Karaoke Forums

Maybe I am missing something?

In many threads over the years, KJ's have declared that they sing first in order to perform a sound check

I do sound check(s) with "bumper music". And I would think that I had better, for the most part, be ready with my sound when the first singer gets up --- whether I sing first or someone else!

With the first singer, IMHO, it is not the time to find out my gains are set wrong on my powered speakers. With the first singer it is not time to find out some plug or another has been left unplugged. With the first singer, it is not time to realize my batteries are weak on my cordless mics. With the first singer it is not time to determine that I have encountered some hardware or software issue!

Lastly, after I've checked everything out and am ready to start, if there are singers ready to go, I do not want to be the first singer. I'd rather queued up the first song, set the mix then go out front and hear it myself. In fact, aren't I in a better position to hear what's going on by getting out in front rather than standing behind my board?

My sound checks are not about battery levels, unplugged cords, etc. They are minor tweaks to suit the layout of the room - and the sound from the CUSTOMER's perspective.

Sounds to me like a BS excuse to sing the first song.

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Whether you sing the first song or not really isn't of consequence - no matter how many times you set something up and believe the settings haven't changed, it is better to have to make changes on either yourself or your partner than an unsuspecting singer. With us, it's usually a moot point because everything sounds as it should, but people around here expect the host to sing first - means the show is starting. And why not? Start your show 3 minutes earlier, before start time, if you feel it is taking time away from your singers.

I, like Ericlater, make sure everything is running right by starting my filler music as soon as the system is all set up and turned on. Of course that doesn't mean there isn't a cord issue on a mic, for example. (I've had to replace cords lately from people slightly tugging on the cord when they are singing - both cords were over 10 years old so I don't feel badly about doing that. Will replace them with cords that can be returned and replaced free if required in the future.)

Another personal preference point here, as are most, with no right or wrong answer.

I don't see how you can possibly get the monitor straight and tuned without singing a song first. I think you can get close simply with experience but unless you have an ear that you know is tuned you won't know the monitor sounds great. You can get the audience perspective from filler music generally, but what it sounds like on stage is for the singer and you can't do that with anything but a mic in your hand.

Just my opinion of course, your mileage may vary.

Funny, I've hosted many times where nobody would hand me a slip, and I'd start by singing the first song, and by the time I was done, they've placed a dozen slips in my hand. Maybe they felt "he aint that good", and this made them feel more comfortable about doing it, or....they just wanted to shut me up....
Also, as a singer at someone elses show, I would never want to go first.......it takes at least one song, maybe more, before the settings are to my liking......don't make a customer your guinee pig.....my rule...

well, ironically, until this new gig, i never owned, had, or used a monitor -- the mains have always been sufficient



and as I asked, aren't I in a better position to hear what the customer is hearing by stepping out front?



Well, as I mentioned, I can't avoid singing first if there aren't singers ready to go. Yeah, there's always the person who says "I don't wanna go first", having nothing to do with the sound. But... there are those "chomping at the bit" to get started!

Have no need for monitors so we don't use them, thus don't have to worry about monitor levels.

Anytime I get away with placing the mains slightly behind the singers, I will try to for-go the monitor, but at some venues, I can't get away with that, and use one...sometimes two.......

Couldn't have said it better myself Karen K.

usually I like a good singer for the first song to check the compression and vocal EFX. If I have a bunch of slips I might sing the first verse of a song FOH kill the musiv then call up the first singer.

I cant believe that there isnt more herew that use snakes. Even in a small venue it is better because the singing area is not crowded and you can put the station in a suitable corner.

Typical sound check is monitor only the L?R mains one at a time. Mic checks usually joking with or greeting friends. FOH is a lot easier to ride levels or tweak as crowds or things require I cant sit on the stage anymore.

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I am like this -- I usually use my best singer that can handle the possibility of slight problems. If I am doubtful about my line check at all, I will sing myself. And use a song that I can do without thinking...

