Karaoke Forums

hi all done the search thing and looking for opinions

i own a bar and we want to offer karaoke with occasional 'guest hosts'
bar has lcd tvs, speakers & wifi so easy to permanently install a pc or laptop and wireless mike (people will sing from their seats)

given the above what is the best ststem for me with songs ? would also like a subscriptions type service so that we can keep up to date

lastly i do see there are even iphone apps and wondered if this might work especially with the ipad coming out

help !
pabsy

No....

To expand on that theme 'Oh H*** no'

Been there, done that, it doesn't work. You need a host, a consistent host. There's a lot more to it than punching buttons. You need to know about audio gear, acousics, and how to be a serious party animal. Karaoke is not about singing.

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Okay, who took my pants?

Well with the legalities brewing over computer karaoke at this time, you'd be better off buying disc sets & taking the time to rip them to your computer - this is the easiest way to prove that you actually own the discs that are on the computer. Very few - if any according to many manus - are legal at this time for commercial use.
Subscription service you can get the latest discs from like Pop hits Monthly - they have mp3g formatted discs to load on your computer, Chartbuster, Sunfly all have monthly subscription services.
Not sure what you mean by 'guest hosts'?
I wouldn't want to use an i-phone for professional karaoke.

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

when we have a 'guest host' basically a regular customer or 2 i thought to switch more to a kiosk set up so its simpler like justkaroke offers
also advertising other bar gigs like happy hour would be great inbetween songs..
no discs no way !

oops.......you specifically stated...from the pros...... that leaves me out.....my bad.....

As previously stated, hosting karaoke is not just press and play. You would be making a HUGE mistake with the use of "guest hosts".

There is a reason why good karaoke hosts have a following, while shows with unskilled hosts fold quickly.

The right or wrong karaoke host will make or break a show. Also consistancy. Singers want to know what to expect.

Let's take sound mixing skills for example. There is no set and forget while hosting karaoke. Each new singer must be mixed ON THE FLY. Don't think that's important? Well, how much will your patrons appreciate listening to borderline singers that are mixed badly, making them sound worse, rather than better than they are. Do you think they would like sitting in a place and having their ears assaulted? Singers also want to sound the best that they can. If YOU don't know how to set EQ, Echo, Delay, Digital Keychange, etc., what makes you think an untrained host could?

How about knowing the library and how to use the equipment- whether PC or disc? Do you want a lot of dead air between singers? If asked about a particular version of a song, will have the right answer?

What if there is a technical problem? Does your "guest host" just stand there and hope it gets better?

Does the guest host know how to make the shy or new people confident enough to sing- and love it? Does he know how to make each and every patron- singer or not- feel special and welcome?

Does he know how to deal with the egos of the overconfident singer, or the insecurities of the newbie?

Does he know how to handle singer rotation in a manner that will keep your patrons happy?


These things are only a PART of what a professional Karaoke Host has to know. Also, to repeat, singers like consistancy- in the hosting, the presentation, even the day of the week.

Spend the money for a professional, and you will make WAY more than you THINK you are saving your way.

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

Well unless they are completely trained on how to use it, adjusting every singer, etc..(as mentioned) I think you would be making a grave mistake.
..

Surprising statement with all the lawsuits that are growing against karaoke companies and bar owners that have no discs to prove they did in fact purchase the music that they have on the computer & not just bought a loaded hard drive off of e-bay or downloaded from unlicensed sites. However it would probably be a cheaper way to go for you buying discs, rather than downloading a song from $1-3 per song from whatever site you decide upon - especially if you want a really good core base of popular tunes - 3000 downloaded songs would run you $3000 minimum. Whatever you do, don't buy into the sites that claim a one time fee to download all you want - these are not legal.

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

You can have a "kiosk style" karaoke in your bar with "guest hosts," but I can guarantee you that the following will be true:

#1: It isn't going to sound good singer to singer. Only the singers that are trained in proper mic techniques, which is going to be about 5% of those that grab the mic, are going to sound good. The first time you get a guy that SCREAMS into the mic, and you can't get it turned down immediately, and 5,6,7 patrons of your bar walk out the door saying to themselves "I'm not coming back here to listen to this s***," you are going to wish you had a technically proficient host. Likewise, about 1/2 of the singers will be so soft on the mic that you can't hear them without turning them up, and once you do, HELLO FEEDBACK = BYE BYE EVERYONE OVER 40. Will each guest host be trained on how to eliminate that feedback and still hear the singer? My bet would be they would just turn it down, and now you can't hear about 1/2 the singers at all. You have to know how to run a mixing board. Also, singers that don't "sound good" on your system, because there is no one mixing them are going to perfer to go down the street to the karaoke where someone does mix them, so bye bye to most of the singers after their first visit to your "karaoke." And reputation is everything for a karaoke bar. People talk, and if they perceive that they sound bad on your system, then they won't even come in the first place.

#2: It isn't going to be a "live music" atmosphere. Karaoke is about 75% atmosphere and energy. The karaoke host creates it and has to maintain it throughout the show, and the patrons feed off it. With the kiosk style of music, there is no energy. You are basically putting in a glorified video game. Some people might have fun with it, but people aren't going to show up just to play the novelty karaoke game.

#3: So with just those two considerations, your bar isn't going to make any additional money from this venture. Without good sound and consistent energy, karaoke doesn't make you money. The singers want their time in the spotlight where the whole bar is listening to them. You are trying to set up a system that people can probably ignore if they want to. And non-singers...friends of the singers and even regulars at the bar who HATE karaoke, will come to a karaoke show with a good energy. Good energy = fun = more drinks = more customer interaction = a warm and fuzzy feeling towards your bar = repeat customers.

