Karaoke Forums

Yesterday was my Birthday, and I was able to get scheduled off at work. There wasn't any Karaoke being hosted last night at my usual local places (due to the 4th of July weekend), so I decided to see if anything was listed in Criagslist.org. I didn't see anything listed for this past Sunday night, so I pulled up a site called murphguide.com and looked up Karaoke Bars, and decided to check out what was going on in Manhattan (Sean doesn't keep this section updated).

Of the 4 places listed, I had been to one of them, and vowed never to return (the place was over-priced on drinks and did not give buy-backs either, plus, it was a very young crowd of Heavy Metal type music singers). I called up one of the other places to verify that they were having Karaoke, and then decided to check it out.

I walked in the place about 5 minutes before the show was supposed to start. The place was practically empty (no surprise there, being a 4th of July weekend). I noticed that a Laptop was set up, so I approached the KJ and asked her if she could play personal discs. She said that she could not, because she was set up on a Laptop. I then asked her if she could accept the use of a Flash Drive (which I have not used yet at a show, and I am still waiting to put that to the test), and she said that she was not allowed to accept anything from the Customers. Strike One!

The KJ then, very graciously, offered me a song book to look through. The book was very thick (indicating an extensive song collection), but it had no Manufacturer codes. Plus, it was in an extremely small font/print (and I did not have my reading glasses with me), so it was a struggle for me to see what songs might interest me. Strike Two!

I sat at the Bar and ordered a bottle of Magners (a Cider Beer). It was $6 (over-priced). I was willing to bite the bullet and stay for a few drinks (in spite of paying about $1 more per bottle than it should have cost), when the KJ announced the start of her show. In her announcement, she said that it costs $1 per song to sing. Strike Three!!!


GOODBYE!!!!

Since I didn't have access to the internet, I could not check out where the other two shows were (that I saw listed in murphguide), so I went back home. So much for my Birthday.

Happy Birthday! Sorry about your luck on the Karaoke. But I have to add my 2 cents, I do not always take CDG's from customers either. Our library is pretty extensive and I feel you can find something to sing. Not to mention now we also stream charbuster's 12k+ library. I wouldn't necessarily consider this a strike. Just my opinion. If the disc was of a legal producer I would consider it perhaps. I usually tell them to take 5 min, look through what we have to offer and if they absolutely cannot find anything they want to sing we will talk further. Usually it doesn't happen that way.

Sorry about your wasted trip to that bar. Hopefully the rest of the year is better.

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The Line Array Experiment is over. Nothing to see here. Move along.

The "Strike One" was that she could not play my material in any format (that is just how I feel). If you read on, it did not mean that I was not going to stay and see what she had to offer. Unfortunately, there were other Strikes that contributed towards my deciding to leave.

Cue, first and foremost, I am sorry your birthday turned out as it did for you. That bites.

Discussing some of your strikes:

As you know, I will play customer discs. However, although my disc player will accept flash drives, I would never accept one from a singer, and if I was PC based, make that a double no. There is no way to know what's on them. Again, I do think that KJs should be able to play discs.

The main reason THIS KJ should play discs, as you have mentioned, that the mfrs. are not listed. Kamakaze Karaoke can be a fun novelty, but I want to know what's going to come out of the speakers and will never sing from a book missing that information.


The $1 dollar charge was probably NOT the KJ's idea, unless it went in to her tip cup. If that was the case, then it usually means it's an Asian style bar where the host gets shift pay, and is expected to charge per song for her mainstay.

Not good or bad, just an explaination.

Your $6 Magner's is less than many places around here. The bars don't buy it in the same quantity as standard beer, and do not get the same bulk pricing. It's considered a specialty item.

Just thinking out loud....

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

OK, to respond to your points above....

