Karaoke Forums

Further to my above - if someone comes to my PC-run show with either a disk or USB - it WILL be played.

I think some of what you say is area specific, most disc shows in my region only have 2000 songs built up of SGB and/or backstage with a handful of SF and ME... I imagine most people bring their own discs, is because 1. you are guareenteed a good version and 2. home use has made karaoke more accessable.

I have no desire to bring discs to any show with a good book and a reasonable selection of discs... but that isn't always easy to find.

The show I went to last night appeared to be made up mostly of Sing it Now, Music Maestro, Sweet Georgia Brown and Star Disc.
But I didn't know that until after I had been there awhile because althogh she had several different versions of songs listed in her books, there was no way to tell who the manu was. I brought my own music both on CD and on a USB drive. She played it no problem. She preferred the USB as she said it was easier. She didn't copy it to her drive, (which I was a little worried about) but rather, left the USB drive engaged and played directly for that.
At my show, I have no issue with playing someone's USB songs, but since I am computer based and don't use cdg's, I can't play cdgs.
However, I have yet to have someone ask me.
What I have had is someone ask to play dvd's. I DO have the ability with my computer, but the load time is far too long to keep the flow of the show going, so I've had to say no. They were ok with that when I explained to them why and they just chose some other songs. This happened twice. ONce was Chinese songs and once was Spanish. I agreed to bring in some Spanish songs and that singer is now quite happy.
As for the Chinese, I will be working with him in the near future to try and bring in some Chinese, if available, on cdg, at his direction. I will then rip to my computer.

Why does someone bringing their own songs define them as a "bad diva"? I've purchased a lot of individual songs from SBI Karaoke that aren't available anywhere else. Am I not supposed to ever sing them in public without being considered a DIVA? It seems like any KJ with this attitude is the DIVA. Some KJ's hate to admit that they don't have a particular song. They feel that if you sing it at their show, someone else might ask to sing it in the future and the KJ won't be able to provide it and it somehow will make him look bad.

MrScott seems to think that is very funny to see someone stumble through a song. It sounds to me like a KJ that doesn't sing very well so he likes to trip up a DIVA every now and then with a song that they are NOT familiar with. Weird sense of humor if you ask me. Only two things can happen in that scenario and one of them is the singer gets annoyed and never comes back to your show because you just had to have a chuckle at his or her expense. Kamakazi Karaoke is a whole other story. If someone signs up for it, they get what they asked for.

I entered a kamakazi karaoke contest one time where your song was picked by spinning a wheel. The KJ spun the wheel when it was my turn to sing and the wheel stopped on a song that the KJ knew that I knew twice in a row so he kept spinning the wheel until it stopped on Lady Marmalade. KJ just wanted to have a little fun with me. I won the contest anyway.

I don't bring my own CDGs with me to shows. I'm just to lazy to bother with it.
I've never thought to judge someone if they do. I just figure it's their prerogative.

It's a scary thing to put yourself on stage for all to judge. If your more comfortable bringing in your CDGs more power to you. It's all about having a good time and enjoying yourself.

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[shadow=pink][glow=deepskyblue]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

I take my own original discs when I go, simply because the KJs I frequent will not play burned CDs.

That and the fact that I as a karaoke company cannot afford nor is it feasable to try to get every disc/version/song available. I encourage our singers to buy their own discs & bring them in. I do get requested music if they ask & if I have other interest in the song that someones brings in on their own, I will go ahead & pick it up. It's another great way to listen to different versions from other manus as well.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

I have discs that I bring sometimes. I never bring more than 2 or 3 discs at a time. Some of the discs have gotten beaten up by various kj's (and myself I'm sure) over time, so I'd just as soon put it all on a USB drive.

I like to go into new places and invite the KJ to play the "KJ CHALLENGE" with me. I bet him a well drink or shot of his choice that he doesnt have the song I want to sing. If I win I get a soft drink if he wins he gets the well drink.

Havent had any KJ's shy away from it. Usually I end up getting the soda. 100,000 song shows included.

The song in question is PITBULL's "KULO". And I actually DO PERFORM the tune(espanol parts included-REGGAETON-latin hip-hop).

Now how many of our illustrious KJ's here have THAT in thier catalogs???

