Karaoke Forums

Hello there. Hubby and I just started out in the business about 3 months ago...Doin' pretty good so far, and enjoying this IMMENSELY!

Here's the scenario: It's the very beginning of the night. You've announced where the books and the slips of paper are. But no one wants to sing yet. Oh yeah, after a couple beers (or more) they'll finally start coming up...But it's always 'Sally with Susie', or 'Sally, Pete and Susie"...You know what I mean?

We have a 'quality' list of songs. People usually have positive comments on our list. But how do you get them to sing without forcing them...and turning your show into a DJ night? Any ideas?


Thanks!!

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"Life is the song, Love is the music"

I've seen props, duets, and such, but one club offers "karaoke bucks" and when you sing, you get a karaoke buck that is $1 off of your next drink.

(Might work, club willing)

sing as HORRIBLY as you possible can. Do a song that is completely out of your vocal range, ability, style or genre then say something like..."I know that there is someone out there who can do better than I just did!" or.."You guys don't want to hear me sing all night do ya?". That usually works for me if I'm having a slow night. The key is to not sing too much and not to sing right after a really good singer. They may get the impression that you are trying to show them up and be a little hesitant to sing again.

Often times early in the evening, if I have to do a lot of singing, I will "threaten" the audience that if they do not sing, I will start singing (depending on the crowd, it's different everywhere)

~Polkas
~George Michael
~Prince
~Michael Bolton (which I sing horribly)
~Country

unless someone else gets up to sing. When someone does get up I make a big deal about how they are heroes and saved the bar from whichever fate above they were doomed for. Once one singer gets going, more will almost always jump in. It's just like no one wants to be the first to go...

Other times, I joke that if I have to sing three songs in a row, (insert bar owner name here) has to actually PAY me for playing there, and wouldn't it be nice if they could help (bar owner) save a few bucks!

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Spreading the karaoke gospel

Hey Big Mike, You might want to add another genre that you'd threaten them with (especially in certain areas)...... OPERA/CLASSICAL

Sometimes some KJ's offer to let you sing back to back songs, the first round.

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[glow=blue]Tequila & A Song
KKid[/glow]

I usually use the sit down next to them uninvited and harass them until they get up and sing method. If it's a woman I'm talking to I usually will tell them that I find women who sing extremely sexy. Both of those methods usually work for me.

I will play a couple of tunes and still if no one comes up, maybe sing one myself - that will usually bring on the slips! If there just isn't anyone that wants to sing, I'll just keep spinnin' and encourage anyone to let me know if they want to hear anything in particular. It's a good opportunity to please 'em anyway.

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Sounds Great! Entertainment
Bartlett, Illinois

2 words...

Kamakazi Karaoke

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Brian D.
(BHB)

If it is real Bad, Classics, and Elvis Gospel. will get them started. Less threatning. Like Over the rainbow, Margaritaville, I believe, Green Green grass of home. Either they will get tired of it, and change the Music to a diffrent Genre, or You will end up having a Revival.

Might even open up your first Ministry........ Hmmm First Baptist Bar & Grill, Has a good ring to it.

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I'm Not Dead yet...... But every day Im getting Closer !

Hiya BP,
Yep it can be a challenge to get the ball rollin' sometimes. I've Used all
the tricks metioned above until the " groovin' grease" (booze) kicks in. I do like the old "sing or else....or else you gotta hear me sing" trick. Kamakzi karaoke works great. I will tell the crowd that I will sing any song in my book if they bring up two slips, 1 they picked for me and 1 for them. Its alot of fun and really reduces the fear of newer singers." Beer removes the fear" I always welcome new singers to our "beatuiful musical family" and have nice certificates for virgin singers. One club owner had a
bunch of T-shirts printed up with "I sang karaoke at (club name) and club logo on it. We put all the slips in a jar and have a non-singer draw 1 out every two hours. Have fun and remind em that it only hurts for 3 min 22&1/2 seconds.
Dave

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http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/kalter ... /my_photos

AMEN BROTHER!

Even the Baptist's don't recognize each other in "Hooter's" though!

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Brian D.
(BHB)

I'll sometimes talk a newbie into singing with a group. That way nobody has the pressure of being up there alone. 9 times out of 10, once someone has done that 2 or 3 times, they're hooked and ya gottem forever.

This has actually worked for me. Say something along the lines of "Well, if you guys don't want to sing, there's no sense in me wasting electricity, so I'm going to do a little something A capella for you." After about 3 lines of "9 Billion Bottles of Beer on the Wall", everyone is scrambling to find a book! I wouldn't recommend trying it every week, though.

I'm also not afraid to call out a regular to do a song that you know they can sing without a warmup. Chances are they are ready to sing, they just got to talking or something and haven't put a slip in.

Both of these approaches work best if you're very familiar with the crowd, and they're familiar with you.