Karaoke Forums

Actually, the main problem is people that are spending their money at OTHER bars singing karaoke, and then all decide to come to another later. Why should they be bumped in rotation when they've had their sing on at another place already??

Everybody is treated fairly and equally in the "bank line" rotation philosophy. I USED to insert singers as is described by some of the others... I honestly feel this is the best, and less confusing. The singers know who they follow.

That's not necesarily true. I know several singers that work late & can't make it until after a certain time or they are at home waiting for their group so they can all come at the same time - but yes you're right, you do get bar hoppers, & this has been a fact of bar life since bars existed - I have actually got some pretty good regulars that used to hop around, now they pretty much stay there all night or at least come in more frequently for longer periods of time. But again if you get a group, of say 6, that comes in & all buy a drink, then there shouldn't be a problem anyway, but bar hoppers aren't the main topic here, it's people that come in late which hoppers are only a part of.
With his shuttle scenerio, a shuttle can only fit so many people in so others have to wait for the next one, he said that many don't have cars or choose not to drive. So with a 10-20 mile run, it could a 1/2 hour to 45 minutes before the shuttle will be able to drop off the next load, why should these people be punished for not being able to fit on the first shuttle?

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

It's the shuttle scenario and the large number of restaurant workers that don't get off work until almost midnight. Remember, we're open as late as 4:30am (last call 4am or a little before) and the show can actually go that long. I'm just trying to be as fair as possible to everyone - especially the regulars who support the show when the crowd isn't quite as large. So far no real complaints other than I feel totally overwhelmed with this many people in the rotation and so many coming in all at once.

BTW, this is outside Denali National Park, 10 miles from the closest town, 120 miles from a town of any real size (Fairbanks). Couple restaurants have bars but they're geared towards the guests instead of the employees (cost, atmosphere, and they close at 11pm or midnight).

I don't have many people that 'hop' and come to the karaoke show in Healy (the closest town to the park). I've seen it at other shows that are open late - they go to one show early, sing and spend most of the time/money and then try to hit another show to sing some more later in the night after they ate and drank most of the night somewhere else. These are the people that are the problem for many of us.... we don't want to shaft those who came for the entire show in favor of the newcomers. Why reward those for actions you're trying to avoid?

okay then, two different scenarios... and yes, two different options.

Someone asked when the HH started: For me its about 5pm, and it goes to 7pm. The actual HH is 7am-7pm, w/$2 hi-balls. The karaoke starts at 8pm, when they jack up the prices to $2.75 a beer. The girl behind the bar likes me so she'll give me a whopper at the end of the HH, then I can buy a regular $2 beer just before karaoke prices start. Actually, for me, the unfairness doesn't start until after I've done a song, when, as I've mentioned, the wait extends to over 20 players when there are only ten in the bar when I hand my slip in. I know I said I would not be caught in that trap again, but I think I will still go over there to take advantage of the HH and get the one song in while I watch the MNF game. Then I can split at halftime and go watch the second half back at the club, where the prices are jacked DOWN (dollar longnecks) for the game.

Regarding the rotation system, I talked to a friend who sometimes go there and he told me when he does, he goes just before nine, because he knows he'll get tacked onto the end of the first round and he'll only have to wait 15 minutes. Then he'll bugger out. I'll probably see him back at the club for the second half, too.

Average Song=4 minutes
Songs per Hour=15 average
4 hour show=60 songs average

...and since not everyone is standing in line, ready to sing with their song qued at the ready...you can figure 12 songs an hour if the KJ keeps it moving briskly.

Now add in 10...20...30...50 singers. It doesn't really matter which system you use to call them up, a larger crowd automatically limits the number of singers...all's the KJ can do at this point is not repeat anyone until everyone has had a shot.

Personally, I encourage my regulars to list me all their songs at once...that way I can have a garaunteed "go to" if someone flakes out or leaves early without checking in with me, (No...that never happens...patrons always respect the KJ and let us know when they're leaving early ).

I try to work in the latecomers, especially if the regs have all done a couple already...every night is a little bit different, every rotation is a little bit different...

Notice: All song requests listed on a $20 bill will automatically go next...one song per slip please!

_________________
Keep on Rockin',

Ken


USMC '82-'85, 0811/5711
"UNITED STATES MARINES, WHEN WE DO OUR JOB RIGHT, PEOPLE SHOOT AT US!"

ok, gonna 'splain it to ya:

i use a rotation board or boards, each board has 15 binder clips attached to it, starting in the upper left corner, is position #1 - MY SPOT (or my co-host's spot, we switch each round)

when you get there and the books are out, or you have your own slips (regulars do) you come up and either hand it to me, or put it under the clip yourself. that there is the order you sing in.

If you come in during the rotation your slip fills the first available clip AT THE END OF THE LINE

If last singer is singing and you don't have that slip in before they are done, YOU SING NEXT ROUND

I call your name 3 times, JOE.... wait a few seconds for movement JOE GOING ONCE.... wait a few more seconds.... JOE GOING TIWCE...... JOE IS OUTTA HERE!!! you will be loosing your spot after the next singer is done (this is to allow for being in the bathroom)

SIDE NOTE: If i call your name and you walk from the bathroom you will be asked if you washed your hands, or we will get everybody to clap for you on your exit - just gotta keep it lively during the show

DUETS COUNT FOR BOTH, GROUPS COUNT FOR ALL - it's just not fair otherwise... I have a little clippy i put on the binder clips of group members so they get skipped, and if i did not catch to skippin ya this round, i WILL forget ya the next

SING ONE BRING ONE = bring me only one (maybe 2) slips at a time

THAT'S MY SONG = unless you have a single slip and that song shows, it is not going to be protected. Also, if you did not write it, then it is NOT YOUR SONG

USING YOUR DISC - please adhere to the sing one bring one, cause i have ednough of my own discs to worry about, i don't need 5 of yours. Don't wait up at my table for your disc while next singer is up, you will get it back when i get it out. You are responsible for your disc, you take that risk when you hand it to me, naked discs will be sleeved for their protection.

ok, that is how life works for my shows, there is more to it on mic handling and rules, but i said enough

New singers 1st then back to singers who have sung a song before. Or rotate every other one. works for me.

Rotations remind of the telefone commercial. It's something like a teacher introducing the new kid to the kindergarten class and she says,"This is so-and-so and she's new and she gets the fancy coloring set." The kids look at her, "Why does SHE get the good crayons?" "Because she's NEW." I can't figure it out either.

A guy I know does his show this way and I almost never go to his shows because of it... What essentially this does is reward the people who are late (they get preference over the people who have been there all night) and punish the regulars who are there from the start of the show. Its a very simple system but an unfair one IMO.



But the people who come in early typically are the ones who show week after week... whereas the "20 friends dude" is likely to not ever show again (in my experience). Since I dont believe in playing favourites, the only reasonable way for the KJ to show his/her appreciation to his/her regulars would be to create a rotation that allows the people who are there early to sing more often.

The number of friends someone carts along isnt recorded; someones place in the rotation is (hopefully).

At some point I think the KJ should cut the rotation off and start it again, interspersing the new singers in with the old. This is IMO the fairest way, though admittedly not the easiest or most practical for the KJ.



Exactly!