Karaoke Forums

Okay, so must admit straight off the bat that I had to drink for three hours between the time work ended and the show started so I am probably in that state that JR Reynolds gets into and wishes later he didn't post.

BUT attended a karaoke show tonight and I just don't get it. The singer had to stand behind the speakers and there was no monitor. I knew I was in trouble right off the bat when the first guy, who was known as an excellent singer, sounded too loud and weird. I walked up to near where he was singing and reported back to my table that I was going to be in trouble--"Can't hear yourself." I'm not that good but I can fake it if I can hear myself.

Song book was thick and double columns but required a microscope to read it. It was reinforced with gorilla tape. No slips in the book but there was a page on how to fill them out. Went up and asked what I was missing and was given a cut up piece of paper and a pen. Couldn't find any Amy Winehouse or new Pink or Kings of Leon or anything to impress my day job coworkers who were hearing me for the first time. Settled on "Zoot Suit Riot" because I can do it in my sleep in a most sinister way that befits a song about sailors beating up Hispanics and vice versa. Except I couldn't hear myself so I am sure I really blew it. I missed several lines because I stepped away from the lyrics monitor trying to get in front of the speakers and hear.

So I did my song and threw my arms around and tried to rev it up as best as possible even though I was miserable and we left which meant there was now the host and one singer plus another table looking at the books. Up until then the place was standing room only with people waiting for tables. Once karaoke started it cleared to three tables and that was BEFORE I started singing so it wasn't my fault.

So these people have a great website and jobs all over and we have one night a week in a dive and we have new songs and strive to make it easy on the singers and we go the extra mile to put on a good show. I'm beginning to think it is our sales skills that are lacking. We really should start thinking we are offering something better or else should start making out on stage or whatever so we can get as many jobs as the other people

Very ironic that you ask why. I am asking myself why. Went to a going concern of a casino near to me. Heard they had started karaoke again. Figured I"d go and check it out, as I am prone to do. Walk in...they're ON THE FLOOR instead of the big wonderful stage. Okay, figure maybe there's something on the stage. Nope, nothing on the stage. As it is a tribal casino, the crowd swells and ebbs for the entire time we're there (knowing that people are not there for HER but because there is karaoke - it's a huge bar with a huge stage, lighting, etc.) Host has a relatively small book -- heard she is a singer for a popular band that has at times frequented this casino, even though we're a good 60-70 miles from her home base.

I ask who I should hand my info to - and find that the sound man is DOING HER SOUND! He is an independent contractor who does sound but she HAS TO HAVE SOMEONE DO HER SOUND? She's got a pair of 15" Yammies and subs ...

Anyway, get up and sing ... "Angel from Montgomery" as that was the first and one of the few songs that I sing that is in her book -- and I sing hundreds of songs (didn't take music with me tonight).... See a few people who come to my show there ... their first time, too (they've only just restarted karaoke at the beginning of Dec).

Okay, so after beverage hag tells me she has nothing to do with booking entertainment, I ask the sound dude - whom I mistook for host's husband or something as he hovered behind her ... Who do I give my info to in the event that this person doesn't last (or can't make it, or whatever)...not that I'm trying to scoop the gig, just want to get them my info in case she doesn't work out. Sound guy tells me she is a "a favorite" here - to which I respond isn't she from out of town and just started here at the beginning of the month? and isn't the bulk of the crowd just walk-ins, not regular karaoke singers?

Anyway, I'm scratching my head....she puts a block of new singers at the end of the rotation....then at 11 p.m. she says she's running out of time, says she has another block of new singers....at which time everyone who came in when I did proceeded to get up and walk out....I don't understand this method...

Another venue where people go not because of the host and often IN SPITE of the host. I won't go back, certainly won't recommend it to anyone, but the crowd that goes to the casino will be there whether or not it is good...and once again, I question, do I take this all too seriously? Do they care that I have a great selection, that I can do sound in my sleep, that I have a huge following of really great singers, and that I'm close enough that I can do a weeknight show until 1:30 -- the place was PACKED at 11 p.m. and obviously these people were planning on staying until well past the 12:00 witching hour...

Karen, you KNOW the answer to that question as well as I. NO THEY DONT CARE. Obviously at this place Karaoke is nothing more than a GIMMICK. Its cheaper than a bandand somthing they can just hire for LITTLE and leave it on AUTOPILOT and forget about doing anything to IMPROVE IT. THEY DONT CARE---Much like the place down the street from my house in the other thread. NO THEY DONT CARE. Karaoke is a CHEAP ALTERNATIVE to paying a band. Its little more than a gimmick, NOT looked at as a SERIOUS form of entertainment.

