Karaoke Forums

There seems to be more and more PC operated KJs hosting out there, and a large percentage of them do not have the capabilities of playing a Customer's disc. As one of those people who carry around my own personal collection/compilations of songs that I like to sing when I go out, I would like to know, what you are willing to do in order to insure that you get to sing what you would like to sing when you are these shows.

Some KJs have posted here (on this forum) that if they don't have your desired song in their library, they will make sure they have it the next time you come to their show (as long as it is available in Karaoke format). That's fine and dandy if you're a regular at a place (or live nearby), but what about those of you who are on vacation, and probably will never be back at that particular place again (or maybe won't be back until the following year)? Do you call the KJ up ahead of time and ask?

I did something that I know several of you are going to object to very strongly. When I went down to Florida last year, I was in contact with one of the KJs before I made my trip. He told me that he was strictly PC based, and he offered to download songs to his PC if I sent him the files. I gave him a list of possible songs that I might want to sing, and we matched up what he had in his library. For the songs that he didn't have, I e-mailed him a zipped file from my disc for him to create onto his PC. I sent him 15 songs (I know that I wasn't going to sing 15 songs at his show, but I wanted to be prepared for my mood and the feel of the crowd there).

There is also a local KJ in my area who converted to PC. He can no longer play personal CDGs, put he has offered to download my personal Discs onto his PC. Since I like going to his show, I gave him 3 of my discs. He has them listed under my name for the Artist, so when I come to his show, he asks me what I want to sing, and pulls up my song listings. He has done this for some of his other Regulars as well. He does not list our songs in his song books, so nobody else really knows (or cares) what we gave him.

I carry both my songs in cd and usb pen-drive.

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I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott

I'm not very PC literate, so I don't know how to do that (pen drive thing). Also, several KJs here have already posted their objections to something like that for fear of it containing a virus (whether it be intentional or not).

First I see if they have my favorite songs in thier songbook or on their drive. If they do then I use thiers. Everythings good. Happy, surpised at my good fortune and not dissappoited.

If not sing a couple song substitute from what i wanted to-just to be polite.

But I wont be back to that show. Why should I go back?? They dont have what I want to go sing and cant play the songs if I bring them with me.

So whats the point???

I DONT GO OUT TO SING SOME SORT OF SUBSTITUTE SONGS IM NOT INTERESTED IN SINGING.

WHAT IS SO DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT THIS.????!!!

If they dont have the songs I want to sing its a DISAPPOINTMENT!!!

If they cant or even worse WONT, that's even more of a DISAPOINTMENT.

My discs are STORE-BOUGHT ORIGINALS. NO HOME BURNS.(so the illegal burn argument holds no water)

I only bring them because they probly dont have these songs. I ask the COMPUTER KJ's TO CHECK FIRST TOO!! (Even the 100K and 375K KJ's dont have some of the songs I sing)

I only bring a SMALL CD CARRIER--maybe 12 disc capacity total. I dont haul a whole 300 disc case with me to someone eles's show---NOW THAT IS REDICULOUS (and I have had that happen before and did deal with that situation as this was someone trying to POACH the gig--but thats another thread)

I dont bring them to "SHOW-UP" a DJ. I bring them becuase they probly wont have these songs.

I dont do the zip-drive/thumb drive thing. I have no interest in taking the time to figure out how to do all that or go out and buy whatever is needed. Plus KJ's are NOT GOING TO LOAD SOMETHING OFF A STRANGE THUMBDRIVE.

THAT SIMPLE!!!

ITS EASY and SIMPLE TO UNDERSTAND THESE CONCEPTS!!

ENOUGH SAID.

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"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

Most of the KJs around my towns are CD-based and most of the new dvd player have usb port.

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I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott

What about when you go out of State on vacation? Do you try to get in touch with the KJ before you make a trip to that show, or do you take your chances? With regard to the Florida show I mentioned, the only reason I supplied him with some of my songs (via e-mailing the song files) was because I was communicating with him on this forum for some time before-hand, and I wanted to meet him when I went down there. If not for that, I would have just taken pot-luck with the places I went to (whether they could play my discs or not).

