Karaoke Forums

The New and Semantically Improved Poll!

Same as in the other version of this poll, YES I will use filler music.

Rosario

Yup, always have, always will...keep in mind, only FILLER, does not take place of singing EVER....

Amen!

Filler music is IMO a MUST! If it fill the dance floor between singers than the bar is happy. This keeps the non singers there (the ones that want to dance) spendin $$$$'s. That is what keeps me in a job! My regular singers never mind and get up and dance sometimes as well.

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No venue to big or too small. From your den to the local club or event, we have the music most requested. Great sounding system!

Guess I am in the minority here but filler between singers no way jose. I have a hard enough time getting my singers up as it is due to smoking and bathroom breaks. Not to mention that some play darts and pool while Karaoke is going on.
I will however play music between rotations. I don't even use the auto feature on Compuhost as my singers take their time getting to the mike at times. I have one or two that are ready to sing before the last singer is through. I only play dj music when my number of singers is below 6. We are there for the singers after all. otherwise why call it a karaoke night.

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The Line Array Experiment is over. Nothing to see here. Move along.

I don't use filler music because I don't have any. I always talk about tipping the bar staff etc. That will give the singer enough time to step up to the mic. I don't have dead air. I talk.

Except this was amended, it's not about dead, there can be dead air underneath talking between statements. It's about filler/transition music underlying announcements/calling the next singer/etc between singers.

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By the time one singer is finished and I call the next singer, I wouldn't have time to play filler music. Since I use all cdg's, filler music isn't my bag.

it's not about having time... it's having two channels available. One is the one you play your cdgs on, the other is the one the mix music is on.

When one song ends, or is fading out, birng up the other. Not at the same volume level, just so folks realize you're not playing DANCE music. Call out the next name, and when they're almost at the stage, start the next song!

15-20 seconds... but that time CAN be used to seriously lift a room if a slow ballad from he** was played, or bring the room back to normalcy if someone did an acid rock headbanger! !

A thinking man... I'm gonna keep my eye on you.

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Too true. And an ipod shuffle is cheap insurance against dead air when you need to actually troubleshoot something. Of course if you don't mind quiet times in the show then all plus

TV commercial productions greatest tool is bed music. It serves two purposes. No matter what the product or what the announcer is saying it is setting the mood or theme with professional proven concepts. At the proper times the volume is decreased to emphasize what the announcer is saying. The choice of music is also a very critical decision.

With hosting karaoke the same methods apply. I personally dont like over 1 or 2 seconds of silence. The genre or fill is chosen for the age or type of crowd and sets the tempo and mood for that segment of the show. It should be dynamic and change constantly as required. A compressor can be used for ducking or decreasing fill when the host is talking. This is particularly advantageous with a wireless mic.

It is not about herding a bunch of drunks through a ritualistic process, it is setting the overall mood and atmosphere. A good host can use a mediocre system, small but good selection, and throw away most of the rules argued about here and produce the most successful show in town.

Did you ever wonder why TV commercials seem so loud? The other purpose of bed music is it eliminates periods of silence and defeats the peak limiter which would bring the sound level down.

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Thanks for that Karyoker. What you have said absolutely sums it up. Why is it that people can't get it through the heads that 'filler' or 'bumper' music is only to fill the dead air between singers? it isn't about dancing, it isn't about anything but keeping that deathly quiet air from invading conversations and a good time. It sets the mood in a way that most people don't recognize. All you have to do is watch people in a room where there is appropriate filler music - for example, we have a lot of dart players at one of our gigs; they don't appear to be paying attention, but the filler music comes on, they start groovin' to the tunes. It's all about the psychology of it to me and that is why I carefully prepare set lists and always use filler music. It all works together to create a memorable and successful show.

What most you are describing might better be called... Bumper Music.
A great song with an easily recognized hook, fading out as a new singer is coming on stage.

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I love my filler music! As was posted, fade it in when the singer is finished, fade it out when the next singer starts...announce over it between singers. Plus, if by chance there is a problem with the karaoke singers song...ie: they didn't want that one after all, cd is messing up (I cringe at the thought!), or the singer is just not paying attention...the filler music keeps the place sounding like a party is going on. Dead space sucks and no one wants to hear my jokes and tipping suggestions more than necessary!!

As for dancing...yes, sometimes someone will want to dance to the filler song...and I purposely take a break at 11pm each night for a 15 minute 'dance break'. This keeps non-singers happy, gives me a chance to visit the ladies room and I think even the singers enjoy a break from karaoke...because as much as we may tell each person what a great job they did on that song...we aren't always completely truthful, now are we??