Often after a night’s karaoke, I rant and de-stress by telling my partner all the little gripes, all the little things the customers did that annoyed me etc. Well he's in bed, tucked up in the warm and fast asleep. I thought it might be an idea to start a thread which helps us all wind down after a nights/days work.
Tonight, on the whole was a brilliant night. I had a wonderful clientele, the songs flowed, the night was upbeat and all the customers had a great time..... Well bar one....
For about three Christmas’s now, I've asked for a "Karaoke Sucks" t-shirt, so that i can promote the website
www.karaokesucks.net. I figure they need the help, since their arguments are poorly formed, and generally quite weak. For anyone with a brain.... I would have assumed that they would realise that in no way do I actually think Karaoke Sucks.
Anyhoo, one of my customers, heard that I wanted one, had never received one, and went out and had one made for me. How chuffed was I. She even made one for herself “Kamikaze karaoke sucks” (which she does actually believe). I love this customer... three years of santa forgetting me... and then wow.... someone actually took the time and effort to get me a t-shirt made. HOW COOL !!
So just before the show started, I changed out of my uniform and put on my great new top. Because, I realise not everyone would understand... I spent quite a few moments on the mic, (whilst singers were walking to the stage) to explain my new t-shirt and the website. Everyone got it.
Until "Mr I fitted the computer karaoke system you are using" saw it. To which in a very snooty voice, told me, that "Karaoke does not suck" and he would appreciate "If I did not slag off his source of Income" and that "I should be grateful for his system which makes my life easier". (I may have paraphrased that a little in frustration... but you get the idea)
GRRRR. Karaoke is not his source of income: downloading, copying and file sharing and charging people for systems is his source of income. Karaoke is my source of income, I work on several shows, and have done for 7 years, I research, chat and debate every thing I possibly can in regards to the industry.
And Double Grrrr. Yes it's a nice system. But, certain tracks on this computer don't play and there is no way of telling until the 10sec intro is over. It's filled with Backstage and DK which in my opinion (and most customer opinions) on the whole are poor brands. There are Multiplex CDG's with the vocals still on them! And the DJ songs, have no order or pattern to them. . . So one minute Gina G, then Frank Sinartra, then a live version of Crazy Little Thing Called Love.
Tripple Grrrr. My own set up is on disc, the book is accurate to a fault and providing the customer writes the number down correctly or I realise their mistake in time... my own show is just as fast (in some cases faster) as any computer I've ever worked on.
His girlfriend then sang, absolutely amazing, great voice, I asked if she would sing again and she said yes. "Mr I fitted the computer system" came up ten minutes later to ask can she sing now, I explained rotation and made a joke about it... and called up the next singer as he started to argue, (I do this a lot.... I can stand and argue all day and essentially stop the flow of the show, or I can call up a singer and continue the debate once they are up) he stormed off; I tried to explain why I done what I did and he either didn’t hear or pretended not to. Time and the sheer volume of singers got ahead of me, I went over and explained why she may not be able to sing a second song. (I do tell all the singers if they are unlikely to get that one final song in). To which he mutters under his breath.... "Well I just re-start the karaoke when you've finished".
Eventually I managed to get most people in, including "Mr I fitted the computer system" girlfriend, by running over 25 minutes. She was lovely, and subtly apologetic for her partner.
Did he thank me for my extra work... did he heck. Did he ruin my night.... a little, Though I did close the show, by joking with the three or so who moaned loudly when it finished, that they weren't allowed to start on me, because if they did, I was calling childline. They continued... I picked up my imaginary phone (you know the one everyone has where the little finger is the speaking end and the thumb is where the sound comes out).
"Hello? Is that childline... I've been bullied all night by customers complaining about rotation and I have three here now that are likely to push me over the edge".
Thanks for letting me rant... I'm off to enjoy my brand new t-shirt!
EDITED for Spelling, Grammar etc
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, you're from one of the youngest nations - think you guys are brats 
Heck, I'm old enough to be your father. 
and singers 
that are today's rave then they must have gone deaf 
somewhere along the way. Today as in yesterday's gone bye there are thousands of garage bands that will never make it past the garage door 
and the lucky few that do really don't sound that good anyway. As for rap singers geez anybody that can rime and act like a fool and wear Mr. T's hand me downs can get a gig.
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