Karaoke Forums

I have been to many, many karaoke shows across the states over the years. One of the things I have wondered about is how DJ booths get placed where they do.

I have been to several shows where the only way to submit a request to the KJ was to walk in front of the singer to get to get to the DJ booth which was on a corner of the stage. This usually means that you see a stream of traffic walking in front of the singer while they are on stage, or a mad rush between singers of people heading to the DJ booth.

I have also seen plenty of shows where the DJ booth is NOT on the stage itself, but somewhere else. Usually far enough away that it doesn't interfere with the singer and also allows the DJ to hear what the audience hears.

My personal preference is to be away from the stage and far enough away that I can hear what the audience hears and tune things. I walk around to different areas of the venue early in the show to make sure that sound is good in different areas. I also want to be far enough away that people are walking in front of singers to get to the DJ booth.

I realize some venues don't have that option and the DJ can only setup on stage or otherwise have a dedicated DJ booth/area. In my current search for an additional venue I am focusing on places that allow me to be away from the stage. I let them know that my DJ stand is on rollers and self-contained and I will run all the cabling to set up where I prefer to be.

-Chris

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-Chris

There are pros and cons to either. Being away from the stage keeps the traffic from interfering with the singer but it also isolates you a bit from singer interaction. Some like nods of encouragement or a bit of off the mic small talk or they want to give you instructions, etc. But the places where we end up are definitely strange and we often have no choice and have to make the best of it.

But it can make a difference. We tried a show at one place where the stage was in a corner right next to the front door and a boxing machine thing. In front of the stage were the tables and beyond the tables was the dance floor. It just didn't have the right feel and the people who wanted to sit and talk were being blasted out of their seats while the dancers were away from the action of the stage. We were recently asked back by new owners who let us set up in the back at the edge of the dance floor and everyone thought the arrangement made for a better show.

I feel that a good host does their best work when they are reasonably close to the singer, because like leopard lizard states singer/host interaction is an important ingredient. Many singers look at me for reassurance when they are having a problem with their song. Also the audience is doubly entertained by my behind the scenes antics while the singer is singing. I don't get so involved as to through the singer off, but enough to add some levity. I have (2) Mackie SRM v350 monitors on the stage and I can hear very clearly what the singer hears (which is the same as the audience), so I don't need to be 'back of house".

I also like to be able to assist my singer in any way that I can such as helping them get on key, get synched, hand them the mic, get up and down from the stage, etc. That is only possible by close proximity.

The biggest pro for off stage dj booth is traffic reduction near the singer area, as well as conversation interference reduction.

My preference is to be out in front of the main speakers and away from the stage from a sound guy aspect. Most places I ever worked allowed me to be able to set up this way, a couple smaller places I had to improvise.
My current setup I actually designed when they remodeled, I have a booth off to the side of the raised stage (which has a rail all the way around). So no one is walking right in the way of the singer. I have 2 speakers on the dance floor that covers most of the bar and one more on a wall closer to me so I can get an idea of the main mix as well. When I first started there, they only had a place for me to set up which I was actually on the stage and people had to cross over people singing and if I wanted to come out, I had to cross the singer or hurdle the floor monitor.

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It all really depends on if your mobile or permanent.
If your mobile you really don't get much of a choice it's wherever the place has room for you. I try and set up at the edge of a stage so the singer is off to the side of me and people don't walk in front of them.

I went to a place the does 7days a week 8 hours a night and the KJ booth was far away from the stage and completely enclosed with nothing but a small window to hand the KJ slips. He did have a monitor speaker in there with him so he could adjust things when needed but I thought the whole set up was kinda weird. He never came out of the booth.

I couldn't tell if he was disc based or not as I couldn't see his equipment. The one thing I do know is he played nothing but SC and his book was very large.

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Lets please keep this thread centered around DJ Stand placement.

-Chris

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-Chris

Most of the clubs we do don't give us much choice. It's usually where will we fit as opposed to where do we want to set up. I've reached "I'll make it work" so many times I can't really say I care anymore.

My answer is an unequivocal NOWHERE. A booth isolates the host from the patrons. I believe that interaction is the key to running a good show.

My equipment is set up BEHIND me, and I stand ( never sit- which detracts from the energy of the show) in front of it, accessible to all.

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

Personally i've always felt that the equipment behind the host, the host is turning their back on the crowd to adjust. I like my equipment facing in a manner that I facing the crowd if at all possible.

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A booth ,just like a counter in an old fashioned shop, can be a barrier if you let it become one.

Nothing stops you coming from around the booth... apart from when you need to use the controls, any other time the reason your there is that you havent moved.

I try to set up ,as i am a mobile set up , so singers are to one side of my booth and people can come up to the other side for requests , but I also go out to the crowd and collect slips sometimes or go out to encourage people or just hand out slips.

My style of presenting is to spread and encourage the love off karaoke and I can't do that stuck in a booth hidden in a corner. BUT each to their own and whatever works for you.

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"Strangers are just friend we haven't met yet"

My rack is actually in the middle of the crowd facing the stage. It is setup next to a load bearing beam which allows me to run cabling along above and down the beam eliminating cluttrer. Because I am immersed in the audience. I am always approachable.

I keep hearing the whole "interact" phrase and I am now interested in how you are defining that. I work the crowd, make sure my song books stay evenly distributed, encourage folks to participate, and try to get people to clap for the singers. I don't do any flashy stuff, never assist a singer without being asked, and spend the bulk of my time making sure the sound is as good as possible.

I am interested if folks are doing other things that I could possibly try out at my show.

-Chris

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-Chris

I feel the style you choose has to be you, it has to be honest , and true to how you feel, how you would like others to treat you, what you liked when you were or are a singer.

If I see people who come every week but don't sing i ask them nicely why and offer help , this can be showing where they can legally get a track and software for home to practice , to letting them know about key change to saying that i am willing to duet with them should they wish.
Being a bad singer is no reason not to get up on karaoke as most with practice will get better. I NEVER join in with singers unless they ask me to.
But I do not put on a false persona when hosting , i am just friendly and encouraging some people think that's a "personality dj " because they are miserable or suffering from wear and tear of years of karaoke gigs that have got to them and have become cynical and paranoid.

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"Your Never Fully dressed without a smile."

To Visit my website Rob Star Entertainments Click the link in my profile

"Strangers are just friend we haven't met yet"

I do this for the most part as well. Interact with the singer for me is just looking like you are into the song - which is usually the case anyway. If a singer is feeling a little unsure, sometimes giving a glance, smile & a nod will get them more into their song. Or if a singer gets off track, you can lean in (off mic) and sing the next line which oftentimes gets them back on track to recover. When we have some goofier nights I have little stuffed animals that I sometimes make dance around for the singer. Or if it's a 'fun' night - where anything that is done is not wrong, we sometimes will try to get the singer to laugh (regulars generally not new comers) by choreographing stupid little actions or props that correspond to the lyrics being sung at the time. One dumb example is the song Gold Dust Woman, one line is "Rulers Make Bad Lovers", in which before that line comes up, I will hand the singer an actual ruler (measuring stick) to hold. Sometimes they don't even realize the innuendo until they get to the actual line. Dumb stuff like that.
Which is why from a sound guy aspect I prefer out front, but as a kj, I prefer off to the side of the stage, but not in a manner where people will be directly crossing the stage path to get to me.

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While I understand your thinking, I still believe customer interaction is the major priority, and having the equipment in fron of me would create a barrier that would detract from that. Just my style- your mileage may vary....

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

" Disc based and loving it..."