Karaoke Forums

With all the talk about sound reinforcement and pirates I think sometimes this place loses the sense that we put on a karaoke SHOW.

What do you do to add flare, to make your show stand out as something different? Is anyone really doing anything more than just making their little asides and jokes between singers? What are you doing to ENTERTAIN? Or to help your singers be more entertaining?

What set's me apart? I run karaoke only - no regular music (we can pack the dance floor with people singing). I do not try to be the funny man or entertainer between singers - might say it's simple call for applause & get the next singer up, might make a funny comment on the song but no full jokes or make a quick bar announcement or upcoming event - like dance music, this is another main complaint I get from singers that come from other shows is that the kj tried to be the entertainer, to me a kj is just a facilitator to get the singers up and singer and soudning as good as possible. Fair rotation. Good Sound. Great selection. Quick turnaround time between singers (no dead air). Always look like i'm into every song being played - don't just sit there, or ignore the singer by talking with others (occasionally someone will not leave from the front of my booth that unless I want to be rude, I will talk back), pay attention to the singers and will look at them when they are feeling unsure and can give them a smile & nod/thumbs up which they've said helps them get through a song.
I'm a no frills host I guess you could say - but can still keep the energy up.

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

In my case I find the "Johny Carson Approach" works best. Find ways to let your singers shine and have fun on stage. Know your people and their likes and dislikes. It's not about me - But sometimes the fun is with me.

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

Make the singers feel important - on stage and. Just do what it takes to provide that and they'll come back.

For me it's a balancing act, I don't want to be the KJ that thinks the show is all about him. I don't have any pre-planned schtick or anything, I usually just go with what's happening that night. Having done radio in the past, I got pretty good at ad-libbing when needed. I definitely do all I can to keep things upbeat and show energy (even when I don't feel any energy).

I prefer to let the singers be the show. I talk them up, celebrate their successes, joke with them over the mic and even tease them about things (anything but their singing of course). I do sometimes invite a group sing where I'll leave all the mics open and just tell folks to come up and grab a mic and sing along (usually do this at the end of a show). However, I've learned my lesson about trying to do too much as the KJ to make it a show, so I temper that quite a bit and rely on my singers to make the night what it will be.

_________________
DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

We were in the Lonman/Babs camp as far as that was the kind of show we would like to attend so we started out that way. But we landed in sort of a depressing, very low key, "He Stopped Loving Her Today" sang 3 or 4 times a night by only locals of varying ability type place. It was also an older male crowd with no women.

It started off with a wedding party wanting a stripper but there was an ordiance against it so we bought an inflatable one for a joke. Then came the sheep, all dressed in fishnets and parked on the bar stools meant as a sick joke about there being no women. Now the sheep can help sing "Baaaaaad Romance."

Then "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" got done for the millionth time so first came horns, then a mask, then a pitchfork, then an inflatable ukelele used as a fiddle played with the pitchfork and the thing turned into a skit. Next was a giant foam cowboy hat for anyone who dared sing something really corny and slow.

Then halo and wings for Johhny Angel, a Bill Clinton mask for playing the sax, an Obama mask for "Soul Man," a chicken hat for "Freebird" (it's a free range chicken), a crocodile hat for "Crocodile Rock," a "Take Two" movie clipboard for mistakes, LED tambourines and maracas for the long musical break in "Copa Cabana," Foam parrot/shark, etc visors for Margaritaville, spiked punk wigs for Heavy Metal, my personal Amy Winehouse wig which can also double as Loretta Lynn if necessary, a wig with pink curlers for "Most Beautiful Girl" or for when drunk men start dancing with each other, eyeballs on springs for "Lying Eyes." It goes on and on. Oh-- forgot the inflatable monkey for "Guitarzan." We also have the obligatory fake hand for "Give them a hand" and a foot for when we are out of hands. Rasta hat with dreadlocks is used sometimes. We actually do not have a full Village People set up, now that I think of it.

I have never been a Styx fan so I make the boyfriend wear a long curly blonde wig if he sings it. We don't trade wigs alot with singers due to hygeine but they use plastic/foam hats and other props. I bought some their own beards as permanent issue for ZZ Top because they asked that I get some in. Didn't want to share something like beards.