SO, everyone is in agreement - PAY A KARAOKE HOST!!

Did you know you can WRITE OFF your bar's entertainment on your business taxes? So whatever you pay the host, in real $$$ out of your pocket, you are paying them 35-60% of that amount. And you 1040 them so you don't have to cover their benefits either, including NO workman's comp, insurance, etc. The host is responsible for those issues themselves. Factor those things in, and it IS NOT expensive to get a host.

So, if you want to take the cheap way out and still have a good show, put an ad on craigslist for a karaoke show for 4 hours on whatever day for $100.00. Now, for $100.00 or even $125.00, be warned that you might go through 3,4,5 hosts before you find a good one. Or you might find a good one on the first try. BUT, for $100.00, which is really $50-75 out of pocket after the tax benefits, how many NEW patrons do they have to produce for you to make your $$$ back?? Take you profit margin on a beer, figure that each new patron is going to average 4 beers, and I'd bet the karaoke has to bring in about 10-15 new people to make it worth your $$$. NOT A BIG INVESTMENT.

NOW, if you want the absolute PROFESSIONAL's opinion on how to get a good karaoke show in your bar, then here it is:

Go to a few karaoke shows at OTHER bars in your area. Talk to the karaoke patrons. Ask them who the BEST karaoke DJ in your area is. Go find that DJ. If he makes $175.00 a night, then offer him $200-225 with a 6 month contract. Now you have the BEST karaoke in town. At that point, if it doesn't work at YOUR bar, but it worked at the other bar, then the problem is your bar, not the entertainment. THAT is how it is done.

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C Mc
KJ, FL

whoops....dupe!!

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C Mc
KJ, FL

I just want to add a note that at this price, the KJ you attract is very likely to be using pirated music, which will possibly open you up to the embarrassment of an infringement lawsuit down the road.

<drawl>Like mah daddy allus said, "Ya get what ya pay for." Knowhuttameen, Vern?</drawl>

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Dave's not here.

I'm not sure how anyone can answer your question without alot more information.
(forgetting any legal issues for a minute)

The more effort you put into your karaoke show the better you will get out of if ($$$$$) since you are a bar owner.

While I agree that you need a host that is going to be there week in and week out, I disagree that a kiosk is a bad idea. It frees up the host to deal with sound levels and talk to possible singers into singing. I know of at least two or three KJ's that have been on here that have successfully ran kiosks and maintained an energized atmosphere. Toqer and Bird of Song come to mind, not to mention Chip Staley.

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The Line Array Experiment is over. Nothing to see here. Move along.

Very well put Joe.

PAB you would be wise to read this post a few times and think seriously about it. If you bring in crapaoke and it fails, you will fail and have a bunch of stuff to sell or get rid of. If you bring in a professional host and he/she fails. You are left with nothing. And as Joe said, if you venue/area is ready for karaoke, you will be better off with a pro host.

AND if the crapaoke fails, now you have a bad rep for karaoke if you should ever want it again.

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

But a kisok has nothing to do with sound levels, that is still adjusted by the host - the kiosk just allows singers to look up songs without a book and in some cases send that song via a wireless connection to the host to add to the rotation. This will not in any manner help in adjusting sound. BTW Chip S & Birdofsong (Julie) are a couple.

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

I said that having a kiosk will free the host so that he can adjust sound levels, not that the kiosk would do it on it's own. You're right that you need a host that is friendly, energetic and knows sound. That will never change.

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The Line Array Experiment is over. Nothing to see here. Move along.

I just think the OP had that in mind that it would have that ability. He's responded one time so not sure what the plans actually are.

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

I am not a pro kj, but I am a fellow bar owner and I can tell you that your host is what makes it! I have 2 KJ's, my friday night show puts me at capacity plus on a regular basis. She has 10 yrs experience and has been with me for the past 2yrs. I have a newbie KJ doing my Wed/Thur/Sun shows who has great promise and is building a following. I pay my experienced KJ $50/hr and the newbie $15/hr. Of course the newbie uses all of my equipment and I am training her on sound and covering all advertising. Do not do this if you don't get the sound and programing right. Especially, if you are a hands on owner. Your going to have to listen to it plus you will have other patrons leave faster they they would if you have a good sound. You will lose money if you don't put the time into doing it right. I know I had a really bad KJ in the beginning and it has taken me months to rebuild. If this is just a whim that you think might be fun to offer, save your money. It has to be a show to recoupe your investment and turn a profit.

Let me ask you this. Would you consider having "Guest Bartenders" where you let regular customers mix up drinks? Or "Guests Cooks" making the food back in the kitchen? I am guessing the answer would be a resounding NO WAY.

Your entertainment should be at the same level. Imagine what it would be like if every week, there was a different patron tending bar. No consistency and probably a lot of bad drinks.

You will get the same thing with this approach to your entertainment. The appeal to Karaoke is the "show". It's the same reason you don't have coin-op, automated cocktail & beer machines. It's the person behind the tap that makes a great bar! If you just needed a karaoke jukebox, they would be everywhere and we would all be out of business.

Yea... Be a star in your own lunch time...?

OOps... No-one can see me.
Where are the lights...
Well nearly a star.

Having given this quite a bit of thought...
You could make far more money by
keeping out of it and getting a manager in.