Karaoke Forums

Just a quick survey on the reason we go to other shows as a KJ.

I excluded the "visit friend KJs or get to know other kjs", or try to steal the venue as a future site for your shows.

I generally don't go to other shows due to my working 5 nights a week & usually amend Sat & Sun for family time or with my wife. On the rare occasion I do get to go out it is strictly to socialize anymore.
On that note, there is always a little piece in the back of my head that does watch the show dynamics, but that is not the reason I go.

_________________
LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

I go to sing!

But as a KJ I can't completely ignore noticing how the show's host handles the crowd, their gear, their books, etc.

One thing: I never ever introduce myself to the KJ as a fellow host. I could never understand why some other KJs feel the need to do that! Do they think they'll get preferential treatment or seek to intimidate the host into giving them some special attention?

Since I'll only do the first song of the night in my shows - and never drink alcohol - I appreciate a place where I can sing and sing, have a cocktail or two (or three!) and not have to worry about tearing down at the end of the night.

_________________
[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]

BIG difference between going to a show and RUNNING a show... need that break every now and then.

We work six nights a week so it's been a while since I've been to another show.

As for introducing myself? Why not. It's good to meet other professionals in your field, whether it is karaoke, medical, plumbing or what have you. A time to be somewhat social (realizing the host IS running a show, do some shoptalk and other interests. Dan you make it sound like other hosts are gunning for your show or wanting special treatment. Sounds a tad paranoid to me.

_________________
You can be strange but not a stranger

Poor way to phrase your question....

I don't go to other shows as a KJ. I go as a Customer who wants to sing.
I do not introduce myself (other than by writing my name on the song request slip) unless the KJ approaches me and introduces him/herself first. I will approach the KJ to ask if he/she can play my personal discs, but nowhere does the fact that I am a KJ myself come into that conversation.

As far as judging how the show is run, I have been doing that for many years before I became a KJ myself. That will never change. I know what I like in a show, and what I don't like, and that HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH the fact that I am a KJ.... PERIOD!!!

I just go for karaoke and maybe hang-out with a favorite KJ. Thats all.

Oh-------------and if Im out on assignment doing a magazine story.

_________________
"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

When I go to another KJ's show its usually because I don't have a gig that night and we (my wife and I) want to go out and do something we enjoy. I go to sing, period. Sometimes I'll take the opportunity to network with another KJ but usually I don't even mention that I'm a KJ too.

Now that said I will say (and this isn't ego talking or me being snobby although it will porbably sound that way) but I have a hard time going to other KJ's shows. When I hear a rig that isn't being run well (i.e. clipping, serious need of EQ adjustment, etc) I have a hard time enjoying the show. It's very difficult for me to avoid saying something to the KJ about what they could do to correct their issues, however I never would because that's not my place to say unless I've been invited to do so.

There are a few KJ's in our area who do a good enough job that I can tolerate the mix. I have yet to find one who's mix I'm truly happy with. Much of that I'm sure is me being overly critical and a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to this stuff. But as long as the mix isn't offensive to my ears or causing me a headache, I can have a good time and just enjoy it for what it is. It does always fascinate me to see the different ways in which KJ's host their shows and I do like to learn things from other KJ's shows, but that's definitely secondary to just trying to go out and have a good time watching other singers and singing some songs myself.

_________________
DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

I go to sing!

Like Dan, I can't help but notice how the show is run. Since, like Lonman, I work 5 nights a week when I do go out it's to a show I know is good. For this reason, more often than not, I come away with great ideas for my own show.

I never introduce myself as a KJ... there really is no need to. The KJs I go to come to my show too, and most of the singers already know me. Its a real blast to walk into a bar I've NEVER been into before and have a room full of friends. Is there anything better?

_________________
Good music, good friends, howling good times!

It's rare I go to other people's shows, but when I do, it's to sing.
I don't usually say anything about being a KJ, but if the KJ is friendly and has time to start a conversation with us I may say something.

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

Gotta be honest, I want to know what others are doing, especially at the type of venues I'd like to get. I want to get ideas for popular songs to add to my library or as DJ dance tracks. I want to hear their 'banter' between songs. Only by checking up on the competition can I catch up with / stay ahead of them, sometimes I'll pick up on aspects of their show which they do better than me, other times I'm reassured! I also like to see other people's rig / set up to see if there are ways I can streamline my set up / tear down procedures.

I do occasionally get to sing songs that are no longer available for me to buy since the disc is out of print.

Jonn

We don't get to many other shows but our own but we keep wanting to get out and see what's out there. We make a pilgrimage to the show where we used to live to visit friends. We will also attend our friend's show to support it.

