Karaoke Forums

On the current thread regarding "Props", a post by Felix made me wonder?

Do you cater to a particular "type" or group at your show?

For example:

Are you most concerned with the singers or the audience?

As to the audience, do you make it a point to somehow engage as many as possible of those in the audience?

As to singers, are you more accomodating towards the "serious" singers or those who are just out to have fun?

Can your setup easily accomodate large groups to get up and sing? Do you encourage large groups and/or sing a longs?

We are in constant communication with owner/mngr/staff, singers, and members of the audience. I go in early and get a coke and burger on my tab, then if there is something like a party the mngr fills me in on the particulars. Then during the night my host will interact with them on the mic. Some of my singers are people I have known ans sang with for over 10 years. New singers are welcomed and visited wth and by the time they sing they are not strangers.



Our KJ/DJ format does not attract the hard core drunk singers and the rotation runs small most of the time but the singers are very good. Our singers enjoy singing to a very intense participating and appreciative audience.



Although we currently only have 2 stage mics we have a lot of groups singing. Most dont want to sing directly into the mic anyway. Typical request name is Jan & the gang. So thats how they are called up. Group singing gets more involved (singer & audience) and creates new singers and customers.

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Interesting question. It caused me to think about some things that had not really crossed my mind before. Some of what you ask about is, in my opinion, not really about "catering" to anyone, per se; rather, it is more about putting on a good show generally. I believe that involving the non-singing audience to the extent possible is a prerequisite to calling oneself a KJ. Certainly, on needs at least 2 microphones; I use 4 - two wired and two wireless and while I don't necessarily encourage group singing, it happens quite often, and I certainly wouldn't discourage it. Even after hosting karaoke shows off and on for nearly two decades, I never cease to be amazed at how seriously some singers take it. I make every effort to make every singer sound his or her best and keep my rotations fair accommodating those serious singers in that way; but I will provide a "karaoke homily" several times per evening during which I announce my belief that karaoke was intended to be and should be a communal event which is much more about having fun with your peers in a relaxed setting than about winning a competition. I tell the audience that there is no Simon, Randy or Paula present and that one need not be a great singer to get up, sing, and have a great time! I don't think that I cater to any one particular group to the detriment of any other group, but try to accommodate everyone.

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As most of you know, I set up my show two years ago to cater to singers who simply weren't being catered to by the other karaoke rooms in the area. I now allow all styles up but the room has pretty much retained it's original identity as the place to sing stuff from this decade and the 1990s.

I guess as far as our shows, we cater to everyone - nonsingers and singers alike. We provide top notch equipment for even the neophyte singer so they get a chance to really sound good, and that is what draws the really, really good singers as well. We have a great song selection so even people who would never consider buying their own CDGs can enjoy singing what they wish to sing. We also encourage appreciation in the way of applause for each and every singer ... no matter the caliber of their performance.

I make it a point of getting to know the non-singers in the room who for one reason or another choose to stay at the venue all evening just listening to singers...sometimes can be a bit of a chore if I'm not in the mood to socialize, but I do it anyway. Remember names, situations that may be going on in their lives to ask how they are doing (not getting nosey into their lives but just being nice).

We cater to the owner by making sure everyone knows we have a show at his place. He is in the front of our books. I announce the show on Craigslist events page every week so anyone wondering where they could sing on a Monday night can find the info they need. We are cordial to the staff and make their jobs as easy and fruitful (tip-wise) as possible.

Come to think of it, this is probably what separates our shows from a lot of others. We are INVOLVED - and I guess that could be construed as 'catering' to because if you don't get involved and consider everyone in the room, they can just as easily choose to go somewhere else. We're approaching our third year with a Monday night show. Mondays and Tuesdays are the toughest nights of the week and we have managed to continue to drraw new singers, so we must be doing something right. I agree with Mike B on this - if it's a good show all the way around, everyone is being catered to. So I guess to answer the question succinctly, we cater to everyone, all types of singers and nonsingers.


k

I would say 80-90% of my audience are singers. So I have very few non-singers to cater to. I like to see everyone get involved though. I encourage tambourine, harmonica, maraca players to join in. I even bought kazoos for everyone for our x-mas party. We have many songs that have become sing-a long songs that normally are not.



Of course - I like to see everyone having fun.



Everyone gets treated the same !



I leave 2 microphones out and connect a third when a group comes up. This is more for me to keep order than anything. It's easier to keep people from running up on stage and grabbing a mic to join in when they aren't invited.

I have to admit I don't like big groups on stage (more than 4 people). I don't discourage it, but it seems when you squeeze a bunch of people onto a small stage things get out of hand. I only allow a person to sing twice in a rotation if they are in a group each time with a different people. And the duets have to be on one persons turn. This cuts down on big groups and duets. People rather sing by themselves than to give up their turn for a group sing or duet. It's a science keeping track of who sang how many times with each group. I hate nights of big group sings, but no, I do not discourage it.

