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 Post subject: Re: Going paperless
PostPosted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 2:03 pm 
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theCheese wrote:
My first computer was a Trash 80 model I, circa 1978.. then a few years later i'd eagerly await the next issue of Compute! magazine to arrive so I could see what kinds of cool programs I could type in that month.. first on my trusty VIC 20, then on my Commodore 64.
Gawd I remember doing that with my Atari 800 in the early 80's. Couldn't wait to type in all that code only to completely debug it line by line the first few runs out only to get it 'sometimes' actually work correctly lol.
Our first "PC" was about 85, it consisted of a 256 mb hard drive, 64 mb RAM with an 8" & 5 1/4" floppy drive and an early version of Windows DOS. I believe we did finally upgrade to Windows 3? shortly after.

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 Post subject: Re: Going paperless
PostPosted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 2:18 pm 
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Lonman wrote:
Gawd I remember doing that with my Atari 800 in the early 80's.


Well played sir!

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It's like the difference between high and low budget toilet paper, it really doesn't matter in the end. -exweedfarmer

Which is smarter? Just sticking to making/selling karaoke, while people all over the world create software FOR FREE that helps you sell it, or trying to compete with them and keeping it a closed loop while you blow your money into an industry (software) that you(the karaoke manu) knows nothing about?
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 Post subject: Re: Going paperless
PostPosted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 1:35 pm 
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exweedfarmer wrote:
I use computers found in garbage cans. I really am going to have to update because folks are starting to make snide remarks about their age. I'll just have to start watching the trash for upgrades. My kiosks are mouse driven and no one has complained. Most of the time I have the keyboards locked out. Click your name, click the song and you're done.

How do the enter their name if they are a first time singer since you lockout the keyboard?

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 Post subject: Re: Going paperless
PostPosted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 1:46 pm 
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exweedfarmer wrote:
Thunder wrote:
I didn't have that experience, my first computer was in "95", an HP (which was on the recall list LOL) had AOL phone line connection with a blazing speed that could download a program in 24 to 36 hours. The funny thing is that computer is still in use today!


...And it has a COM Port!!! :mrgreen:



Yes it does! :D


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 Post subject: Re: Going paperless
PostPosted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 1:53 pm 
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rumbolt wrote:
exweedfarmer wrote:
I use computers found in garbage cans. I really am going to have to update because folks are starting to make snide remarks about their age. I'll just have to start watching the trash for upgrades. My kiosks are mouse driven and no one has complained. Most of the time I have the keyboards locked out. Click your name, click the song and you're done.

How do the enter their name if they are a first time singer since you lockout the keyboard?


The very first time they sing they either have me input their name or fill out a slip. I had the lists sorted by venue so if they have sung there before their name was in a drop down box. The biggest reason for the lockout is that the computerized rotation thinks that "Bobby" and "ultra-sexy Bobby" are two different singers. Getting the rotation wrong could be fatal.

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 Post subject: Re: Going paperless
PostPosted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 3:47 pm 
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exweedfarmer wrote:
rumbolt wrote:
exweedfarmer wrote:
I use computers found in garbage cans. I really am going to have to update because folks are starting to make snide remarks about their age. I'll just have to start watching the trash for upgrades. My kiosks are mouse driven and no one has complained. Most of the time I have the keyboards locked out. Click your name, click the song and you're done.

How do the enter their name if they are a first time singer since you lockout the keyboard?


The very first time they sing they either have me input their name or fill out a slip. I had the lists sorted by venue so if they have sung there before their name was in a drop down box. The biggest reason for the lockout is that the computerized rotation thinks that "Bobby" and "ultra-sexy Bobby" are two different singers. Getting the rotation wrong could be fatal.



What if you have 4 Bobbys?


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 Post subject: Re: Going paperless
PostPosted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 5:16 pm 
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Thunder wrote:
exweedfarmer wrote:
rumbolt wrote:
exweedfarmer wrote:
I use computers found in garbage cans. I really am going to have to update because folks are starting to make snide remarks about their age. I'll just have to start watching the trash for upgrades. My kiosks are mouse driven and no one has complained. Most of the time I have the keyboards locked out. Click your name, click the song and you're done.

