Karaoke Forums

My rig is very tidy. I use a 6ft giraffe goalpost stand, so it basically creates a worksurface,, storage area and lighting rig. All cables are run along the corner of kickboards and taped into place, all cable-mess is hidden behind a starcloth.

If nothing else, I consider it safer.

Johnny it's a no pressure, have a blast, (@$%&#!) kick sound system, great selection, don't give a damn what yo sound like show. With real beer.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

If that was my first impression seeing the Host looking like that when I first walked in I would think the worst was yet to come, but if the host proved herself through the night as being professional in all other aspects I wouldn't care.

Some people just don't realize appearance is important, but that doesn't mean they aren't good at their jobs. All the other aspects of the job are more important to me than appearance when attending a show. But I have to say a bad first impression makes me think they're going to be bad at everything else.

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

I guess I'm the only one on here that goes to karaoke in DIVES, and SPORTS BARS, because with some of the HOSTS, and setups I've SEEN, this one isn't THAT BAD. Again, I look at the SHOW, and the CONDITION of the equipment. If the host has all of their wires TUCKED, but when you go up to sing, the holder on the mic stand is broke, the mic is hanging down, the screen on the mic is FULL of dents, the HOST looks like they need to wash their hair, the books look like somebody threw up on them the night before, not to mention that the video monitor keeps CHANGING COLORS, THEN you might not think this lady is doing too bad!!! HECK, I've seen duct tape used to hold the screen on the mic, AND to cover a BIG crack in the top of the monitor. WOW, I guess now that I look at it, I have been SLUMMING!!!!


Srnitynow

Rule number one, never judge a book by it's cover. I'm sure most of us have known a "pretty boy or girl" who looked great but was the worst employee you've ever seen.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

Listen..the truth is this ...It doesn't take much effort to clean that table up a little
Of couese for appearances but As a KJ I would be more concerned with some one getting hooked or pulling one of thos cords.

You don't need a fancy skirt and all hidden wires ..But a little common sense is needed. You don't were a TUX to a BAR and you wouldn't wear JEANS to most weddings. Common Sense !!!!!

Tuck those wires in a little

We are entertainers.

You must remember that a big portion of all our songbooks involve artists that either look like they just got out of prison or are homeless.

For many of these people their apperance either did not hurt them or actually was expected for their music style.

Now there are exceptions and many well dressed professional musicians exist but I would say the a lot are trainwrecks appearance wise, many even when they have plenty of cash to dress better.

Now getting a KJ to dress up like a banker may work some places, and certainly it is sometimes expected, but I would look with suspicion at a band that dressed like that, and was not playing at an old folks home or wedding.

I think we're probably all guilty at one time or another of judging someone by first impression. If I walked into a place and saw a well dressed host that was in his 50s or up with the prettiest setup ever I'd assume he knew what he was doing. But I've learned that isn't always the case. I get judged because I'm a girl all the time. Guys assume I'm a ditsy blond they can push around. NOT !

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

I sound like sh!t
I look like sh!t,
And yes, Virginia....sometimes I even smell like sh!t.....never thought that my kids would wait to have kids, so that me and my grandsons would be in diapers at the same time.........
Any other whines, Danny Boy....

As for me, neatness counts. I guess I'm old school. I try to dress nice; pressed pants, nice dress shirt, shined shoes, and I work in a bar. I just want to look like a professional. When I set up, there is not a wire showing anywhere. Everything is hidden. I realize you should not judge a book by it's cover, but also, don't forget first impressions count. When I see a setup like in the picture above, I figure the operator just doen't care, or just won't spend the money to look professional. Then again, I'm 62, and probably just a grouchy old man.

And Johnny, did we really need all that profanity?

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My first choice IS Sound Choice.

On my bar nights, setting up and taking down are reduced to the minimal amount to get the thing set up cleanly, and safely. Exposed wires really isn't a big concern to me, the bar or my singers.

That said, when I do a private gig... especially weddings, I take the time to put a cover over the back... and wear a suit!

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Good music, good friends, howling good times!

I don't know how we got off on a tangent on how we're dressed, vs. wires hanging out all over your rig. Apples and oranges. There's no doubt that you want to dress according to the type of venue in which you're playing. I'm not wearing a jacket and tie to a sports bar. You don't want to make your customers feel uncomfortable.

