Karaoke Forums

I'm all for having one of more screens facing the audience. While the previously mentioned ideas of the audience participation and the ability to scroll the rotation at the bottom of the screen are both very important, it also:

1.) Allows the performer to leave the stage for a moment and go sing in the crowd and still be able to have the lyrics if needed. While the need for this is venue dependent (i.e. some venues with a large stage it probably isn't practical) at a smaller/medium size venue it's fun.

2.)Allows the bartenders to sing a song or two without leaving their post. I'm a fan of the bar staff singing a song or two as it encourages audience participation and overall friendliness with the venue/staff. I've even seen bar staff continue to serve one or two drinks while performing (during instrumental breaks), which makes the manager happy!

I have:

* My laptop screen for me (obviously)
* A 19" screen for the singer
* The venue screens for the audience.

OK, so not every venue has wall-mounted screens? Then that's their issue. When I get a new gig, I make it known that I provide a singers screen. I suggest that I should jack into their screens for the audience, but if they don't have them...

Well they I can supply a projector for the evening at extra cost.

We play venues that one has a screen for the audience and two that do not. Overall, it doesn't really make a difference, everyone has fun. If it's available we'll use it otherwise it doesn't detract from the show.

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I would like to have a video dispplay for the AUDIENCE

What do I need now that my video from my laptop goes direct to my flatscreen monitor via VGA cable? How do I come out of my laptop and into a muti source splitter so I can send vga and rca ????

Jam, go to Monoprice.com, and look for a video converter box, I think it's about 15 bucks, the last time I looked. It has vga in, to vga, rca, s-video out.

Rosario

I used to sing with a place that had three different screens, and it was great for being able to face the audience, move around a little. Really frees you up.

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

Nlouch said



I think I must be doing something wrong.

I lug around a 22" CRT for the audience to my regular venue. (and a 15" for the singer)

I've asked them repeatedly to install their own large LCD which I could then use - from their point of view it would look better and they could use it for sport etc.

But the hosts are only managers so have to ask the owner who's never there so I'm still waiting (and carrying).

I also take a big tripod stand for it as well !!!

I don't know how I do it for the money but I wouldn't like to not have it.

Perhaps as you said I should add extra charges but times are hard at the moment.

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[font=Fantasy][/font] "Travellin' at the speed of light"

Do they have any tv's? You could still patch into anything they had.

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t

I intentionally didn't include a POLL (pole) with this thread. And that has proven to be a good decision!

If I had set one up.... it surely would NOT have included the following questions:

1) is it a problem for you when there is no video display for the audience during your karaoke show?
2) is it a problem for the audience when there is no video display for them during your karaoke show?
3) is it a problem for the singers when there is no video display for the audience during your karaoke show?
4) are there TV screens in the venue that you can hook up to?
5) if there are TV screen available is it a problem for you to hook up to one of them?
6) how many venues do you have shows at that don't have a video display for the audience?

It should be obvious that the absence of certain equipment at a show might NOT detract from the show, but having additional equipment might make a show more attractive. (Not everyone who puts on makeup needs it! But most people who do are more attractive as a result!)

If I, for example, consistently use just two mics instead of four at my show, no one will complain and people will have fun. But if I consistently have four mics available and attract, as a result, "larger groups" to the stage, might I have an edge with those larger "groups" over a show down the street that has one or two mics?

If I, for example, consistently make wireless mics available for the singers, might I not create more satisfaction/enjoyment for some singers than a show that has no wireless mics?

Yes, when I had started out and was willing to work karaoke only on a limited basis I did turn down a job at a venue with no available audience TV. In truth there were other factors but that was, in the end, the deal breaker for me. Why? Because I like to promote sing a longs and they're hard to pull off without a screen for the audience to see. Frankly, it is unlikely that I would do that today since I am now retired and would like as many karaoke jobs as I can get.

I also recall one instance where I subbed for someone who never hooked up a TV for the audience, even though there was a Big Screen TV directly over her head during every show. When I set up I had the Big Screen going. Lo and behold, the owner who was at my show, insisted thereafter that the KJ hook up the Big Screen, as well. I wonder why?

I think, we all agree for several reasons, that it is always a good thing to have at least a second display for the audience. No question about that.

The short answer is NO.

They do have a big screen for sport etc but it's round the other side of the bar effectively in another part of the pub. There is nothing else in the way of a tv at all.

I think the problem is that it's a relatively new venture for the present management and to be honest I'm not sure how committed they are to karaoke. They seem content to leave everything to me with very little input from them !

But I'll leave this rant for another time.

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[font=Fantasy][/font] "Travellin' at the speed of light"

I got a gig a year ago that had been running karaoke Saturdays for 4 years with no screens for the singer (even though there were 2 TVs in the bar). When I took over I used video senders (2.4GHz cheapo) which worked okay but would glitch, I soon cabled up an RF connection and then finally a composite video connection which their new Friday host still doesn't hook his laptop into. As a host I would like the bar to appreciate that an easy hookup into the TVs is a must for the KJ, however if they don't grasp this I'll drop the $20 - $30 in cable and connectors and an hour or two of my time before a show to put in an installation for them, just like hooking up the jukebox internet connection to a wireless access point to allow me AND all their customers free wireless. These are things that go the extra mile and both the owner and customers see I really care about making the show all it can be. Best place for cable and connectors... yep, monoprice.

- J