Karaoke Forums

Currently I see no reason for me to list the MF codes in my book: My regulars on the whole don't understand them or have any interest and trust my judgement. I'm pretty good at guessing the version local non-regulars are used to (I visit other shows, so I tend to know their books and discs of choice), and when I used to use them the number of people asking why I have 5 versions of Black velvet was not only boring but also held up the show.

However, I fully understand for the odd holiday maker MF codes might be of use (and personally if I was visting another show I'd like to see them) so short of having a master book which would cost a small fortune to print and create a lot of stress to carry from gig to gig. Does anyone have any ideas on a compromise?

P.S. I am in the process of having a song book on line, which people can access from their phones. I also would like a kiosk at the show but none of my venues have the room.

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'A genius is one who can do anything except make a living'. Joey Adams.

Methinks ya just gave yerself a reason!

My books have the duplicates removed. Took a while to so so, but it saves toner and paper!

I carry one "DJ Boo" - or the Master Book - that contains all of the versions.

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I'm not a cheerleader, but I paid for my pom poms with my own money!

In my opinion if you are going to list dupes, you need to list the manufacturers. (otherwise why list them)

Bad Murray by editing my post in that way you omitted the main message that they cause more hassle than bring about good. I'd love to see MF codes but then I understand them and use common sense before pestering someone who is working.

I did say it's for the holiday makers, who may be too polite to say anything, when they first take a book.

Thought I should add only one person has complained to me in over 10 years -

His first question was "do you use any *&%$* american discs" -
I replied that I have a lot of soundchoice in my collection, but I have several Sunfly, EK and Zoom as well... and asked what he would like to sing.
He responded with "I only like Sunfly - what songs of theirs have you got".
I handed over the master book with the codes (which I had at the time) and he handed it straight back saying he "didn't have time to read it".

ETA: I looking for for the various compromises that others use or could suggest, looking at recent threads people MF codes are very important to some. So what would keep you guys happy, but also save the ones who haven't got the space/time/energy/need/customer requirement.. printing out in depth books.

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'A genius is one who can do anything except make a living'. Joey Adams.

Agree.
However if you just list one title with the code afterward, then it would still give people the option if they want it.
ie
Friends In Low Places - Garth Brooks (SC)(DK)(RS)(SF)
etc. instead of listing the song 4 different times.

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

This is what I do. Of course I often get song slips filled out:

Friends in Low Places
Garth Brooks
SC DK RS SF

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

i do the same, and get the same on slips. people are so used to 143-2 or 015483 for numbers that they dont think anything different whenm they see a bunch of letters. if i get that on the slip, i just pick which i think is the most accurate. the ones who know, do it right, the rest, eh. my book has 3 columns, Artist, Title, Versions.

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

I have ONE song book printed, by Artist with two colums: Artist - Song. Thats it, and all dupes have been removed and no manu codes are listed, AND I don't use song slips. As I say on the mic during my show, "This show is 100% 21st century, computerized, GREEN karaoke!"

Why? Most people generally DON'T want to thumb through a book to see if I have the song, and find it easier to just ask me. I find it easier too... I type fast, and Compuhost has seach as you type... that is "Nam Coe" brings up, "You never even called me by name by David Allen Coe" Why would i waste their time, my time and paper to have them write out that request... and when was the last time someone sang that song and it wasn't Sound Choice? Never in five years has another Manu been requested for me.

Come on, boys and girls, we all know that most of the time experienced singers who come to the show already have in mind what they want to sing when they walk into the bar! The ONLY reason to even look in the book is to see if I have it... OR... the singer can just say, "You have Levon SC?" and I say, "Nope, but I have it in Legends, is that ok, what's your name?" DONE! Why make this into a game?

I've been doing this a while, and the regularity of most songs requested and my familiarity with the program means that I simply can have the song cued and playing before they can even say it, especially if its in thier history where I can cue directly from.

Manu codes are basically obsolete IMHO, like cursive writing. Those who know what they mean will ask for it when they request the song, and those who don't, I choose for them... and I'm quite comfortable in my ability to do so correctly. Many of my regulars who have been singing for me for awhile even go on "Koyote Roulette" and just let me pick their song for them too.

I have been running with ONE songbook for months now, and it works out fine. Mostly, its there for newbies who need inspiration for what to sing, but most (90% of the time) will ask me for a book or slip and I'll ask, "Do you already know your song?" They say, "Yes, its 'X' ". I say, "What's your name?... ok your done, i'll call you up shortly." Its that simple. They look at me confused, wondering if they'll even get called, but as soon as they come up, and have a great singing experience, they are "In." Manu codes hardly ever come up in the coversation, and I don't ask. I assign.

LOGIC STATEMENT: Why do you NEED manu codes? If you want to see them in the book, then in all likelihood you already know which one you want. The KJ either has it or he doesn't regardless, and if its a simple thing to say, "You have DK? SC?" and the KJ 90% of the time knows off the top of his head the answer, and if he doesn't can find out in about 3 seconds on the computer... do you really need them in the book?

