Karaoke Forums

This just popped into my head as I've been taking on more and more private DJ gigs. Which is easier to transition to? DJ adding karaoke, or a karaoke host adding regular music?

My regular music library has really taken off in the last two years. I've kept up with both the latest music and karaoke libraries as I do music fills between singers, and I had hundreds of CDs before I even went into music entertainment. With Napster and other digital music servies getting the in song without wasting money on other lame album songs has never been easier.

All the fill music is stuff in my karaoke library, and it really does act as a subliminal suggestion for songs, and that has kept me current.... plus the dance music is a must.

At this point my regular music library is extensive and I'm doing straight DJ gigs more and more. Anyone else share a similar experience?

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Good music, good friends, howling good times!

I think it is far easier to transition from KJ to DJ - only because if you have a good basic (or more developed) understanding of mixing and all the intricasies of moving from tune to tune, you've got a big advantage over someone who has never worked with "live bodies" before, and has to learn to mix voices and music. As a matter of semantics, though, when I DJ I'm talking about creating atmosphere with music - not high-powered, 'boom-boom-boom' scratch and chatter. That might take mow practice, but I don't ever intend to do that kind of DJ'ing anyway.

I also have an extensive current music collection that goes back years because I also use fill music. Pick up the most popular every two weeks or so - just natural that when people hear your fill music and see all your equipment, that they'll ask if you DJ. It's a great up-sell.

I think the answer will be more biased because this is a Karaoke forum. I think it's harder to go from Karaoke to DJ then other way around. I do both and I can tell you that it takes more effort to do DJ. I am not talking about just playing some background music during the Karaoke. I am talking about a full DJ gig where people expect you, not the singer, to provide atmosphere to dance.

This requires not only audio part but lighting as well. As a DJ, you have to control not only the type of music to put people in the mood to dance but lighting has to match and controlled. You have to constantly watch the mood of the crowd and provide the right type of music.

It's not to say that Karaoke is not easy to do, it's just that a lot of entertainment value depends on the singers not the KJ per se. Just my opinion.

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Seize the day and SING!!!

Two different things. It depends on your knoweledge, skill, and talent.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

I think it comes down to which is more expensive.

Karaoke
Pros:
The customer picks the songs.
Easier to get a gig than DJ's.
Music genres is well expanded.
Cons:
Very expensive for discs.
Much more quipment and accessories needed.
Hands on time is far greater than DJing.
Paid less for gigs.

DJing
Pros:
Simplier set up.
Cheaper music and accessibility.
Paid more per gig
Cons:
More responsibility in getting the crowd motivated.
Much more music needed.
No PEE BREAKS....

Now back to the question,
"which is easier, DJ to Karaoke or Karaoke to DJ ?
Since I was a DJ first, Karaoke was a very simple transition.
I already had the personality to get on the mic, I also knew all the technical information needed, especially since I did sound too!
The biggest obstacle was shelling out the big bucks for the CDGS, It still the biggest problem....
DJ/KJ Rodney

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Karaoke is supposed to be fun, if it isn't, then it's NOT KARAOKE.......

I agree with you totally. I have been doing both for 15 years and both require different skillsets. Of course there is a lot of crossover with certain skills, experience and knowledge.

I've seen KJs try the Wedding thing and fail miserably because they did not posses the facilitator skills it takes to keep a reception running smoothly or they didn't do the exstensive prep work that is involved with the B&G.

I've also seen DJs fail at running a good Karaoke show because they did not know how to mix vocals, run a fair rotation or handle the pressure from demanding custys.

Either way if you are going to add one or the other to your service, don't do it willy nilly thinking that just because you can one that must mean you can naturally do the other.

Do your homework before you take the plunge or you will giving your clients unsatisfactory service.

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"Don't worry. It will feel better when it quits hurtin."

Hello All,

I started out from the bat as a KJ.

it was simple to add music to kill some 'dead time' between singers on slow nights. Then the music began to grow. I got some DJ gigs but find Karaoke easier.
The customers tell you what to play, so all you have to do is keep them in line and call them up and your're set.

DJ. ... you have to make them dance .. and keep them dancing.
I like to KJ MUCH better!

Jason

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Jason Christopher
Want To Learn How To Grow An Outrageously Profitable KJ Business And Put An Iron Cage Around Your Customers? visit my web site below..

I think if you're already an established DJ --adding KARAOKE IS easier.

If you're "just" a KJ it's HARDER to become a succesful DJ ..just my $.02

I think I went off course with my post. The poll was not what was harder KJ or DJ but rather which is harder adding karaoke music or regular music to your libraries.

IMO regular music is easier to add because the marketplace for purchasing music is larger. Many of us have experienced the frustration with Karaoke Manu's i.e. SoundChoice refusing to change with technology advances. iTunes and the like make it so easy to get the songs you want with out wasting money on unwanted and unused music. I'm getting older and do not like a majority of the new music that is made but still need to know what is hot so that I can have it in my library. Places like iTunes helps me to stay on top of the hot tracks.

