Karaoke Forums

Where the screen is it doesnt pull the focus off the singer  matter of fact its right behind them

Interestingly, in the 12 years I've been running shows, I have NEVER had a rule sheet and only one time in all those years I've publicly humiliated a drunk by telling him that it costs $50 an hour to play the piano (there was a piano on stage and he thought it was okay to come up and accompany a singer). I told him he could pay me before he played another note. That was it. Everyone laughed, including him.

I think the attitude that the host has (that unquestionable "I'm in control" look) will inspire a spirit of cooperation and respect in people.  There is a time for that one-minute conversation with a nearing-out-of-control drunk, or the word to the bartender to get them out..that they are disrupting the entire room.

Could be the kind of place that you're working in, Gemini, but I've worked in an amazing variety of locations, from the basest neighborhood tavern to high-end casino rooms, and it is NEVER an issue. I don't ever spend more than one minute dealing with someone - if I can't do it quietly and quickly, I hand it over to the bartender.

I am fortunate in that I host with a partner (often a silent partner who just socializes with the singers) but who will step in quickly in anticipation of any problems and eliminate them before I have to. I do the same for him.

Working in a social environment like a bar, where alcohol creates surprise variables, requires a cool head and the ability to anticipate issues and resolve them before they blow up.  

Of course being a male, you can't pull the "mother look" that has gotten me out of more situations than you can imagine. You know, that look where you flash back to your mother about to tear as trip off you as a 10-year-old because you did something stupid? Yah, that look.

Good luck. The militant approach to social situations doesn't always work. More power to you if it does for you.

k

Wow, I just read your rules.

Ban for defacing a book?  (@$%&#!) man it happens!

Ban for dropping a mic?  People make mistakes!

It makes it sound like it's your little gig, the audience are barely tolerated and lucky to be there!

The little known Ban for asking host if you can use your own disc......
Wouldn't surprise me.

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

I'm not gonna mock the guy - his rules are fine for him I guess.  I'm just a lot more relaxed.

End of the day, if anything get's broken - it get's replaced by who broke it.  UK law would let me do that.

Secondly, I don't need written "rules" about not pestering me - that suggests I am telling everyone.  Rather I'd tell someone if they did.

I was just on your site, and there are definatly some things that I like, and some things I do not.

I read over your rules, and here is my biggest question, do you carry every version of every song made? If not, do you not have the capability of playing CD+G's? Those are the only 2 reasons I can see for such a blanket statement of not playing outside CD's. I carry my personal CD's on vacation with me for a reason- I like those versions. Maybe you won't play a home burned or Karaoke Fredom CD- I can respect that, but if I hand you an authentic DK or Legends or SC disc, with raised ink and all, is there any reason, given you have the ability, not to play it if you do not have the version on your own?

Secondly, for someone so meticulous and 'rule abiding', please run your rules through a spell and grammer checker. For someone to be in business that long, and have that in the front of your books, I would think you would have at least had somone proof read it for you before putting it out several nights a week and to the world...

I understand you may have been an established member of another board, but please do not come onto here with a holier than thou attitude and not expect backlash. I certainly hope you do not have a lot of competition in Salinas, because if you did.....

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Let's Kick the Tires and Light the Fires!

If anything gets broken at a show, then it's my responsibility unless it was an intentional act fo someone deliberately putting something in a position to break something.  Then I will get the authorities involved.
If someone accidently drops a mic, oh well, cost of doing business & accidents happen.  Someone throws a mic or purposely drops it, then that would be a difference scenerio.  I would never think of enforcing someone to pay for an accidental mic drop.
Defacing a book I take as someone purposely pulling pages, writing or graffiti'ing in it & I would probably do the same thing.  Books have a tendancy to come apart, if this is what it was referring to then yeah it's a little over the top to ban someone for that.

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

wow I have never even thought twice about someone leaving the stage for a drink, but thats me.


