Karaoke Forums

I went back to the bar I mentioned in my previous rant because they still don't have karaoke and I want to know one way or the other what they intend to do. I would love to get my start at the place that inspired my KJ dream to begin with. If not, I'll pitch my services elsewhere.
I showed up their last night to hopefully talk to the manager. They had "Rock Band" night. It was the worst sounding thing I had ever seen and I'm not just saying that because I think my stuff is better. It truly was. The setup was two Peavey PA speakers, a Mackie powered mixer and of course Rock Band. The speakers were blaring and it was easy to tell the dozen or so people inside listening were clearly not pleased with what they were enduring either. The waitresses had to tell them more than once to turn it down. I didn't say anything because once again, I didn't have to. I heard the bartender say to another patron that if he had his way they wouldn't pay him at all.
Regretably, the manager was not there, so as I was leaving I left one of my newly printed business cards with the bartender and will try to follow up with the manager tonight.
Anyway, games like this are being touted as the next generation of karaoke but I strongly disagree. Anyone here feel otherwise? Does anyone perceive this as a threat to karaoke?

Not in the slightest. People like these, but it's a fad. Sure, some bars are having tournaments, but it's a fad.

There is no musical skill involved.

many people said the same thing about karaoke. I know my mom did! She's amazed I'm STILL involved with it.

I told her, "it's NOT a fad! Not when you're serious about it!"

She said, "So's Stamp Collecting!" !

We are having the same troubles getting our foot in the door--people were very enthusiastic at first then we never heard back (yes, we followed up) and then we found they went with either nothing or having an employee run a DJ set-up or trying something, anything other than karaoke--something the bar could own and reap all the profits from rather than have to pay out. I think we may have a stretch of this until spring and maybe people's moods will become more optimistic and outgoing as far as taking a risk to bring in a crowd.

I know Rock Band is very popular as a party thing but it would drive me out of a venue. I could see it working at the bowling alley with the kids but not in the bars with the old cowboys.

Im fully setup to shift to that in a heartbeat. Only we do it when we have rockers. BTW we have a hundred screaming rockers not a dozen. Some karaoke and some dont but Karaoke still consists of country and all but the filler is high tempo and loud. I guess you might say I am the next generation of karaoke. In seconds I can shift to a 50th wedding anniversary format that is quiet with no filler and all big band. Whats the problem? It depends on the crowd and what they want not preconcieved notions.

I offfer a full service for any situation.

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I don't care to watch and listen to someone trying to do rockband or guitar hero - people who sit at home and do it all day are great but how many times can you really watch them? These 'games' are not an inclusionary activity at all, and hence unless it is set up for one night when there is nothing else going on, it is just a flash in the pan deal. Wii bowling, on the other hand, on a big screen seems to be doing fine.

I've gotten calls recently from bar owners/managers that are now getting desperate to bring people in and believe that karaoke is the be all to end all - and that you can turn around your bottom line in a week or two with it. A few listen when you tell them it isn't an overnight deal.

Maybe I dont know what you are talking about but if I saw it I could do it. I do know what Disco is and how to attain it. Ive been in places I had to shove cig filters in my ears.

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I own all the Rockband and Guitar Hero games and I love them. I don't beleive that they are a fad, but they could be. Playing the instruments are fun but the vocals aren't anything great. I still love my karaoke machine for that. The only good thing about those games is more people could play at once. I get complaints from my friends that Karaoke can only be done by 1 or 2 people at once. So they always want to play those games. I just think they are afraid to sing!!

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I definitely don't think it is a threat. Instead, it could be one of our greatest allies. In addition to Rock Band, Microsoft has just released Lips. More power to them. Help us spread the interest in Karaoke! Open up the market! Prepare to play for more pre-teen and teenage events!

Just like Oh Brother Where Art Thou and Alison Krauss did for Bluegrass. Brought it into the mainstream even more than it was before!

All of a sudden I feel old and out of touch with this modern world. This is toooo funny. No I dont do those games!!!!

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Don't feel bad Kary. Depending on what you like to listen to and perform, these games are very limited. They are basically Rock and Heavy Metal driven, which is why I like them. So if you don't like current rock music than it is not 4 you. But you are never too old to rock!!!!!

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I only knew about them because my boyfriend's sons brought Rock Band over once when they visited. Then they turned into zombies.

I have the rock band/guitar hero stuff. If someone wants it, I think it would be a private party. I couldn't see doing a "rock band" night once a week or something.

Two bars in town tried the Rockband thing and both scrapped it within a matter of a few weeks. It's novel, but not the same. You don't have to have any talent to karaoke, but with Rockband/Guitar Hero you need at least some semblance of knowledge of the basic concepts. People around here don't have the patience.

My advice: Have every one of the rock band or GH world tour songs in your book. It isn't a fad, it's a game. However that game gives a fair number of people exposure to singing in the confines of their living room and I have had plenty come out and try the songs they score well on with Rock Band.

NO.

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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

On karaoke nights, with a big screen facing the audience, I can have the entire club "singing along" with someone. Everybody gets to "play in the game."

With rock band, you might as well be watching television... the rest of the club doesn't get to participate, they get to simply watch others. Not a "fun time" in my book.

We had a company here offering guitar hero nights.... went over like a lead balloon.

They're video games. No different than any other video games. Why not a "Grand Theft Auto" night? Or a "Worlds of Warcraft" night?