Karaoke Forums

Convince the pretty bar maid to sing a few times....

YES!!! Man, the barmaid at the Fort is hot as hell, and she does a pretty good Shania Twain... hell, she could do the scale and it'd be sexy.....

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Good music, good friends, howling good times!

When converting a bar into karaoke. you are going to have old regs that gripe for a few weeks They either get used to it or even start enjoying and singing. After a bar is established most in there are there because of karaoke and have friends who sing.

I was setting up one time in a new bar and an old fart at the bar yelled out when we were doing a system test. HEY WOULD YOU TURN THAT DOWN I was just starting to a mic check and on the mic I answered back HEY HERE IN A LITTLE BIT ILL HAVE ABOUT 20 singers in here. You can tell them that when they get started.

In a few weeks we were good friends and he requested old country which I did. Good singers and systems help because it is providing decent entertainment.

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It is our job to cater a show to the audience, not teach people how to sing, or make them feel unwelcome by pointing out that they aren't great singers.

I can't stand "divas" at my show - the ones who feel they are "tolerating" the bad singers...

Here is some cold hard facts:
It can be painful and unpleasant for many to sit and listen to bad singing--so much that they get up and leave ... they may even dislike GOOD singing ..Thats OK if they leave ..it's what we call freedom of choice . They may not also like DJ night or DART night or POOL night or BAND NIGHT ..YOU WILL NEVER CHANGE THEIR MIND ABOUT KARAOKE.

So as a KJ you need to focus on hosting the best Karaoke show you can that appeals to the customers WHO DO STAY ALL NIGHT ..singer and nonsingers alike.

Assuming the Owner/Mgr has decide on KARAOKE night as a way to
#1 - offer a service to customers
#2 - maintain or increase the PROFIT for that given night of the week

If the owner sees $$$$ that is all that matters... Now if you only had 20 singers in the bar all praising the Karaoke show and profit go DOWN ..That's not good either
You have to constantly tweak your shows and evolve with the customer base or you will be looking for a new gig. I've said it many times if your bar is FULL of KARAOKE LOVERS .... Thats is IDEAL !!!!! Pay no attention to the few HATERS in the crowds ..If they know its KARAOKE night they should go somewhere else. PAY close attention to the majority of NON SINGERS and keep them as Happy as your singers ..NOW THATS A T OUGH SELL !!!

And I can't stand KJ's who have their heads stuck so far up their own posterior they can't see the sunlight. I don't go to their shows.

I have no problem filling seats at my karaoke show. But as I mentioned, the people I bring in are OUTSIDERS. They may live 15 or 20 miles away, and even though they will come to my show, and spend money, they're only good for that one night a week. Pays for the show, and more. Like I also said, it is a new show, and the owner and I are looking at all facits of the outcome. Of course the best outcome is that we could have the regulars, and the outsiders staying all night, which in MOST CASES we do. Except for the ones aforementioned. It's not that they don't like the singers, or any of that, I believe it is more of what mckyj described when he was in his drinking days. They don't care if it's karaoke, pool, darts, or whatever, THEY DON'T LIKE IT. By the way, there is NO other form of entertainment in the bar, no pool, no darts, no jukebox, just some flatscreen tvs with music stations playing. The owner is looking to expand his business, therefore he hired us for karaoke. He just doesn't want to lose ANY customers, which I can understand. These FEW guys (I'm talking 2 or 3) come in his place EVERYDAY and spend money, so I can understand how he would be concerned, but where do you draw the line between LISTENING to your customers, and having THEM dictate what you should and shouldn't do with YOUR business. I know it's a tough call, that's why we sit down and discuss what can be done.