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I would say I am more there for the singers.



I make no special point, our audience is typically there for karaoke - either just to watch or are with friends that are singing. We don't do any non-karaoke music for dance breaks, there is a large dance floor that is often used while people are singing.



Anyone who wants to sing, we get the great singers to the 'bathroom break' singers . They are all treated the same.



Depending on what you consider a large group, our stage has squeezed around 10 people or so on it before - I only use 2 mics at this time.

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My show used to cater to drunks. Drunks buy drinks. Bars sell drinks. Bars liked to hire me because I caused the drunks to stay longer and buy more drinks. Moreover, because drunks had a good time drinking while I was there (also drinking) they came back to drink more even when I wasn't there. Bars live on their regulars. I didn't bring in singers, I brought in regulars.

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Okay, who took my pants?

I'm lucky I guess, I bring in regulars as well, but most of them can sing all the while spending/drinking as well.

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Lonman: our methods are so different that I don't think they can be compared except by the Z tape and that is not likely to happen. This is just like kiosks or leaving the mixer flat or being out front instead of in a booth... neither of us would not be able to truely tell until we try. But, singers sing and drunks drink and then they sing.

But the "regular" thing is quite another matter because that is easy to tell. Just go into your gig bar at 1:00 in the afternoon and see how many people greet you by name. Those are the regulars that your show brought in.

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Okay, who took my pants?

I agree to a point, however 'singers' CAN bring in money just as much as 'drunks'. Our singers get pretty toasted however they can still sing in that state. Our bar just added extra wait staff on Mon & Tue because of the crowds that are coming in.

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this ones pretty interesting.
I tell managers that I cater to the %75 that dont sing, as in we keep that group from leaving due to the karaoke sounding bad.BUT in having a top of the line system, and a really good song selection I play strongly to the singers also. I have found however that making the non singers happy is very important in my area. Last week i was playing Dj music and waiting till i got some singers. I decided to throw in a song for myself. as i sang i could tell that a large number were not too thrilled about karaoke. I waited a while to get karaoke started after that one. so I guess in that case I was catering to the till.

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the voices arent real, but they have some good ideas

Since I run my shows on my own, I don't get much of a chance to "socialize" with the non-singers. I'm too busy making sure everyone sounds as good as possible. I do try to encourage people to try singing, even if they say they can't carry a tune in a bucket. I even have one old guy, who never thought he would ever sing in front of a crowd, who now is totally addicted. He even convinces others to try it. He's my perfect PR guy. He'll actually go amongst the crowd and seek out non- singers to do duets with him, just so they won't be afraid. He tells me singing has given him "new life", and he wants to help others find that joy he gets from singing.

He gets all excited when he can convince someone to sing on their own. I guess I'm lucky that at my venues, I can concentrate on the singers, and even the non-singers can have fun just being around others that are having fun.

I didn't used to, but my attentions today are definitely targeted towards the singers and not the audience. No more filler unless at the very start if I don't have three up on the board. But that hasn't happened since sometime in March.

But I know who the non-singing regulars are, and I let them know that they are important and I appreciate their support. I cater to singers, some drunk and some not, but still know the names of practically everyone in there no matter what time I go in. You don't have to focus on just the drunks to pull that one off. All it takes is the time to get to know everyone.

And be in the same room for several years straight.

When I see someone joining along in the crowd or clapping for every singer when they don't sing, I'll go over and thank them for being so supportive. Once in a while I'll see a person at the bar by themselves enjoying the show, but not singing. I too think it is important to acknowledge them.

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There are only 2 correct answers - You either cater to everyone or no one !!!

As a KJ your primary focus is providing the availability to sing KARAOKE to all legal patrons of the veune. BUT at the same time you need to be aware of all the non singers and or potential singers. They need to be "entertained" also whether its singing along or just listening to many good singers. Some people will NEVER get up to sing and some need a little push IE ALCOHOL to get and make a fool of themselves. .

Once you're in a gig for a few weeks the clientele and customer base will determine how to TAILOR your show for a particuliar AGE group or MUSIC genre .
Flexability is always a good thing as things change from week to week

Wow, I must be doing something wrong. I've been a regular at various bars over the year, but you sure as hell wouldn't catch me at any of them at 1 in the afternoon. I think you've mistaken "regulars" for "hard core alcoholics"

I'm concerned with all patrons of the bar "Singers and Non-Singers" they are all important to the success of the show.

All singers get equal consideration and accomodations, good or bad

I have 4 wireless mic's hooked up but only use 3 most of the time.

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