Karaoke Forums

We have some interesting "toys" at our karaoke joint, and I've always wondered if others do these kinds of things.

My KJ is a former band drummer/singer, and so am I, so we keep around some percussion instruments: tambourine, (more) cowbell, maracas, cabasa, etc. The trick is, of course, to keep these out of the hands of the untrained (nothing ruins a song like a bad tambourine) and to only use them when the singer obviously wants them. That said, it really does liven up the party, particularly the salsa numbers with the added cowbell and shakers, or the requisite "Don't Fear the Reaper" jam.

Anybody else? Anybody? Bueller?

_________________
See/hear the serial version of Michael's karaoke novel, "Outro," at outronovel.blogspot.com

There is one local KJ who has a stand full of percussion instruments that he uses.

I have/had toys at my show that were available for the audience to grab. Things went very well with that idea for about a year, until a drunk got a hold of a tambourine! He couldn't find the downbeat, upbeat ... he probably couldn't find the door or the key to his car for that matter! We couldn't get the tambourine away from him fast enough and he wasn't about to give it up willingly!

Har! I've also had lead singers I couldn't get the tambourine away from. Very underrated (and dangerous) instrument. One night a guy came up to me at karaoke after I played it and said, "You've been in bands, haven't you?" He said he could always spot an actual musician by the way they played a tambourine.

_________________
See/hear the serial version of Michael's karaoke novel, "Outro," at outronovel.blogspot.com

Used to have tambourines, marracas, a washboard (lol), and a couple other things. It PO'd the singer more than anything because it would throw the timing off of their singing because they couldn't hear the beat weel - when these people are right in front, shaking these things & dancing in front of the singer. I finally pulled them all out after a couple months. Blow up air toys now!

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

The hosts where we used to be patrons had a tambourine and a few things but they rarely brought them out. They would either offer them to the singer on certain songs that warranted it or play them themselves. They did regularly get a lot of people up onstage to sing background for "Midnight Special" and then they would load everyone up with everything. But they chose who got to come up each time.

What they do have are some old guitars without strings (one even has the neck dangling), an old keyboard, trumpets, drumsticks, etc. They will stand behind the singer and play these very seriously. The fact that they are able to keep a staight face makes it hilarious. It isn't disctracting as everyone is used to it--in fact you feel slighted if they don't back you. They also have hats for different type songs--giant cowboy hat, sombreros, blonde wig, rasta beret with dreadlocks, etc. If someone is murdering a song or really putting something into it, they might pop one of those on them.

I actually saw a place that had full size cardboard cutouts of instruments (guitars, bass mainly) - they actually looked real if you just glanced at them. Does anyone know by chance where to get these?

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

I hate it when someone starts banging a tambourine when I'm trying to sing. If I thought the songs I sing needed some help from a tambourine; I'd bring one myself.

I have maracas, since they are pretty harmless. I think people only hear them over the music if they are played directly into the microphone (which would mean they are permitted to participate). I'd be too woried about a tambourine. I'm thinking about getting a full drum kit though. JK.

I agree completely! I was at a show when the host started doing that... I looked over and shook my head no, she saw it, and smiled and nodded and kept on going. I turned off the mic ans walked over and set it down right in the middle of the song.

Paid my bill, told the shocked manager I wouldn't EVER come back.

In my mind, someone playing a tambourine isn't much different than someone grabbing the other microphone and starting to "help" you sing. It's amazing to me how many people think that "your" song would sound SO much better if you would just let them "help" you out with it. I had a guy last night ask me if he could "help" me with a song, as soon as he heard the intro of the song. Apparently it was one of his favorite songs. I told him NO and I got dirty looks all night long from the guy because I wouldn't let him sing with me. The rotation was VERY short last night, yet this guy sang only one song by himself and a duet with a very nice lady. He was very bad on both of them. I don't need that kind of "help".

Absolutely. Controlling who does the percussion, and making sure the singer actually wants percussion, those are the magic keys. My KJ keeps the stuff out of reach, and usually only lets me, her, or the occasional singer touch the stuff.

