Karaoke Forums

From another thread...
I was curious how many KJs put their own songs into the regular patrons' rotation and regularly sing throughout the night.

For my shows, I'll just sing the very first song of the night - which also helps me sound check, tweak the levels and processing. Thereafter I don't sing at all as long as there are other song slips in. Should I get down to one slip, I'll sing another one which sends the message that others can sign up and sing right away.

If no one is singing, I'll play 3-4 fill songs and then perhaps sing again myself. I think patrons would rather hear "regular" music rather than hear me sing over and over again.

How about your show?

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I start out the rotation, and when I get six singers or more, I drop out of rotation.

I also play mp3s, .mpeg files (mtv/vh1 vids, comedy bits, etc.) until I get singers.

I typically will not sing - of course first song & then only as needed. I will sing a few songs if no one is singing then maybe a couple of regular songs while I walk out & try to work the crowd into singing, then may sing a couple more if I don't have anyone - albeit this is not very common that it happens. I won't keep myself in a rotation and will generally sing in every other rotation until I get 5 singers then I will not sing again - unless requested or helping a duet out.

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Friday's show I'll sing the first song and sometimes I'll sing an uptempo song to start the second rotation, if there hasn't been any in the first rotation. I use to sing three songs with a friend that wouldn't sing by himself. But we still do Boondock together, Friday will be like the 150TH time.

I will do a set or two of dance music when asked.

Wednesday's we don't have near the crowd and I'll sing about four songs.

The KJ that was here before me would do three to four songs a rotation, it didn't go over well.

Depends on the night. I'll sing the first one (helps to set levels). Hubby sings second so I can go to the the back of the room. (We do the same at his show, other way around). If there are predominantly country songs sung (which is rare), I'll slip in a rocker. There are people who apparently come to hear me sing and will ask me to sing things like "Barracuda" or Iron Maiden, or even slow songs - I always oblige them because they are sitting there drinking, but only after everyone has sung at least 3-4 times. No one in the rotation seems to mind...and sometimes, because I sing new stuff, they'll come up and thank me for singing it.

I will always play filler music if singers aren't ready to sing yet, though this is rare. Most walk in rarin' to go. I always have a laptop playing upbeat mixes of music appropriate for the venue. Sometimes people will jump up and dance, which is fine too, again depending on rotation. If everyone has sung 3-4 times in the first hour or so (Fri night gig is slow to get going because it starts at 8pm) it's a nice break for everyone to get up and dance. Just have to watch the crowd if it is mostly nonsingers, because they want a chance to get involved, too, and can do this by dancing apparently.

This type of question is very crowd/room dependent, like a lot of the questions on this forum. Seems like there are as many ways to do this as there are cities in the country and crowds in a room.

k

I have now been to 134 different karaoke gigs or so (but who's counting).

Of those shows, I would say the solid majority had the host singing every rotation. I have heard horror stories of hosts singing twice or more in every rotation, but have only seen it happen once.

I sing most times. I am unpaid, doing only volunteer gigs, so it doesn't bother me that I do. I have not often had a big rotation, but when I do I usually don't sing every time around.

I always sing the first song just to tweak the system and get the mix right.

I will sing in the rotation until the rotation size hits about 10 then I drop out.

It really depends on what's happening in the bar. Sometimes we have some ballad singers, or slow country stuff and I feel that I need to be in the rotation to do something up tempo to balance things out.

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Scott

Depends on how busy. Always start it off then drop out if busy. If not busy will sing a few but not so many as to be overbearing. If busy I might sneak in one later in the eveing---i will sing a dance song like Brickhouse or Play That Funky Music---kinda a 7th inning stretch kinda thing. Or depending on the venue--"KULO" that ALWAYS gets em up and dancing.

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Now I can't wait for you to work a night that you can come down, I wanna hear Barracuda !

