Karaoke Forums

I would like to get peoples views on running a karaoke contest. I just recently did one for one of my venues. It lasted for 5 weeks with the final on week no. 6.

Personally, I don't like them. I don't want to do them, but the bar owner insisted. I don't think I'll ever do one again. Here's why:

There are too many hurt feelings. People that should've won...Don't. Causes people to feel inadaquette about themselves and does a number on their self esteem. It can even discourage some from ever singing karaoke again.

Karaoke is about fun for everyone. And everyone should feel good about themselves and want to sing and have fun. Contests are detremental to that. With that said, I won't ever do a contest again.

What's your take on contests?

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Electro-Voice Evolve 50... Taking Sound To The Next Level.

I hate them and won't do them. It fills the bar temporarily, really doesn't make enough to cover the annoyance factor AND I don't (and won't) pit one patron against another.

Chip what is going on? I happen to totally agree with your stance on contests. Not only does it only draw people in for just the duration of the contest, It pisses off the regulars looking for their turn or turns to sing. And I refuse to do that. I am willing to lose a venue if they insist on having a contest.

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

I am also not a contest fan. I see them come, then I see the gig go.

I can't think of a single time where a contest was held on a regular gig night where the gig was still there 6 months later.

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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.

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

Karaoke contests are NOT the huge cash cow that most owners think they are! Many do it to bring new people into their establishment, thinking that these folks will become permanent patrons. This never works! Yes. It WILL bring in some new folks.......water and soda drinkers....the very people most owners complain about to begin with! Not to mention that once the contest is over, you'll most likely NEVER see these people again anyway!

You also get hurt feelings, people who feel they were robbed and you may actually lose some customers. I tell all club owners for the temporary influx of new customers, contests in the long run just aren't worth the arse ache!

Never say never!

While the foregoing negative responses may be valid for you, they do not necessarily hold true in all cases.

In my case, the Service Club where I have been a regular KJ host for the past six years would not exist if it weren't for our Karaoke contest.

Six years ago, the club had a "for sale" sign out front, was many thousands in debt, and was on the brink of bankrupcy. But, by taking a gamble, we introduced a singing contest that brought warm bodies back.

As noted in a different thread, our contest is getting bigger and better each year, and has not hurt our regular attendance...

We hold two major contests each year... in the fall for those of legal drinking age, and in the spring for the 12 - 18-year olds. Both are well-attended. Both make money for the club.

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Earl
(BS, PHD & Certified CurmuDJeon)

[font=Times New Roman]"Growing Old may be mandatory... but growing UP is still optional."[/font]

Earl, your case may be the rare exception. Glad it's working out for you. But I will say NEVER again in my case. There are just to many negatives to contests.

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Electro-Voice Evolve 50... Taking Sound To The Next Level.

I've had this question posed so many times that I finally just saved my answer for continued use:


I have seen at least four long running karaoke venues completely lose/close out karaoke due to contests. I tell owners up front that I will NEVER do one. Here's my reasoning, all from past experience:

1) 99% of new customers will return to their regular venue after the contest, unless you are EXCEPTIONAL, and if you are, you probably still won't have the opportunity to showcase during the contest.


2) Newbies walking into the bar will be too nervous to try singing around all that talent, and these ARE possible new regulars


3) Regulars not entered in the contest will get upset about the lack of air time for them, forcing them to look for a different venue.


4) Judging: No one will be convinced it's fair. Applause? Singers will load the place with their friends if they can. Impartial judges? If they're anywhere near local they will know at least some of the singers, and the singers will know that, and never believe they are impartial.


5) You get to deal with all of the egos and whining for no extra pay. Then, the sore losers, who may have been regulars at your shows at OTHER venues, disappear both from the contest venues and your others. It has been my experience that most bars AND HOSTS lose much more than they gain with contests....AND the host ALWAYS gets most of the blame/bad feelings..


Please see my sig line- I MEAN it.

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

One important point that I neglected to mention... Our contests are not held on regular Karaoke nights.

Whereas, our weekly shows are held on Thursday evenings, the adult contests are on Friday evenings, and the juniors on Saturday afternoons.

I've gone to great pains to impress upon our regular singers that the contests are completely seperate from our weekly Karaoke nights.

A number of our (now) regular singers initially arrived by way of our contests and the attendant advertising (posters, radio, etc.).

Having said that, we frequently have mini-contests within our regular nights... but these are just fun things, often goofy, with "fabulous prizes" from the local Dollar Store.

Bottom line is, when when our contests begin to detract from our regular Karaoke nights, we'll consider giving them up... but as long as they bring in large crowds that would otherwise be elsewhere, we'll keep on keeping on.

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Earl
(BS, PHD & Certified CurmuDJeon)

[font=Times New Roman]"Growing Old may be mandatory... but growing UP is still optional."[/font]

Bingo.

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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.

we do not do contests under any situation...out last one was 9 years ago and we will leave a venue to this day if they insist....nothing but problems

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"Integrity is choosing your thoughts, words and actions based on your principles and values rather than for your personal gain."
Unknown
"if a man has integrity, nothing else matters, If a man has no integrity, nothing else matters."
Lee McGuffey

Last year I was asked to host a contest series at different venues with the finals to be held at the county fair 2 weeks later on a Saturday afternoon. It turned out OK, but the coordinators did not advertise very well so the contestant turn out at the venues was low. I was asked to do so again this year but my daytime job did not allow me the flexibility to do the contest portion. However, I was requested to host the final showcase at the County fair on a Saturday afternoon. That was an awesome time! I was asked by the promoter/entertainment committee to stay and provide karaoke for the kids talent show afterward. Wow! Some of the young kids were very talented singers. They have already asked me if I would do that again next year. My answer was...'Hell yeah"!

I have not nor will I host a contest at my shows. I feel that if the few folks that want to have that glory, I will point them to other shows. My shows are all about people coming in and Singing their Hearts Out!

That works for me!

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KODAA Enterprise Karaoke
International KJ Host
Chartbuster Certified Library 9 Jan. 2012