We also have have some toy instruments, plastic facsimiles that you can dig up at any old Goodwill store, and they're quite popular. I seem to have developed a knack for fake guitar from sitting at the drums during umpteen million rehearsals, watching guitarists tune up on riffs. Once, someone asked me if the guitar was actually somehow plugged into the sound system! I think they were drunk.

_________________
See/hear the serial version of Michael's karaoke novel, "Outro," at outronovel.blogspot.com

I was very worried about tamborines because of the reasons people mention. Fortunately a lot of my regulars are pretty good music wise and I have yet to have a real bad experience with the tamborines in about 3 months of shows since I got several. A few people are actually quite good with the tamborines at my shows.

I am pretty lucky in that as much as 1/2 of my singers and people in attendance are current or former members of bands that have had public gigs. Many of them will glare at a bad use of such insturments long before I have to bring it up. At the same time the "fake" guitars would be considered cheesy by many of them.

I also got several maracas but unfortunately I did not get durable enough ones and they did not last. High quality tamborines have held up quite well.

Stick to the soft inflatable toys.
I had a buddy who refused to get up. So I picked a song and gave him the saxophone blow up toy to accompany me. It got him up.

Toys/props, the quiet kind; a must IMHO.

BUT NO TAMBOURINE, TOO LOUD in the hands of the wrong person.

_________________

now I DO have a couple of blow up guitars, a blow up microphone, and you should see the antics of the regs!

Those toy guitars are definitely cheesy, but it's amazing how many people enjoy them. I'm almost embarrassed to be good at something like this (sort of demonstrates that I need to get a life!) but what the hell, as long as people take it for the goof it is...

_________________
See/hear the serial version of Michael's karaoke novel, "Outro," at outronovel.blogspot.com

I'd really like to bring the instruments to my new show this week. HOWEVER.... it took the better part of a year before the tambourine became a problem and it wasn't a "pretty sight" when it did.

Dr Fred, 3 months of now problems is not a portent of the future. But, as I said, I'm thinking about bringing back the toys, maybe no tambourines?


Edited 9:30pm est:
Sorry for the unintelligible post! I meant to say that my experience has shown me that even a year, let alone 3 months is not enough experience when it comes to certain matters, and this is definitely one of them. When you end up with a highly PO'd singer, a regular (playing the tambourine) who is too drunk to realize he can't find the downbeat, and scurrying to get the thing away from him

So, in thinking it through, I may bring toys but the tambourine is definitely not making an encore appearance.

Some nice quiet shakers, perhaps? Had one guy bring in his own bag of percussion instruments. Thank God he was a friend, and was careful about who he "accompanied," but THERE's a trend you don't want to encourage.

_________________
See/hear the serial version of Michael's karaoke novel, "Outro," at outronovel.blogspot.com

Sure 3 months is a short time, but in that time they get used about 1/4 of the songs appropriately and very rarely inapropriately.

Only on about 3-4 songs out of probably nearly 1000 has it been a "bad" situation where I or someone else had to discourage the tambourine use.

Since about 75% of my attendance is "regulars" they somewhat self regulate the things and they know when they are appreciated or not, and if someone does not they can generally give a good subtle hint before it has become a problem.

On my bigger gigs where I have fewer regulars and more likely chance of a drunk or bad user, the volume is generaly pretty loud and the tamborine is not so it is a minimal problem.

As for maracas they are a lot quieter and are highly unlikely to overshadow the music or singer without amplification.

I hate it when some guy brings his harmonica to play during his song...and this is usually a guy that actually plays pretty well. The point is though, that -, not open mic night. I dunno...I let them bring guitars or harmonicas..but that's the limit. No plugging into my equipment and NO tambourines that can bother other singers.
However, for gigs that are 'family' oriented...I've supplied props such as grass skirts, cowboy hats, hula hoops and beach balls...any number of other costume items that the kids can play with. Of course, the adults seem to have the most fun with the dress-up stuff! Maybe I should bring this stuff to the bars........er....maybe not...

I have a tamborine that I always have in my gear. It was actually a gift from a customer who thought I needed one. I almost never let anyone do it a a regular gig, unless it is me with one of my favorite regulars, who I know don't mind it, and like it. Private parties I will let be used more often, but usually only if the person throwing the party is good with it. It rarely gets used, but I got one.

Felix the KJ