE of an upbeat set.

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Don't know how bizarre it is, but I get the odd "This is going to suck, sorry!" proclamation before a singer launches into a song.

Wow that's inappropriate in my mind, but anything can happen when you hand someone the mic.

What people say is out of your control once you hand them a mic. But if they ask your permission to make an announcement you have every right to ask what they are going to say.

People like to be center of attention and making speehes is a part of it. I avoid the speech maker at all costs unless it is necessary. If they ask to make an announcement my first question is what are they going to say. Then I tell them to talk loud and clear on the microphone, so everyone can hear them. Half the time people talk on the mic and it is a waste of time because you can't understand them.
If the speech goes on to long and no one is listening I jump in and reiterate what they said ( if it's important) and get the show started again.

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under the circumstances individually asking every female in the room would have taken too much time. This was an emergency of sorts and required her to take action. I would say a bar would be inappropriate for this type of announcement, but a private party and it was the person who hired me I don't think I would have a problem with it at all.

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Scott

Probably wouldn't have had to ask more than 2-3 ... most women are "prepared." Just an uncomfortable situation for all involved.  (I learned long ago to "be prepared" because you just never know when someone else isn't!)

k

I don't know flipper. Being a female who has seen the situation many times I believe there are other ways to deal with the problem. If your in a hotel the front desk can help you. If you are in a bar women are more than willing to help a girl out. Heck if the lady would of asked me she wouldn't have had to announce it. I think embarrassing the girl by announcing it would have been the last resort! Maybe it was last resort - I don't know. If I knew what she was going to announce I think I would have tried to find her help first before letting the world know. I don't mind going around asking the girls in the room if they had anything.

I just know I would be mortified if the announcement was about me.  :D

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I think announcing the name of the person who was "coming on" was too much information....

Mcky I think you hit the nail on the head. I think there is a way to announce it that would have been a lot less embarrassing. Like " We have a small female crisis if any ladies in the audience could help out please come see me".

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I guess I missed something. I didn't know that persons name went over the mic....that's a different story.  :yes:   I thought it was the person who had the party and she was asking for herself....

I think it's inappropriate for most situations but would it bother me....yes and no. I would be embarrassed that the person asked it, but I would get over it.

When someone wants to say something over the mic I usually ask them what the subject is before I allow it and if it does not fit the show or sounds like it will be some sort of drunken rant the mic volume gets cut off immediately.

In this case it was a private party and the host wanted to do an announcement. Once the words are out theres not much you can do about it. I agree it's tacky but hey it's her party.

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FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

Once I was in the hospital, and the nurses chewed out the guy in the bed next to me for yelling over the P.A., that he had to take a sh!t. They said next time, say this is Charley Jonson, room 213, bed 2....and I have a number 2....so about an hour later, I get the urge. I get on the P.A., and not wanting to embarrass everyone like ol' Charley....I scream out....this is Johnny R, room 213, bed 1.....I really need to take sh!t....and I aint got no number......