If that offends you, and you won't sing at my show for that, then I guess you don't sing, but I'm not going to waste my time answering the "What do these letters mean" question 20 times a night, for the rare anal retentive who won't just ask me about manus when they put in their song request.

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Good music, good friends, howling good times!

duplicate post

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Good music, good friends, howling good times!

I find quite the opposite, people do like to look through books and I find it MUCH easier when they do instead of asking me "what do you have by so & so, or this band, etc". It gets really tiresome trying to tell them a list of 10 or more songs when they can just get a good look themselves. People are getting too lazy IMO to do things for themselves!

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

Listing artist & title only?.......I can see why people would want to bring their own disks.......just my opinion.....

Okay... just your opinion.

Based on what?

My books have been by Artist with un-duplicated song titles and no mfr's code for 5+ years. I have encountered "outside" discs 4 times with one of those being a "Karaoke Club" burn that I would not play.

I have considered the same solution that Lonman suggested and that is to list the mfr's abbreviated ID: SC CB PH SF ZM MR, etc.

I already format my books into 3 columns with the artists' names bolded and their tracks listed alphabetically following their name. This makes for 160 page book with 24k + titles. If I add the mfr's ID, I could easily add 20 pages or more and make the book that much harder to read.

The thing is... participants at my shows like to browse the books. That in itself it part of the social activity during karaoke. People enjoy discussing the songs they discover in the book as well as chatting about their choice and daring each other to sing such-&-such.

That being said, when 10" tablets fall to reasonable pricing... I'm seriously considering moving in that direction. I already have regulars that use their own wi-fi devices to browse and submit songs.

I always play up the fact that karaoke is completely unpredictable and there are no restrictions on what you sing, with the only exception being if there are minors present. If it's in the book, or kiosk, or pdf, you can sing it. If it is a particularly raunchy or controversial song, I usually preface it for the audience to let them know that "listener discretion is advised". I mean you've gotta let people know when they are about to hear "At A Medium Pace", "The Ballad of Chasey Lain", "Crazy Rap", "F--K You"(Lilly Allen OR Cee-Lo), "Killing In The Name Of", etc. That does not mean that I must restrict the singers. The reaction to their choice falls on them, not me. I'm also not going to describe their choice in a negative way, I usually just say what I suggested above and let people know that there are adult language and adult themes expressed in these songs. I've never had a problem expect with the Bloodhound Gang's "The Lap Dance Is So Much Better When The Stripper's Cryin'". I did have someone mention to me once that that song is extremely offensive and that someone had left a show in reaction to hearing it. I thought... one person... maybe an over-reaction, well you can't please EVERYBODY.

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Never the same show twice!

Yep that is definitely in our future as well. But they have to hit about $100 each before it's even considered. In the meantime I also have the online books, phone app books and working on a kiosk system in conjunction with books so people have other browsing options.

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

I stopped using MF codes the second book I printed for my computer system. Once in a blue moon I will have people who specifically request SC, CB and once in a great while Pioneer versions of a song for the most part they don't even ask.

Even with the books out on every table and 5 or 6 on the bar I still get people who will come up and ask me what I have by this or that artist, sometimes I will look it up most of the time I tell them to look up the artist in the book first by last name and then by some chance if I missed an edit by first name, if it is not in the main book it may be in the update book and here it is. Some of the reasons I get for them wanting me to look it up are, I can't find a book (duh! there is one on every table in this room), I can't read (find someone who can read to look it up for you), It is easier for you to look it up (WHAT? I am friggin busy in case you haven't noticed)!

i like them being able to look through the books and they tend to come up with songs i would have never guessed they liked. when my girl who only does eminim, 2pac, snoop dogg, came up with buile me up buttercup...i couldn't believe it. i see the thought on they know what they want, but that can keep them in the same songs over and over. thumbing through a book at their table they do tend to see something they had not thought of trying. cheap tablets do sound promising though.

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

Has anyone ever tried leaving a slot for brand preference on the request slip? Just an idea that occurred to me. Most casual singers would leave it blank, but the hardcore singer could write in Sound Choice or whatever and if you have it great. If not... you could tell the singer what you had available and let them choose their poison...

i do just that. here are the front of my slips. the back just has 3 more spaces for artist, song, version, key.

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

I stopped using slips altogether when I started using the kiosk.

I also set the kiosk NOT to show mfr's codes or duplicates.

Now, the only questions I get about mfr's codes are when a singer sees them in their history. I have a couple of singers that are willing to help me determine the "best" version for them.

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Never the same show twice!

I use my backup laptop with my song list as a .pdf file opened in Adobe Reader. The customer can search by artist, title, pieces of title, etc. Then they just walk up and give me their name and the song they want, I enter it into Karma, I'm done. I use Song List Generator to create the file - removes dupes, formats it nicely and exports to .pdf. Simple.