Karaoke Forums

I would like to run a one-day casual contest and would like suggestions, particularly in regard to the following


1. how many winners
2. method of selecting winner(s)
3. if judges are used method of selecting judges
4. prize money (keeping it at a minimum)
5. how much time out of a 4-hr show to devote to contest
6. how many times each contestant should sing

I am thinking of two "grand prizes" - one for best singing and one for most entertaining. Any thoughts on that?

I am also thinking of requiring each contestant to sing one ballad and one up-tempo song. Thoughts about this as well would be appreciated

WHY??? What are you looking to accomplish with this "contest"??? IMO it's a "no win" situation. No redeeming value whatsoever. I know this doesn't help, just thought I'd give my 2 cents. Oh, by the way, there's no such thing as a "casual" contest, at least none I've ever seen.

Rosario
Serenity Now Karaoke

Now let me say this about that. I have the proven ability to keep those at my shows, singers and non-singers alike, having fun. And the contest will be designed to afford people another opportunity to have fun. I may even, if I can find the right people, set up a panel to evaluate each performance in a fun-loving manner that mocks Kara, Simon and Randy!

The grand prize may be nothing more than a gift certificate from a local establishment that provides the prize in return for the free publicity. So I see little opportunity for hard feelings towards and negative consequences for my show from among the "loser"!

I guess, srnitynow, you're also adverse to companies that put on trivia shows every week with prizes?

And how about the halloween costume contests we often MC?

From just a singers point of view

I can see where srnitynow is coming from, there are objective contests and then there a subjective contests... I doubt me and my drunk friends are gonna be very objective in a singing contest. In a trivia contest there is a right and wrong answer, in a singing competition our group will always be the best... IN OUR OWN OPINION.

I have seen some good contests run by good KJs, but maybe I feel that way because none of my friends were in it. But prior to some of the contest threads, I hadnt paid attention, but there were actually some boos heard when winners were announced. I have seen some bad karaoke and that is the only time I have heard boos.


Now for suggestions...

Keep it fun and make everyone feel like a winner, maybe have gag gifts for the singers you know well enough to kid around with.

Every club has a sweaty singer, give him the "shiniest singer of the night" award.

Now that's along my line of thinking.

And by dong so if anyone ends up angry, it will be the contest whores who come in to win and end up taking the event too seriously! And if such a person is upset and doesn't come back, who cares. They probably wouldn't have come back anyway!

BTW, for whatever it is worth, it is MHO that every evaluation of talent is subjective whether done "objectively" or not.

OH, and as to the "correctness" of trivia answers. Every time have have gone the host announces that his answer is the correct answer whether correct or not. Remember, it is possible for disagreements and errors in trivia sometimes based upon the words used. But most interesting, the last time I attended trivia, a question had been asked about some professional sports record had just been broken that week, but the "old" record was the one the multiple choice question was based upon!

No matter what the prize is there is always going to be those who feel that they should have won because in their own minds, NOBODY sings better than they do.

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

And what about the singer who feels the method you use for structuring your rotation is unfair, while most singers have no problem with it?

And what about the singer who prefers singing two songs at a time when you only offer the opportunity to sing one song per turn?

And what about the singer that doesn't like your policy of counting as a turn each time someone sings in a duet?

And what about the singer who prefers you not play bumper music?

AND.. while you'll probably lose a few singers because of one or more of the above, will you lose everyone?

My point? You can't please everyone.

Are you suggesting that most every loser will be upset or just few? And are you going to find more of an upside or more of a downside by providing such an evening?

I see a net positive. My ideas including having a panel, if I can find the right individuals, who will spoof Simon, Cara and Randy while "judging" each singer. But I probably would not have them as a judging panel as to determining the winners.


I guess after Manobeer's input, there are no other suggestions about how to run such a contest? Could that be because no one has ever seen it done or envisioned doing it? Has this thread gotten anybody's "creative juices "going?

My standard aswer to posts about contests of any kind, after a few decades of experience. Please feel free to ignore....



I'm gonna be the fly in the ointment and issue a caveat: I have seen at least four venues completely lose/close out karaoke due to contests. I tell owners up front that I will NEVER do one. Here's my reasoning, all from past experience:

1) 99% of new customers will return to their regular venue after the contest, unless you are EXCEPTIONAL, and if you are, you probably still won't have the opportunity to showcase during the contest.


