Karaoke Forums

Imagine how much better the guy you saw could be WITH a good system.

People choose a Karaoke show for a lot of reasons.

i have a group that i know drive about 30 mins to come see me, and they have said on more than one occasion, they sound better than anywhere else with us. but another takes just as long of a drive because we treated him almost like a friend from the first night. two completely different reasons. most people have something they look for in a show to make them come back, and a few dont care about anything (crap gear, crap selection, crap personality, and still running a show with 20 singers).
i admit my wife is the better personality of us and i also need to work on improving that part of myself at the show like mrscott, but please dont read too much into 1 opinion. you have a following for a reason so you're doing something right. and concider this, if you want to have a steak, Dennys can cook a steak. not a great piece of meat, not a great way to cook it, but it serves the purpose. like that guys basic system. you can go to Dennys, and many people do, or you can go to lone star, or outback with better steaks and a better way of cooking them. both places "serve the purpose" but given you have a choice, which would you prefer?

The system was as simple as simple can be, 2 powered Behringer speakers, a small Behringer mixing board, one microphone for the singers, a small flat screen TV and a netbook computer.

Something has been bugging me about this.

Why can't his gear sound good?

I have worked with lesser gear and made it sound very good.
I think there are many on here that could do the same.

mrscott:
but even I wouldn't use the system you described.

mrscott:

I certainly support and commend your new found wisdom, but even I wouldn't use the system you described. May I suggest a further experiment? Go out and get knee walking drunk (for some of us it is a lifestyle) and sing karaoke. Stagger a mile in their shoes. Leave that idea of "Professionalism" in the dumpster. There is nothing about karaoke that is "Professional." That's the whole idea of karaoke, try, fail, try again.

Good for you Scotty.
Now beam me up.

Tonight I decided to go to a competitors show for a while to see what the fuss was all about. This guy is sponsoring a karaoke contest in 2 different places at one time (different nights tho) I have a friend who I suggested she join the contest because she is a talented singer. I don't know who is paying the prize money, and honestly it doesn't matter. I learned a couple of very interesting and important facts about our industry. What really matters to the success of a karaoke show...First of all, and this is going to tinkle some people off in here, me included. But the equipment isn't that important. I asked my friend, who is a very talented and gifted singer, a very simple question. "Does the equipment that the host has make or break your decision on where you sing?" I was shocked at her answer, she simply said "No" After all the money I have spent on providing good sound and quality equipment for my singers to sing on, and all they want is to be able to perform in front of an audience. Simple as that. What mic we use, the fact that we add compression, EQ'ing, subs, high dollar sound systems,, and NONE of it really matters. What they want is simply to be heard by an audience. The only ones who care about the sound quality is "US" as so called "professional" hosts. We are our own worst critics, not the crowds or singers. We beat ourselves up about having the best mics, speakers, and systems. This show I attended was hosted by a company who is hosted by a 2 partners. The system was as simple as simple can be, 2 powered Behringer speakers, a small Behringer mixing board, one microphone for the singers, a small flat screen TV and a netbook computer. NO players, no eq, no compression, no fancy lights, bells or whistles of any kind. AND IT WAS A SUCCESS. Makes me feel foolish knowing I spent literally thousands of dollars on being the host who has the fanciest equipment around, but not having the most successful show.

The second thing I learned is WHY it was successful. The owners/hosts have been in the business for at least 10 years, probably longer, and have built a clientele of singers and followers. They build it through the "personal touch". And that is something I have failed to do Although, I have done it to a certain degree, I can and will do better. Through making the show ALL about the singer/customers, a personal experience, that is how to build a base. Lonnie has done a great job of doing this, and so have many of you out there. But it is something I have lacked doing. Sending emails, texts or personal invites is a huge building tool. Making each individual feel like they are part of your circle of friends, and feeling welcome. That is where I am going to work on things. As each of us should.

Weed,, two things come to mind here... firs I don't drink,, EVER,, and second,, there is no "try",, To "try" means you give yourself a reason to fail. There is only "do" or "do not" nothing in between. Do this as an experiment.. "try" to pick up a pen... you either can or can't, do or don't,,,, there is no "try". But failures "will and do" lead to success.

What does that have to do with karaoke you ask? Well, I "tried" and didn't "do"... So now I am committed to "do". My show has "tried" and failed...now it's time to "do" and succeed.

Just to state the extreme:

Karaoke CAN be done WITHOUT a KJ/host but you can't do karaoke without the equipment and backing tracks. Think Asian: private rooms style karaoke are mostly self-controlled.