You'll notice that I grouped 2 things into "Strike One."
The KJ could not play discs, and would not accept a different media format. I do understand the argument about not wanting to accept a flash drive from anyone, because you don't know if it might contain a virus on it; however, it has been suggested by several in this Forum to bring a Flash Drive/Thumb Drive to a computer based show, and I am patiently waiting to try it out some day (if the opportunity presents itself).

This place was a local Irish Bar. This KJ was working for another company (as she told me that she was "not allowed to accept" as versus a simple "No" to my question about using a Flash Drive). Now, whether the Bar wasn't paying enough, or the company she was working for only paid the KJ a certain amount of money, and the rest was earned off of a commission rate (such as charging the customers to sing), I couldn't say.

As for the Magner's Beer, in NYC, it's not really a specialty item anymore... ESPECIALLY in an Irish Bar (you can walk into any Irish Bar within the 5 boroughs, and you are guaranteed to find at least 1 brand of Cider Beer there (whether it be on Tap or in the Bottle, or both)). Now, I would expect to pay that extra $1 for the cost of the Magners if it were in a more upscale type Bar, but this was NOT one of those. It was just a local Dive Bar.

Barring (no pun intended) the discussion about what Bars charge for items like that, you'll notice in my original post that I did say I was willing to bite the bullet on the cost and hang around and participate in the Karaoke... that is, until the KJ gave that final ZING!



I feel the same. I also do not like to appear to be a PITA by constantly approaching the KJ to ask what version is this, and what version is that. In fact, one of the songs that I wanted to sing (because I need the public practice in preparation for a contest that I will be in next week), was MOTN. IMO, there is only ONE disc where this song was done correctly. That is on Pocket Songs 1054, Track 10. Although this song is on at least 3 other Pocket Songs discs, PS messed up on those versions with the tempo being too slow (it dragged out a 5 minute song into 6 1/2 minutes with no explanation. Anyway, the KJ had this song in her book, but without me knowing the EXACT version that she had, I wasn't going to take the chance on singing it (unless it was from my own disc).

sorry that had to happen on your birthday Cue.
i had to giggle a bit though when you said you did not bring your glasses.
not one person who wears glasses has ever brought them to a bar. everyone comes up and says they cant read the book (in most recently 14pt bold font) because they don't have their glasses. wonder how they read the 12pt font menus.
although i guess you can see why that place had no singers. $1.00 per song!?!? suck my......

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Paradigm Karaoke, The New Standard.......Shift Happens

Most more "modern computers and virus software" will scan the thumb drive as soon as it is inserted into the usb port, virus would be caught there and the operator would be notified and either fix it or reject it, mine does and it is 6 years old already.

So that is not a viable excuse anymore.

As far as not having the brand name in the books mine don't, but you can write down the brand you want and if I have it I will play it, if I don't I will walk over to you and tell you what I do have by brand.

Happy Birthday Cue !


https://www.chartbusterkaraoke.com/cata ... freemonth9

So your saying your using Chartbusters streaming service for $9.99 a month at your gig? You may want to read the bold red print on that link above.

Mojo

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"It looks just like a Telefunken U47 !"

I believe he is saying that he is using the KJAMS streaming service from Chartbuster that they indicate IS for commercial use.
http://www.chartbusterkaraoke.com/kjams ... ccess.html

TommyA, thats cool, its just that "streaming" word can be misleading.

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"It looks just like a Telefunken U47 !"

Belated Happy birthday, Cue!

I'm digital and I won't accept a flash drive. I don't have virus protection on my laptop. I don't need it since I only connect to 4 sites on the net: kjpro, amazon, facebook and tricerasoft karaoke downloads. I'm not about to install virus protection so I can allow the use of a flash drive. I can understand that some versions are better than others, but I use the version that I believe is closest to the original song, hence not listing 'manuf codes' in my book as well (I don't just automatically use Sound Cheese as there's versions of songs that blow Sound Cheese away). I list artist and title. 32,000 different songs in about 215 pages, 10pt font size. It's legible, even in darkened environments.

