Karaoke Forums

Is it OK for when a KJ that works as a two person team, for both of them to sing, when there is a long rotation?

I think it is not acceptable. Am I crazy, or just bitter?

Felix the KJ

One is bad, two I will walk out.

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I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott

I would say not. When I'm not hosting, just socializing, etc., I get to sing in the rotation until it gets long; hubby doesn't sing but first song to make sure everything is working right. I believe it is poor practice for a KJ to sing in the rotation when it is over about 5 people. It is really bad if there are singers present and the KJ appears on stage too many times, even when accompanying duets. It's going to cause hard feelings in the singers, dollars to donuts.

Once I get to 10 or 12 singers I am out of the rotation. Basically if they're not going to sing in an hour, I'm out as a general rule unless I sing with someone on their turn as a Duet. I keep my name on the rotation as a marker though.

Here in Iowa,All the KJ's think they are superstars. If it takes 1 1/2 for you in rotation, The KJ and /or/both G'friend will be at least twice. Never seen this when I lived in Michigan. To me the KJ is a host,I can see if there is a special request. But if your doing a show and there is people waiting,let them sing,they bay the bill.

I agree... It is bad form for multiple partners to each sing a song in the rotation when it gets busy. If they feel the need to sing while running their show, then they should alternate which rotation they sing in when it starts to get busy.

I don't have a problem with the KJ keeping him/herself in the rotation throughout the night. I view them as the Rotation Marker (indicating the top of the next Rotation). When I do a show, I will keep myself in the Rotation until I feel I have enough people to keep the Rotation going on its own (usually after I get 7 or 8 people as a constant).

I don't even sing if the rotation gets over 5 & then it may be every other rotation. Long rotation, no way!

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Down one of my local pubs, it's not uncommon to be told that no more requests are being taken - and yet the KJ sings in the rotation and also at the end.

At first I thought it was a bit off, but hey...

yeah, I sing the first song of the night then I don't sing again except maybe once more IF requested to do so (one gig really likes my Heartache Tonight...I can't see it but...). But on average I only sing the first song of the night.

I hate it enough when they complain about how long the rotation is...would be horrible if I got up there to sing when paying customers are biting at the bit to get on stage! They'd probably lynch me!!

Besides, if I really wanted to sing, I'd go to someone elses show on my nights off...around here it seems like KJs get a thrill out of a competeing KJ being at their shows.

yup, I'm in agreement with everyone. To me, whether it's a duo company or not, once you are busy, then drop out of rotation.

I will say I've had singers get upset that I don't stay in rotation, but they're far in the minority of the REGULAR customers!

I "USED TO GO" to a show where the KJ, her husband and her daughter were in every rotation. They also did the last 3 songs of the night, regardless of where they were at in the rotation.

Having been an audience member/dancer then singer then co-hostess over th past 7 years, this has been giving me a lot to ponder.

Where I was an audience member, the two hosts would sing TWO songs in every round, no matter how busy. And it was a very popular place so it was usually always busy. Singers would get in fights with the host and walk out regularly but as an audience member, I loved those breaks when I could count on some good rocking dance songs from an exciting, humorous, entertaining, professional grade singer. Most of the singers who walked out would eventually return as this place attracted lots of non-singers also so there was an exciting atmosphere with a large appreciative audience. The same host has been there over a decade.

When I became a singer, I got a bit antsy waiting my turn through all this due to nerves but I really wasn't as resentful of it as the more serious singers because I knew it was all about the show and not just me and I wasn't that good of a singer.

Now we run our rotation for the singers--5 singers and I'm out, a few more and the boyfriend drops out. The singers have praised this but it is starting to feel like an assembly line to me rather than entertainment.

Haven't decided on what the answer is yet.

I don't believe the KJ should sing at all unless people have had multiple, multiple turns. Last night we had only a few singers and after everyone had sung 4-5 times I figured it was ok to add myself to the end of the rotation. Otherwise I won't sing at all until the end of when the show is supposed to stop. Then I'm on my own time.

As many people here have said, it's about the customer. We're there to make sure they get to sing. We're getting paid to provide them with pleasure, entertainment and enjoyment and in the end they are the ones who are paying us. Without them, there would be no Karaoke show and we wouldn't be getting paid.

I looked at my sheet at the end of the night and 5 people had sung 7 times each. Everyone that night got their fill. A few folks that were there for a short time sang from 1-4 times.