"What about when you go out of State on vacation? Do you try to get in touch with the KJ before you make a trip to that show, or do you take your chances? With regard to the Florida show I mentioned, the only reason I supplied him with some of my songs (via e-mailing the song files) was because I was communicating with him on this forum for some time before-hand, and I wanted to meet him when I went down there. If not for that, I would have just taken pot-luck with the places I went to (whether they could play my discs or not)"


No. Too much trouble to try to contact a KJ directly, or even find a karaoke place to begin with. Long distance calls, time and effort and where and who are u supposed to call in a strange city. At best might find a venue and end up talikin on the phone to a bar girl.

Jsut take my chances and hope to see a sign that says karaoke tongiht. Or maybe do a internet search on that town's karaoke bars.

For example----last place out of town I went was BROOKINGS Oregon(u can read about it on this issue of KS MAG ONLINE) The KJ lived in another town and KJ'd at the one bar i happendd to find simply by driving by---the only Karaoke sign I found in the entire town--and yes I did do an itnernet search on Brookings--nothing listed for Karaoke)

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"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

I brought a thumb drive with some of my songs on it last week to a place that cannot play discs and all went well because the KJ made it clear that he would not "drag" my songs to his hard drive to play them. He played them straight from the thumb drive and everything went well. There are some other KJ's that I would not trust that they wouldn't copy my song files so if they won't play a disc, I just don't go to their shows that often. When I do end up at a show like that; I just find something in their book to sing. Sound Choice gave Media Cloq a shot in an effort to keep people from "stealing" and/or "sharing" their music files. I just don't let certain people have access to my home made files. If they're downloading their files for free or buying their pre loaded hard drives, I'm not going to trust that my home made stuff won't wind up all over the internet because these people copied my files without my knowledge.

Kurt, I can understand you want to sing WHAT you want to sing. And you should! But that's going to limit the number of karaoke venues where you can sing, and as time goes on probably moreso. There was a time where recording artists hyped their latest song by bringing their record to the radio station. I think in 2009 you would be hard-pressed to find a turntable in most major market stations. Just as I think there will be fewer and fewer KJs at decent venues you would actually want to sing that can accommodate discs.

It's really not difficult to rip CD+G to a digital format and throw it on a jump drive. One jump drive can probably hold hundreds of digital karaoke songs. I'm sure many here can tell you how it's done, if it's not already posted somewhere in the archives.

With all due respect, if I had a long line of customers waiting at my ice cream shop which offered 10,000 flavors and you wanted the one flavor I didn't have, but brought the flavoring in a jar and wanted me to take the time to hand mix it for you, I'd probably serve the next person in line.

That's not to say to compromise on the songs you want to sing, but at least make it easy for the KJ to say yes.

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[font=Lucida Console]DangerousKaraoke.com[/font]
[font=Lucida Console]"Sing for the day, sing for the moment, sing for the time of your life!"[/font]

If it is that big a deal that you have to get a specific song to visit a karaoke venue that you are only going to see once (on vacation or whatever) you need to open up your options and learn more songs.

A lot of karaoke people sing songs on a whim without practice. That is the whole excitement of it. If you cant try a new song with a bunch of strangers that you have no need to impress, I really think it is an issue with the singer not the KJ.

Sure if you have a favorite show that you go to regularly you can and should arrange to find a way to sing your favorite song, either through buying a song or asking the KJ to buy it, but for a show you are just visiting???

I think we had a poll here recently where most of the KJs admitted to singing well over 100 different songs. If the new show you are visiting does not have ANY of those songs, well try another or dont sing. If a venue has none of the songs I like it is probably too different from my comfort zone musically for me to want to sing there.

If you want to get the feel for a different show, try some of the songs that they have because the music taste may be different from what you are used to. You may take a good memory back and learn some songs you can then like.

For my show I have 80-90% regulars who are happy with my songs, and when they want new ones they come to me to get them. I have enough regulars that I don't need to change my setup for a very rare visitor that wants to sing their own song. In fact a very common complaint by the regulars is the NON regulars singing and extending the rotation to over 30 people long.

As a visiting KJ, I feel it is very different from being a singer. I think other KJs might find it rude and condecending to bring your own CDs to another KJ's show.

Some places bringing in CDs or songs might be the norm, but in others it is unusual.

