Karaoke Forums

Yeah i'm on the licorice, echinecea w/golden seal & on order is ICS 2. Also drinking throat coat tea - which is basically licorice.

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One time in a port in France a sailor was brought back to ship. He said I cant see. The cabbie related in broken english he got drunk on annisette. He was blind for 3 days. I strongly suspect that anise is the base for this liquer..Funny how a single word will bring back memories.

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Yeah, complete vocal rest is the usual prescription. No talking -- bring your note pad!

You could record your intro, and put singer announcements up on the screens....

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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.

You might know it's on your time, but when people have been drinking, and they wanted to sing, that doesn't always sink in that the show ended 10 minutes ago. they are just noting that you told them, "No," and then you got up and sang.

I've been to one company's show, where they have a Two-Fer policy for the entire show. I have been to their show when they've had 25 people in the rotation, and you only get one turn on stage (to sing 2 songs in a row). The problem I have with their show is that this company operates with co-hosts.... So, Host number 1 gets up and sings 2 songs, then Host number 2 gets up and sings 2 songs, and then the two hosts sing a duet. That's already 30 minutes of the 4 hour show that's been hogged up on just them. That's a show that I no longer go to.

As I said before, I don't have a problem with a KJ singing in each rotation, but something like that is ridiculous. 4 or 5 minutes is no big deal to me (to listen to the KJ sing in turn). As Jam pointed out, what's the difference if there are 10 people waiting to sing ahead of me, or 9 people plus the KJ? It still adds up to 10.

As long as someone wanting to sing, I don't think the host should sing at all.

You have to ask youself why is the KJ a KJ and how much he is getting paid.

If the KJ is doing it for fun then let them sing. If the KJ is well paid for doing the KJ activity then the situation is different.

From my personal situation, I like to sing, and I was not happy with any of the local Karaoke Shows. Therefore I started doing Karaoke as a DJ.

I entered into being a KJ because I like to sing, and not because I needed the cash. I also had a large number of friends from several other karaoke shows that were no longer active.

Yes I continue to sing, and if a venue told me that they did not want me to sing I probably would not do gigs there. That said I often take myself out of busy rotations, more because I am busy myself keeping everything going smoothly. That said I have kept my turn even when the list was 3 hours long.

I run a lot of free shows, and If I want to sing it is my perogative. If you want to go to a club to sing, and want a KJ that only runs the show go elsewhere. Personally I do not think I would be as good a KJ if I did not see the show from the perspective of the singer as well.

After I have 10 singers, I drop out.

Sorry, Fred, I wholeheartedly disagree. It's not my responsibility to figure out what the KJ is "doing there". If I am at a public venue - I am the customer. As the customer, my needs come before those of an employee.

If the KJ is not an employee, that's his/her problem - not mine!

I think we're fundamentally talking about the difference between a common KJ and a karaoke HOST.

A host is a professional.

Fred has made NO secret of the fact this is a hobby for him. I applaud his initiative, but no offense, I wouldn't put him in the same category as someone that derives a living off of their KJ activities... or a good portion off it

But Matt,

If Fred is doing a show in a public venue and I go to sing (and spend money) for the first time as a newbie at the show, why should I find out unexpectedly that the person running the show is more concerned about getting their "licks" in?

I don't believe that you would approve of such a mentality from an experienced, well-paid host? Well, as a newbie, how would you know the KJ's circumstances?

As guests at new shows I am sure we've all been surprised by our first encounter with a KJ that "hogs" the mic? One guy used to say he had received a request to sing a particular song in order to interrupt the rotation. I'd ask him, "who made the request?", but never got a response. After a few weeks of that, I stopped going!

If Fred is doing a charity event, and people are spending/donating while "singing" at the show, I say let the organization maximize it's receipts. I'd be happy to donate my time and not sing a lick!

I do a gig every other weekend at a small pub. I alternate weekends with someone else due to the owner wanting to change up the atmosphere. We have the same people every week since it is such a small place.
I usually sing every rotation until it gets up to 12 or 13 people. But that is only because the one weekend that I tried dropping myself out of the rotation the owner brought me a drink and said that the regulars were wondering why I had stopped singing. I told him that we had enough in the rotation and I didn't want to take someone else's spot. His comment was, well they are asking for you so you might as well put yourself back in and sing.
I think part of the reason is that we have regulars that tend to get stuck in ballad hell with their song selections and I always try to liven it up with some faster upbeat songs.
So, I guess what I am trying to say is, it really depends on your venue and your crowd as to whether you can or should pull yourself out of the rotation.
Different situations, different actions.

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Mongo ain't exactly a "who," he's more of a "what".

It would be like going to an carnival. You stand in line and wait for your turn on the ride. Then all the sudden the guy who's operating the thing takes a turn and you're stuck waiting.

Maybe it's different in other places, but here, most people go to karaoke to sing, not to listen to a peformance. The fun of it is getting up there and doing it yourself and cheering on your friends. Sure, the KJ might be a great singer, but who cares?