A long rotation where people only get to sing 2-3 times per night is not as fun for the customers, but 5-7 times is rough on the KJ IMO. After only hosting a few times I'm already tiring of hearing the same people sing the same songs night after night after night after night after night . . . . .

No. I have quit going to a show where both the host and his wife sing every round no matter how many singers, and not only that the wife can dither for 2-3 minutes deciding on her song -- again no matter how crowded.

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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.

Thanks Everyone. I just have to check myself, and make sure I am not being the Karaoke Nazi. Needless to say, I won't be returning to this show. Too bad, too. The system sounded great, great mics, hell, the KJ's sung pretty good. The beer was too expensive too.

I try to go to different show around to area. For one thing, I like to sing. For another it is good to see what other place have going on. There are more karaoke bars in the Los Angeles, Anaheim area than anywhere in the country I believe. I just get amazed at how many KJ's there are out there that just suck. I don't agree with everything everyone says here, but in general, I run my show in a similar way to how many here do. Follow basic rules, and just do the right thing for the customers.

When I go to a show it is about me. At least for me it is, just as it is for all the other customers that are there. I just wish I could have a good experience at some of these places. Seems the only two places I enjoy the show, is my own show, and the little bar where I first sang, and first KJ'd. I was there singing 5 days a week or so, the owner who was KJ'n the night called in saying he was late. I ran the show for him, the rest is history.

Thanks, Felix the KJ

When there is a LONG rotation a good KJ team should not sing OFTEN if at all.
If the rotation is short there seems to be no problem ..It's all in how they present themselves.

In the past I've told singers NO MORE REQUESTS and yet I sang the last song.
*** In this case the show was officially over 10 minutues ago and I sang on my time***

I've got an even more radical proposal. Busy rotation? Don't sing at all. You can't imagine how much good favor this would buy you with your singers.

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

Once again a topic where you'd think the answer would be easy. But it's really not that easy...and that's what points out the difference between a good KJ and a not-so-good KJ.

There are a few things that should be remembered...The KJ is there to provide an entertaining show. KJ is just that, a DJ that plays karaoke, so I think that discription means that the music is played for the customer-singers. At the same time however, we are required to make an entertaining night for all customers, without them there is no job.

Unless the rotation is under 5, I think the KJ should not sing. I sing the first song always...mostly I sound check on myself rather than scramble and do it on some unsuspecting customer. On a rare occasion where the rotation is long but EVERYONE has been singing slow songs and the room seems too mellow, I will get up and sing something to wake 'em up. Mostly though, my entertainment comes from what I say on the mic and my 'stage presence' from behind my table (I dance, and over all seem like I love the song being sung)...getting the audience involved with the singer...getting them to dance, to applaud/whistle etc.

When I first started doing kj, I was told that the kj sings first and last. I have thrown out doing the last song since the majority of my nights, the place is so busy that I'd be taking away some poor (usually drunk) souls' chance to debut on stage

I also think that IF the kj is going to sing every round no matter what, then the kj gets one turn per round. Meaning that if there are two kj's (don't know why you'd need two) then still, one turn per round...they could alternate. Heaven forbid there are three kj's...I'd not go to their show if they sang so much more than the customers.

From what I hear from my customers, the reason my shows are so busy is because I make every singer feel good about performing and they know I do my best to get them up to sing as much as I can in one night. It's certainly not my singing that they come to hear! Oh, and I'm fair...I run a strict rotation so no one feels like I ever show favoritism to anyone. There are kj's here that do that and their shows are pretty slow...that kj gets alot of jobs but doesn't keep them long. My company has been at two of our venues for 10+ and 15+ years...that says a lot in my opinion.

It amazes me how singers think a show with a 10 person rotation is acceptable and the'll sit and wait there turn patiently without a problem. Yet thos same singers see a 9 person rotation and a KJ thats sings and it's like someone commited murder.
These are the same people that say they LOVE the KJ and how personable they are and how good the show is? ..... JUST DON'T SING A SONG !....
All you singers that say you walk out for various reasons ? Do you actually have a show you call HOME? ---

As I've said before any decent KJ wouldn't take advantage and sing too often but a song or 2 during the night is fine ...If you're going to walk out of my show because I sang a 1 song ...go ahead ...don't let the door hit you on the way out.

It's all about moderation