To make the assumption that it should be the norm (when apparently it is not for many venues) is a bit much.

As a KJ I visit other shows to see how they run, not to impose my views on them. That includes what songs they "should have" or what equipment they should have at their shows.

If a karaoke show really is running karaoke with a long rotation they are getting something right. The only thing that will make me leave karaoke instantly is realizing the rotation is only 2-3 singers long most of the night. I figure such places have little to teach.

A KJ can be the worst type of singer, I try not to be one.

Recently, I went to a new show (a few miles from where I live). I saw a listing on CL and decided to check it out with a friend. I never met the KJ before, so I contacted her before the show and asked if she could play personal CDGs or if she was strictly PC operated. She told me the latter. Well, I decided to check out her show anyway. It was in a decent restaurant/Bar in West Harlem. The food was good, and the drinks were very reasonably priced. My Karaoke experience was half-half.

On the plus side, she listed Manu codes next to her songs. The KJ told me that she did not list duplicates in her library, but to ask, and she could look it up. She also said that what she listed was (in her opinion) the best version of a song. I was able to find enough songs to satisfy my whims, but some of the versions were not to my likings. For example, one of the songs I sang during the night was "Dentist" from "Little Shop of Horrors." This was on a SC version, and it was horrible. The timing was all wrong. I had asked her if she had the PS version, and she didn't. Another song that I sang was "I Wanna Talk About Me" by Toby Keith. She had this listed on a SC version too. I had asked for the THM vesion, and she pulled that one up, but, she had a problem with it, so she had to switch it to the SC version. That one was pretty much as good as the other version.



What I described above is a perfect example of what I mean by wanting to sing from my discs. This has NOTHING TO DO with trying to impress a bunch of strangers (as is the case in this instance). It has EVERYTHING to do with my enjoyment. It's one thing to try new songs. Then it doesn't matter much to me which version I sing, because I have never tried it before. BUT, when picking a song that I already know (from singing it before on a specific Manu version), then, if I can't enjoy the song I am singing (because this version is different), why even bother? Musical taste is one thing. I have been to a few places where I won't do Broadway songs because the vibe I get from the place shows a different musical taste. That's fine and dandy, because I can sing other types of music. When I go out to bars in the Downtown Phili area, I don't sing songs like "The Pussycat Song" or "Kev's Courting Song" or even "The Cat's in the Kettle" because I know the crowd doesn't go for it. That's fine too... same thing applies (that I have other songs I can sing). But, it still comes back to what Manu version that song is on (which has nothing to do with musical taste).




But, if I'm not a Regular at your show, and I like it, I might become a Regular at your show. If you can go that extra step for your Regulars (in obtaining new music for them), what are you willing to do to accommodate me (now I've gone and reversed the direction of my own topic thread)?

I disagree with it being rude or condescending to bring your own discs to another show.

Most singers, whether kjs or not, WANT to sound good when they sing, be entertaining, and NOT have to worry if a bad version (think nutech/midi) is going to get in the way of that performance that can benefit everyone there, NOT JUST "inconveiencing" the kj by putting a disc in a player to GIVE BETTER SERVICE.

I believe a good business person will do what's necessary to build their business and offer as many necessary services as possible and as needed. Some of the BEST shows and kjs are people that smartly try to get better; better equipment, sound, mics, song versions, hosting skills, banter, etc.... WHILE a lot of kjs remain the SAME and have no claim to fame outside of their own venue!

Dr. Fred, you DON'T have any singers that bring discs to your shows you have said. If a few new money-spending potential clients brought in a discs and told you they would return as regulars, would you NOT then try to offer that service? MOST people with cdgs usually sing BETTER, in my opinon, since they have more access to practice those songs and they have invested money to buy those discs.

WHEN did this all of a sudden happen? NOT providing a means for someone to sing a song they like, especially if they went out and bought the darn discs. THIS is what karaoke shows should aspire to have; good singers that spend money and are entertaining to everyone.

KURT made a lot of excellent points in his reply btw.

I get visiting fellow kj's all the time at my show. And yep, they sometimes bring their own discs. NOT a problem. I will happily play any disc for anyone. It's just good customer service. Whether they be regulars or visitors, makes no difference. If however a visitor becomes a regular, and brings their discs with them each time, I will make sure at a very soon point in time that I have bought the songs they like and add them to my collection. Also good customer service. Thats exactly how we built clientele and collections.

