Karaoke Forums

Well I have this real DA that shows up every week to my Friday show, and every week he screams into the mic, and every week I talk to him about the proper way to use a mic. Then every week he complains to me telling me to turn his mic up, and every week I tell him no. Well last night I had enough! He started his crap so I feathered the knobs and dropped him down. If he is gonna constantly scream into the mic then I will adjust the mic to his screams and protect my stuff.
He got upset and just left in the middle of the song and started complaining to every one in the bar that would listen until people started coming up to me complaining that I would not turn his mic up. So as always I explain to said people the damage that screaming will cause and as always they didnt care.
Well it got to the point where I let it get to me and I stopped the show to explain to the whole crowd that if the are gonna treat my equipment like that then they will not use it.As they all (about 10 of his new followers) started yelling you suck! I really lost it and over the mic,yes over the mic, I once again lost it. I told the crowd that if they truely didnt like the way I handle my equipment then they could saw the word and I will pack up my stuff and leave now. At this point the rest of the crowd got involved and ran the trouble makers out and we were able to continue the rest of the night without a hitch. All this happened in the first 1 1/2 hours of the show.
This place has seemed to be nothing but trouble since I started there and it has gotten to the point that I just hate going there. I think I am going to talk to the owner and let him know that his bar is just not the place that I am willing to run my gear in. It is a weekly show but it just isnt worth it anymore.

Sorry so long but just had to get that off my chest
Thanks for listening

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DownHome Karaoke

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They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.

As suggested, you could get a good compressor. The louder he screams, the more it will compress and you will not have to worry at all about damage.

BUT...if I literally dreaded going to any of my venues, I'd leave em and find a better place. Tell the owner you aren't getting paid to be abused and if he isn't going to throw out the a$$holes, your going to move on.

For starters I would have to agree with Bazza on this. Add compression, it really is the best thing since sliced bread. It will solve the issue of someone possibly damaging your equipment.

But, I will be honest here and tell you my thoughts. The place is having troubles because YOU aren't enjoying it. Not the other way around. From the beginning, you allowed someone to take advantage of the situation, rather than you controlling it from the beginning. It's like having your little child always be taking a cookie from the jar without permission and the little tyke not having any consequences. The gentleman in question should have been put to a stop from the very beginning. Just simply tell him he is not welcome to sing at your show. You would probably want to explain that to the owner/manager as well, and tell them exactly why. I don't like to be the bearer of bad news here, but you have all the accountability at what takes place in your shows. You allowed it to transgress to a point of people yelling, and you "losing" it, instead of having control in the beginning.

Ok, is it too late to repair it? I doubt that. I believe you have the opportunity to use this knowledge (if you choose to use it) and make your show even better and more enjoyable for you and your singers! Go and create a good attitude and it will show to everyone who is there, it's really contagious ya know. Good luck on everything.

Add vote for compressor/limiter! dbx 166XL

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Sounds like a compressor is something you would benefit by if you aren't able to convince people that you have concerns for your equipment because they are abusing the privilege of singing with you. I don't miss the days of working in places where those types of singers prevail. In fact, like Mr. Scott said above, I would probably move on. So bad to lose your cool in front of people, but understandable. Somehow I am able to get those kinds of dipchits to move on without a fuss...must be the "oh god, she looks like my mother!" look.

When a singer screams in the mic, I stop it immediately. I turn down the mic and that always gets their attention. I then tell them don't scream in the mic and turn it back up. If they continue, I leave it down. At the end of the song I give a little speech OVER MY MIC, so EVERYONE hears.
It's usually something along the lines of "Please don't scream into the mics. It can blow my speakers, which costs me money and makes me REALLY unhappy. When I'm unhappy, I guarantee that you will be too, but more importantly, it can damage all of our hearing. Microphones are made to amplify sound. Screaming is already amplified. The two do NOT go together, no matter what you see on TV. That, and it make my ears hurt!"
Usually, the whole crowd chimes in with a cheer and life goes on. That way, EVERYONE knows what's going on and the whiner has no one who will listen to his whining.
I have since added compression, like the others suggest, but I still give the speech and turn down the mic.
I'm a big believer in educating the singers on how to use the equipment properly, rather than reinforce bad habits. It definitely helps my other KJ friends when the screamers hit their shows and they know better!