2) Newbies walking into the bar will be too nervous to try singing around all that talent, and these ARE possible new regulars


3) Regulars not entered in the contest will get upset about the lack of air time for them, forcing them to look for a different venue.


4) Judging: No one will be convinced it's fair. Applause? Singers will load the place with their friends if they can. Impartial judges? If they're anywhere near local they will know at least some of the singers, and the singers will know that, and never believe they are impartial.


5) You get to deal with all of the egos and whining for no extra pay. Then, the sore losers, who may have been regulars at your shows at OTHER venues, disappear both from the contest venues and your others. It has been my experience that most bars AND HOSTS lose much more than they gain with contests....AND the host ALWAYS gets most of the blame/bad feelings..
1.

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

I started to look at some of the postings regarding more serious contests and found this one to be very helpful:

This got me thinking that if I did require people to sing one ballad and one up-tempo song (of their choice), perhaps their third song would be picked by the "judges" from a list they provided? Frankly, I don't think there will be a third song, except, maybe as a tie-breaker? Just dunno yet. But I have to make sure that whatever "rules" I establish don't get too "heavy".

Also, I have decided to use gag prizes as Manobeer suggested. I will be DEFINITELY be setting up UNannounced categories that people could win prizes in, such as:

First singer not using their own disc
Shortest song
Saddest song
Tallest singer
Oldest song
First man to sing a woman's song or vice versa
First song with the word "xxx= to be decided" in it
First singer to produce "feedback" (hopefully won't happen)

You aren't going to get an objective opinion to support a contest. Sounds like your gag contest is kind of a fun idea. Even go to the dollar store for some prizes, but give every contestant something with maybe the ones with actual entertaining & singing value the highest dollar prizes. But put a spin on it, once that singer or entertainer wins, have a claus that they cannot compete for the next 5 or 6 contests (if you make it a weekly event) to give others a chance to win as well. This is something I have always incorporated so that the 'contest whores' can't win week after week.

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

Suggestions noted: Who knows? Maybe it could become a monthly thing? Weekly would probably be too much.

But of course, I've to get through the first one, first!

I much prefer to host "party" shows. Every month has some day in it that can justify a PARTY. January (New Years), February (Valentines), March (Mardi Gras), April (Easter), and so on,. I like to have these "parties" with no strings attached. Give gifts to (singers only), maybe a string of beads, or some other type of party favor. Have some larger gifts that are given from song slips. Put the slips in a basket, pull a name for them.This way, ALL SINGERS are rewarded, (good or bad), all got prizes, some won BIGGER prizes, EVERYBODY WINS.


Rosario
Serenity Now Karaoke

Where is that "dead horse" picture when you need it?

Take your pick

http://images.google.com/images?um=1&hl ... i=&start=0

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Dave's not here.

most definitely save such links for people who can't "see beyond their noses"

Pick a "THEME" for the night and go with that --- OLDIES - COUNTRY - BEACH SONGS - SAD SONGS - Songs tahte begin with "B" etc etc
Could be a way around and still have FUN

To even out the "Mercenary" singerst...IE the semi-pros who do nothing but drive around from contest to contest....why not make it a "Kamikaze" contest? Either use the Kamikaze button on your program (assuming you have one) or write a list of singers or songs and put them in a hat...each singer drraws one song which they have to sing. Great fun too,and it evens things out ability wise,as there is a big "Luck" element

What if you make everyone a winner if it's just for fun.

Have a sign up sheet for only say 10 contestants a night. Have ten categories for them to win. Have a gag gift for every category and a free drink ticket. Have 3 judges like idol to make it funny.

Most entertaining
Rock Queen or King
Ballad Queen or King
Most interesting
Special Talent
Country Diva
Pop Prince
Best Crooner
Most like the original singer
Most creative rendition

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[updown]~*~ MONKEY BUSINESS KARAOKE~*~ [/shadow][/updown][/glow]

If it is a 1 contest deal in the same night, I do like singers having 2 songs to do. 1 a slow song and one upbeat.

I really like those suggestions for some of the other possible prize winners!



Excellent suggestion. I'll have to think about how I can implement it while letting people know beforehand but without getting into too much detail. One way or another I AM GOING TO "STEAL" your idea!