Subscription sites for Karaoke music are few and far between and who knows if they are legit or not.

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"Don't worry. It will feel better when it quits hurtin."

I STARTED as a Karaoke Host...did well..then realised I was turning down gigs cos I THOUGHT i couldnt DJ..when ,in truth...DJ'ing is FAR easier than running a busy karaoke night.....

I think timberlea is absolutely correct.
Two different animals with both some same and some different skills required for each. Either way you also will be spending more $ on additional equipment and music.

I started as a KJ and decided to add DJing as I was having to turn down to many private party offers that wanted both. Started buying music (after ripping all of my own personal CDs) and then added some lighting.
I have since done combinations of both. This type of DJing was a fairly easy transition for me.

Eventually I would like to do weddings as there are more and more of them that want both and they pay way more than a kj gig....but I also realize that weddings are a whole lot more than "just playing music".

It is THE day for the Bride and that is a big responsibility for the DJ. I plan to shadow a fellow DJ at a wedding or 2 before taking one on myself and I think at the first one I do I will also have said dj shadow me (providing any needed guidance).

What say you?

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Music speaks to the heart in ways words cannot express.

I started off trying to play in bands, then i switched over to production (sound and lights for bands). around that time i found that i liked to go to Karaoke and "sing" even tho i was not really good at it. after a while i saw that I could run my own shows and not make the same mistakes I saw others making. so I invested a ton in Karaoke music (i had PA already). around this time I decided to rip all my 400+ Cd music library to my computer. after only a couple karaoke shows I took a DJ show. the two are really different. to me djing a bar show or private party is almost too easy, But i avoid a full on wedding like the plague. I HATE THEM..


For me the transition to DJ was easy, But the transition to Emcee is still a work in progress.

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the voices arent real, but they have some good ideas

From an equipment perspective, it can be more expensive (and therefore harder) to add Karaoke to an existing DJ rig than vice versa. If you've already got a Karaoke rig, you don't need to add anything typically. However a DJ wishing to add Karaoke at minimum needs to add a TV/Monitor, a CDG player of some sort and in many cases a new mixing console (many DJ's just use the 2 channel cross-fade mixers).

From a personal skills perspective, being a DJ (and I'm talking real DJ not a jukebox operator) is far more difficult than being a KJ. Learning to emcee an event takes a lot more skill and planning than karaoke does. To be a real DJ you have to understand beat matching, cross fading, voice overs and such. Additionally you need to know how to lead dances and read a crowd's musical preferences. As a DJ you are more of the center of attention than you are as a KJ. That's a big shift and requires much more showmanship.

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

Great idea RLC. I think that you will be suprised to see how much there is to DJing a wedding as apposed to just a private party. You might want to shadow the DJ you pick for the pre-wedding preparations as well with regards to planning the reception with the B&G.

I personally don't recomend Karaoke for weddings, though I can make more money for the Karaoke addition, unless the bride and groom are big karaoke fans and a large number of their quests are as well. Karaoke can be detrimental to a reception. Don't need the drunk uncle getting up and dropping F bombs on the mic.

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"Don't worry. It will feel better when it quits hurtin."

I wouldn't have a clue how to do DJ.

My experience has only ever been with KJing, so for me adding DJing would be difficult. I think it has everything to do with what your skill base is. They are 2 totally different things, so I believe it depends on the person and their personal knowledge of both.

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When I started doing parties and weddings the request was for DJ/Karaoke. I had to get a mp3 library but it was easier than getting karaoke. We call it DJ but I donjt consider it pure DJ. I dont scratch beat fade or mix like a DJ. We provide dance music and take requests for both dance and karaoke. In the same respect I no longer consider myself a KJ or pure karaoke host.

The dance library now has just as much importance as karaoke although it is easier to get the latest chartbusters dance first. WE also guage what karaoke we should get by dance requests.

As far as difficulty between running pure one way or the other I would say they are both about the same difficulty but take slightly different talents. However when one becomes accustomed to a format that includes both, the talents merge and feed upon each other and the hosting ability is increased. Then an entertainment show is developed that is necessary for all venues, parties ETC.

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I am like Babs. I am a KJ all the way. I mix some dance music in when needed, but I'm not cross fading or anything fancy. I don't have to play it much though. It seems to me it would be easier to stretch over into DJing though, instead of the other way around. Many KJs are already using lights to add effects and programs are out there that can serve both purposes. I think adding DJ songs would be much easier than adding cdgs, because there are a few less steps. However, if you are doing fancy DJ stuff with effects, I don't know... Maybe one could be just as hard as the other. I have found that I get really bored though when I have to play a lot of music. I hate it!!

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