Karaoke Forums

Just a discussion - You know of a GREAT show , (host,sound and selection etc) are all TOP NOTCH. BUT.........The venue itself is the pits, run down , they don't serve food and it's not in the best PART of town? OR the SHOW and VENUE are GREAT but the bartender and wait staff are NASTY and LAZY ? maybe you don't care about the staff but the drink prices are $2 more per beer than across the street?
How about everything is GREAT , great food, prices, staff and the venue is very convienent to where you live ..BUT THE karaoke is sub-par ?

What makes "YOU" call a karaoke show HOME or what has made you pick up and go elsewhere ?. Is it just like everything else and you need to find the PERFECT BALANCE ?

Well, since you said most, I guess that means you only want ONE item, so I would have to say the ONE thing that is most important to me is the KJ's ability to play a customers disc. There's nothing I hate more than bringing a brand new disc to a show and the KJ tells me that I can't sing any of the new songs that I just learned because he or she is 100% digital.

I'll take a disc only show ANYDAY over a digital only show. I'll never understand KJ's who refuse to play a customer's discs.

The people it attracts.....

If I only can choose one, i'll lump it together - sound quality (broken down to equipment, host knowledge on running sound & primary song manu quality).

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Jam the old factors that used to matter dont anymore. I grew up with mediocre systems so I can compensate for that. I no longer sit there and count how many times a singer is singing or whether I get bumped unless it is deliberate or flagrant. I can sing any song in the book so selection is not that important.

If in a different town here is what I enjoy. A bar that I can walk in flirt with the barmaid and have a few beers and have fun with the regs. Joking and laughing. I associate with non singers just as much as the singers. When singing the above things are a plus but not critical to me anymore. If the KJ wants I can hookup my laptop with my library.

Here locally please do not laugh but my main requirement is that you dont let me drive home drunk but make sure I get home if it is one of those few times when I have overbibed.

This response is not intended to be facetious but honest and hope that it puts a different light on the subject. I am welcome at all shows and contribute to them rather than judge or look for my requirements. AS a host I provide those things to others out of habit.

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Funny thing for a Karaoke Host, but when I go out for fun, my first concern is the crowd. If they're happy, friendly, and are giving enthusiastic response, I'm in.

I actually don't even care if I sing or not. I've always loved watching others.

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

If all KJS can play your cdg -- what mostly brings you back ? IS IT THE KJ ? THE SOUND ? THE VENUE ITSELF ? THE BAR STAFF? or is it a combo ?

I have two modes. One is when I go out to spend time with my wife and some friends, and one when I want to go sing for myself.

We always like at least some audience, but it doesn't need to be big. A few couples is enough. It has to sound at least reasonable. If it is terrible for whatever reason -- really bad mics, lousy speakers, we don't like it.

When I am with my wife, the biggest things are -- early, not bad smoke, friends, and food. The earlier the better. And we like to eat to support the venue, so we want good food. We don't like our eyes to burn so we don't want bad smoke. And we want to see our friends. We have one place we go for this -- the amp and speakers are great (EV QRX212 and EV subs with PLX3400 amps), the mixer and mics are not (Behringer mixer/effects and the Vocopro UHF 4-way). If it wasn't early with good food, I wouldn't go there as the sound overall is pretty bad due to lack of expertise and decent mics.

So for that mode, it is DINNER/EARLY.

When I am by myself, the biggest things are sound, being able to sing, and audience. If it looks like a rotation over an hour, I probably won't stay more than one song. My favorite shows have a fairly short rotation, great sound, and a good audience. Not many of those around within driving distance, alas. My service club is the best.

For that mode, it is GOOD SOUND.

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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.

Appreciate your response - although I understand the importance of the sound quality as noted and the people it attracts and personal choices like ABILITY to play cdgs. The bottom line seems to be OVERALL fun and comfort when selecting a show you would return to.

Believe me Jam I do too...I am used to my system and the quality and bear with others.. It just gave me a chance to add more things to the equation for a successful show. The things discussed here are important, yes but it also takes a good staff, a clean bar with no druggies and atmosphere. I look at the whole package and perhaps thats why my audience far outnumbers the singers.

At one time I was just like Bruce and got indignant about trivial things and let it be known. However Bruce could come to one of my shows and be impressed and have so much fun, his criteria would be trivial. And he would be on here bragging about my shows. I might even sick Kathy on him. Then he wouldnt even care about singin'

I have many memories at karaoke bars. The ones that will stay forever have nothing to do with system quality rotation (although I remember a few nights when the rotation was over 50) or how big the books were. Those magical nights were when all singers were inspired, the crowd was going nuts and it was SRO. I dont rember if there was fill music or not. Oh and the few times I got lucky!!!Those were the places I devoted one night out of the week to and some were 5 years in duration. Thats what attracted me back week in and week out.