How do the enter their name if they are a first time singer since you lockout the keyboard?


The very first time they sing they either have me input their name or fill out a slip. I had the lists sorted by venue so if they have sung there before their name was in a drop down box. The biggest reason for the lockout is that the computerized rotation thinks that "Bobby" and "ultra-sexy Bobby" are two different singers. Getting the rotation wrong could be fatal.



What if you have 4 Bobbys?

Bobby A,Bobby Z, Bobby 3, Bobby 17, the name doesn't have to be descriptive just unique

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 Post subject: Re: Going paperless
PostPosted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 5:44 pm 
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rumbolt wrote:
How do the enter their name if they are a first time singer since you lockout the keyboard?


The wonders of 30 year old technology :roll:

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Living my life as Robert Cortese, 162 E. Jackson St, San Jose CA.

It's like the difference between high and low budget toilet paper, it really doesn't matter in the end. -exweedfarmer

Which is smarter? Just sticking to making/selling karaoke, while people all over the world create software FOR FREE that helps you sell it, or trying to compete with them and keeping it a closed loop while you blow your money into an industry (software) that you(the karaoke manu) knows nothing about?
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 Post subject: Re: Going paperless
PostPosted: Sun Apr 03, 2011 8:42 am 
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awesome lol


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 Post subject: Re: Going paperless
PostPosted: Sun Apr 03, 2011 10:44 am 
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exweedfarmer wrote:
Thunder wrote:
exweedfarmer wrote:
rumbolt wrote:
exweedfarmer wrote:
I use computers found in garbage cans. I really am going to have to update because folks are starting to make snide remarks about their age. I'll just have to start watching the trash for upgrades. My kiosks are mouse driven and no one has complained. Most of the time I have the keyboards locked out. Click your name, click the song and you're done.

How do the enter their name if they are a first time singer since you lockout the keyboard?


The very first time they sing they either have me input their name or fill out a slip. I had the lists sorted by venue so if they have sung there before their name was in a drop down box. The biggest reason for the lockout is that the computerized rotation thinks that "Bobby" and "ultra-sexy Bobby" are two different singers. Getting the rotation wrong could be fatal.



What if you have 4 Bobbys?

Bobby A,Bobby Z, Bobby 3, Bobby 17, the name doesn't have to be descriptive just unique


But as you said you would have to interact with each person and enter their information (the first time) But how do you explain to a new Bobby walking into the venue for the first time and observing everyone inputting their songs not to put a song in under Booby 3's name, do you make announcements through out the night to for new people to come up and talk to you?

What happens when Bobby 3 leaves, doesn't tell you, and three of his friends roll up on stage to "do his song" for him?


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 Post subject: Re: Going paperless
PostPosted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 8:54 am 
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exweedfarmer wrote:
Bobby A,Bobby Z, Bobby 3, Bobby 17, the name doesn't have to be descriptive just unique


I make them enter their own name each time... but no without rules...

Rule #1:

A singer MUST use the same name all night long. (the software has an option to force them to include a last initial) I will make sure they are unique, not a difficult task even on the busiest of nights. If they are caught putting in a fake name (to line jump) they will be asked to sit down and sit out an entire rotation. They can use stage names, but they must use the same one all night.

Rule #2:
If you put in a song for someone else and they won't sing it, you have to sing a song that I pick for you in their place..... (and it won't be pretty)


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 Post subject: Re: Going paperless
PostPosted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 9:54 am 
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See.. that's exactly why when I finally implement a kiosk system, it will simply be a 'digital book'.. a place for singers to browse my catalog and make their selection.. then it will print out a slip that they hand in to me.

I want that face time and interaction with my patrons, and I don't always follow a strict rotation, since sometimes i'll bump a singer up or down so similar songs get sung together.

For instance if Sally puts in Coal Miners Daughter, Tom has a Slipknot song in, and then Dave has a Alan Jackson song, i'll bump Dave up and put the two country tunes together, instead of sandwiching a Slipknot song between two country classics.

Why anyone would want a piece of software to do the job we're hired to do is beyond me. It's just lazy. You might as well do what toqer does and put in a fully automated system and go check ID's at the door.

