Karaoke Forums

This is my first post and I'll apologize in advance for the length but I'm one happy camper. I've participated in karaoke for a couple of years now and have always added my own warped sense of humor to the experience, whether it's singing At a Medium Pace by Adam Sandler (which has earned me free beer), singing Don't Fear the Reaper while my friend plays the cowbell or singing Do Ya Think I'm sexy with a heavy Mexican accent and singing the chorus in Spanish.
About a month ago my girlfriend and I were at a local bar having some beers when we asked the bartender if they had karaoke. He said they used to but it wasn't well received likely because the Karaoke DJ wasn't that good. My girlfriend suggested I look into becoming one since I'm musically inclined, very creative and can always entertain people and make them laugh. I've even made a few of my own cover tracks, and to top it off, my girlfriend knows the owner.
Using this forum and other sites as a reference, I began looking into what all I would need. I began examining the setups of other Karaoke DJ's around the Dallas metroplex and I realized that a lot of them basically suck for various reasons that include:
1. Limited song selection
2. No effects (everyone sings dry)
3. No subs
4. No floor monitor
5. No compression/limiting when idiots to scream into the microphone
6. Subpar equipment
7. The DJ is behind the speakers and as such doesn't properly hear and adjust the mix.

What's sad about that realization is I never really noticed a lot of this before and as such realized that neither do a lot of other people which is sad.
I had about $1200 to throw at this initially which while not a great budget would hopefully be enough to get me started. I figured even if I had to purchase a little at a time it was worth it. I'm more geared to quality than just throwing something out there. I have a good laptop and a smattering of karaoke songs that I've purchased myself.
I first started looking on Craigslist. I stumbled across an ad for a gentleman that had a JBL subwoofer and two Yamaha BR15 speakers for $350. While not a huge fan of the Yamahas being able to get them and the sub for $350 was too good to pass up. I emailed him from my work account which worked in my favor since I learned that he works for the same company as me. He said he still had them along with some other stuff he was looking to sell as well. They included:

DBX Driverack PA
Stanton S-550
Furman PL-PLUSD power conditioner
2 Crown XS-500 amps
Mackie DFX12 mixer
2 Hardshell cases (one with wheels), speaker stands and and all the cables

I asked him how much he wanted for everything to which he surprised me by saying $800! I was amazed and quickly responded that I'd take it.
Last night I showed up at his place to look it over and listen and was even more amazed when he sweetened the deal even more by throwing in a Shure 58 wireless mic and a mic stand for free. Plus the JBL subwoofer that I thought was a JRX118 is actually a MP418s. Sweet!
Now all that's left for me to acquire is a video monitor, a floor monitor, another mic, the DJ software and of course more songs that I'm perusing Ebay and Craigslist over as we speak. The DriveRack has compression but I'll probably get a DBX 266XL for the vocals as well. I'll see how the effects on the mixer sound and go from there. I also plan to spend the next few weeks learning how to use everything. Suffice it to say, I'm extremely excited!
A couple of questions for ya:

1. Has anyone ever heard of or used ClubDJ Pro3? It looks pretty cool and I like the fact you can add text to the video display plus unlike PCDJ it will work with a Hercules MK2. Is there anything else similar I should look into?
2. Can anyone think of anything else with my setup I may have overlooked?
3. I plan to eventually use the BR15's for backup. What other passive speakers would you recommend? I'm thinking the JRX115's with a Selenium horn driver upgrade are pretty good.
4. What's the best way to sell my services to the bar owner. Aside from the sound quality, and my ability to entertain, what are other good selling points?
5. I've thought about recording people for a nominal fee. My thinking is if I record them with the song but then as part of their purchase purchase the song again online and include the track on their CD I wouldn't be violating any copyrights since I purchased the song again for them. Opinions?

Thanks for your help!

Moved to Tech forum.

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

Give him a really cheap price that he can't refuse to get your foot in the door with the understanding that the price is for the first time only, after that it will go up if justified.

My advice for anyone is to treat it like a business. Couple of items that I highly recommend. Sell it as a service:

• that will keep customers in the bar
• that will keep the currently clientele entertained
• that will build the bar's clientele
• that will attract a diverse crowd
• that will add to the establishment's bottom line

That being said the tough thing is not selling the idea it's actually performing to the expectations. Personally I don't come off my fee much and if I do it's only for a short period of time. Don't do it super cheap or you'll be treated super cheap. Treat the establishment owner as a customer who is hiring a specialist and have him/her understand that they need to defer to your judgment on what the crowd needs.

I see a lot of folks with good selections, good equipment and good personality who have a big head, treat the venue like their fiefdom and demand everything be done their way or they're walking. Oft times they get away with it for awhile and then get told to beat it. OTOH there are guys who are average in every way and have gigs every night they want one mainly because they charge so little.

Be the smart one with good equipment, personality and business. Stick to your prices because they're fair for your services and work with the owners to make the venue the best it can be and you can make decent money without having to kill yourself.

If this is your hobby (like it is mine) treat your hobby as a business. If it's your business treat it like the lifeblood it is.

DO IT RIGHT.

Unfortunately, MOST straight DJ setups are just not up to snuff for karaoke.

Remembering that vocals are the king is important. Vocal and music effects include Echo, Delay, Digital Keychange (not just pitch control) for music, and if you're smart, vocals as well. Separate treble and bass controls for each mic, as well as overall EQ. Three-way speakers would be better.

Until you know your regulars, there is no such thing as "setting up" sound. Each singer is different, and must be mixed on the fly.

Figure out a rotation system, and stick with it! Your singers will know if they're getting skipped or others are jumping in- it will cost you.

New singers must be made comfortable, and non-singers must be entertained and feel welcome as well. This means that it's a good idea to mingle and greet people- make a bit of small talk- all while you are working.

I strongly advise against hiding in a booth or behind a facade. Standing in front or to the side of your equipment will add accessibility- and you'll need it.

SuperCore and Sweet Georgia Brown for starter music, as well as other smaller sets like All Hits, Dangerous, Music Maestro Doo-Wop Club, and some other genre related sets. DO NOT spend a million dollars on music to start out. Use the less expensive sets above to get a feeling for what YOUR singers like, THEN upgrade. Either way, 1500 songs isjust about almost a warm-up. I own maybe 25,000 (with dupes), and carry about 18,000. Don't forget our Latin, Korean (big in my area) and other intertnational singers.

Since you wish to be digital (PC) based, keep in mind that many singers prefer to use their own discs. You may wish to carry a player as well. If you do, make sure that you can mix effects with it as well ( many players come with some on-board effects. Not great, but better than nothing.).


When making your books, I would suggest using the manufacturers' disc numbers as references. Using your own code ( like disc 1047A or such) will make your books virtually useless to experienced singers. They need to know what version the song is, as they have preferences.

Which reminds me. Choosing music based on your own taste or by manufacturer is worthless. The "best" music and versions are those most popular with your singers.

A good Karaoke Host ( as opposed to a "KJ") has a completely different mindset than a DJ. We are not stars- we are star-MAKERS. When our ego kicks in, we get kicked out.

You like to sing a lot? Your show isn't the place. They don't come to hear you. If you have to stretch a short rotation that's fine, but once it builds, bow out.

Good Luck!!!

PS: Backup, Redundancy, Backup!
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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

....I was hopin'.....that was a gun in your pocket.....

Joe does bring up a good point. Unless you have some sort of fantastic selection of music you already own privately yourself you're going to be in the same situation as those *other* guys; a limited selection. Make sure your selection fits your customer's needs or you're just another one of *those* guys.