Now what has happened a couple times is I sing off my obscure disks and the KJ's think that its a really cool disc then go out and purchase it for thier own assortment. I believe Lonman has done that with the AMS Walkin' Blues CDG. Not sure if Matt did. There is another KJ here in Portland that did the same.

So bringing your own disc can serve to enlighten KJ's to discs and songs they had no knowledge of and they end up ordering for themselves.

THE BEST SOLUTION FOR ALL!!

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"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

Like Brucefan and Kurt have so well shown, there's no way that anybody can have ALL that's out there. My specific feeling is like Lonnie, it's just too expensive to try. Talk about an ego that can make that claim... and more than that, my feeling is anyone DOES have every song ever made on karaoke, they may not be the best version that you may be used too, or worse yet, if they do, chances are very good they're a pirate!

Mr Scott

There is so much that you have said about karaoke being for "fun" that I agree with

There is so much you have said about divas that I agree with

There is so much you have said about the limited choices at any show and the opportunity to try different tracks that is worthy of consideration

And your suggestion to try different songs from the show catalog is reasonable if someone wont sing the specific tracks/manus that is available

However, as some have suggested, some people only enjoy performing the specific renditions of songs that they are familiar with. I too feel that way about certain songs! And I have noticed over the years of going to karaoke that there are people who have a very limited repetoire and know exactly want they want to sing. Why people enjoy singing the same songs over and over, I don't know? But that's their perogative to do so!

I will go up and sing a song I've never done before, might not even know> I feel it's worth a shot if I end up enjoying the song and adding to my extensive repetoire.

This topic thread is NOT about KJs respecting other KJs. It's also not about being spoiled. Since when does bringing your own discs to a show mean you're a Diva or a spoiled brat?????????????? Comments like that make you (the KJ) out to sound like the spoiled brat. I only know of 1 or 2 KJs around that take insult to someone (anyone) handing up their own disc to sing at his/her show. And, when they display an attitude like that, they are a person whose show is one I probably won't return to again.

This topic is about whether you bring your own discs to someone else's show. Keep in mind, there are plenty of people out there that are NOT KJs, and they come to shows with their discs all of the time.

Quick Hijack:

1) Would your favorite version of All That Jazz be Stage Stars, per chance? I get raves for that whole disc!


2) I have Cabaret on Karaoke Hits, Music Maestro, SC, and SGB. Would you believe that the most popular- and complete- version is SGB?


OK, back to the regularly scheduled thread.....

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

Queball,

I agree that this thread is about bringing your own discs, I have zero problem with that, especially for those who just buy their own, and are not KJ's. I would never turn someone down on playing their disc when it's a version or song I don't have. That's good customer service. My problem is when other KJ's bring their collections with them just to "one up" the host. Or when even non-KJ's get put off just because a host does not offer a specific song or version in their library. It's happened before and will happen again. I call these people "Divas". A host cannot have every version of every song in his/her library, it's just not feasible. Like I said, we should view karaoke as fun, and leave it at that. Bring your stuff you gonna sing, but don't bring your entire library, just to show off.

To try and put this in another view here: If you go visit a friend at their house and spend the night, do you bring your entire bed? or just your comfy pillow to help you sleep? If you wanna bring your entire bed, I think that shows you are rude. Just a bad example, I know. But you get my drift. Karaoke isn't and shouldn't be about trying to show off, just to have a little fun, and if you have the god-given talent to entertain the crowd? I say that's awesome, but it does't make you any better than the person who just wants to sing a simple little song, and struggles. They are both important to me, equally. But if you prove to me that you are a diva? Then you lowered yourself in my view a whole bunch of levels. And trying to "show up" by bringing your entire selection? To me that's the beginning of showing me you are a diva. Sorry, thats how I feel.

Again, Queball, I respect your views, honestly. I am firmly in the belief you are a terrific host, and I would love to see you in action. And if you saw me in action, I think you would say the same...Thanks man for letting me spill off on ya.

Ok Queball,

Sorry for falling off the thread a bit, I just got a little miffed when someone suggested that they get upset when a KJ doesn't have "their" song. That is to me like an accident waiting to happen.

Ok, so back to the question at hand> Nope, I don't bring my discs, I used to when I first started singing karaoke, early in my days. Not anymore. I feed it's belittling to the host. Enough said.

As a KJ, I would never take it that way. I would just assume that the person is more comfortable with their own version.
I won't hesitate to bring my own discs. Any time I have done so, I have never had issues and the hosts have been perfectly happy to comply. I've never had a host feel insulted by it, nor should they.