Rosario
Serenity Now Karaoke

You draw the line like this ... You can't run your business on what 2 or 3 people have to say ..period

If the owner is worried about losing 2 or 3 people that effect his profitability
the bar has bigger problems or the 2 or 3 people need to seek HELP --because obviously they are drinking waaaaay too much

I know of several people that have been attending Karaoke for years, and they still sound just as bad today as they did 10 years ago. Now, how would you go about telling a "really bad singer" to improve? Other than suggesting that he/she try a different song (or you suggest a specific song for them to try), you would be walking a very fine line between giving someone constructive criticism as vs insulting them.

*** note: edited (2 days later) to add another thought.... Other than suggesting that you try to sing the song at a different key (and explain that you can raise or lower the key to be more suited to their vocal comfort), or, (as pointed out by murrlyn) telling the person not to SHOUT or SCREAM into the mic, I don't see what more a KJ could say to (what could be referred to as) a bad singer.

If I was established in this place, I would have had no problem with this method. However this was my first night with no agreement for a 2nd night. I chose to ignore it as it was only going to last a couple minutes, my reputation as a people person will last forever.

I would request an explanation of that - seeing as I have said I cater to all - good singer or bad!

Sorry but the diva attitude really doesn't cut it at my shows (or with any decent KJ I know of). The attitude often comes hand in hand with low bar spend, bad general attitude, self-centred aproach to karaoke and to be frank - a voice that's not nearly as good as the singer believes.

Each of the above represents the wrong reasons for karaoke to exist. It IS about everyone having fun - not just the supposedly "good" singers to sit and tolerate the poorer singers. The poorer singers are usually those who bring the most fun anyhow - much rather have someone on stage having a laugh, riling the crowd and warbling away than some water drinking, poised, egomaniac that hits the notes right 100% of the time (in their mind).

I WILL agree that a little encouragement can be productive - but in the form of suggesting a song or a key change. NOT in the form of "Oh you're not very good, don't come back until you can sing - it annoys the divas"

Yeah, you've established a reputation that heckling people at your show is OK.

Embaressment is an easy tool. After the singer's performance shut the music completely down:

"If I could get everyone's attention for a moment. Folks, please follow courtesy and do not yell at the singers during their performance. If you would like to demonstrate to us how its done, don't yell it, you're more than welcome to come on up here and show us! Thanks!" Smile, look directly at the heckler while you're speaking.

One time, after the drunk didn't get the clue, I took the wireless and walked right to him, didn't smile, looked directly at him and repeated the announcement. I tolk the barmaid if he does again, he's to be asked to leave. He got the clue.

If you allow that kind of behavior to continue, it will only get worse and others will surely follow suit as they get drunker.

Regular or no, beligerance usually isn't tolerated in any bar... at least not one I want to work at.

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Good music, good friends, howling good times!

Yeah, I know a few like that too. Unfortunately for you as a KJ, you have to be there listening to all the singers whether you like them or not. As a singer, I have a choice whether I want to be there or not, and because most of the time I am enjoying the show with the rest of the singers, I choose to stay and keep enjoying the rest of the show.

I am talking about the 'really bad singer' here, the kind that yells/screams into the mic and/or are so badly off-key all the time that they are really a PITA to listen to, not the average singer that hits bad notes now and then (or often) as we all do.

No, I won't leave just because they are up on stage doing what they are doing, I will tolerate them, I don't have to like them. But I will not applaud them or encourage them to keep doing what they are doing... I can't see the sense in that.

Does that make me a 'diva' Nlouch? If so, then we are all divas, because I can guarantee that no-one will like everyone else's performance all the time, but most will tolerate listening to those performances they don't like without getting up and walking out.




None needed! You stated an opinion regarding a certain type of singer, I stated an opinion regarding KJs who think they have glowworm syndrome.





Fortunately I don't have to! But then as a KJ, neither do you. I can't tell you or anyone else how to run their business, it's their choice what they do. I can only give my opinion on something and I just don't see the sense in encouraging the 'really bad' singers (see description above) to keep on doing what they are doing. Perhaps if they hadn't been told how great they are 10 years ago..... who knows?