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
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It is! I used to use it all the time, but now I just say i'm going to get the first song out of the way - as this is the cue for many to start turning in their slips and not wanting to be the first singer. Most companies can sound check before a show starts with a music cd & saying check 1, 2 over the mic.
Sound check will be ongoing throughout the night as people filter in & leave, volume levels will change, eq settings will change, etc.

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Of course one should check all equipment cables, batteries, etc. before any singing, but:

1) Using bumper or filler music is ok to check sound to a point, but it doesn't do a thing in regard to checking vocal sound. I use my voice because I KNOW my voice. When I do the check, I'm not standing by my mixer, I'm out in front, walking around the room ( which is why one should use a song known by heart), then I go back and tweak, if I have to.


2) As far as I know, sound is never "set up" in karaoke. Each singer is different. If your first singer is a regular, then you might be prepared for that singer in advance, but that's as far ahead as you can get. It's "mix on the fly or die" for each singer.


Side question to Eric: After reading a few new threads, I have to ask- do you EVER sing for ANY reason when you host? PLEASE NOTE: I don't care or judge either way. Everybody runs their show their way. The question was just a question out of curiosity ONLY. IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER. ( OK, did I cover my a** well enough?.... )

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

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Joe, and anyone else who is interested. Rarely do I get away without singing; if nothing else, the first song. But that is not by design or my preference!

Why do I sing first?
More often than not, there's no else around but my wife when starting time arrives
If there are others around, they often haven't settled in and selected a song!
Often those around at the beginning don't want to go first; some will say so and some you will notice after you get to know them, just hold back.

Oh, and by the way, I have learned that in my neck of the woods, my singing first doesn't count as the first singer. Those who don't want to sing first do not want to be the "first" to sing from amongst those in the audience!

And if it's a slow night, I have had to sing more times than I care to. It actually annoys me. I want singers; I am not their to hear myself sing!

Sometimes I do feel like singing to change the pace, but I refrain from doing so. It's a hard call - you want to keep the energy up, but you don't want it to appear that you are frivolous with the rotation.

I have thrown in sing-alongs and videos when I can get away with it to raise the energy level. I prefer doing that to taking over the mic and singing out of turn. And no one has ever criticized my use of sing alongs; most everyone loves them. Some even look at the sing along as an extra turn to sing rather than a disruption to the rotation.

And with that, I must ask. What songs are singalongs? Margaritaville? Sweet Caroline I Think I Love You? I have found in my family gatherings that Minnie the Moocher gets people revved up.

SING A LONGS - This should be a whole different thread

First of all - I only do sing-a-longs using the a version with vocals, preferably the original artist. I do not use karaoke versions.

Second of all - prefer to do to sing-a-longs in venues with TV screens that the public can see and that I can project the words on (but sometimes not possible)

If I have a screen that is visible to the audience, I can select any sing-a-long; if not, i choose the most well-known songs as to the likelihood that the audience will know the words. Also, I have 4 cordless mics to hand out during the sing-a-long

Some of my Preferred material:
Do Wah Diddy
You Never Even Called Me By My Name
American Pie
Red Red Wine
Obladi Oblada
YMCA
I Will Survive

This covers different genres and tempos. I prefer to keep away from the material that has become cliche for singing along to at karaoke and I try to pick songs that have "rousing" choruses!

Eric,

A good honest answer. Thank You.

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

Somehow I'm not seeing guys singing I Will Survive but what do I know? I like the 1st and 3rd and I actually have the first as one of my insta tunes on Compuhost. Sorry for hijacking the thread. I'll start over as I'd like to hear others.

It is customary here in our little corner of Karaoke Country for the KJ to sing the first song as it sends a signal for folks to turn their slips in. I will continue to keep myself in the rotation until it makes sense for me to back out (8-10 singers) I will pop in for a duet request occasionally if needed.

My sound check takes about 5-10 seconds and I'm good to go. My mixer has a backlit LCD window with digital settings so I can easily see my settings are correct and I rarely have to fiddle with them to start the show. Basically are the mics on and is the music playing. Other than that it's showtime.

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