When you remove the human element.. it ceases to be a show. What you've got is a guy babysitting a karaoke vending machine set to free play.


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 Post subject: Re: Going paperless
PostPosted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 9:59 am 
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Thunder wrote:
But as you said you would have to interact with each person and enter their information (the first time) But how do you explain to a new Bobby walking into the venue for the first time and observing everyone inputting their songs not to put a song in under Booby 3's name, do you make announcements through out the night to for new people to come up and talk to you?

What happens when Bobby 3 leaves, doesn't tell you, and three of his friends roll up on stage to "do his song" for him?


Really, the folks are not there to mess things up or cause me problems just for the sake of doing so. If I see someone at the kiosk looking lost I walk up and explain that I have to enter their name on the main computer. They tell me what it is, I type it in and that's it.

As for Bobby 3 three leaving, I use the "sing one-bring one" type rotation so if they haven't got a request in they're not in queue. If Bobby 3 isn't in the group that shows up to sing his song, I don't let them sing and they get booed off the stage, just as if I was using paper slips. As I've stated before, the only people who don't like kiosks are those who haven't tried kiosks.

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Last edited by exweedfarmer on Mon Apr 04, 2011 10:57 am, edited 1 time in total.

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 Post subject: Re: Going paperless
PostPosted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 10:10 am 
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exweedfarmer wrote:
Thunder wrote:
But as you said you would have to interact with each person and enter their information (the first time) But how do you explain to a new Bobby walking into the venue for the first time and observing everyone inputting their songs not to put a song in under Booby 3's name, do you make announcements through out the night to for new people to come up and talk to you?

What happens when Bobby 3 leaves, doesn't tell you, and three of his friends roll up on stage to "do his song" for him?


Really, the folks are not there to mess things up or cause me problems just for the sake of doing so. If I see someone at the kiosk looking lost I walk up and explain that I have to enter their name on the main computer. They tell me what it is, I type it in and that's it.

OK I would say you make it fair. But you are doing that by meeting each singer when they sign up! Excellent Dude! :D

As for Bobby 3 three leaving, I use the "sing one-bring one" type rotation so if they haven't got a request in they're not in queue. If Bobby 3 isn't in the goup that shows up to sing his song, I don't let them sing and they get booed off the stage, just as if I was using paper slips. As I've stated before, the only people who don't like kiosks are those who haven't tried kiosks.


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 Post subject: Re: Going paperless
PostPosted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 10:11 am 
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exweedfarmer wrote:
Thunder wrote:
But as you said you would have to interact with each person and enter their information (the first time) But how do you explain to a new Bobby walking into the venue for the first time and observing everyone inputting their songs not to put a song in under Booby 3's name, do you make announcements through out the night to for new people to come up and talk to you?

What happens when Bobby 3 leaves, doesn't tell you, and three of his friends roll up on stage to "do his song" for him?


Really, the folks are not there to mess things up or cause me problems just for the sake of doing so. If I see someone at the kiosk looking lost I walk up and explain that I have to enter their name on the main computer. They tell me what it is, I type it in and that's it.

As for Bobby 3 three leaving, I use the "sing one-bring one" type rotation so if they haven't got a request in they're not in queue. If Bobby 3 isn't in the goup that shows up to sing his song, I don't let them sing and they get booed off the stage, just as if I was using paper slips. As I've stated before, the only people who don't like kiosks are those who haven't tried kiosks.


OK I would say you make it fair. But you are doing that by meeting each singer when they sign up I can see the kiosh being abused by many! Excellent Dude!


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 Post subject: Re: Going paperless
PostPosted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 10:21 am 
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theCheese wrote:
It's just lazy.


Ripping 444 CDG's was pretty lazy
Putting together your own software... Ya.. Lazy.
So was running all the cat5 in the hanging ceiling
making 7 PC's talk to each other, ya.. that's lazy too
building the website and community around 7b.. Again, hella lazy
Running all the cables for our speakers, DMX lights, etc, very very lazy.
Rewiring the power with a 3phase system to handle the new load, lazy.
teaching myself midi automation techniques and advanced audio routing.. hella lazy.

Sitting with your patrons at their tables, dancing with the ladies till the end of song, or sitting under the stars using Google sky to teach yourself more about the constellations, priceless.