Most people who want to concentrate just on their OWN singing go just to sing and not hear the host. But others, mainly non-singers but some singers, go for a SHOW. If a KJ livens things up or adds to the entertainment value of the show, it may irritate someone who is waiting their turn but it could also be entertaining to others. We have had the same experience as Mongo where people ask why we aren't singing and they do request we do songs. When we explain that we don't want to take up a slot on a busy night because it upsets the other singers, they are usually puzzled that anyone would throw a fit over one extra song. Never the less, we run our rotation like most here say they prefer but I have seen places that do the opposite and have been running for years and they attract large crowds with an equal number of "audience" to singers.

(Bolding mine)
What should it matter WHAT the host is getting paid, if at all?
I don't think that's at issue here, but it keeps getting brought up.
As someone else here said, the customers have no way of knowing, and they really don't care what the host is getting paid.
I think if the situation warrants it, if there is still room in the rotation, they why begrudge the KJ a song or two?
It IS my system, after all, and regardless of what I get paid, if I don't get to enjoy myself at work, then why would I do it?
Many employers give their employees little perks here and there, and singing on a short rotation is mine.
As someone else here said, it's really no different than waiting for another singer. You wouldn't complain in that situation, but on a short rotation of 6 or so people you would be pi$$ed if the KJ sang?
Wow. That's harsh.
I have to wonder what's up with those people that would be so sour and bitter as to begrudge me a song.
I sure hope those people don't come to my show, because they would leave angry.
I see absolutely nothing wrong with singing a song or two, before the rotation gets too big. I mean, let's be reasonable here, people. If the rotation is too large, then for sure, the KJ should relinquish their spot.
But please, people, let's be reasonable. We're not all in kindergarten anymore.

I was of your thinking before I became a host. . . But what would you do in my situation... In one venue, for the first hour (on a sunday afternnoon) there is only me and one other singer... He opts to sing Heavy Rock music, which doesn't always please the over 50's who drink in this venue, so I alternate with him, singing some of the older easy listening music which pleases the audience ears. Should I let him keep the stage for the first hour?

in another venue, I would see a three week slump in the winter where only six male singers turn up: Three deep voiced average singers who like the golden oldies, our aforementioned heavy metal singer, one singer who talks every song out of key, and one singer (average voice) who tends to sing a bit of everything.

Should i as a female singer join the rotation a little to keep things moving for the audience?

We run one of the fastest rotations in the area... so i see no harm in occasionally singing if the numbers are low.

I do have a personal rule , not to sing if someone has handed in a slip who hasn't sung yet... other than that I try and use sensible judgement.

About the only situation I can see the host singing is what Mongo brought up. If the customers are asking the KJ to sing because they enjoy it, then you're pleasing the customer and the owner of the bar. You're doing what the customers want.

It's the customers that count and any smart bar owner should know that. Some run their bar for their own pleasure-I've been to a couple-and I stopped going there. I used to go to a bar and the owner was singing a lot, some nights in every rotation. He claimed certain songs that he didn't want other people to sing and he did other things that irritated me. I stopped going there after being a regular. In fact I started singing Karaoke there and was fond of the place and considered a regular and a valued customer.

I can also appreciate the idea of singing once in a while like some folks have mentioned to break the slow, plodding along monotony of ballads and other slow songs dragging the mood down. It makes sense to jump in and liven things up or ask one of your better singers if they would sing a certain song that you know they do that is more up beat and might help the crowd change direction to a more fun and lively course.

Now you can get various benefits from a job. An enjoyable job is less likely to pay as much as a less enjoyable job.

If you try to compartmentalize your life into time you are having fun and working a unsatisfying job, than I doubt you will lead a happy life. I do not take that view and I do not want to be around people who feel that just because they are "paying customers" they have the right to make the "employees" not enjoy themselves as well. There is a whole lot more to personal satisfaction than just money.

If the bar and I have an understanding that I sing occasionally, that is between the two of us. If my activities singing reduce the crowd by a few people a night and reduce the take, it is certainly less than I would charge to KJ with the understanding I would not get to sing.

That aside, I do believe that many of the people who are at my shows actually like my singing, and some may come in part because of it. A lot of people go to my show to hear other people sing as well as sing themsleves.

I do the KJ activity because I enjoy it. I am not a hack. I do a good job at being a host, and my karaoke shows tend to be the most busy in town by far.

If that is the only way the venue is going to have karaoke -- someone doing it for free -- then that's what you have to put up with. Take it or leave it.

If the venue laid out a couple of hundred bucks for a host, I might look at it differently. In fact, I often wonder what some KJs are being paid. I may leave because they do this, but that is only effecting the venue.

You can always vote with your feet, and I frequently do.

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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.

As a customer, how would you know what the Kj is being paid, if anything unless they tell you?
And why would it even be your business?
If a customer asked me what I was getting paid, I would definitely dodge the subject in the most polite way possible (even though they are being rude for asking!) as I strongly feel it's nobody's business but mine and the venue owner's.
I wouldn't dream of asking the customer what their income is, and you can bet I would be looked upon as rude if I did. It's just plain rude to ask me mine.