Karaoke Forums

I really don't like shows where there is NO video display for the audience.

For one, the absence of a display often leads me to applauding a performance that is not over, but simply paused for an instrumental break

For two, I don't have a chance to "check out" the words that the manufacturer has provided and to see if they are right (if I happen to know). Sometimes there provided lyrics can be quite amusing

For three, it helps me see how comfortable the swipes are if I should have a hankering to try the song myself knowing that I am not that familiar with the lyrics

Also, such screens provide an opportunity for a computerized show to display the rotation

And I am sure there are other reasons some might have for preferring a show with a video display for the audience.

EDIT: Please excuse me. I posted this late at night and left out the word "NO", now in bold type, in the first sentence!

Well, from the host's standpoint, the biggest reason of all! Those seat warmers that have never sung start following along in their chairs, realize how easy it is, and give it a shot!

From me as a singer's point of view, see above. I like following along, and sometimes realize that I just might be able to pull that song off in the future..

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

I agree with you on that. I have a four way distribution amplifier in my rack, an RF modulator and an S-video to RCA converter so I can connect to whatever the bar might have available.

I'm afraid I don't have a second large TV of my own. I have a 21" flat screen for the performer, karaoke stand mounted, but if the bar doesn't have a TV for me to hook into then I run without.

The show requires enough lifting and connecting as is without having to worry about bringing in a large screen TV of some sort. I only have one bar where that is an issue, and I've been there for two years so I guess it doesn't matter there anyway.

Do any other KJ's have a large screen TV they carry with them to their shows?

_________________
Good music, good friends, howling good times!

As a singer I prefer a screen for the audience. I love to be able to follow along to songs that I have wanted to try but wasn't sure & be able to sing along.
As a host, I don't bring an audience screen with me, have never had any problems hooking up to the bars tv's with a cable & a simple A/B switch. Would never think of running a show without an audience screen somewhere. If I couldn't tap into the bars, yes I figure out a way to bring something in.

_________________
LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

I have two monitors: a 13" cathode ray job and a 17" LCD flat screen mounted on a stand. I will bring both if the venue has no accessible TV. However, if the place is bigger than "small" the 17" screen provides only limited benefit!

I don't have a large screen, nor would I bring one if the venue doesn't have one to plug into. My first venue, I used a VGA splitter and tied into his big screen with a 25' VGA cord and into my 19" monitor for the singer.
In my next venue, they didn't have any way for me to tie into until recently and it's only one screen rather than the whole lot if I use the VGA. Not sure how it will go now that I have RCA. I just switched over to RCA. Took awhile because buying the flat screen was a few bucks and getting all the right cables in was a chore, but I'm finally able to do it. In my newest venue, it just hooks into their big screen projection TV which is behind the singers on the stage, so the singer will partially block the lyrics, but not so much that you can't make out what they say. Unless, of course, you're drunk!

I was at the computer swap this last week, and found some USB to SVGA dongles..

Makes extra monitors easier for the laptop crowd..

Cheap too.. 2 for $20.00

I never knew such an animal existed. Do they just hook up via USB and you can add as many monitors as you have USB slots? Or does it "nullify" your VGA out or S-video out on your computer?

I have two, 4-way Radio Shack converters that allow me to get from S-Video to S-Video, or from S-Video to composite or from S-Video to coaxial. The device also provides the same multiple output signals for composite/RCA inputs.

The converter switches among four distinct input devices and has two rows of output for each type of signal. Each type of output signal is available regardless of which input device and type of input signal is in use!

That specific product, however, is no longer available!

I also have a converter that allows me to get from VGA--->S-Video which ran about $50 bucks and requires electric current and a USB connection.

My business partner purchased an inexpensive VGA ---> S-Video adapter (dongle type) from CompUSA that DIDN'T work!

I really like the idea of having monitors for the general crowd, it adds to the overall experience. Gets the crowd more involved. I host four different shows at four different venues, two of which have the capabilites of using a large screen TV or projector. Both work well. The other two places there just isn't the possiblity of putting up a crowd monitor. The one place does have a large LCD screen TV on the opposite end of the bar. So the cable would have to be a permanent fixture. And that leads to the fact it would turn the audience heads around while looking at the screen, and not looking at the singers. I think that's counter productive. Where the singer is located there is just not enough room to put a big tv, unless i took out one of the tables located at the side wall.

