Karaoke Forums

It was early in the night this summer. A guy comes up to me asking if I had that song that goes 'bodies hit the floor' by STAIND, or some other crappy band like that. I tell him that Drowning pool sings it and he tells me I'm wrong. So I pull it up on Google, and after a few back-pedaling statements he gives in and admits that he was wrong, but of course, not that I'm right.
He's a large fellow, with a punisher t-shirt and multiple indiscernible tattoos. Not exactly a body builder, but certainly someone you'd like to have on your side in a large brawl. Then he asks if the mic cord will reach to the corner, because he doesn't want to sing on stage. (I have it almost black on stage for that very reason).
In the end, he decides not to sing. However, he won't stop raving about his gf/wife who has performed onstage with blah blah blah hip hop artist at so and so semi-large venue.
After some coaxing from the bf she ends up singing a PINK song...and completely chokes. She didn't even try. The mic is super far from her mouth, so I'm boosting the gain to the point just below feedback until she gives up, and smacks my mic against the table several times.
tough guy starts saying:
"it's the mic".....
"uhhh, no it isn't".....
"YES IT IS!!".....
"hey man, the mic puts out whatever is put in"......
"IT'S THE MIC!".
At this point, it's just better for me to resign while he's angry with HER now.
"You've sang with Loonatik & Formaldahiide! What happened?!"

At this point, I get up to sing Easy from the commodores. And since I know how to work the mic dynamically, naturally it sounds pretty even.
He is just HUFFING AND PUFFING about ten feet to my right. I can tell that he thinks I purposely messed with her signal, and my periph is on total guard, because I was SURE he was going to tackle me.
Fortunately he didn't, and the bartender told me they've caused trouble previously.
The very next week, I'm at a different bar that I haven't started at yet, but we've already set a date to start, and who walks in but those two.
I hide my face, and duck out before that guy blows a gig I haven't even started at yet.

Feel for you.
I have had the pretend to sing in the mic.
and yes, I was the one that looked bad.

I have had a few people over the years tell me my mics suck, they sound better at (whatever bar they like best), etc. I just tell them, well, the 30 other people singing tonight have not complained and keep coming back, so if you don't like the way you sound here, go sing somewhere else.

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Jeff Wheeler, moonlight DJ/KJ

I have had a similar problem at a gig that I have since stop playing at.... I had this one...... lets just say moron that thinks he will be louder if he puts the mic in his mouth..... I mean he actually puts half the ball in his mouth when he sings. after telling him the standard distance for my mics and that if he were to follow that I can bring his voice up to correct level and he would sound alot better without clipping my amp.... he would back off I would get him tuned in and then he shoves it right back down his throat...... I finally cut him off from singing at my shows and told him that if he would just listen to me then he would be able to sing..... i had gave him another chance on a different night and ...... yes ...... he still did it.... that was his last song with me..........

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DownHome Karaoke

They should go to youtube and watch professional singers work the mic

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

I have had a couple of similar instances as the OP. Both times, I just took the mic without making any changes and did a quick demonstration to the audience on proper mic technique. I'll say something along the lines of "When you hold the mic way down here, you can barely hear me, but when I bring the mic up closer to my mouth, it picks up better and you can hear everything clearly" while holding the mic far away and then slowly bringing it closer.
I do a similar demonstration for those that insist on cupping the mic, holding it by the ball of holding the mic too close, should the need arise. It rarely happens now.
As for the guy shoving the mic down his throat, YUCK!
Why didn't you just show him the screen, assuming they don't get cleaned all that often, or, if they do, tell him how everyone's spit and god knows what else ends up on there?

///////////////

YUCK!!!

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

I simply would, as nicely as possible, explain that I do everything possible to make people sound as good as possible(lots of 'possibles" ). The better singers sound, the better the show, and it makes my kj abilities look good. To do anything other, especially intentionally making someone sound bad, would not benefit me in any way, and it would hurt my show, and damage my reputation. You, the customer are my show, and if you sound good, I look good.

Sometimes even having the best people skills doesn't help when your dealing with unruly people. I figure if I'm having such a hard time with a person like what you described others have the same problem with them. I do my best with the situation and figure others know this person can be a problem, so I don't sweat it if it doesn't end well.

I've had what happened to you before. Usually it's yells from the audience they can't hear them. I simply whisper in the singers ear they can't hear you at all - You need the mic much closer to your mouth. Then if they don't change it I'll try again but take the mic and move it closer.

Now if I get the complaint after they've sung I apologize to the complainer then explain to the singer what happened and what I need them to do next time. If you're dealing with a "I'm always right" type of person you'll never win. I just take the blame. I always joke that I'm always wrong. I have no problem taking the blame usually for the dumb reasons people come up with for sounding bad. For ex: It's the wrong or bad version of song, it's to fast, to slow, not enough echo etc.... I believe most people are just embarrassed they sound bad and try to save face by blaming me. If that makes them feel better fine, I don't care.

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

Hmmm.
Got to say I have had the mime artist.
Got up because boyfriend or someone forced them to.
Yes they look like they are singing.
You push the volume. Nothing.
You think the mic. has gone down.
Hand them another mic.
Still nothing. Swap channel on the desk. Nothing.
Must be the cable thats gone down.
I am franticly trying everything. Her mother is giving me daggers.
The woman is actually an awesome singer with zero confidence.
Her mother stormed out of the pub and didn't speak to me for 3 months.
Quite frankly the woman coming up to me later saying
"Sorry uncle Jerry, I felt daft" doesn't cut it.

To me, at some point in the song, I realize the person knows they cant be heard and that's the way they want it. I had a rudie once screaming the whole time "TURN THE MIC UP,,, SING LOUDER". The kind of person that everyone wants to hang with ya know?

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

Thanks! I have to remember that!