Karaoke Forums

This has been touched on in a couple of places lately, but I thought I'd give it it's own thread.

My own situation is that I'm pretty much stuck to the stage. I've got a room of undisciplined young ones and I just can't leave for long. I'll run off to the men's room when I can, and try to duck outside to get away from the noise in order to talk a few times a night, but still have to keep an eye on things from a window.

Rotation never stops so the offstage intervals are brief.

Does anyone actually take a full 15 minute break during karaoke? Can you get away with it without the singers jumping down your throat? Just curious as to how the rest of you do it....

edit: title because it's what you have to do to get a new thread started nowadays in here....

Nope, never have. I dislike long songs as a singer, but appreciate them as a host.

Of course I don't smoke, so my need for breaks is not nearly as great.


Nah, you just have to submit again.

nope, I have rarely taken breaks. I figure since I work 12 hour days, if I can't get through a five hour show, I have a bit of a problem.

I run pure karaoke shows, and if a venue wants a dj, then I recommend someone else. I know my limitations, and I'm no dj by any means.

On the flip side of the coin, I run a darned good show, and my regs loved me for it.

I have never taken breaks during a show. It should be acceptable to take a 10 minute break if needed without someone whining. Bands do it a couple of times a night and nobody complains, but for some reason karaoke is different. I have never understood that. I guess it's because the entertainers are the audience.

I pick a long song and go for it. Sometimes I will come back and the song has ended and there is "dead air" but what the heck.

If you have employees it's a different story. You have to allow them breaks. If they don't take them then that is their deal, but they must have the freedom to be able to take one.

We all run good shows, but taking a potty break does not make it a bad one...

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Scott

Fortunate for us, my partner and I are always at each other's shows. However, I guess we are blessed with well behaved singers because I've never hesitated, even when I'm by myself at a show, to run to the potty quickly. I do NOT take extended breaks ever, and as a singer it ticks me off to go to a show where they do that. It doesn't happen often, thankfully. If I did that, I know no one would let me have it verbally, but I also know they're there to SING, so that's what we do.

k

I don't take breaks either. Some nights I'm lucky to get to the bathroom. Once in a while I'll have to have someone hold the bathroom for me because I can't get it timed right. I've learned to be a fast wizzer.

It depends on how busy I am if I can sneak out to get a couple smoke breaks. I wait for a longer song, make sure it's a regular I trust singing, set their sound and make for the porch.

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Never taken a break. Here the labor laws re breaks are 10 minutes for every 4 hours worked. Since most shows are 4 hours, a break is not needed. If you work more than that you have a right to take 10 minutes if you feel your show can support that.

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For the few shows that I have done over the years, I have never taken a break either. The only time I have felt the need to take a break is when I haven't had anyy singers participating... there's only so many times that I am willing to sing (to try and coax people up there), before I go to AUTOPILOT (playing multiplex discs). If I have to go to the bathroom, I will time it where I can be back before the singer finishes his/her/their song. Also, I will have a couple of sodas during the show, so when I want a refill, I have to time that as well (to when I can go up to the bar, and when the bartender can serve me).

Break???

Why I love to KJ....

Seriously, even a 5 min song is quick enough for a short potty break, or to get a drink at the bar.


A karaoke show that I visited a few times had the KJ take 20-25 min cig breaks at the busiest time of the night with 12-15 people waiting to sing.

That was so annoying (as a singer) that I vowed never to do it as a KJ. I also stopped going to that karaoke show (as did many of the serious singers).

exactamundo!

I run my shows the way I as a singer want them to be ran!

We're getting paid to run the show. I honestly understand where Lonnie's coming from, but in a bar venue, when the customers are paying for a show, and it's only 4-5 hours long, then it's up to me to provide a continuous show.