Three strikes your out with me. I'll warn them verbally first. New people don't know the rules or are pushing to see how far they can go. Depending on the offense they may get 3 warnings.  If after that they don't comply I take them aside and tell them they are done singing for the night and if they can behave themselves next time they can sing. Usually they come back with a huge appology and I don't have a problem with them again. I always stay strong about not letting them sing another song, no matter how much their friends and them beg. I have to say though 9 out of 10 times their friends agree with me.  LMAO

I have never had to ban someone for life. I find banning them for the night of the offense usually is enough. I have had the most elaborate appologies the next time they come in and then they thank me for letting them sing. It's almost like disciplining little kids.

The 3 strike rule is usually for the swearers. If it isn't in the song I don't want the "F" word screamed over the mic !

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[shadow=pink][glow=deepskyblue]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

Competion......well i guess you could say that ...two of the companies moved away the other doesnt keep up on the New Stuff.....its not a hollier than...its just the facts....

To clarify - I meant if someone breaks something on purpose!

This is just my opinion-

I don't list the rules anywhere anymore. They don't take the time to read them, especially in the books. I had a big sign posted right below the monitor with all the basic rules once and in the books. I had just as many people breaking rules as I ever did and when I'd point out the rules they'd say they didn't see them. I gave up trying the written method. All the regulars know the rules if I start a new one I'll announce it. I'm not wasting my time writing them down anymore.

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[shadow=pink][glow=deepskyblue]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

That makes more sense now....

When you are the only game in town, or close to it, you can afford to rule with an iron fist. Also, Salinas is not exactly a hotbed of tourism like south Florida or California.

If your rules work, good. Personally, I wouldn't care about the show with not as current music, because I BRING MY OWN!!!

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Let's Kick the Tires and Light the Fires!

I still think you get more bees with honey  :D

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[shadow=pink][glow=deepskyblue]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

A town of 50K isn't necessarily going to be the huge draw like you said.  We have 50K in downtown alone.  Hard to be so rule governing, too many other options to survive that mentallity here.



Me too, but then I don't typically current music anyway.  95% of the new music today isn't worth the media it's recorded on.  Just prefer versions of songs I am familiar with and comfortable with rather than trying a version that i've never done, not knowing if the words are where they are supposed to be or the music is the same tempo.  A show that is currently up to date with the newest music is the LAST factor I consider when going to a show.

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

I just think there is no excuse for being stupid and being drunk doesnt cut it either

I had a loyal regular customer drop a mic and break it. I have extras so just changed it out. I never told them they broke the mic. It was an accident and I knew they'd be upset. Oh well, thats the price of doing business.  :D I couldn't imagine tossing them out as an option.

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[shadow=pink][glow=deepskyblue]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

I've dropped a mic accidently completely sober.  It got stuck in the mic clip & when it released it popped out.  Didn't do it purposely.  And if you are calling someone stupid just for having an accident, then you may want to look in the mirror...accidents happen!  Must be nice to be Mr. Perfect & accident free, the real world isn't like that.

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

lmao all this about droping mics is just funny to me. the only mic I own that I didnt drop   the first time I used it is my sm58 wireless (droping a wired mic is the break in process). go buy wired 58s an the singers can beat the crap out of em it doesnt worry me a bit the system has a compressor and the mics are almost indistructable. (have we all watched the Vid where they try to wreck one?) cables are all monster so if one gets mesed up the next one is free no questions asked. I DO NOT allow drinks on my table, but im not a jerk about it. to me its worth the potential cost to let people enjoy themself at my show and keep coming back. if somebody trashes one of my mics on accadent I would laugh an go spend $100 no big deal.

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the voices arent real, but they have some good ideas

Accidents are caused by people NOT paying attention and thats no excuse. I also had one customers arrested  3 months a go for such an act..as the cops said..and I said being drunk is no excuse for being stupid. he paid $150 Court Cost plus me..

So if the scenerio I stated, which was not my fault the mic got caught in the clip & slipped out of my hand when it finally released, you'd actually expect me to pay if damage was caused...I would would more than likely offer (which I did) & the host told me flat out, oh no problem, crap happens, it wasn't like I intended to do so?  An accidental act.  Again, the excuse I was drunk wasn't a factor, I hadn't even started drinking that night...it was still early & our group was just finishing our meal.  But for you to EXPECT a customer to pay for an accidental drop is sheer idiocy!
WOW, just another reason to avoid a show like yours.  Someome that petty to call a cop on an accidental act is pretty rediculous.

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