Karaoke Forums

Personally I like to sing different songs at karaoke shows. I don't want to sing the same songs over and over. If I visited my history on the two computers I've used for shows, I think it would be somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 or more diff songs. For sure in three digits.

Having said that, last night I had a singer want to sing Piano Man. The owner wants that song as our closing song, he and I. I use my harmonica and usually the whole room is engaged. I told the singer that I would let him sing if he wants but I explained how it was our traditional last song of the night. He decided to switch songs and so I invited him to join us on stage for our finale and he accepted. Not that it would have mattered, but he is an outstanding singer.

I've deleted songs from my que list in the past when someone requests one that I had qued up already but just that one song I've ever asked the singer to consider a different song for.

Any similar stories? I'm not looking for whether or not what I did was right or wrong. You won't change my outlook on it.

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

I think you handled it very professionally...

1. You didn't DEMAND that the singer choose another selection.
2. You demonstrated your appreciation by inviting him to join in on the last song.

Therefore, you kept the singer happy, while maintaining the wishes of the owner.

GOOD JOB!

We don't have any that are saved just for us but we do have a few that several people want to do. At first we had a bit of resentment when we would explain that someone "got it first" and alot of times we will just let them do it but spread out through the night--it is a neighborhood bar so the "rules" are lax. But lately we have had a trend where the singers worked it out themselves and now the first one to land the song invites the other one up to sing it with them. I thought that was a nice development because at first things had gotten a bit competitive--and in one case they are actually getting more applause singing the song together than they did individually.

The three most competed over songs at the moment are--yes--still "Picture," "Love Shack" and Meatloaf's "Two Out of Three."

We don't really have an ending song but often we will have our Elvis close out with "American Trilogy."

i think you handles it as professionally as possible, it all worked out.
i have to laugh when someone gets upset that someone else is (as 1 guy puts it "f**king my wife", ) doing "someone elses" song. the "thats my song, i do it better" comes from the ones who take the paint off the wall when they sing.

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

Love how you handled that situation Rip and yes, it seems like it's some of the worst singers who get the most upset when someone else does "their" song. Getting people to do "Picture" together instead of having it sung more than once in a night? Great idea...

It is actually the Meatloaf song they do together but a Picture combo has some good possibilities--sort of a menage a qua? or something. Especially with the wrong words and the Pope being in the mix--"I was head of the Church." People have done it so much that they have started to improvise and make it funnier which softens the blow a bit.

The one other thing is when someone does "someone's" song and the other person sits in the audience trying to sing it louder and "correcting" them. We have a bit of that, sometimes.

I concur. You did EXACTLY what a professional KJ does. Great job.

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Good music, good friends, howling good times!

Ripman, I think you handled that perfectly! The tradition was carried out, and the customer was happy. Definitely a win/win!

I too try not to have any repeats sung at my shows, because over time, it will just become a big pi$$ing contest as to who sang it the best. Heck, I've seen fights break out after a .50 pool game! I surely don't need my singers dukin' it out over "Friends In Low Places"...

I correct people when they complain that someone is "singing MY song" and remind them that they are not the copyright owner and it does not "BELONG" to them.... or anyone else.

And that includes me. I don't hide songs from singers, (keeping them in reserve for myself) nor do I reserve songs for anyone else. Over the years, I've had dozens of songs "stolen" from me (if you want to call it that) by patrons that now claim them as their own..... So what. No big deal for me because I have many more choices than they do and much more opportunity to practice them..... Besides, the job is not about ME singing anything - it's about the patrons singing....

And yes, ripman8 you did the right thing...

Surprised, actually, that this hadn't happened sooner.

Have you considered asking the owner to look for a new song, one that isn't a karaoke icon? Piano Man is done frequently at shows all over....

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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.

Thanks for the kudos.

Mcky, no haven't considered that. There are a lot of good "closing" songs. We've done that one every show, everyone knows the show is over when it is done and usually the whole room is swaying and singing. Hate to give it up.
It is surprising it hasn't been requested before as it is for sure a popular karaoke song. But it was the first time.

I should clarify that when I invited that singer to help us out, I did it on the spot before he had made his decision. I would have let him sing it if he would have insisted, I want all happy customers if possible (always one of those impossible ones which I have one that just grates in my brain like chalk on a board) regardless of their singing abilities (got one of those now too) but it worked out well.

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

on the other song line of thinking...
before i started using the red peters song, we would use goodnight sweetheart and everyone would sing along too.
maybe see if you can get a few different songs like that and grab the one that feels right that night. that way if one of them gets "stolen" you still have some to chose from that people are used to.
just thinking out loud here

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

I don't agree with all the fluff you're getting here Rip......I think you're just turning into one of those ol' greedy prima-donna- karaoke bass turds.......

Careful, I KNOW where YOU live!

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

Really? These songs still get sung regularly? Picture I hear on occasion, but the others are pretty rare anymore.

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

Your youngster crowd doesn't do them, but out here in the hinterlands we get all of those fairly regular.

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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.

[quote="mckyj57Your youngster crowd doesn't do them, but out here in the hinterlands we get all of those fairly regular.[/quote]


Hinterlands?.... Do you wear lederhosen while you sing them?

Only when doing The Chicken Dance.

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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.

Welcome to Iowa...I'll add Meatloaf's "Paradise By The Dashboard Light" as well.

(would have added a PLUG THE EARS SMILEY, but there isn't one)

, man I love younger rocker/newer country crowds! PBTDBL I do get on occasion, however it's usually with me & another that actually knows the song well.

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