_________________
"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

Don't know if this pertains to your area, but I wondered the SAME thing in my area. I have better equipment, people that have come to our show ALWAYS compliment us on such a GREAT show, BUT, all we get are fill-ins. So I started to disect the other shows, and came up with this. The other hosts (good or bad) have been around longer than us. Equipment, OURS is FAR superior in every way. Expertise in using equipment, the other hosts may know ALOT, but don't care, they turn it on, set it, THAT'S IT, EVERYBODY gets the same mix. I'm by no stretch of the imagination a (sound tech), as most of you know, as I've learned pretty much EVERYTHING from advise given to me on this forum, and hours upon hours trying to PERFECT my skills. As I said, when we do a show, we get nothing but PRAISE. SOOOO, hers's the catch (I think). We charge the same amount as everyone in our area, plus a small drink allowance. We don't SPEND any of OUR money while at the show, as we are NOT big drinkers. A couple shots of Rumplemintz, and maybe one drink each. So when we leave, we get our FULL PAY. The other hosts are LUCKY if they walk out with $50 bucks. Either the host, or their boyfriend, or girlfriend are sucking them down like there's NO TOMORROW. So, what is it costing the bar? Basically, they are working for a BAR TAB, because they are giving the money right back. We're in this to make some money to pay for all our equipment, not drink away ALL the profits, so at the end of the night, the bar manager has to shell out CASH. As we all know, that is their worst nightmare. Just MY opinion, I may be wrong.

Rosario
Serenity Now Karaoke

Entertainment in a casino is an interesting phenomenon actually. Honestly, it's not a gimmick, it's a distraction. Casinos provide lounge bands or other entertainment (like Karaoke) not as a way of bringing in people but rather as a way of keeping them in the Casino. The last thing the Casino wants is a band or entertainer that's going to keep people in the bar rather than out on the floor gambling. So catering to regulars makes no sense in their case. The goal is to distract folks who have grown tired of losing their money on the floor just long enough so that they start thinking about and ultimately go back out and keep gambling.

Generally the budget for that type of entertainment is extremely tight. The Casino views it as an expense, not a revenue generating activity. They make more money from people gambling on the floor than they could ever hope to make from people drinking.

Karen, as far as the audio engineer, it could very well be a case where it's an in-house PA and the Casino requires entertainers to use their audio engineer. I've been in places like that with our bands. As far as the audio guy's handling of you, sounds to me like he was trying to blow you off in a polite fashion rather than just come out and tell you he has no interest in taking your info.

Of course large National touring acts playing in large casino entertainment halls are a different story all together.

_________________
DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

Rip, you're absolutely correct on this assessment - I guess I was thinking nice stage, instant audience, and a chance for people to sing on a big stage. As I contemplate this after a few hours, I have changed my opinion about this. In reality they could actually have the worst host in the world and it wouldn't matter to them. They do have a "substitute" list - the host they brought in last week is a pirate but again, do they care? Probably not. Budgets at this place are BIG! They write it all off against profits ... this I do know ... and I guess entertainment in these places is like being in the union - once you're in, the doors open, and it really doesn't matter the quality.

Oh, sound guy was almost humerous to me - when he acted like she would NEVER ever be replaced there. I think it was her equipment (couple of subs and 15's) and they do have massive sound equipment there but on the stage. So not sure ... it could be a requirement, but in any case, he wasn't really running anything - constant low-end feedback, subs jacked up, etc. She had a light tree with two lights on it -- but the place is equipped with in-house lighting that is incredible...So, mmmhhhh. I guess just bring the gamblers in for a break, order a few drinks, laugh, and get them in the mood to go and drop more money into the machines and at the tables. You're so right, Rip. (Oh, the other thing she did that is just SOOOOOO tacky - "Oh, and don't be afraid to tip your karaoke host."

I go to Atlantic City her in NJ almost every Monday to play poker --Monday happens to be KARAOKE night in this casino. The KJ has a limited selection but uses a good HOUSE system for sound. Most of the singers are FRIENDS of the KJ and therefore sing most of the time. I would rate the KJ and his friends as semi-pro singers meaning THEY ARE GOOD and put on a great show. I think Karaoke in a Casino is just a form of cheap entertainment. The bar is the ONLY PLACE in the casino you need to PAY for drinks ....