Side chain a ducking compression for him, set to trigger at oh . . . -1db. That way, he gets too loud, his mic is automatically ducked UNDER the music. Make sure he see that it's NOT you doing it. Then if he complains . . . "You're triggering automatic protection circuits on the power amp, dude. There's nothing I can do about it. The only way to stop it from happening is to stop screaming in the mic."

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Dave's not here.

He'll still accuse you of turning his mic down, or messing with his mic......I've dealt with this type....you can't please them, he is a cancer, that must be removed before it spreads.....just my take from my own experiences....good luck

I've been using compressors since day 1, and I have never had anyone complain to me about it. I have also never had a problem with "screamers," because the compressors work well. Most of the guys in the technical section of this forum will agree that compressor/limiters are an essential tool for the modern KJ, and if you don't have one, you should get one ASAP. It will make your job easier and prevent "screamers" from irritating your crowd before you can get your hand on the right fader and reduce their volume.

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Jeff Wheeler, moonlight DJ/KJ

I feel for you. I've been in those situations.

I always feel bad when I lose my cool. It just sucks this guy pushed you to the limit. I don't know why people think screaming is enjoyable for anyone to hear.

I know it's to late to give this advice, but I've found involving the whole group by making an announcement about it just brings done the entire environment. Usually the majority of people don't care.

Dealing with a-holes is hard, but you did the best you could under the circumstances. Take it as a learning experience and try not to lose any sleep over it.

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Not just that, but it embarrasses the screamer, who may already be drunk and hostile. That just gives them (in their mind) a reason to stir up trouble.

When I have to cut someone off in the middle of their song for some reason, I just stop the song, claim it cut off early due to some glitch, and ask the singer to come choose another song that will "play correctly" while I get someone else up in the mean time. This gives me an opportunity to privately tell the person they can't sing anymore tonight, or to be more careful with the equipment on-stage, or to sober up a bit before they fall and hurt themselves, whatever.

No one needs to know that the song really was working fine and I simply hit stop. It's a lie, sure, but one that allows the singer to save face and avoids stupid karaoke drama.

Situations where mics are thrown or equipment is being intentionally damaged are obviously different.

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Jeff Wheeler, moonlight DJ/KJ

Had a screamer tonight.
Just said through my mic.
OY. STOP SPITTING AT THE MIC.
Everyone else uses it.
He calmed down.
Most do.
I always use that line.

if i have no monitor r its to low i may have to sing very loud to hear myself which is stupid i think...blow out my voice all because he want turn up his monitor...most think they know more then anyone else in the club just because they own the p. a. .....

Singing "very loud" just to hear yourself is not good. The louder you are, the more the KJ is going to turn down your mic. Don't fight the KJ with volume. If you can't hear yourself, let him know after you're done singing. He may just have to adjust the monitor level (if he has one). If he doesn't have a monitor, there's nothing that you can do about it.

I Repeat: Don't Battle The KJ About Volume.

I'd much rather the person ask me between verses, or even better, before their song starts (mic check?) If someone needs more (or less) wedge, I'll be happy to adjust it. If they tell me after they've already sang, I'm just going to tell them to make a hand sign or ask over the mic in the future. Most singers don't know that the wedge mix gets adjusted all night for singers with difference preferences/comfort zones, but once you tell them, it makes sense.

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Jeff Wheeler, moonlight DJ/KJ

I really had been dealing with this issue since the begining and I really do enjoy doing the karaoke the main problem is no support from the bar owner. I tried to make a long story short and had not mentioned every thing that I go through there. But the owner allows the patrons to do as they please. At times I think he even enjoys when the fights break out. With no support from the bar it is very difficult to deal with these people.
I have decided that I am gonna talk with him and let him know he needs to find a new KJ

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DownHome Karaoke

Well, I can't blame you for losing your cool. You've been patient with this joker, hoping that the showing off would stop and when it didn't and pushed you to the limit, you reacted. Me, I propably would have punched his face in. I won't tolerate that s--t. So, I do agree with everyone eles, get a compressor. I don't have one but I'm going to get one too. If the owner doesn't care about the kind of crowd that comes in there, then obviously he won't care about you either. WALK!