On nights with big rotations and "serious" singers we may hardly use the props at all. On other nights it just turns into a joke fest with the singers taking it and running with it. The flashing maracas end up hanging from front belt loops and the Obama mask ends up wearing an afro. People say it is fun, it seems to encourage a bit of showmanship and imagination and we now have females and lots of dancing, etc. I think it is a matter of being in a depressed area and people appreciated the escape and laugh for a few hours. Basically, any song that gets done alot starts deserving props and it is fun to think of what to bring. The more serious looking you can be while wearing something ridiculous or playing a fake instrument, the better.

We do have pretty good equipment, bumper music, don't sing if the rotation fills, buy songs on request, etc. We buy drinks for birthdays and bring cakes. We don't neglect the basic requirements just because we are having fun.

So far the only props that have "disappeared" have been the beer goggles and the pot leaf hat. It is a pain in the whatever to bring the extra stuff but sometimes you just get inspired to need to have them.

Thanks Leopard Lizard -- that's EXACTLY the kind of things I'm talking about!

I've been to plenty of shows where it's all about getting as many singers up as quick as possible--but frankly, it's worn thin for me. For those who are able to find enough people who never get bored with the weekly ritual and enough great and adventurous singers to keep your shows hopping that's great and I admire you for all the things you must be doing right to make that work. Good on you, but that's not what this thread is about.

What else are you folks out there doing? Other props? Costumes? Games? Intervews with people in the crowd? Do you get dress up? Do you do any magic tricks? Juggle? Draw caricatures of your singers? Make balloon animals? How about hypnotizing a group of non-singers to have the courage to get on stage and sing karaoke?

The possibilities to enhance the entertainment value of a show seem virtually endless and there's no rule that says you HAVE to turn it into a circus -- if the singers keep getting up and knocking it out of the park, then great - let 'em be the show. But if it's one of those nights from hell -- why not spice it up?

Not sure how keeping it karaoke when that is advertised can wear thin. Our typical crowd doesn't sing the stereotypical 'karaoke' songs, rarely is The Rose, or Frank Sinatra, or Grandpa, or well you get the point. We get singers who like to sing - lots of rock, hard rock and country, they really don't want any kind of 'host entertaining', get them up to sing (taken from complaints they state from other shows).
Now on occasion we will do some kind of game - karaoke related most of the time that doesn't really take up any extra time - maybe a quick announcement for something. We do use props (inflatable instruments, wigs/hats, boas, glasses, even had a Groucho Marx nose/glasses for people that sing Humpty Dance, horse heads on sticks, never considered those as an extra thing to stand out though - maybe it is. I do have a couple little stuffed animals that I will make rock out and dance around next to the stage to some peoples songs and they have fun with those.
Might do suicide nights on occasion for those 'nights from hell'.

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

Leopard... That is what I call putting on a show.

For a depressed area it doesn't get any better.

Props are great. Games are good. But I think the heart of showmanship has got to be the showman. Use your own particular weirdness. HAVE FUN!

My particular weirdnesses are that I have always sung. I was the little kid that you didn't have to look for, just listen. I am always singing even today, most of the time so softly you can't hear it, but I'm always singing. I was PAINFULLY shy even into my early thirties and long after I had become a professional performer, so if there's anyone who knows about stage fright and singing it's me.

As a KJ I stay about five feet away from the singer as all times usually behind and to one side. I hear what they hear and I see what they see. If they need something I'm right there. Hold their drink, put them back on key, hold their hands, whatever. For those who are not totally hopeless I might offer little suggestions such as were to take a breath or how to better position the mic. I also hurl cruel barbs at them to and from the stage.

Since I don't have to mess with rotation or slips I can give the singer and his/her performance my complete attention.

_________________
Okay, who took my pants?

I play karaoke at a family restaurant with full bar. Nice area, decent venue.

I make it a point to dress nice. Suit and tie at times, or maybe no tie, but a suit jacket nonetheless. Clothes make the man and as the host I want to look presentable.