The Casino Karaoke show is just another show which gets tailored to its enviroment.
You don't go to a Casino to sing ?....you sing because you either LOST all your moner or need a break from Gambling

I guess karaoke in a casino is a gamble.

It's always frustrating to see a bad karaoke show. It always leaves me scratching my head wondering how do they not know what they are doing is wrong and making them lose business. They either don't care or have no clue and sometimes I think they can't see past their own egos. Aaarg !

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

As I said earlier, it wouldn't matter if it was a machine - it is a captive crowd - they are there to gamble -- they might wander in the karaoke area to grab a drink (or two), send one of their crowd up to sing, get up and dance and laugh, and are then in the mood to go and drop money they might not have on the tables. Thanks to rip I have a better understanding of this. I saw a few people who've come to my shows - they said they won't go back. I was hoping it'd be a great venue for real singers to go to. Oh well....

Look, I'm gonna say this. You can have the best library, mixing skills, books, equipment, personality, or whatever. If you don't get out there and talk to people, you will never get the good gigs.

I've NEVER gotten a gig by walking into a bar and talking to the manager.

Really.

It's consistently been by referral. Even when I was new.

How?

By going out there, letting people know who I was. Going to karaoke nights and singing and having a good time... but not talking up that I'm a KJ. My KJ friends talk me up when I go to their shows, and vice versa.

I go to bars during the day and talk to people, pass out flyer and business cards. Usually, I'll get a call up to weeks or even MONTHS later.

Myspace, Facebook, and an email list.

You MUST be active in the karaoke community. Do a benefit for charity. You'll feel good, and meet a lot of potential customers. Have flyers and business cards ready.

The REAL work, is not prepping running the show. That's the fun part... and if it's not... maybe you shouldn't be doing this.

Activity breeds activity. Get active!!

_________________
Good music, good friends, howling good times!

KK, not sure if your post was meant for me or LL, or both of us, so I'll respond as if it was for me.

I don't go and get gigs, generally - they come to me...but in the interest of curiosity I thought it'd be cool to do a gig in this place. But the casino circuit in this area is like the union - once you're in, you're in ... but to get in is another issue. I was truly hoping that they'd have an incredibly good show. (One thing I don't get - HUGE monitor behind where she was standing but NOTHING ON IT - so audience couldn't see words.) Singer tv monitor was on the floor so most singers who didn't know their words stood with their heads down. Granted, these are not singers - these are gamblers with a few drinks in their bellies.

But Rip made me see the light on this - As I look at it now, I realize it's probably not my favorite kind of show. And I don't ever give my promo to anyone in the place until I get the name of the person who makes the decisions...I actually approached sound dude to get that name, which I did.

I remember when the Red Wind had karaoke every Wed night, there were people I knew that went there every Wed. specifically for the karaoke, not the casino. They liked the host, sound, selection, drinks - although they did say the rotation was never huge, it was about an hour wait on avg they said. When the host died, they dropped karaoke and haven't had it since as far as I know.

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

Actually I think Karen's first idea might not be that off the mark. In our area the casinos have karaoke in a seperate lounge and the karaoke itself is a destination for karaoke people. A nice stage would be a draw for the serious. There WAS a casino that tried the karaoke on the main floor and they got complaints about the noise from the slot machine players so they quit having it. Isn't Lonman's show associated with a casino?

I think that KK gave sound advice and hope it was just for general info and not aimed specifically at any of us as he wouldn't know what some of us have done or are already doing as far as the points he mentioned.

Oh--back to my first topic now while sober--it wasn't that it was such a BAD show but that for what the company's website promised and the number of nights and special events they were hired for I expected better. So I guess another lesson is not to be intimidated by another's website and presume you don't have as much to offer.

It was also interesting to see how the dynamic of the singer and audience is different depending on the setup. This show had the singer standing behind a table and looking down at a waist high TV--seemed very seperated from the audience and there wasn't any leeway for positioning for better hearing. I've also seen shows with the singer behind a pillar. Ours has the TV supplied by the venue to the right of the singer so they face the wall instead of the audience. We tried bringing our own but it cut into too much of the dance floor. So sometimes you play with what you are given but you try not to make it any worse, I would hope.

Nope, just a tribal bar.

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