Karaoke Forums

I've lost it before. Two shows after I bought new powered JBLs, some drunk stumbles over one and it ends up on the floor. Oh, I was pissed. I told everyone to get the fxck out. Got into it with the two bartenders, one of whom was making nice with the offender. Then I packed my gear and left. I was back for two shows before moving down the street for two weeks before coming back. They missed me.

While it never pays to blow up, it does add to one's mystic (if you have one). I maintain control and let everyone know it. Not in a bad way, but if a singer is out of line I lay it out for all to see. I had a girl after a group sing who wouldn't give up the mic. It was a battle. She kept saying, 'Everyone wants to hear me sing ...'. Finally, I made a call to one of my bartenders and the issue was resolved, and I kind of played it off. But let the whole room know, this is a formatted show and that kind of junk doesn't fly.

I have my rules in my books and I'm not above 86'ing someone. I had a guy (as soon as I turned my back) scream as loud as he could into the mic. I pushed him out the door and said ... and stay out (explicitive). Always reminding people when they're grabbing mics, screaming, or doing anything that isn't show-worthy that it's not going to be tolerated. We party hard otherwise, but the boundaries are established and everyone is expected to follow them. No if, ands, or buts ... I'll cut idiots some slack, but sometimes there's just no other option. Don't think I've ever had someone flip me off, but I've misplaced a slip and had people tell me they wouldn't be back. Some come back, some don't. If I could please everyone I'd be on TV or something.

Don't sweat it dude, we're humans. Sometimes we get off center and need readjusting.

Funny Croakdog - I see that happening at your Wed night show! I think you love living on the edge, myself ...

The one time I was prepared to get good and mad at someone, he tripped, fell off the stage basically, and upon landing his head was next to my feet ... I saved the mic before it hit the ground. Using that same mic, I asked his friends to come up and retrieve him, or the bouncer would (this was in a casino and bouncers seemed to be omnipresent - maybe because there are cameras in the ceiling, and someone upstairs is watching all the time). There was this loud grasp as he hit the floor. Thank goodness my equipment was well out of the way. I don't feel sorry for people who get that drunk. I'm sure he had a heckuva headache in the morning, and had no idea why he had a big goose egg to match the pain inside his head.

The only time I have gotten steaming mad was when I came to work one night and someone had used my equipment; I blew. Went to the manager, asked who had used it. Oh, some guys on Monday night she said. I asked if they had been told that it was NOT house equipment (any house would LOVE to have what I have)....Happened again that second week (after I had posted a HUGE sign on it, "Not house equipment, do not touch.") So, third Monday I walked in, having ridden my motorcycle up, still wearing leathers, cradling my helmet under my left arm. Walked in to find my Bag End speakers ON THE FLOOR (they normally were sitting up on wooden cabinets - for sound dispersion since we were on a concrete floor)....I asked him whose drink was on the speaker. Short dude turns to me, says it's mine..I say get it the heXX off my speaker, would you? I was SOOOO angry. I asked him if he was a professional/experienced musician. He proceeded to tell me that he was. I asked if he lived by the cardinal rule that most pro musicians live by, and that is NEVER touch anyone else's equipment? Oh, he says, yes I am... I said do you NOT understand ENGLISH then? I told him unequivocally that he was NOT to use anything that was there...NOT ANY OF IT....that if he didn't have the equipment he needed to do his gig (a stupid 1-hour jazz set during dinner) that he truly had no business working the gig. Thankfully the cabinet under the speaker nearest my station had a locking door on it where I kept anything of value (including mics in ammo cases), but I wasn't able to actually lock up the rack. I could NOT believe the gall and stupidity of this jerk.

I guess what was so irritating about that was he didn't get permission from anyone the first time. Then to have it happen again twice, I probably should have just knocked his block off instead of talking to him.

Needless to say, there has never been a singer who gets my ire up as much as a green, wanna-be musician who thinks any equipment in sight is up for grabs.

k

Did you think about billing the venue for abusing your equipment?

Charge them more since you were going to have to remove the stuff so it wouldn't be messed with?

Actually management were afraid because I was so angry - the jazz jerk lasted one more week and was OUTTA there. For two years I had my stuff there and that was the only thing that ever happened. I always covered everything up. Nice to have a gig where you don't have to move equipment. Not there anymore (wanted weekends and said they were paying me "for my talent," so I couldn't bring in substitude hosts at my discretion ... which was seldom... They were confused, the manager treated me like an employee. Oh yah, no more karaoke there...A case of poor management cutting off their nose to spite their face.)

k

Karen - I have the same fear at the gig I leave my equipment, so I stop in here and there to make sure they aren't using my gear.