Keep on with that "beat matching" you karaoke cowboy. You are so unique. I got this handled like a boss.
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Living my life as Robert Cortese, 162 E. Jackson St, San Jose CA.

It's like the difference between high and low budget toilet paper, it really doesn't matter in the end. -exweedfarmer

Which is smarter? Just sticking to making/selling karaoke, while people all over the world create software FOR FREE that helps you sell it, or trying to compete with them and keeping it a closed loop while you blow your money into an industry (software) that you(the karaoke manu) knows nothing about?
-me


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 Post subject: Re: Going paperless
PostPosted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 11:47 am 
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Oh i'm impressed.

Many people in this biz are genuine entertainers, and they use their personality and MC abilities to actually put on a show.

Congratulations on being smart enough to cobble together a bunch of other peoples technology to put up a display that looks like a baboons (@$%&#!).. with an mIRC window open running a trivia bot.

You could at least write a nice front end that works with the mIRC client, maybe in Flash.. so it didn't look like such crap.

LAZY.

Any nimrod can run cable, cat5 or otherwise. They pay guys minimum wage to do that. I'm sure the guy you're working for paid you better than minimum wage to milk that super complicated wiring job that any competent wire grunt could have had done within a couple hours.

Or did you put it all in conduit? Maybe did it in rigid? Custom bends.. rented a pipe threader?

It's probably draped around the rafters and held up with zip ties.

Congratulations on that, too.. Mr. Super Awesome.

Why were you running any Cat5 anyway? Wireless networking too complicated for you? Or were you just trying to price gouge the club owner by cobbling together a system out of parts you scrounged out of other peoples trash?

Making 7 PC's talk to each other? OHHHH you really are a master.

OHH and you BUILT A WEBSITE! (golf clap) you mean you used Fantastico to install a Content Management System.. what is that, Drupal? You're a real friggin' super brain.. and not only do you have the balls to charge people to sing per song, and let them 'bribe' you into bumping them up in the rotation, but then you poor mouth for donations on your website?

Hey it costs money to run this site, buy new PCs when they break, pay off credit card debts and so on. You should really throw a few bucks my way.

They aren't throwing a 'few bucks' your way when they're paying $1 to sing each song? When they pay for drinks?

Tool.


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 Post subject: Re: Going paperless
PostPosted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 12:29 pm 
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Cheese,

If you don't like going paperless, get the hell out of this thread. What's the point of even responding if a-holes like you are going to be critical?

I've reported both your posts as being offtopic. They add NOTHING to the discussion. Now go crawl back under that rock you came from.

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It's like the difference between high and low budget toilet paper, it really doesn't matter in the end. -exweedfarmer

Which is smarter? Just sticking to making/selling karaoke, while people all over the world create software FOR FREE that helps you sell it, or trying to compete with them and keeping it a closed loop while you blow your money into an industry (software) that you(the karaoke manu) knows nothing about?
-me


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 Post subject: Re: Going paperless
PostPosted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 12:35 pm 
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toqer wrote:
Cheese,

If you don't like going paperless, get the hell out of this thread. What's the point of even responding if a-holes like you are going to be critical?

I've reported both your posts as being offtopic. They add NOTHING to the discussion. Now go crawl back under that rock you came from.


All I said was that having a kiosk print a slip solved the dupe/fake person submission issue, and that I felt that having a piece of software keep track of your rotation was lazy.

YOU are the one who then felt the need to list your pedestrian accomplishments.. that had little to nothing to do with the topic.

How about YOU go crawl back under the DJ booth you hide under when big scary drunks come into your club.


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 Post subject: Re: Going paperless
PostPosted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 3:12 pm 
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I'm just going to turn the other cheek.

Congrats, you made it to my foe list.

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Living my life as Robert Cortese, 162 E. Jackson St, San Jose CA.

It's like the difference between high and low budget toilet paper, it really doesn't matter in the end. -exweedfarmer

Which is smarter? Just sticking to making/selling karaoke, while people all over the world create software FOR FREE that helps you sell it, or trying to compete with them and keeping it a closed loop while you blow your money into an industry (software) that you(the karaoke manu) knows nothing about?
-me


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