I dislike dance breaks for the same reason, although I acknowledge that there are those kind of shows out there, and some customers like 'em!

actually, i've been to one show where there was a formal "break" with bumper music playing. As a KJ i rarely need and never take a break; as a musician, I always took and usually needed one

Live performance is a whole different buncha bananas - we'll go for 40 minutes, take a 15-minute break, for four sets. I've never taken a break during my karaoke show ... ever... and wouldn't dream of it. Don't go to shows where they do that. I don't even like to frequent a show where there is more than, oh, 1-1/2 to 2 minutes, between singers, especially if there's more than about 6-7 singers. When I go to sing, I go to sing...when people come to my show, they come to sing. I guess it all has to do with expectation.

jeez, no offense Karen, but 1-2 minutes between singers is an eternity for me!

I like more timely sequences, such as 15-30 seconds between them!

Singers Singers Singers ...

What's the deal with people being overly critically of hosts and overly dependent on 'serious' singers. Seriously. I can understand if you're getting $400 to do a kids show for a few hours or a wedding or some other kind of controlled environ, but most of us play in bars, don't we?

All employees working 4+ hours are entitled to a break. I'm my own boss. I make the rules. I don't bend over for owners and I don't take 'breaks', but I step away whenever I feel I can, to smoke, pee, chat, collect my bearings, etc. I don't give a rat's xss what some whining buttlicker thinks about how I do what I do. I do it well and it pays off for the owners. That's the bottom line. Go somewhere else and whine to someone else. I'm throwing a party, and if you're not in the mood, scadaddle. Singing at one of my shows is a privilege, not a right. I don't know how to properly convey that, but that's what it boils down to. People want to be a part of the show and understand if they only get one or two songs in on a slammed night. More people dance then sing and that makes for a great night.

I swear, there needs to be some more hosts like me, willing to break the mold and give karaoke some life, some 'cool', some dignity. I've been to too many boring karaoke shows where there was too much emphasis on 'karaoke only' and don't understand why so many people are so uptight. I do understand that many singers are loners and/or have entitlement issues, and if your shows are full of these types, sorry. First off all, karaoke is an entertainment option (and I stress option) just like a pool table or dart board, or pull tabs, or any other option an owner crams into their bar. Karaoke offers people a chance (and I stress chance) to hold a microphone and sing along to some music. It's supposed to be fun, but then I think how many xssholes have I met playing darts or pool too. First of all you can't make everyone happy, so I hope no one is trying. The trick, I've found, is to develop a consistent format (mine is DJ KJ DJ) and stick with it to avoid confusion. I use a premium sound system (at least it's tops in my town), lights and effects, and humor. A few people are turned off by it, but the majority aren't and I've developed a very large base because of it (devoid of whiners, prudes and purists) - usually the ones that have a problem with it.

Formula to my success:

I have only missed maybe two shows in 2.5 years (because of travel)
I am never late to a show
I arrive at least one hour before start time
I keep my equipment in good repair
I get new music when it becomes available
I keep my books in good shape and properly stocked with pencils and slips
I keep the show moving
I mix each singer and the music to the best of my ability
I always have at least one ear on the sound
I play my music loud
I use a lot of lights/lasers/fog
I prop the bartenders
I prop the singers
I don't take crap from xssholes
I convey a sincere interest and appreciation for all my singers, give most of them nicknames, and say funny stuff about them or their songs
I listen to reason
I am self-deprecating
I use bathroom and other 'edgy' humor
I'm not afraid to cuss or allow others to
I acknowledge and engage the crowd
I don't openly flirt with customers (often)
I have a genuine appreciation for and a pretty deep knowledge of music
I stay on top of what people want to hear
I don't get involved in anyone else's drama or allow it on my stage
I try to sustain an energy level that's positive and wild
I am fair, firm, and consistent

I don't write these things to blow smoke up my xss. I do it because I think many hosts either don't care or just don't get it. Put your finger on the pulse of the people, understand what they want and give it to them a couple times over. Invest in them and they will come.

