Karaoke Forums

I don't allow a capella songs because the singers won't finish in a timely manner. I've had a capella singers stretch 4-minute songs for 10 minutes, then get angry because they were "just getting to the good part" when I had to cut them off.
Also, I've had local rappers show me some interesting a capella profanity.
And I no longer allow people to bring in instruments; I've had singers bring up guitars, harmonicas, saxes and a flute, and expect me to get the sound right over two vocal-oriented mics.
Sorry folks, it's karaoke, not open mic night or band night.

I don't typically allow acapella singers as from past experience, they generally will sing some weird song that never seems to end. Instruments that have to be plugged in are an automatic no, a harmonica I don't mind, preferably they know how to play it though. I have one guy that sings and does a very professional harmonica part during the instumental breaks.

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I must be doing something wrong. I plug it all in.
There are some things I have to fade out of the mix sometimes.
If it entertains and makes people feel good...
Why would I not use it?

We will give things a try, depending on how long the line, and if it works, it works and if it doesn't, uh, maybe not again tonight. We have done instruments but they have to be tuned ahead of time so as not to hold up the show. The boyfriend allows harmonicas as part of the song--what he doesn't want is he once had a guy who wanted to come up and just play the harmonica each time for his turn. Once was an entertaining novelty, over and over wasn't going to fly.

We have had two acapellas--one was at a kid show and a boy wanted to do a Native American Travelling Song--not exactly a staple in our books. As he was the only one brave enough to sing, we let him. He did a great job, short and sweet, all the kids cheered and then every one of them signed up to sing.

The other was someone who wanted to do a song not in our books and it was the end of the show, people were filing out and just her friends were left so we let her--went on and on with no beat and I made a note to order that song.......but if someone keeps it short, then there is not much difference between them not going over well for there 3 minutes of fame vs. the guy that wants to do his metal song in a country crowd.

We went to an open mic/jam session recently to support the fellow who runs it at our venue. We don't play instruments enough to join in--the band offered to play a song the boyfriend knew and just let him just sing. He had a great time. The band never said, "You can't do that, this is open mic and not band karaoke." It is always a crap shoot when you give a mic to strangers, expecially when you let them do something outside of the box--but sometimes you get a real, unique creative moment and you win. Sometimes you lose. (Before anyone says anything--yes, was once at an open mic where a young girl wanted to sing but couldn't accompany herself--the host reluctantly held a mic up to a boombox that played a karaoke track--she brought down the house. But again--it is the difference between the rare moment and something out of place being done over and over again. But I hate to miss the rare moments.)

I have had 3 people in the past do an A Capella song. All 3 songs I was familiar with, so no problem with them going on and on and on. I didn't mind so much, because all three were regulars, and I will bend over backwards for my regulars.

I'm all for everyone having a great time. I used to allow a capella and the occasional beat box/MC combo. I even let a guy bring in his guitar once. But each time has been a bit of a drag on the rest of the crowd because of the various reasons stated in other posts. All went on a bit too long, the crowd was getting annoyed with it, and soon people were asking to bring in instruments that needed to be amplified, and I just decided, for the good of my crowds, and helping streamline my shows, not to allow it. Trust me, I don't ever want to be the person that denies someone something that will make them happy, but I have to draw the line if it's a drain on the crowd. If you want to bring in any wind instrument, drumming apparatus, I saw please, go for it! And if you want to alter he lyrics or do a mash up of songs, I applaud that! But I also want to stick to the core idea of karaoke being you, a microphone and scrolling lyrics on the screen. The whole song investment line is the most logical way I can rationalize this concept to other people. That being said, if I only have 10 people singing all night, then do what every the hell you want!

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Wam bam thank you m'am.

Think I must be very fortunate.
I can plug in a guitar in 5 sec.
Will only do it if it's been tuned electronically beforehand which most do.
I can get the volume within 2 sec.
If something does not sound right I drop it from the mix.
I have had quite a few talented people at my shows.
Had a brilliant sax player come a few times.
Didn't need a mic.
Did Gary Moore blues stuff.
Don't know of anyone else that does it.
I feed off it.

Never had drums.
They have 30 sec. to get ready.

It's not a matter of being able to plug in and dial in a guitar or whatever, I run sound for local bands & can have everything set in a few seconds of the first notes. If I wanted to I could with no problems. That's not the issue, the point is it's not karaoke anymore when people are bringing in their instruments, that is what jam nights are for.
Besides, I have 16 channel mixer & no open/available channels to plug anything into or even available outlets for external guitar amps/etc., so it doesn't really matter anyway.

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Lon I am well aware you can pull in probably faster than me.
I did bands. It's not that for me though.
Karaoke. Humbug.
I couldn't give a %&£(&* about karaoke.
I put on a show and it's pretty dramatic.

"Karaoke Humbug!?!?!" Heavens. Anarchist.

Nevada Lizard

I go to a Karaoke show for Karaoke.
I don't like open mic or I'd be there.

It seems to me that those who show up with instruments at karaoke do so because they think they will be better received by a crowd they believe can't play an instrument and will therefore be impressed more than the crowd of instrument players at open mic.

Too many egos in the room for that.

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No earthling.
This is becoming too humanoid for you.
Passions come to light.
It is how passion is accepted.

Does this mean they effectively sing two songs in a row?
I've seen that too many times, I think it's bad form on the singer's part for sure.

Also, If I hear a bumper song that I have in the rotattion and am planning to sing,
I get bothered and change my song. I don't like to sing something that everyone has already just heard.

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earthling12357
Don't worry.
We are the Borg collective.
We can assimilate you.
We will sing a nice song.

I bring harmonicas. I don't bring them for the reason you mentioned. I bring them so I can play the instrumental parts and get the crowd going. No one has ever complained and I enjoy it. They seem to as well as I have had numerous compliments. Big deal, it's still karaoke! If the host were to tell me it's not allowed, I won't whip it out!

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

I don't mind harmonicas, as long as it's during a karaoke song.
Even other instruments, as long as it's during a karaoke song.
It's when karaoke becomes open mic that I have a problem.
Show off your singing at karaoke and show off your other skills at the venue meant for that.

PS THERE ARE FOUR LIGHTS!
I will not be assimilated.

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You're right. The rejection has arrived.

Then hopefully you advertise it as such that it may not be karaoke. Like earth said, if I go into a karaoke show, that is what I expect. As a host I provide karaoke, that is what the customers that go to our show expect, that is what they get. Generally no shortage of singers to do anything else.

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I agree, karaoke is karaoke, not open jam night, but I am curious. Just What have you got that takes up SIXTEEN channels on your mixer? I use four, maybe five, tops.