But on the other hand, if they are bringing their discs just to brag about how many songs they have, I just look at them in disgust, but will still play their songs.

I go out to shows where a lot of us bring our own personal CDGs... and most of these people are NOT KJs themselves.

As a (part time) KJ myself, I take no offense whatsoever in someone handing me their own personal disc to sing from. It adds to their enjoyment of the show (which is what it's all about... the Singer's enjoyment).

As a KJ visiting at another KJ's show (which, technically speaking, I guess is all of the time for me when I go out), I'm not telling them how to run their show. I'm not there as a KJ. I'm there as a Singer. I'm only asking them if they can play my discs. There's a big difference there in what you are implying. For some of you (as you have posted before), that just doesn't happen at your show, or it's very rare when it does happen. For others here, it happens all of the time.

I don't understand how bringing my own discs makes me "the worst kind of singer" (and what does it matter whether I'm a KJ or not?).

??? I have gone to places locally and been out of state on vacation and had this happen. I don't understand why it is such a big deal but I suppose that is because no one around here brings their own discs to a show anyway and not something we are accustomed to. We suck it up and sing whatever the KJ has in his library. ....and I have certainly blown a few songs that way just as I have also found a few new ones out there that I could sing.....and never would have thought to sing them. Most important thing, we still had a lot of fun on those nights so I could care less if someone could play discs for me or not.

I DREAD the day when singers have to use the laptop screen to sing off of, share ONE microphone to perform duets, listen out of ONE speaker, and cant bring in their own songs to perform because a KJ is either too lazy, too cheap, or to blind to see that providing services to entice and KEEP their customers is HOW you become even MORE successful.

disclaimer- just my opinion, but it has some common sense to it.

If you don't need to provide it regularly because there is no need for it like Dr. Fred's show, fine, but 99% of the shows i've ever attended accomodated discs and they STILL sell discs, so why wolud this service change? To benefit ONLY the KJ!!!!!?? RIDICULOUS!

#1 - If you're a KJ and you don't work in a "tourist" town I think you wuld be hard pressed to hook any type of protable drive to your system. Maybe that's just me but NO WAY will I take a strangers usb drive and connect to my laptop.
#2) To combat this problem maybe some of the HOSTING PROGRAMS designers will pick up on this problem and build in some sort of virsu scan feature so a KJ can quickly scan any portable drives. ( hint )

Cue - for your own protection you should "rip" all your cdg to your drive so you have them. Then its just a matter of copy and paste to bring them with you .

The times are changing and although I don't PLAY CUSTOMER CDGS this is a great BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY for those that DO. They should promote this fact and will get more and more singers like yourself

JAM i agree with the USB drives and the potential hazards of such, but to refrain from playing discs sounds a bit business-suicidal to me if you may lose customers.

Granted, a lot of "singers" can and will choose from a kjs books to accomodate the lack-of disc-playing, and a lot of so-so singers who are out to just party and drink and don't care about the quality of their singing very much, BUT there are a heck-of-alot MORE in my experience that want to SOUND GOOD with their practice discs as well as Party And Drink and have a good time.

BUT give them EVERYTHING and they'll more than likely have a GREAT TIME!

I always take my own discs to a show, whether I have been there before or not. However, at a new venue, I will sing a song from the KJ's collection first, before asking if the KJ is willing to play my own CD for my next song.

If the KJ is unwilling to use my disc, I will usually just select other songs from the book and stay for the evening. But that is entirely dependent on the attitude of the KJ and the selection they have. In most cases I will not return to that venue. For me, a large part of the enjoyment of karaoke is singing the songs I like to sing in the arrangements I prefer as well as listening to others singing the songs they enjoy singing (ok, not in ALL cases ). If the KJ cannot extend to me that service, then his/her business is not one that I am willing to support.

Now, to answer the question posed in this thread's title, if there were no venue anywhere that would play my disc, I would be willing to discontinue attending karaoke shows altogether. This has nothing to do with me not being flexible enough to sing songs from the KJ's book or singing new songs. It has everything to do with enjoying the activities I partake in.