When I go to other's shows, I bring my own disc, a case with about 60 disc. All the disc that the public see's, be it in my show or my personal case are full copies. I never play my original disc. When I buy A disc, I immediately copy it, and put it in my original case. These disc never see the light of day, until I need to make another copy of it.

As far a KJ's that don't let you use your own disc, I just don't go to them. If I can't use my disc, I will go somewhere else. As stated before, these idiots that claim to have everything, never have what I like to sing. Second, my vision isn't great, and looking for the songs I want to sing in somebody's book when I have the songs I want at my side, just doesn't make any sense. They may have the song I want to sing, but is usually on some crappy version I would never use at my show.

One guy told me he doesn't use others disc. I asked him why. He said a customer last week acused him of scratching their disc. Since I only carry my copies, I told him he could break it over his head if he wants to, and I wouldn't get mad, so he let me use my disc.

Personally, I think that anyone who does a show on a computer, but doesn't have the ability to play disc, is an idiot. I know many here will give me a hard time over that comment, but who cares. They say things like, "who are you to tell me how to run my show". Most of people I know who sing regularly, all carry their own disc. The Karaoke Nazi thing works with people who are not serious singers, but not with the people who sing several times a week.

Just my 2 cents,
Felix the KJ

1. I bring my own disks. 2. They are always burned compilations.

I don't want to risk my originals to either 1) theft or 2) more likely, me stupidly leaving them somewhere. Also, I burn key changes on the disk as well.

As time as gone on and my confidence has gone up, I simply don't care if they play my disk or not. If they do, fine. If not, fine. I am OK either way. I do a couple of hundred different songs, so I can always find something to sing. Most songs I know I can easily handle no matter how botched and bad the version is. The ones where I might screw up, I just don't try any version but the one I know.

When I had been singing for only a year or two, I had performance anxiety and worried that I wouldn't be able to handle a version.

Botching part of a song is no problem if you just don't let 'em see you sweat. 80% of people will have about zero idea you have messed up. 15% will notice and won't think a thing of it. Perhaps a very small number might think poorly of you. The best singers will notice how you smoothed over the problem and might just give you extra marks for that.

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Mr. Scott spoke of people(KJ's) bringing thier ENTIRE COLLECTIONS(multiple cases, 100's of discs) with them to visit another show.

I AGREE WITH HIM COMPLETELY!!

THAT IS REDICULOUS AND NOTHING MORE THAN TRYING TO UPSTAGE THE KJ!!

Ive had that same situation happen when I was working.

What I did to settle them down and straighten THEM out was simply go over to THIER table and in my BEST SMARMY SICKENINGLY SWEET TONE OF VOICE start asking if I COULD LOOK THROUGH THIER COLLECTION and then go OOOOOH AND AHHHHHH about how EXTENSIVE it was and the brands they have and assortments they have and OOOOOHHH they have this one too!! Where did they order it from?? ETC, ETC, LA DEE DAH..........

Accomplishes a couple things:
One lets them know Im watching up close and putting them on notice that they are not going to INTIMIDATE me and that Im hip to thier trip.

Two it makes them think they are REALLY COOL( HAHAHAHHA!! ).

Three lulls them into a false sense of superiority and makes them believe Im GENUINELY IMPRESSED by their VAST KNOWLEDGE, PROWESS and EXPEREINCE.

But what it really comes down to is disarming them by softly and warmly blowing smoke up their azzes and STROKING THIER FRAGILE LITTLE INSECURE KJ EGOS(an thats what it comes down to and is really all about--their ego's).

And the result of it is that they leave thinking---WOW! Hey he's a REALLY COOL KJ!! I LIIIIIIIIIIKE HIM!! LETS GO BACK TO HIS SHOW AGAIN!!


Just Kill em' with kindness
Flatter em' to death
and Poison em' with sweetness!!

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"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

I have All that Jazz on the Stage Stars version too. First off, it has a long musical intro before the song actually starts, so the singer just stands there on stage waiting. 2nd, it has some part in there that requires a 2nd vocal. What I do is use my Multiplex version of it, and hit the MPX key on my machine once, so that the vocal will be heard with the singer.

I have Cabaret on Sound Choice and DK. DK is the full version (with the "Elsie" stanza).