Karaoke Forums

One of the big selling points for me with Hoster - I can play discs people bring in without having to carry a second player. (I do have a DVD player in my rack that is compatible with CDG but haven't had to use it.) I do carry a laptop for bumper music and probably should have a backup Hoster on it and an external drive with all my karaoke music on it too, just in case. My old board had an option to remove vocals - my new one doesn't. Kids in particular loved to bring in Kidz Bop or whatever they're called, sing along to them without having words show on a monitor. Frankly they don't care if the main vocals are removed or not.

Well...even though we're digital. I still have a player. I still have a book of cds with me to help me in the event of cpu issues. I generally start off playing off a cd, just for music and still do throughout the night periodically, but then I do a mixed show too. I also have the cds in my trailer...if the need arose. I'd rather have it & not need it, than the other way around.....MrD

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[highlight=midnightblue]MrD - KJ/DJ Specialist
Visit MrD on facebook - mrdsentertainment
& on myspace - larrynance[/highlight]

If I did offer patrons the ability to play their own discs (which I don't) and they wanted to give me static about what device I used to play back their discs, i'd tell them to go pound sand.

My sole purpose for going full digital in the first place is to keep from having to hassle with discs.. now you expect someone to lug around a player (generally at least an additional 2U space in the rack) plus additional equipment to feed that video signal to their monitor.. all because you're paranoid they might rip your disc?

You're out of your mind, dude.

Besides.. anybody dishonest enough to rip a customers disc and add it to their collection illegally isn't going to need their stupid disc to get the music in the first place.

Timberlea, it would take 20 minutes to copy a disc into Hoster and if I'm not mistaken, you can't do it while you're running a show. So, it'd be hard for someone to actually complete a full copy of a disc.

No harm in having one and doing the deeds. I have a couple of folks who bring me their version on a self burned disk. Sometimes I have that version and I'll tell them I do have it and can play it, sometimes I don't and we just have to use their disk each time.

It's a 1 space player in the rack, not too much to tote around. More power to ya if you don't need one though.

Yeah, i've heard several people right here on this forum mention they'll play patrons discs, but not burned copies.. which seems pretty silly.

They're all about accommodating the patron, but when he/she wants to boil down their 50 or 60 disc collection to the 10 or 15 tunes they really like to sing on one disc, then all of a sudden it's no way.

I've never had a KJ refuse to play my compilation discs....if they had the capabillity of playing discs to begin with. Shows that refuse to play discs as a general rule don't get my business very often. If I go to the trouble of buying a backing track of a favorite song that is not available on a karaoke disc and then convert it to CD+G format and the KJ won't provide a way for me to sing it; I can go to the karaoke show 10 minutes away and sing it there.

I've had some of them claim that their player *won't* play burned disks. I don't believe them, but I just sing from the book. I have gotten good enough that I don't get discombobulated if it isn't my version.

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

I DID have a JVC player that did not do well with burned discs at all, it was cleaned regularly & well maintained, burns just looked like crap in it, major graphic artifacts/glitches and sometimes skips, but that same disc would play perfectly in the Pioneer players so I can see this as a legit excuse for some kj's that won't play burns.
But I believe it's been stated many times by those who will still play discs, the main reason they won't play burns over an original is simple, the kj does not know where that music came from and do not want to contribute to the possible piracy.

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

I concur. This is exactly the same reasoning we’re trying to avoid, losing a customer or customers.

I will play their own discs, original or copied cdg, dvd, vcd; until such time as when the karaoke police comes to my show & tell me to refrain, resist & desist from doing so. Then I will request them (the manus) to provide me something with a signed official letterhead explaining why I can’t do it anymore so I can give it to the singer(s), thereby giving it more credibility.

I really don't want to do it. The hassle involved playing it, then returning it. Some are kind enough to take it back right after. Others, they just wait for me to go to their table to return it. Here's what I hate the most. Scratched discs that will fail to play or stop in the middle of the song.

If I make a stand & not play their discs, we probably lose a fourth of our customers, take their friends along with them & go to another venue a block away. I get around 10-12 owners discs on any given night. I can even tell them I have the exact song, the same brand but to no avail. Sometimes I will tell them I have a better version of their song. More often than not they will agree, then stick to the ones I have.

As I mentioned from my other post it’s about the “familiarity & comfort zone factor”, knowing it’s their discs they’re singing out of.

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To be fortunate enough to derive an income from a source as fulfilling as karaoke music has got to be as close to heaven as we can get here on earth!

I'll return the disc if I have time, otherwise I put up a sign by where they turn the slips/discs in basically stating, we'll be happy to play your disc, however it is your responsibility to collect it before you leave. Any disc left in our posession after 30 days become the property of 'our' company. Also 'our' company, the bar nor any of the employees shall be held responsible for lost, stolen or damaged discs.

Have only had one person leave a disc for over the 30 days. Actually never saw them again, it's been nearly 3 years now.

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

No need to spend a lot of money on CDG players anymore - even low cost DVD players will often play CDGs.

True, but I haven't seen a DVD player yet with a built in Key Changer....but it's better than nothing.

I've had to downsize recently (long term aim is to avoid paying a roadie)... and taken out my JVC (3 1/2u) and replaced it with a dual cd/cdg deck. I've always offered to play discs (not burns) and because only 2% of the shows in my area play discs a lot don't bring theirs (I also buy exactly the same version of their song where possible to save them the hassle of having to keep bringing their discs and allow other patrons to sing "their" song). I have two customers that bring their own discs, and my new player will play reputable brands and proburns... it won't play cheaper originals such as SGB so I very much doubt it will play a CDR.

I have so much stuff in my flight case that my show is already physically larger than my competitors (Radio Mics, compressors, BBE's, dual dj decks with cdg capability, tv signal amplifier), I'm only a weakling when it comes to lifting and all the bars locally are tiny. So as a much as I'd like to keep the JVC, it's impratical in my current set up, though I'm still trying to re-access the rig so I can reinstate it once more.

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'A genius is one who can do anything except make a living'. Joey Adams.

I think also they are comfortable with their own tracks and won't have any "surprizes!"

My Electrohomes have key changers.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

Yeah, what he said!

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

Thanks for the great idea, Lon. I would like to borrow your sign if you don’t mind. I think I will put a sign on top of my rig saying it’s their responsibility to pick up their own discs, & I’m not responsible for any consequential or incidental damage to their cds, or words to that effect.

I’m tired at the end of the night walking back & forth returning their discs like I have too much time on my hands. I know their waiting for me to return it because once I get to the table, he/she will hand me another disc “Here’s the cd for my next song”. I should add that to my job description; “I also pick-up & deliver your cds to you table”.. Thanks again.

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To be fortunate enough to derive an income from a source as fulfilling as karaoke music has got to be as close to heaven as we can get here on earth!

Borrow away!!!!

I also have something similar to these to hold the customer discs so they aren't just laying around on a table. Keeps them a little more safe and organized.
http://www.sz-wholesale.com/p/CD-Tray-H ... 88544.html

Since many people just hand you a loose cd, this helps in that respect, but I also have one for those who turn in with a jewel case.

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

I have a few soft 'towels' at my station to lay singers' CDGs on. Thankfully I only have about 5 singers who persist in bringing their own, and most of the time they don't all show up on the same night (though lately they are proving me wrong).