Karaoke Forums

My shows are a bit different then yours Lonman. You have a very well established karaoke venue. Mine tend to be mixed shows, with some karaoke and some DJ work too, which I apologise for not clarifying in my previous post.

In your situation, I very much would do the same. I have three different playlists I work from depending on the venue.

1) Hip Hop Dance
2) Heavy/ Old school rock
3) Traditional mix with many karaoke favorites thrown in

If I'm in a younger crowd, with few singers I go with mix 1, if its an older crowd with fewer singers mix 2, and of course if its a full on karaoke crowd, mix 3.

I try very hard to strike the right balance to keep bar patrons and BAR OWNERS happy. I know some here will frown on this, but the truth is, you have to meld your style for the place you are in, rather then the way you want it to be.

What I can say is, i consistently have certain things said to me... and as long as that continues, I will continue to work that way:

From Karaoke die hards: "I love coming to your show", "the rotation is always smooth", "you have my songs(history)", "YOU PLAY MY DISKS", and "its a pleasure to sing on your system."

From Non Karaoke people: "You know, I really HATE karaoke, but I always enjoy your show."

My job is NOT to make money for the bar. My job is to make sure people have a good time, leave smiling, and want to come back, and by extension... make money for the bar.

_________________
Good music, good friends, howling good times!

I use music without words for my 'bumper' music. I've got a folder on my iPod called 'Voiceover Music' that I keep on shuffle plugged into a muted channel.. between singers I just punch the 'mute' button and keep that off till the title screen of the next karaoke song.

Stuff on my 'Voiceover Playlist' includes:

Theme from Benny Hill Show
Theme from Sanford & Son
Theme from $25,000 Pyramid
Theme from The Price is Right
"A Fifth of Beethoven" by Walter Murphy and the Big Apple Band

I've also got a few 'Bow chikka wow wow' porno music instrumentals mixed in there.

Not sure why that didn't post. The biggest thing with my transistion music is people coming to the stage, hearing the song and saying "that's not my song!"

I've seen other host play absolutely nothing between singers. Just doesn't cut it for me. Maybe for others, not for me.

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

In my earlier days when I had my Sweet Georgia Brown collection in heavy usage, occasionally singers would walk up and see the 'Sweet Georgia Brown' logo and say, "Hey! That's not my song!"

And i'd have to say, "No.. that's just the name of the company that made the tracks"

Nowadays my Filler Music is instrumentals only.

Pretty much all new songs/artists like Eminem, Usher, Black Eyed Peas, and upbeat hip hop. A few older ones like Atomic Dog and More Bounce To The Ounce.

The "kids" used to sing out pretty loud to the regualr songs, especially the Tv Themes like Fresh Prince and The Jeffersons, and to just about every new song, so the transition wasn't AS smooth as it is now with instrumental tracks.

My shows have been extra busy the past 2 months so i don't have time to be wasting on transitioning singers or even doing dance sets now, which is good.

I have thought of editing brand new karaoke tracks (first 10 seconds) and putting the new good upbeat songs on my ipod as filler music...why not, i already have them. -john

I make a point to play at least one TV theme song right around the middle of the show, usually the theme to Fresh Prince of Bel Air, or "Thank You For Being a Friend" from the Golden Girls. TV Themes are great for singalongs, and they only last 30 seconds or so. The Jeffersons - a great theme suggestion johnreynolds!

One of the more popular KJs around my area, and a good friend of mine plays TV themes as filler music. More amusing enough, he frequently attaches a tv theme to his regulars when he announces them. It really unique.

_________________
Good music, good friends, howling good times!

Had a filler song tonight that was playing & a customer asked if I had it to sing & sang it - they also stated they didn't know the name of the song until they asked because they heard in between songs.

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

I also have TV themes in my filler list, have had people ask to sing those as well for their turn. Love Boat probably being the most requested TV theme.

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

I have to watch my bumper music also. It never fails that if you put on something that hits a nerve, say "Sweet Home Alabama", etc, the person will say "Where are the words?!" and want to sing it...OR the crowd thinks they are about to sing it after hearing the intro. But if they want to, I quickly switch it out for the Karaoke version and let them go at it.

Even some of the lesser bumper tunes I play will generate a slip 10 minutes later from someone wanting to sing it.

What I did was this, I added all older stuff that was upbeat that really wasn't a top 10 hit or wasn't very widely known. I do on occasion have someone ask me what the song was that was just playing and some that will actually sing the song for karaoke, but it doesn't happen very often. I really sort of like the idea of the TV theme songs tho, sounds like something i might have to "borrow"

Mark's show is filled with humor. Theme songs like "I dream of Jeanie", "the beverly hillbillies", "sanford and son", "the jeffersons" and so forth run through the entire show. and yes, frequently many people in the audience strat singing along or laughing when an old favorite come on. Its really a nice touch.

_________________
Good music, good friends, howling good times!

I borrowed an idea from letitrip, and made sure all my bumper music was available to sing for karaoke. I have had many, many requests to sing the songs from the bumper music. Some people just need the inspiration, or they don't know the name of the song or artist.

I only play music between songs to avoid silent breaks between singers. I am pure karaoke. And if anyone asks to just play a song and they would sing along with it, or even offer to sing a capella, I tell them no. My reason is that I paid a good amount of money for all my karaoke songs, so I want to get the most of out my investment.

_________________
Wam bam thank you m'am.

Right... dance club - dance music filler

Bar or Saloon - karaoke hits filler (for inspiration)

Coffee house or lounge - either down-tempo or silence

I use CompuHost as well and I customized the display to display the singer's name on one line and the words "It's Your Turn..." just below the singer's name.

You wouldn't believe how many people see "It's Your Turn..." and say to me "That's not my song."

I have done this for years as well....amazing how hearing a song a few times via bumper will bring people to sing songs they would never have considered...or probably never would have heard on their radio station of choice. I also sing a lot of new stuff so people can become familiar with it. I'm careful to tell people that nobody owns a song, that they should always feel free to sing any songs I sing.

And if they offered to sing it in Icelandic?

So far the boyfriend has only put a ban on harmonica solos.

I do whatever the bar I'm in needs me to do... whatever it takes to keep the bar entertained and people come back each week. My reasoning is that the bar is paying me a steady paycheck each week, and my equipment and songs that i paid a lot of money for don't do me much good sitting in my house.

_________________
Good music, good friends, howling good times!

What? If they want to sing a capella, they can go to an freakin' open mic night, not a karaoke night. I don't pay money for my songs not to be used.

_________________
Wam bam thank you m'am.