However, I'm not going to wear a T-shirt and ratty jeans either. Sure, some musicians might. But I'm not a musician. If there's any parallel, I'm closer to the venue's service personnel: bartenders, waitresses, etc. Chances are if the place doesn't have a uniform or vest that all employees wear, they still dress pretty sharp. It comes back to having respect for your customers.

What about this? Consider it might be more likely you'll get referrals for high-paying private events with an attractive rig - or at least one without wires hanging out all over. I'm performing for several hundred people a week at my bars. I might be less likely to go to my boss who's planning the annual Christmas party and recommend a KJ who looks like he pulled a bunch of gear out of his living room and plopped it on a folding table.

It's a no-brainer that no matter how your gear looks, it has to work. Consistent gear breakdowns and show delays will generate complaints that could lose you the gig altogether. I guess I was just appalled that anyone representing themselves as a professional karaoke host (this company does 3 nights a week at this venue with different hosts) would think it's OK to appear this way front and center on stage under spotlights.

Your mileage may vary. Thanks all for the feedback!

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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]

I got us started on dress early on in the thread because:

whether you speak about how an entertainer dresses

or you speak about cabling

or you speak about wires that people can trip over


YOU ARE SPEAKING OF APPEARANCES OR THE VISUAL IMPRESSIONS YOUR SHOW CREATES

i don't think it's a big deal. You can have your "appearance" very well organized and suck as a KJ. Plus by the looks of that pic the lady doesn't have much given to her anyways.... a table with a cloth? really? some people can get away with the messy cables because they have a nicer area to work with and can hide it. .

I try to keep my cables neat and tucked away. Of course, working for a wire harness manufacturer, I custom make all mine to fit the rig so there is no scraggly loops anywhere and the set up is arranged the same everywhere I go. The only difference is when I need more than two speakers at larger outdoor events. Then cables are spread out wherever they need to go. I do know one car show DJ who built his rig into an old camper trailer. Everything is stored into it and really looks sharp. Looks like a control center he sits in and even has a folding tent top in case of inclement weather. As far as sitting or standing, I sit (most of my shows are eight hour affairs) on a tall shop stool. I do however wander the show grounds thanking people for coming. I generally wear black jeans, clean sneakers, t-shirt with a festive shirt over it. (Car related Hawaiian shirt)

I shower and use deodorant.

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

My take is that the whole overall presentation reflects upon me and my business. Not tidying it all up represents a "I can't be bothered" attitude to me, and that's not me.

Each to their own however.

For example, I currently have a beard (well trimmed), and yet have people telling me that I look unprofessional. I personally think I always look smart and take pride in my appearance.

Granted appearance can be deceiving. And one might impress by varying means.

I, for one, always make a second effort to insure all appearances are as professional as I can possible make them. The remaining effort rests solely upon my talent.

You never get a second chance to make a first impression

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EveningStar Entertainment & Events
JR & Michele LaPorte
Peoria, AZ

Dang. That would work:)

Cables/cords are a big deal to me, I think that photo looks tacky as hell. I can't even stand when my hubby runs our surround sound at home and those tiny little cords show, trailing all over the place (ruining my wall decor) ... I make him route them under carpet, or along the ceiling, or better yet, paint them to match the wall. I hate cords and cables showing at all.

Make or break a show? No. But it looks more professional if a KJ/DJ takes that extra little bitty step to make their "area" look nice and tidy. And as a KJ/DJ, I'd think you'd want them tucked out of reach of drunken idiots anyhow.

(that's all I had in my pocket, Lol)

.

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♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥

On this same subject, but off on a side topic, you know those plastic clips that go on the banquet tables that have the velcro on them and they anchor the table skirt to it? Anyone know what they are called and where a person might buy a bunch of them? The OP's pic shows a KJ that obviously was given a table with a full tablecloth rather than a topper with a skirt in which to tuck those wires behind. I'm thinking ahead here and would love to purchase some of those clip thingy's so I can just take them with me to my fancier gigs (or maybe even my bar gigs if it works) and then voila! I can whip them out if they don't have them already and cover my wires and anything else that needs hiding (my legs!).
This way, I can custom make my own skirts and have plain white or even one with my logo or what have you.... Just bring the skirt that suits the occasion!