Not at all. Whether you enjoy or hate something is personal taste. I doub't many people actively enjoy the screamers, but hey.

What makes someone a diva (and this may or maynot be you - never actually met you) is the attitude of "Oh I have to sit through more of this until I get to sing. I am so much better, why should it be like this?"

Again, my issue is the word "tolerate". The crowds I see come to karaoke for a laugh, not to be great singers. They don't "tolerate" the weaker singers, they accept it as part of what karaoke is.

KK, I appreciate that you took the time to give me advice but in my situation that night, I don't regret how I handled the situation at all. As a matter of fact, I had a number of compliments directly to me from patrons and from the patrons thru the owner. I do like your method to a point, but in my situation, it wouldn't have worked as well on that particular night with the particular crowd that I had.

That's up to you, but I can tell you, that had I seen that going on or if I was the one being yelled at and the host didn't correct it, it would be highly unlikely that I would return.

That said, if I was just out for a good time (not hosting), and some drunk was doing that to ME I more than likely would be a LOT more beligerent on the mic... "Hey snapper head, if you think you can do better than come on up... otherwise drink your drink and keep quite." Smile, then to the crowd, "Yeah, I rememeber when I had my first beer..." (roll eyes)

I can assure you that idiot was annoying everyone at the bar.

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Good music, good friends, howling good times!

Pay no attention to the haters in your place.

They will never be satisfied with ANYTHING new.

They want only to sit on thier barstool, platy video poker, watch the TV or chat in QUIET.

The owner wants to INCREASE his revenue which means BRINGING NEW PEOPLE. You achieve this. The whiners will either adapt or get up and leave at karaoke time. Bottom line is whether you are making more money for the bar or not.

Probably so.

I would bet that with the new success that the owner WILL want to increase the nights.

First and formost he is a BUSINESS MAN. He is making a change and going in a new direction which so far is yielding exactly the results he's wanting. That's why he brought you in.

Worry not about the haters. They will adapt or leave.

Clearly the "regulars' aren't generating adequate revenue for the bar.

New crowds and revenue are the bottom line.

That's why you are there.

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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

Swingcat, you are absolutely correct in your discription of the haters. I personally am not worried about them, but the owner wants to keep everybody happy, which we all know is never going to happen. But, you were right on, even down to the video poker. The owner is not used to running a bar, as he has always run just restaurants, not bars. He is awfully good at being a restauranteur, but has no skills, or knowledge when it comes to entertainment, or how to run a bar. That's why he is so overjoyed with how the karaoke is working out. He just is concerned, because these few have his ear on a daily basis, and try to convince him that he could do better without entertainment. As he said to me, he's been here 2 years, his restaurant is picking up, but the bar is not getting enough business, that's why he decided to hire us.

Thanks,

Rosario

Since you did offer your opinion, you could still attempt to answer my question. It doesn't really make a difference to me that you are not a KJ, and you are just a singer/participant at a Karaoke show. You gave an opinion about what a KJ could possibly do. Surely you must have some kind of follow-up opinion as to how you would expect a KJ to do what you suggested.

That is one of my fortes. My system is the easiest to sing on and newbies relax and improve on a regular basis. A few become very good. I teach them mic techniques and do not have contests but I help them win karaoke contests. I have small rotations but have the best singers in town. We do not do this by cheating with favoritisms but my format drives the drunks and hard core nuts away. For example playing a lot of fill music. One effect this has is you get younger singers that are always requesting and singing new stuff. My show is never boring and if the energy is low I teach my hosts what to do.

The mic insert goes to a DBX226XL compressor and a Lexicon 550 vocal processor. My hosts can not possibly run the board like an audio engineer or even have the time so I put it on an average setting and it blows everybody elses away. I seldom go to other shows anymore because of the inadequate systems . No brag just fact. OH NO now I will get more hate posts and be accused of whatever.. But I do take pride in my system and what I do and do have one of the better systems.

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