If we are busy then I don't sing at our show but if I have to fill in I feel limited to the oldies/country that our crowd likes. When we visit other shows that is my opportunity to sing my weird stuff. That way I just drive away their customers instead of ours.

I don't usually introduce myself as a KJ either - the last time I did that it was as a professional courtesy and to match a face to a name -- the KJ didn't recognize me anyway. I never do it for preferential treatment, I do it as a professional courtesy - and as a potential networking opportunity. Why be afraid to do that? I don't get that at all.

There are a lot of postings lately that are really bringing out some interesting traits that people have, the least of not which is some sort of paranoia. Why would I mind if a KJ came in to my show? I love to talk shop, and am happy to compare shows with other hosts.

I go out to sing basically, and hope for some modicum of civility whether the KJ knows I'm a host or not. In my area many singers recognize me as a KJ though the host may not necessarily know or recognize me.

Here are a few reasons why I don't introduce myself as a KJ most of the time:
1. If I'm out singing, I'm there to have fun not talk shop
2. I don't want to KJ's knowledge that I'm a peer to cause them to treat me differently (positively or negatively)
3. Most of the time I don't see any reason I should tell them (what difference does it make)
4. I don't want them to wonder if I have some ulterior motive for being at their show (I have had 1 or 2 that have come to my shows to try and lure away singers or snag the show itself).


I don't think it's a paranoia thing.

_________________
DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

I' haven't been in a position to do this since I started hosting but in January I will. Actually I have twice and both times I have introduced myself. I keep it very friendly and both times we exchanged contact info.

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

I had to say both -- I still enjoy to go sing and not worry about anything, but also I feel like I still have plenty to learn about what works and what doesn't work at karaoke. I always introduce myself to the host as a fellow karaoke host out of professional courtesy. I don't want any favors, I just don't want them to be worrying about what I'm up to when I visit their shows.

I've been to some shows that I thought were pretty bad where I still walked away with something useful either in what the KJ does or does not do. Maybe some day I'll feel like I've learned it all, but I'm definitely not there yet.

I primarily go to sing and DANCE and to have a drink with friends to loosen up. There's one venue closeby that has a much bigger dancefloor and i can sing songs at her show and dance simultaneously along with many others, that i can't perform at my own shows. Ya know...Old School R&B disco/funky stuff that won't fly at my own shows!

I have to clarify. I do definitely try to have fun at other people's shows.

I don't necesaraly go and talk shop or even tell a KJ I am a fellow KJ right off the back (although it might come up if we get in a longer conversation). This is with the exception of identifying myself to a KJ that I have met online and comunicated with previously.

I really try to observe what is different (rotation, banter style, equipment etc) and see how the crowd reacts. I know some of the things that go over well at one show I may not be able to replicate at mine. But also going to another show as a customer helps me see flaws that might exist in my own shows....

To be truly honest this is what came to mind for me - From what I've experienced 90% of the time if I have some one hand me a slip for the first time and they go on & on about being a singer in a band or that they have been a KJ, they are trying to make themselves sound good and are full of crap. I can almost count on the fact they can't sing or have any knowledge of the business. Of course I am not including people who have visited me from KS. I would expect them to introduce themselves that is something completely different. Usually the people who are truly KJs or real singers in a band hold off on telling me til maybe later in the night or it comes out in conversation with them on a later date.

That is why I am shy to say anything when I go somewhere else. I don't want the KJ to think I'm one of those people.

Another reason a lot of times I don't say anything is because the KJ is very unapproachable. There's nothing worse than trying to talk to a KJ that acts like your wasting their time or they think you're after their job. Aaarg! I personally don't look at other KJs as a threat, but more as comrads. I've found I can't expect them to feel the same way I do. That's why I'm cautious.

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

Figured a bump on this thread was called for since I visited toqer's show this week! Why did I visit....

1. Somewhere I could catch the light rail back to my in-laws so I didn't drunk drive (got away with it last year but it was absolutely the most stupid thing I have ever done)

2. See the famous 7bamboo that I had read about 4 years earlier and watched streaming!

3. See the pretty much fully automated 'hands off' setup with 2 kiosks in action and how well it worked.

4. Chat about poop, piracy and other KJ concerns.

I recommend visiting the show when in San Jose (or close to). I think you can always learn things from another show. Some things wouldn't be what I'd do or just wouldn't work in my bars but other things toqer had going were eye openers for me (and I still consider myself nicely tech savvy!)

Jonn

P.S. Y'all are welcome to visit my shows in the Austin area anytime!