Karaoke Forums

One of the main reasons I see for all the "bickering" latley is that KJs and Singers are trying to defend their way of thinking. But it's CRAZY no two KJ's are the same and no TWO shows/venues are the same. ....similiar > Maybe } SAME doubt it

My current show is billed as "KARAOKE" on the patio outside. We have a group of regulars that come every week and many new singers who just happen to be having dinner or drinks there on that day. It's a show with filler music... mostly laid back songs as the owner wants that "margaritavile " feel. ( inside upstairs at night the DJ plays the BOOM BOOM POW POW stuff ) Most of the singers are there 1st to have fun and secondly to sing. I do have one singer who wants to sing every song and he is my loyalist singer. A regular at every show I've hosted at! But I don't let him dictate how the rotation goes. It's fair rotation with not that many singers. Maybe 5 or 6 steady and many more who'll sing just once or twice before leaving.
Whatever I'm doing right or wrong the customers and owners seem to like it.

And I know it's a differant show than many host. So What is your show like ? Whether your a KJ or a singer ...lets hear it ( and lets see who the 1st one is to hijack the topic) There is no wrong or right in this discussion JUST HOW YOU DO IT

edit - Filler music for me is when the rotation is small 3 or 4 - I'll play a song in between singers. so the same people aren't singing every 10 minutes.

Our background----I only sing. Otherwise, I know nothing! Hubby is an occasional KJ fill in. We plan to move to north Alabama next year and once we do, hubby plans to go into business for himself as a KJ.

I enjoy it when a host is personable, has good sound, a fair rotation...........and I like the dance stuff. No, not talking about dancing to karaoke songs someone sings, but the "Boom Boom Pow" stuff that no one ever sings here! No one around here does transition music but I don't think I would mind that either as long as it remains transition and not playing a complete song in between each singer.

I have sung in a place that had the scrolling marquee thingy---on the screen as we were singing and I did not like that. I would prefer that turned off on the singers screen.

The hubby likes straight karaoke and can't stand the "boom boom" dance stuff. At the places he has filled in as a KJ though, the customers want the dance stuff so he plays it but he does keep it to one song at the end of a complete rotation.

It matters not to me if someone is running on disks or computer but some of the disk folks are not organized and take to much time to get the next singer going. The ones that are organized can get a singer up and down as quick as the computer folks.

Cussing on the microphone is a big no-no for pretty much all the KJ's around here.

If a fight breaks out, everyone turns the music up for some reason. I was told it was to keep others in the bar from hearing the fight so they don't get involved. Well, folks generally see a fight and back off from it anyway but that is what they do.

I have heard KJ's say that they used to get $200-$250 a night around here but now, most are lucky to get $150. I don't know if that is b/c of the piracy stuff or b/c this area is just saturated or some other reason, whatever that may be.

~Vicki

My show is in a 'hole'. It's one of about six bars within a three block radius. The seating is limited, so people are relatively mobile - there's a beer garden out the back, and while I have a group of regulars at each show, I mainly deal with in and out traffic. There aren't a lot of strangers at the shows - everybody pretty much knows everybody or somebody that knows them. Often, people will come in, sing a song or two, then hit the other bars, and come back or not. Or pop in for a song and continue to the next bar. There are no rules other than those I and the bartenders establish. The owner knows her presence would be a downer, so the atmosphere is very partiesque. I play the music loud, I drown the place with lighting and visuals and it's just an awesome time!!!

Different venues...different shows.

Wednesday is simple karaoke at a simple country bar / restaurant 7-10p
Wednesday late night at roadside saloon (next to 24hr adult video) impromptu karaoke.

Thursday night at same saloon, potluck karaoke but generally regular karaoke, dance tracks if requested.

Friday night - 2 rigs - 2 shows. 1st show is a nice sports bar / restaurant with simple karaoke. Other show, back at saloon, rowdy karaoke with rowdy dance music mixed in (finally played I'm On A Boat and it went down really well, as did the rental DJ lighting)

Saturday is a gentler version of the Friday saloon show in a small town country bar, they want 'dance/booty' music every 90 mins or so.

All shows feature on demand downloads of karaoke / music as needed. I am looking at buying my own lighting for some of the shows since it really helps set the mood.

- Jonn