Karaoke Forums

We have a guy in this area that has taking pirating to it's other name "Privateering". He doesn't run any shows, but he advertises a recording studio with over 100,000 songs. He uses all burnt discs, and is an arrogant SOB. He came to my show the other night and had the gall to say if he ever came back, he'd bring his own mic. He even gave me crappy burns that didn't want to play- even tho I had the same songs, same versions in my book.

This guy is having people PAY HIM like a professional recording studio, and he is using pirated discs, to illegally record demos for people. Surely there has to be a way to stop this.....

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Let's Kick the Tires and Light the Fires!

Thanks, BJC.
How did I know the Brits were gonna get the blame for this?

Back to the point. Tell the bloke (who you should be able to trace easily) that if he doesn't stop you'll bring some Liverpool Irish over to sort him out! (with legit discs)

Nobody wants to phone the authorities on anybody but, if he's damaging a lot of businesses, as it seems, you must.

Another option is to PM me and I will! (Through a Colonial friend of mine)

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Imagine!

My Friends this is a really bad scenario.. I'm really disappointed to hear this.. and to find out that someone is doing this in the recording world.

WELL..

Being that the Karaoke Media Companies (with all due respect to them) Probably will not get off thier butts and do something about it. I would say find out if BMI or ASCAP will. Because Recording for profit without paying is Recording ILLIGALLY. And the industry is due a royalty, and the performance Rights organizations administer that money, and they are hungry right now. I'm willing to bet they can send you in a proper direction and are willing to listen in a big way.

DBK, I really wish you the best.

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Brian D.
(BHB)

How do you take them down?

SUPLEX! or go at it Stone Cold Steve Austin-style baybee!!!!

The real brass cajones part of this is- HE ADVERTISES ON THE LOCAL KARAOKE SITE!!

We have a list of places to sing, nights, etc, for South FL, and the guy that does it has a KJ page. This pirate actually has an ad for 'professional' recording with over 100,00 songs. This guy doesn't even have a car, but he has 100,000 songs???

PM me, and I'll give u the link to his ad- maybe one of u can 'shop' him to see what and how he works.

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Let's Kick the Tires and Light the Fires!

This is an interesting topic. One thing that alarmed me was a comment that dbk1009 made. I believe one way to contain the damage of pirates is to not play any burned disc at a show even if they are provided by the customer.

The largest karaoke show provider in my area has a strict policy not to allow any KJ to play anything burned or not on original manufacturer's labeled media. They are so strict that they would not allow me to play pre-release copy of a new Canadian disc the manufacturer had given me to test audience response. I had a letter from the author giving me permission to use the burned copy. Even though I have done shows for them and know the owners as friends they would not make any exceptions. In hindsight I really respect them for that stated and enforced policy.

It's like any kind of abuse, if you turn a blind eye to it you are just as guilty as the person doing the abuse. I personally would turn someone away from my show for trying to use a burned CDG. Even if it cost me the show. As to the guy with the 100,000 songs I would call one of the licensing agencies like BMI and tip them off. I would expect they or the local police would take action against such a blantant level of theft.

Just a few thought...

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Terryoke
Krazy Kanuck Karaokeist

Karaoke is the only social disease that you can get in public and not get arrested.

What about custom discs? These are fully legal. WOuld he still not play these? Some of the earlier ones actually used a plain white label & basic Arial fonts for their labels BUT they were 100% legal compilations.

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

I have not purchased any custom disks but I would think they are professionally labeled with a silkscreen label of the maufacturer or the service provider. It is obviously not an issue up here in this area of Canada. I will ask Dan about that. That was a very good point.

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Terryoke
Krazy Kanuck Karaokeist

Karaoke is the only social disease that you can get in public and not get arrested.

the first time i was denied using my own, disc cause it is a CDR i would be gone..... I DO NOT TRUST ANYBODY WITH MY ORIGINALS....... Remember not all hosts take care of their own discs, let alone care for yours

There are many karaoke shows to choose, from, i go where i am welcomed

There is truth to the fact that some KJs don't treat privately owned discs as they do their own, and some don't even treat theirs very well either...

