Karaoke Forums

Some of us accompany our significant others when they host and some are actually hired to work in pairs. My boyfriend is the "talent" who runs the equipment and hosts the show. I research and buy the equipment and music, maintain the songbooks, think of ideas and props, etc. and have sometimes called up the singers and pushed a few buttons but I haven't yet taken the time to learn how to run the mixer and plug everything in. My boyfriend can, and has run the show fine without me. But the past two nights I have returned exhausted from being a co-hostess.

I have fielded questions about songs, defended our lack of 100,000 songs, taken requests for songs to order, helped people think of song titles from snippets of lyrics (Do you have "Mountain Momma, West Virginia?"), sat and talked with people, danced with people or even just got things going by myself, helped the bar tendress to "spot" a drunk who got up to dance on the bar, warned the bar tendress that our metabolic case needed her orange juice, learned and performed a salsa song in Spanish for one of our regular dancing couples who requested it, was requested to duet on my worst nightmare, "You Don't Bring Me Flowers," had the props in the ready when certain songs came up , clapped exhuberantly for all, even accidently while in the bathroom. I wasn't the host yet I feel drained.

How about the rest of you? What else to you co-conspirators do? Could you run your show if you had to? Do you think you add to the success of the show? Just wondering.

I know of many "tag teams".. It works for some, and can be a pain if both are not on the same page..

Leopard, sounds like you have the same situation as me and my girlfriend. She, and one other person help me setup, then, it's up to me to run it. She makes the "rounds", talking to people, singing, and all around PR. Assists people with finding songs, how to use our books,etc. When nature calls, I will key up the singer, leave, and she will take my place behind the mixer. We use Compuhost, so if she had to cue up the next person, she just needs to click GO. I would like her to learn EVERYTHING, but I think that's going to take a while. So, as it is, is good, but it will get BETTER. I also research and buy the equipment, she helps with the books, etc.

Srnitynow

My wife and I usually travel to my shows together (when she can). I honestly wish she would help in the hosting duties, but for the most part all she does is put books out and gathers them up at the end of the night.

In my opinion, the proper way to host a show needs two people. One running the equipment, and one being a PR person. The second one should have a dynamic personality, one who makes friends easily, makes people feel comfortable and welcome, makes them laugh and generally WANT to be there. The sound/light person should be able to make each person sound as good as humanly possible, and also run lights (where present) to make the "show" flow.

Now, this doesn't mean that one person "can't" host a successful show, it just means that 2 people, each with there perspective duties make for a better show. I just wish my wife would take the same ideas, but sadly, all she wants to do is be a singer. It sounds like you enjoy being with your boyfriend, and have some common goals and interests when it comes to karaoke. I'm jealous,,,hehe!!!

I've always hosted by myself. I can see on very busy nights how having someone to help out would be a huge plus!

I have a friend who does shows with his wife, Kathy. She is great for going out into the audience and getting everyone hyped up. She gets people sing a long, dance etc... I always joke with them that I need a Kathy.

I think husband and wife situations are the best because the money is all going to the same place. I'm to greedy to give up the dough.

_________________
[shadow=pink][glow=deepskyblue]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

My husband and I have always hosted together - although the "non-hosting" job is not one he enjoys. Even when I am behind the board I still go around the room talking with people, suggesting songs for them to sing, etc. It is nice for him when I am able to direct people to songs in the book, etc. PS: Pet peeve - I still get asked almost weekly "Do you have songs that aren't in the book?" Now why would I have songs that aren't in the book? I make sure every song we have is in the book so people can sing it if they want to. Makes no sense to buy music and then not have it accessible to them.

It also helps him to get the rotation going when I can sing, too. Or if it gets quiet, or if the songs become all the same, I am able to step in and change it up for him.

Boyfriend here. It is such a big help. I will have people come up while I'm mixing the next singer asking if I have some obscure song I've never heard of, or one of the many I've never listened to and all I have to say is, "You need to ask Mimi". That saves me so much time.

_________________
Kevin

Hi Folks

What a great thread thanks leopard lizard.

I work as part of a group of three - my son, my wife and me!

I am very stage/mic shy so I will help with the setup, sound checks and help with mixing as required. My wife will host the karaoke and sing while me and sam will collect slips etc. Sam is also very good at sorting out sound problems.
They also do a duo electric/acoustic guitars and singing etc. and I will again setup and help with sound.
My son is thinking of bramching out into disco as we have 90% of the required equipment and would just need to sort lighting and some chart music and player sofware as we have loads of Cd`s of all Genre.
I would love to get involved in the disco but I think that I might be a little to shy to work the Mic!
Any tips on software - looking at PC DJ, Rockit etc. ?

Cheers

Paul

It may ease your pain to know that the "jockeys" with 10's of 1000's of songs often do not print song books because of the sheer size of their database. Instead, they announce that they likely have any song you're looking for.

Some "jockeys" do put out greatly abbreviated books and announce that if you need suggestions look at the book. If you don't see what you want they probably have it anyway!

Not ALL my songs are in the books since i redo my books every 6 months to a year and I buy NEW songs every couple of months.

Plus i tend to HOGG the newer songs for the first couple of weeks or until someone asks for it.

and i don't always add an extra page of new additions because MY PEEVE is seeing a karaoke book with 15 updates! I'd rather people ASK instead of getting confused or annoyed they have to look through 15 MORE pages in addition to the regular listings to see if i have "THAT" song.

HEY- they can bother my co-host!

That question doesn't bother me, but I don't get it as often as you. I keep a binder of new songs until I make new books. I usually just direct them to that and say if it isn't in there I don't have it. The one that bothers me is when they say you don't have so & so artist? It's usually a well known artists that I'd obviously have. They just can't spell !

_________________
[shadow=pink][glow=deepskyblue]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]