Maintain a great quality sound for singers regardless of their singing capabilities. Stay in my booth at all times to make sure the mix is balance and up to par. Only leave when necessary (bathroom breaks or fast socializing with the crowd). Eliminate dead air as much as possible. I use both laptop & discs player (one is playing, next one is already cued). No in-between dance music, they dance to karaoke and the dance floor gets filled with dancers most of the time, anyway.

Introduce the singers / applause / then do fast one liner humor/jokes as appropriate – make it funny but clean.

Have a positive attitude, smile even though I’m stressed, and interact with guests at a more personal level; make them feel more at home.

I don’t accept monetary bribes, ever! I don’t care how much. It’s a No-No!

Lastly, maintain a strict but very fair rotation. It works! Thank heavens for my nice friendly wife who helps out in the PR department.

A few years ago, I set up a video camera, and turned it on, facing all of my high end KJ equipment..

After careful review, the 4 hours of video showed that the equipment added nothing to the show..

It just sat there..

Once the KJ stepped up, the video picked up quite a bit..

The second 4 hours were quite nice..

Nope...I'm in the Lonman camp on this.....and it's one of the reasons i became a host...in the UK too many hosts think the show is about them........It isnt,its about the SINGERS.......any show i host state KARAOKE....NOT "THE WIGGLY DAVE SHOW........

_________________

I leave the showmanship to the singers; my job is to facilitate.

_________________
I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott

Ae people missing that it is the singers wearing/using the props?

You're guess is as good as mine on that leopard lizard, but hey I really appreciated your post so don't worry about it. I do some of the same things you do, but you also had some wonderful ideas for things we haven't been doing as well, so thanks.

i also keep it karaoke only from start to finish. not much for showmanship, i like to stay in my little audio world at the board. hell, if i could without looking like a total douche, i would get the gates like at an arena FOH.

_________________
Paradigm Karaoke, The New Standard.......Shift Happens

I use transition music, I have video bites that I play to the singers and audience during instramentals. I found hundreds of these on the net. I also have audio bites that I play sometimes at the end of songs between singers. I have a tamborine, full set of harmonicas, buddy holly glasses, beads and fake tattoos that I give out.

Other than that, I try not to use the same drab introductions and outgoing comments every time.

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

Different strokes applies here definitely. If I am doing a 'diaper club' - those that cater mostly to the 20-somethings, my style is definitely different. They appreciate the initial greeting but usually they're pretty into their own group and their texting implements. They appreciate bumper music. Unfortunately in a lot of those places the culture is power shots on a regular basis so many of them spend half the night in alcoholic oblivion; so I hang close to my equipment, try and defuse any potential volatile situations by pointing them out to security or the manager or bartender, or whomever is responsible for that.

However, in the majority of my shows, drunkards aren't an issue. And like a host or hostess when you go to a fine restaurant, I am often the first point of contact for people coming in to sing. Depending on the venue, definitely dressing to the venue is important.

I spent years on stage and use that experience to communicate with and involve people - kind of happens naturally for me. It isn't forced. I am outgoing and friendly. I have no problem approaching people 'cold' at all. If I've seen someone even one time before, I greet them. It takes 5 seconds. They call me by my name but I don't even KNOW some of their names. Not an issue. Just a casual greeting, maybe hand on the shoulder, or a handshake, quick eye-to-eye, then off to the next. On the mic I don't spend minute after minute pattering - I may make a joke with someone or I may make a quick announcement, but some nights I notice I may have as little as 15 seconds between singers. Get them up singing and they're happy.

As a singer, I appreciate a host with personality. I appreciate the interaction as well. By establishing rapport, the host and the singer make a quick connection; that connection spreads to the entire room in my experience. My goal is to create cohesion amongst all the people who attend, thus creating an environment where people feel welcome. People who feel welcome develop a sense of loyalty, and a desire to be where all those "friendly" people are.

Boy is that ever true. Part of the reason I like older crowds. as a singer, is that the youngsters only pay attention to their own friends, and rarely applaud for anyone else. I have learned to understand this, and get my appreciation from watching them tap their toes to the beat and sometimes even looking over and watching.

As a host with a younger crowd, I find that I sometimes have to get pretty over-the-top and DJ-like to have a chance of squeezing a few claps out of people for performances. Even darn good ones. But once you get them trained, they start shaping up.

_________________
[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.