Karaoke Forums

So, we're not speaking about an art from here when discussing karaoke singers?

Your viewpoint, Mcky is interesting to me because I surely don't consider karaoke to be an art form but I applaud people coming up to sing when that is the "convention" at the show where I am in attendance. If no one applauds a singer approaching the stage, I surely do not!

I do what I want to do. I am not interested in perpetuating a convention I am not in favor of. If appropriate, it will be strong enough to survive the lack of me.

I will confess I sometimes don't applaud artists who perform for pay, either. If I know them and have been anticipating their performance with enthusiasm, I do. But if not, why would I applaud? They haven't done anything yet.

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Some of my favorite introductions go like this:

"You know how every once in a while a singer comes to karaoke, and they are so good, and they totally blow you away? Well she's not here tonight, but in her place we do have Mary Lou singing ..................."

"Mary Lou, you really kicked that one in the a$$. Speaking of a$$, our next singer is ........................"

"That was Bill singing I Like Big Butts, speaking of big butts .......................

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My first choice IS Sound Choice.

That's funny, I really like this one

Oh, Skid Rowe--I can see my boyfriend stealing every one of those. May even replace, "She's blonde, she's beautiful, she's a b......."

Yes I will steal them, thanks! I throw stuff like that in during the night. One guy looks like Kenny Rogers so I will refer to him as his cousin or brother. Other times I will make up a bio when I don't know the person and just lie through my teeth about them.

Keep the idea's coming!

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Kevin

I've never seen applause for a singer when they've been called up.

I think this topic has brought out some interesting things. It seems we have a few different types of venues here. I would think the more formal venues would have maybe applause before the singer and a more touristy venue would benefit from an intro. ( It's neat knowing where people are from if most of your patrons are travelers. )

Many times on busy nights I'm just calling up a singer and calling out their exit for applause. I have to keep it moving because there are so many singers. Most everyone already knows everyone, so intros aren't necessary. I actually discourage anyone from giving a speech or their own intro on the mic before they sing if they don't ask first. In my experience what they usually want to say is inappropriate anyway. A long speech about their friend who just passed that no one knows is not necessary. Saying this song is for so & so because they were a dear friend that just passed, is fine.

Regulars know what the social norm is to speak on the mic or not, so it usually isn't a problem. My pet peeve is someone that asks everyone in the bar what they want them to sing or yells out do you want to hear this song or that one. That is just a waste of time and dead air.

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

Applause for the approaching singer is common in my neck of the woods. But, as you noted, when the rotation is inundated you have to keep moving. If there is applause under such conditions it would likely be self-motivated by the audience rather than by the KJ!

Sometimes the two actually run together. As people are applauding after I've just said "let's here it for so & so" I'm calling up the next singer.

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

I admit i do sometimes solicit a pre-performance applause by saying "Let's welcome up our next singer, first time singing tonight...Babs!"

I do this to make them feel welcome and to bring light to the fact it's a BRAND NEW singer, and their friend(s) usually jump on the wagon and maKe noise and the crowd soon follows suit. It raises the energy of the room and gets everyones attention.

And sometimes a visually nervous singer approaches the stage and i'll ask the audience to make them "feel welcome and sing along from their seats, as so-and-so feels a little nervous". That usually works.....definately at my venues.

I have to say I've done an introduction for a newbie for everyone to welcome them.

I'm fortunate that my regulars are kind enough to sing a long when they see someone struggle. It helps the singer feel more comfortable when they see everyone rooting for them.

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

Here's BRUCE!

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KingBing Entertainment C'mon Up! I have a song for you!!! [font=MS Sans Serif][/font]

Bruce, you're up. Bad when the singer's name is Chuck: "You're Upchuck"

Babs,
Are you saying someone will stand at the mic and ask the bar which song to sing, and make you wait on the crowds decision, and then you load that song? If that's the case, that's total BS. It should be a pet peeve. I would say they apparently aren't singing this round because they don't have "A" song picked for this rotation.

I forgot my disclaimer.

I have index cards on all my regulars, most of them have me pick their songs when they come up to sing, unless they are singing something new. I usually have their song picked out for them before they come up. Many of them have over 100 songs on their lists. I don't turn off the mics unless it's a person I see a potential problem with and that is usually not a regular. But I have one guy that loves to come up and say "What should I sing?". Easily cured by waiiting 2 seconds for dead air while the audience says nothing than I cue the song.

It's very rare, but a few times I've had the pet peeve of them asking the audience which song, this or that. Aaarg! Last time it happened the audience was actually into the idea, so no big deal. I find it usually makes the singer look immature and egotistical, so no one responds. Now I'm talking about long time regulars, so I'm careful what I say to them about it. They just get caught up in the moment and really don't mean any harm, so when it happens once in a blue moon I don't make a huge deal out of it.

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

That's a big, "Depends on the singer"

Are they a regular? Do I know them personally?

I vary my intro like this:

- Lets get john out of his bar stool and up to the mic
- Come on down sue! You're up next
- Ed is next on the mic

A regular might get:

- Alllllriiiigt lets get the lovely and talented Rosie to the microphone

And so forth. If it's a common name like mike or dave I like to add a last initial.

For a couple of my serious regulars I've created "place cards" for them. i.e. I've created a graphic with their picture and add a music bit which I attach to one of the quick buttons in compuhost.

For example, I've got a guy named John K who sings a lot of classic rock... and while a good singer he tends over hold long notes. I had this picture I'd taken of him really rockin into the mic in his leather jacket... I attached that to the into to "Round about" by Yes with the word "Howlin John K!" and a rock N Roll logo. When I call him, I hit the button. He likes it because he knows when his turn comes up no matter where he is... and he's a crowd pleaser so everybody knows its John's turn.

Another guy singer of mine came to halloween dressed like a cheerleader... hilarious... and I got a picture... sooooo I made a place card of him and attached "Dude looks like a lady" by Areosmith. Gets a laugh everytime he's into'd.

I have more, but you get the idea.

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Good music, good friends, howling good times!