Granted we have to put up with idiot owners and often the arrangement isn't conducive to the freedoms that I have fought for and won. I will not change my format. I will not change my style and I have quit (and come back) both my venues to demonstrate how important it is not only to me, but to the people. I have too many 'fans' and my legend grows with each show. I have run other shows out of town (including one operation that has 14 shows in the next county) and of the eight entertainment-minded bars in our three block bar district no other karaoke host can compete with me. I have Wed, Fri and Sat all too myself (I do compete with bands, DJs, Guitar Hero, and pool tables), but no other entertainment option (other than a DJ) has the same consistency as I do. If your show is hum-drum, or you want to draw in the masses, shake things up.

I just don't understand why people are afraid to open up and let loose. Give 'em what they want. With all that said, if they want straight up karaoke and it works, give 'em that. At my shows maybe 1 in 10 are singing, am I supposed to thumb my nose at them because they're not participating? As far as I'm concerned as long as they're contributing to the till, they are participating and they have just as much right to be there and to be entertained as the singers. There are so many things to do to better our shows and our industry besides worrying about whether or not to take a break every now and then. And to throw generalizations about that stepping away from the action for a bit is wrong seems to me more a reflection of a hosts insecurity or inability than a flaw in the format.

I've read posts about pirates and undercutters. Phooey!! Quit following and start leading. Run those cheeseheads out of town by giving the people something to write home about. I get so many compliments on my sound and my format. People drive by my house honking the horn, hooting and hollering. They see me out and about and they greet me with the funny stuff I say at my shows. They can't get enough. Is that because I'm glued to my machines and am uptight about karaoke purism or because I rock their socks off. Stop being a victim.

Because of the hum drum connotation that karaoke has, I get offended when people call me a karaoke host. I don't do karaoke shows, I throw parties (with karaoke as a primary element)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Woohoo!!!!

KS: I have 10-20 seconds between singers...what I'm saying is that going to other shows, I'll last exactly one visit if the time stretches to that. I'm not very tolerant, I'm afraid, when there is too much time. If it is a machine issue, fix the issue is my motto. The people that frequent our shows often comment on how great it is to get up and sing so many times. The only way to do that is shorten the time between singers, which is our goal. I was commenting more on what will keep me from going to a show and extensive time between singers is the main one for me (next to, of course, a screwed up rotation).

k

Thanks Karen. I suspected that, but was confused. My apologies.

I have found having a singer announcement display, with the next four singers, cuts down time between songs. People know when they are up, so the "she's in the bathroom" scenario happens a lot less often. And people are leaning toward the stage when their turn is next.

The other way to increase number of songs is to reduce the length of the average song.

I would love to institute a time-on-stage system, where if you sing four songs under 5 mnutes, or three songs under 4 minutes, or two under 3 minutes, you get to sing an extra song of a like length. But unfortunately I would need song times in the songbooks, and that info is hard to find. I suppose there is a bit rate/file size/running time formula that I could apply after scanning my file system, but I don't quite know what that is yet.

Another possiblity would be to draw for an extra song. You get more chances the shorter your song is.

Is the goal of our efforts to get as many singers in as possible on any given night? Why don't we just run 24/7 shows? That way everyone can just sing whenever they want, you know, spread things out. I know I've always appreciated being able to stop in an AM/PM at 3:30 in the morning for a day old hamburger and a strawberry flavored QUIK milk.

To answer what I believe is the original questions..NO I never have or ever seen a KJ "take a full 15 minute break" ... In the event I had to "take care of something" I would just play filler music until I returned. Generally bathroom breaks can be completed during someone singing. (after I make sure the mix is right .. )

The great thing about FREEDOM is it allows people to run their shows differantly than one another....NOT BETTER .......just differant.

Amen to that, Jam....everyone's shows are different, every group of singers is different, every venue is different. I suppose all of us could go on and add ad finitum ad nauseum about the quality of our shows and why they're the best, but the fact is, we're working, we all seem to enjoy what we're doing, we have happy singers, and all is well in karaoke land at least for the time being.

Have a great week, everyone.