In our area we have a recording studio that allows people to record off karaoke discs.....this is not a backroom outfit, but a proffessional outfit....I believe the going rate is $100.00 for 3 songs....

there is also a large karaoke business in eastern Ohio, which charges to record off their karaoke discs.....I believe they charge $5.00 for one song and $10.00 for three songs...even had special tapes made with their logo...they even set up several locations at one of the largest fairs in eastern Ohio.....I even was recorded about nine years ago....don't even know where that tape is today.....

I believe it's a loosin' battle.....with our growing technology....and the cost of orignals....bootleg music industry will continue to grow....yes I know that there laws governing such practice....where there is a demand there will be a supply...basic economics....

stop one pirate and two more pop up in their place....

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

Like I said some of the earlier customs from a couple manufacturers looked like plain ol' home burned copies, but they were FULLY legal FROM the manufacturer. Most of them NOW use the thermal printers & print directly on the discs, but some did use plain white labels & black Arial font.

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

ABSOFRIGGIN' LUTELY!

Course, I trust Lonman with MY originals, but that's cause I know him. And I know he'd replace it if he accidently farked it up!



But normally, Midnight is absolutely right!

I will not accept burned media at my shows unless it's a Time reduced competition. Then I want to know as a KJ what CDG that the track came from and the manufacturer's original track number and who did the edit.. and the DAMN Graphics better be there. Because on AVID I can now even EDIT CDG files. and make them look like an original. but i would never take them to a show.

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Brian D.
(BHB)

I've "fixed" three seperate cdgs that didn't have the Graphics... either due to licensing issues or whatever.

I use karaoke builder studio.

Matt,
I know KB is great for that.. and affordable too.

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Brian D.
(BHB)

Brian, what is a Time reduced competition?

A "Time Reduced competition" is where and I indirectly quote Christian Nelson from Priddis, as he is the one who best discribed it. As I have only been to 3 of these and I find them hard to explain these because every one is so different.

This is taken out of context... Competitions where most songs are edited for the competition time allowed, and you can only usually use CD+G tracks that are around 2 minutes in length to compete with and usually are not allowed to contain backing tracks.

In my personal expierences...Sometimes Graphics are not allowed at all. it keeps some really good singers from getting a real good shot who don't have the time to prepare adiquately.

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Brian D.
(BHB)

Sink thier ship and de-feather thier parrot. and make them sing Jimmy Buffett songs all night. Kamakazi style.

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Brian D.
(BHB)

I have -never- taken originals to a gig, either as a DJ or a KJ.

Way-Back-When, we provided lighting for another DJ here in town and I watched as he would routinely get distracted doing his job (talking to the client or a guest or interacting with the crowd, etc.) meanwhile, people (often "kids") would come up to the table, reach up/over and turn his binders around, sometimes even sliding discs out.

Most of these were not retail discs, either, but Promo Only and other DJ library items that are not for public use. They say so right across both the jacket and the disc - which immediately makes them even more desirable targets.

After several had done this I had the venue bring another table up and transferred his binders to it - well out of the crowd's reach. If I had any doubts they were put to rest that night... one-offs are cheap and can be easily replaced if lost/stolen/damaged.

Now let's throw the Technology Curve Ball in here... I don't use discs. Our entire DJ/KJ/Video operation is computer-based - everything has been ripped to our custom-built computer systems. Nothing to steal, but also harder to prove that you legitimately own the media. I'm routinely asked "how long did it take to download all that music" - to which my answer is "I didn't."

As it stands - for security - we're looking at encrypting the music on the drives in the future - the library is too large and valuable - and the computer too portable and tempting a target - to simply leave it unsecured.

Just some thoughts from our end - YMMV.

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DJ Shadowfax