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DJ Don

If you connect to the net AT ALL, you need protection. I'd advise you run spybot or Ad-Aware on your system immediately, then a good anti-virus like AVG and prepare for a rude shock - especially if you're connecting to Facebook.

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Dave's not here.

I've been running my lappie for years with no virus protection. I've run Malwarebytes Anti-malware a few times and never even found so much as a tracking cookie. Oh.. my cookies are turned off....

I don't run 'apps' on facebook. But I'll tell you what... I haven't run Malwarebytes Anti-malware in a few months. I'll run it now and report back to you my findings.

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DJ Don

2 items found: Updates notify disabled; anti-virus notify disabled.

In Tangina's voice (played by Zelda Rubenstein from Poltergeist): This computer is clean

But I do appreciate your concern. Maybe you've had a bad experience where you've gotten a virus or something.....

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.51.0.1200
http://www.malwarebytes.org

Database version: 7028

Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3
Internet Explorer 8.0.6001.18702

7/5/2011 1:21:29 PM
mbam-log-2011-07-05 (13-21-04).txt

Scan type: Full scan (C:\|)
Objects scanned: 166868
Time elapsed: 18 minute(s), 57 second(s)

Memory Processes Infected: 0
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 0
Registry Values Infected: 0
Registry Data Items Infected: 2
Folders Infected: 0
Files Infected: 0

Memory Processes Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Values Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data Items Infected:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center\AntiVirusDisableNotify (PUM.Disabled.SecurityCenter) -> Bad: (1) Good: (0) -> No action taken.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Security Center\UpdatesDisableNotify (PUM.Disabled.SecurityCenter) -> Bad: (1) Good: (0) -> No action taken.

Folders Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Files Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

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DJ Don

Well, that can be a problem for the singer. What you or I might think is closest to the original may not be in agreement with the customer's opinion, and they come first.

Also, as you have noted, some versions are simply better than others, and the customers have their preferences.

That's my opinion as a host. As a singer, I can do Devil In Disguise in my sleep, EXCEPT for the loused up SC version. On the other hand, I ONLY duet Summer Nights from SCs version.

The version is important to me because like most amateur singers (whether they admit it or not ) my range and talent are limited.

Also, I simply do not understand why a host would remove or replace the manufacturer's numbers. Besides helping the singers, keeping the numbers makes it easier to generate a catalogue ( not a song book) for inventory control.

Since most of the database assisted songbook software ( such as KJ Pro) include them automatically, it is more work to remove them. Just doesn't make sense to me...

BTW: Are you DJ Don from P.O.T.H., my Southern NJ brother?

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

Exactly. For example I have SC I Hate Mself For Loving You - Joan Jett, I also have it on BMB/Nikkodo - that version sucks where as the SC version is much closer to the original but the BMB version is what I had for 2 years before SC came out with it. I have one girl insist on using the BMB version everytime she sings it - because that is what she is used to, she didn't like the SC version because it had all the words on screen where the BMB omits alot of the ad libbing stuff.

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

'tis I, my friend! How YOU doin'??

I believe that the amateur or casual singer will be ok with the version I play, which, again, I try to pick the version closest to the original song. Never had a singer argue with me over that.

"The best version" doesn't mean squat since it's subjective. Since it's so subjective, I've chosen not to add version info to my book.

The seasoned singer may want a particular version. If they do, they ask. If I have it, I'll use it. If I don't have it, I'll use what I have. If they don't like it because it's not what they're used to, I can't help that. If my version really stinks, I'll do the research and replace it with the version that either they asked for, or the version that's closest to the original song.

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DJ Don

So your saying your using Chartbusters streaming service for $9.99 a month at your gig? You may want to read the bold red print on that link above.

Mojo

, no, I use the KJ/DJ commercial program from Kjams. But thanks for being on top of it

Woah, charging to sing at karaoke?! She's gotta be kidding...