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Yes, I sing but never more than once a rotation and I drop myself out if singers are lined up.
I always put myself at the bottom of the rotation, making sure everyone else is happy before I get up.
And I try to sing songs that nobody else would want to do, which sounds weird, but it works.

It depends how busy I am or if people are asking me to sing. I never sing every rotation.

Last night I had 40+ singers. I sang the first song and a duet right before close.

The funny thing is I had a new group come in and I think they thought I couldn't sing. When I sang the duet they were shocked. They asked why I don't sing more. I told them when I am that busy I don't sing, it frees up space to let others sing. They are defecting from another karaoke bar because they don't like their replacement KJ. Their biggest complaint --- Their karaoke host sings all night long.

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Woohoo! Good for you - it's always funny to watch the singers' faces when a host that CAN sing does, but doesn't sing all night long. There is NOTHING worse than a host that sings all night. Beginners usually make that mistake...even when you advise them it just isn't a good idea. There was one long-time host around here who used to start his show with THREE SONGS! By the end of the first song I was ready to leave... Be one thing if they sang like Daughtry or David C, but no so such luck!

k

There are times when I'll go for a couple of weeks without singing. But if I see some new faces in the room I'll put myself up for one and watch their jaws drop.

It's one of those rewarding moments in karaoke. I know if I sang several each night it wouldn't get nearly the same reaction.

The one and ONLY time I ever heckled a karaoke venue was a kj that would sing three or four times in a rotation of about 10-15. I finally had it up to HEREEEEEEE with it and let loose as I walked out.

"DUDE! You're NOT as good as you THINK you are! LET OTHER PEOPLE SING for a CHANGE!!"

As I walked out, I heard a ROAR of applause.

Sad thing is, the guy tried to defend himself saying "It's MY show..."

The KJ should be able to sing any time they want ..its their show and their equipment. Who do this people think they are that get "MAD" or upset when the KJ sings 2 or 3 songs in a row??? If they don't like it they should buy their OWN EQUIPMENT and get into the business ....really some people have a lot of nerve !!!! WHO DO THEY THINK THEY ARE >>>>HERTZ

Just a little sarcasm .......... KJ should not sing with a large rotation. Open the SHOW / Close the show ---maybe once during the night --IF ITS NOT TO BUSY ONLY

Lesson #1 when hosting karaoke: It's not about you. It's all about them.

They may ask you to sing. They're just being polite. Who they really want to hear sing is themselves.

Bill: My Fri nite gig is in a small town, usually rotation no greater than about 8 people. Owner LOVES Heart and when he asks me to sing, I sing...and with a big smile on my face. I think small-town taverns/bars are a little different than the places that everyone can get to if they want. In this small town, I have a captive audience. We all know each other, everybody LOVES to hear everybody else sing. It's really not about how many times each person sings there...seriously. ONly place I've ever done a show that it was this way. I really enjoy it.

k

I had a new singer come into my show last night. She was very good. Around 11pm she came up and asked me why I don't sing. I told her we were too busy for me to be taking time away from the customers, and she didn't seem to understand. She said she used to be a KJ, and would always put herself in the rotation. She actually said, "isn't that why people become KJs - so they can sing more?"

I didn't ask her why she wasn't a KJ anymore

I agree...and disagree! If a KJ is singing several times a night in a crowded show, it might get tiring. But sometimes it's nice to have a KJ sing a song, even in a crowded show, just to break things up a bit and inject something different. Most KJ's know a wealth of songs and can sing some pretty unique stuff. I know one that does an awesome job singing Elvis "Love Me", but I only hear him sing it maybe once a year, and it's a treat to hear it. He also sings Fame by David Bowie really well. I don't hear these songs done by many other people. But if the KJ's is always inserting themselves in the rotation, and it's a crowded night, yes, it can get tiring.

Didn't the Rolling Stones have a song called, Sypathy for the KJ

OK that might have been a little cynical. But imagine this you guys. A singer asks you to sing one. You say "Rotation is a little full right now, but if you give me your spot next round I can". What would most of them say to that?