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I guess my second most important pet peeve would be KJ's who run "unfair" rotations. This could be anything from allowing the same person to sing too many duets in the same rotation to the KJ playing filler music to allowing someone who just walked in the door to sing in 15 minutes when other singers have been waiting over an hour to sing my next song. Someone here recently stated that they will give an old singer's spot in the rotation to a new singer when the old singer was leaving, meaning the new singer would hardly wait at all. He even said that he allows singers to give their turns away to other people who have just arrived so they won't have to wait. Someone else also suggested that a singer could sell their spot to an ambitious singer who was willling to pay $$$ so they wouldn't have to wait their turn to sing.

I believe that a singer only owns his or her spot if he or she plans on singing a song when it is their turn to sing. They should not be allowed to dictate what happens to their turn if they no longer want it, regardless of whether they are leaving or they just don't feel like singing when it is their turn. If singer number 7 doesn't want to sing, then it should just be singer number 8's turn.

DISCLAIMER:

THESE ARE JUST MY OPINIONS. NO ONE HAS TO CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT THE WAY THEY RUN THEIR SHOWS.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

Wow Bruce. Ever been to a show that pleased you? I am digital and that won't change. My songs don't skip, they don't get lost, they don't get stolen (if my drive gets stolen, I have it backed up) I can get a request and within 10 seconds it is playing. Right wrong or indifferent, that's how it is. It's my way and it's my show. Sorry, hit the show down the road.

To me it's all about the atmosphere. It would be nice to have all the things mentioned that singers/non singers, but if the crowd isn't friendly or having fun, what's the point of going out? Go home and grumble on line if you didn't come to a show to have fun.

AND ONCE AGAIN, SOMEONE WHO RUNS A SHOW THAT DOESN'T ALLOW A CUSTOMER TO SING ONE OF HIS OWN SONGS GETS DEFENSIVE. I have songs that I'm positive that you don't have. What is wrong with me wanting to go to a show where I can sing them??? I have stated that no one has to change anything about their shows to please me. I will always find a place that will play my discs.....so far anyway..... I have no problem going down the road.

With a good system and experience I can generate these atmospheres again. However at my age I get tired. I am currently looking for a host that I can fully train on technical sound and solid hosting techniques. I still have the potential and need youth and enthusiasm. I will be doing my personal birthday party the 19th. If you want to audition that will be fine. For locals in northern colorado PM for info please see my web or myspce.

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Only defensive because of the way you present your "problem", very subjectively. If my system was set up in a manner I could play someone's cdg, I would probably do it. But I can't and I'm happy with my set up the way it is. Perhaps you should buy all the equipment necessary and run a show the way you see fit, make a million, sell a "how to" book and then check back with us.

I will never tell someone how to run their show, if they ask me my honest opinion on something, I will tell them. On the other hand, if someone offers me advise on how to improve my show and I beleive it will, I will listen. I jotted down notes on every little flicker in my first show even if it was just my shoe being untied. I want to get better and better. But if someone points out something to me and is a jerk in the way they present it, forget it. Maybe I will listen but I'm not going to give them the satisfaction of knowing. I believe one of the most important skills or traits in life is people skills.

be able to have fun and fair rotation Dave

1. Sound quality

Good sound quality implies a good KJ and someone who cares about the singers.

I rarely order food. As long as they are changing their fry oil, it's usually as good as bar food can be. Low to medium price drinks I can live with. If the price gets too high, it can start to be a factor. But if the sound is good, the high priced drink is still worth it.

I know how most of the songs I sing sound on a good system, so if it sounds bad, then it kind of takes the wind out of sails...

# 1---The venue itself.

If its filthy, nasty and you wonder if u sit in a booth that something might crawl out and start GNAWING ON YOUR LEG......no matter how good the sound or KJ or selection Im not staying. If the place is a SHTHOLE, chances are the kitchen the food comes out of is nasty, the staff and ownership dont care enough to keep it cleaned up, and most likely the crowd and regulars will be SKEEVY at best. And I sure as hell wont be taking the wifey out to hang in such a place.

Just my preferences.

A place better be clean and well kept to spend any time at(and yes I do know the difference between a dump and "good" place).

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"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

Im not going to do a rant on bringing discs.................but FOR CRYIN' OUT LOUD how hard can be it be to just to bring a spare CDG player and hook up 3 WIRES AND A SWITCH for the few custies who bring thier own discs????!!!!

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"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

Fair rotation policies. You put one in you shouldn't see the person who puts in a request after you sing twice before you get up.

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