I found out once they were using my speaker stands. I blew my top. I had bought brand new Ultimate speaker stands and one of the bolts were missing. This was odd to me since I'm the only one that uses them I would have noticed when it fell off. Come to find out the band took it upon themselves to use them. I was so mad the guy gave me $20. He didn't think I'd mind if they borrowed them because their speaker stands sucked. Then they needed to buy new ones like I did. Dah! I know these guys. If they would have asked me to use them for a couple nights until they could get theirs fixed or bought new I would have probably let them, but to just help themselves really p'ssed me off.

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Once the rotation got over 20 I would've taken a SHOT for every new singer...soon you will see its all fun and games

sounds like you need a partner, most host at rotation or a club that popular has two host working to make things smooth, all the other sh^(&)t, dont worry, take control, people are asses when at the buzz altitude.... my mentors play at one of the most popular bars on the river in tampa, learn all from them, seen this happen, first of all cant please everyone and never will, do your best, get a hottie to help and have fun... piss on the jerks that think there in nashville...

Kracker

although we have a few "partners" or people who are kjs that are part of a team, I personally don't like it. I'm a solo act when I host. Most hosts I know are that way!

Yeah. And a partner doesn't get any more singers up per hour. Once we get over 20 I slam them through. I have the next singer lined up and their track often starts before they even hit the stage.

Like I said it's meatmarket karaoke. Tonight should be a little slower. It's nice weather today and that keeps some out of the bars.

We'll see.

You're right - it is truly the computer operator who gets the people up quickly - we often have less than 10 seconds between singers. As partners, however, the one in the crowd run interference to answer questions that the host might have to otherwise take time to answer. Works well for us. Neither of us require a lot of assistance. We've got it pretty well 'down' to get maximum number of singers up and down in an hour. Makes a big difference for the attitudes of the singers waiting.

k[/b]

I have to argue this point. When I ran discs there was not any more time taken up between songs (actually there was less). Always ran at least 3 players so the next song was always cued up - to the actual point of music starting which eliminated the 5-10 second dead air on many discs. Plus I could cue long unnecessary intros example NIB - Black Sabbath has one minute of a bass solo before the actual music begins. Screaming In The Night - Krokus has a :45 second music build up before the actual real tune kicks in.
Love my Hoster, but even it isn't capable of cueing up like that - well yet anyway.

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I agree with Lonman. We do a single host with discs and have had rotations of over 45 with no problems. Pen and paper is just as effective as a computer program along with discs.

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I use both - I don't see extended time between songs by using discs. It keeps me on my toes though.

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

I have to agree about CDG vs Computer....its about the same number of singers as long as you don't allow folks to change their song seconds before they perform etc.

When I was running discs a JVC Triple tray was always loaded ahead of the current performance by 2 singers and the pauses were only caused by singers getting to the mic late, or an occasional last minute song change, or song slip mistake.

What computer did for me is reduce the stress of trying to stay ahead by finding the disc, taking it from the jewel case and returning it to the proper spot etc. If someone made a mistake writing down the wrong version then finding the right one quickly would not only be stressful but also delay the rotation.

The computer allows me to organize my rotation, quickly find the song and load into rotation, eliminates disc handling, and is very quick when a song needs to be replaced for another. It also allows me to search my library quickly when needed to accommodate questions at the booth. Basically it frees up my time to work the room and interact with customers.

If a disc show is run efficiently there is little difference in how many singers you can run through in an evening. I use to think so but I have changed my opinion on this.

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FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

I don't know which is quicker/more efficient, disc player or PC? I have never found myself in the position where I am exclusively using one or the other!

I don't have a 3-drawer player, mine is one drawer. However, I have two programs that play CDG discs on my Pc and two drives to use for doing so. I have one program and drive that plays DVD/VCD's on the PC. My player will also play DVD/VCD's.

It's not that easy switching between the hoster software and the disc software and/or the player! So, while I graciously play discs I am more efficient when I don't have to. And some of the discs are mine: they are either "mediaclog" Sound Choice or DVD/VCD's that the S&D hoster can't handle.

I don't understand how it's not easy? All that is required is a video switch. I still run laserdiscs, haven't had a chance to convert them over yet, so I still need my player. When I get one, it goes in, gets cued up. When I need to play, that fader on the mixer is always up & ready, I switch the switch & hit play, when it's done I switch the switch & back on computer. It's very easy.
You can convert the DVD/VCD to a video file that Hoster will recognize. If yours does not, you might have an older version & may want to upgrade to 3.321.

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Lonman, I think Ericlater is referring to Sax & Dotty's hosting software. I feel fortunate with MTU Hoster - switching is SO easy....and I always work the singer rotation to make the switching seamless and quick.

I answer all questions... just not when I'm queuing a singer up. My regs got used to how I did it. I'd nod at a newbie that didn't know, and say, "in a moment, let me get this singer started, and I'll answer all your questions after that!" WHILE I was getting them ready.

I can see how having a partner would make it easier on me, but I think I'm able to handled it fine by myself. Besides I'm to cheap to have a partner.

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Hey, the problem is some partners thinks the job comes with bedroom rights!