The second place that doesn't have audience monitors is a restaurant and doesn't even have any TV's at all, only the one I provide for the singers. There is the possibility of putting a large TV there, but I would have to lug that around with me, just for that show. And I certainly don't want to leave it there! A projector would be the best answer, but I doubt the owner would pay for one, although it would be great if she did. That is the best solution I think.

Scott

While I don't run without an external display for the audience, I even have a TV in the window into the smoking area, I have been to plenty that don't do that. I will say the rotation is smaller at the places without and you have the dedicated singers there having fun. In the end if I want to hang out with the "Karaoke Crowd" I go to one of those shows.

Having displays certainly makes for a better audience experience. I like hearing "Oh, that's what they say!" from the audience.

That svideo to composite adapter should be around $5.00 at any good electronics parts store.. (Not RadioCrap)

Yes the svideo out can be the second desktop on your laptop....

Mr. Scott hit it on the head with his statement about involvement. If the audience isn't involved, even the slightest thing will distract them and sometimes even cause them to get up and go somewhere else.

I subbed last night at a fairly large place - there was a birthday group there of about 30 people who were there when I started; about 11:30 or so they decided they wanted to go dancing. If the hosting establishment doesn't have a dance floor, they do miss out on this type of crowd - when the majority of the people in the party aren't singers, they get antsy - you can see it happen. In one of my previous venues I was lucky enough to have a great dance floor - it is surprising how that will keep a group there.

We're working at a new venue that has an outdoor stage - we'll be moving out there soon (if/when our weather rises to the occasion). I mentioned the audience viewing monitor to the manager - we talked about projectors and we may be looking into that as an option for a big outdoor stage - just have to have enough in the way of lumens. You can get a decent projector for well under $1000 now and they have all the connections necessary to run karaoke through them. I had no idea they had come down in price so much.

I definitely insist on a monitor for the audience - if you don't keep them involved you run the risk of losing them to a place that does. We have every configuration setup there is for hooking into any kind of tv system anywhere we go - just a good emergency kit to carry.

Every now and then I become obscessed with a song and can't wait to get the disc so I buy a download on Amazon.com and learn the words and do it that way. Everyone hates it. Says they want to be able to follow along, especially if it's a new song they don't know. Sometimes there isn't even a single polite karaoke clap at the end. I would attribute this to bad singing or poor song selection but I've done worse and still gotten applause. But no one wants to look at the blue screen so they do get involved with other things and the show loses focus.

The exception to this is when someone has written their own song and brings in a backing track. If it is announced first that it is an original composition but their won't be words on the screen then people pay extra attention.

Can't tell you how many times I have sung (quietly) along from a seat and came to realize that I knew a song I didn't think I knew, and then tried it out at some other bar with great results. I also love checking out the songwriting credits at the end. Otis Redding's "Try a Little Tenderness"? First written in 1932!

_________________
See/hear the serial version of Michael's karaoke novel, "Outro," at outronovel.blogspot.com

Most everyone has the same reasons as I for providing the audience with a video image of what is happening on the computer screen. I have, in fact, turned down a job when there wasn't a TV for the audience and where my extra TV wouldn't do the job!

I still, however, know of gigs where there is no monitor for the audience and the host is unconcerned about it!

I doubt if I would turn down a gig because of that. There is always something that can be brought in for the audience.

_________________
LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

I have been running without a audience monitor for about the Past 3 yrs with no complaints. Used to Bring my own or would use one if it was handy. Haven't had any complaints and I have the Singers Monitor housed in a Box on Casters that's a bit lower than the Norm but it keeps the Singers in better view of the audience, not hiding behind a TV Stand also I don't have to worry about it tipping over from a Happy Customer Bumping into it It just Rolls..................

Up until very recently, I didn't have it in two of my venues and had zero complaints about it as well.
When I did hook in, I had about the same response. Zero comments. I don't think it makes a difference either way, at least in those two venues.

I doubt that anyone is going to complain about the absence of a video monitor for the audience and I doubt that anyone will offer a compliment because there is one. Geeesh!