Karaoke Forums

I touched on this in another thread. Got to writing it and decided I am going to put this in my books. Any opinions? Did I miss something?

Here is what I mean by karaoke etiquette:

You practice what I call karaoke etiquette when you:

1) Take the time to read the format/rules of the show. Methods vary among karaoke venues and host/companies. So be sure you take the time to see how things work if you aren't familiar with any given show.

2) Give the karaoke host the benefit of the doubt that he or she is being fair. If it takes an hour for you to get up and sing, there may very well be an hour's worth of singers ahead of you.

3) If you are somewhat certain that your karaoke host is being unfair in his or her rotation, go ahead and ask about your spot in the rotation and when you should be able to expect to sing next. Sometimes, those little slips of paper get lost, and it's hard to realize it in the dark.

4) Do not keep going to the host and asking when it is your turn, or how much longer. Also, don't try to ask to be moved up for any reason, especially if you are leaving (think about that!).

4) When you are on stage, don't grab the mic and sing along to filler music, and definitely don't ever try to talk over the host while they are trying to make announcements or introducing you.

5) Demonstrate good mic discipline while on stage. Don't ever scream into the mic. Don't "cup" the mic; hold it by the bottom of the stem. Finally, pull the microphone back when you get louder. A singer with good mic discipline realizes that the input level to the mic should remain the same at all times.

6) When you have completed your song, yield the stage immediately to the next singer. If you have a question for the host, wait until after the next singer is set and going.

7) If the host has the karaoke controls very near the stage, speak to the host in a manner that is respectful to the singer on stage.

When another singer has completed their song, it is strongly encouraged for you to clap, regardless of how they performed. Don't you appreciate applause?

9) Buy something! We're not asking you to buy booze, nor are we asking you to pay for karaoke. But, a portion of the profits for the night pay for the bar to put it on. At least buy a soda, maybe a snack, and feel free to throw a buck or two to your server.

10) Compliments work well when it comes to making friends at karaoke. If someone did a good job, tell them! You do know their name.

Did I miss anything?

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

Well I'm not sure if you missed anything or not cause I don't go out to karaoke myself, but that amazes me that you hafta actually write out karaoke etiquette and put it in your books... to me it sounds like it's more directed towards grade school kids without a clue... but I guess ya gotta do what ya gotta do to keep the crowd in control to some degree.

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MUSIC+DANCE=LIFE

Troy, you're gonna have to edit your post. You listed the # 4 twice. Also, you're gonna have to change the numbering to NUMBER Period (#.) instead of NUMBER ), because # 8 came out as an emoticon.




I don't think this would fall under Karaoke etiquette. This is more Mic Technique. As for the 1st part about (intentionally) screaming into the Mic, that might fall under etiquette... just not the rest. When I first started out singing at Karaoke, I didn't realize how loud I could be. Also, the first place where I started to go for Karaoke, the Host never gave much volume control to the Mics, and she was always telling everyone to keep the Mic close to their mouths. When I started going to a new place, I didn't know any better, so I always kept the Mic close to my mouth there as well. Nobody ever told me (back then) to pull back on the Mic when I was belting. At one of the places where I became a Regular, I found this out indirectly from one of the Hosts there. I happened to be at this place early one night, and the Host was training a new host on how to operate the system. While explaining the system to the Newbie-in-Training, she mentioned that some people there have very powerful voices when singing, and she explained that she would turn the Mic down on them as a result. She happened to mention me in the example (since I was sitting there). Later on, she came up to me and apologized to me if I felt put on the spot or embarrassed about what she had said to the Newbie. I told her that I didn't take any offense to it. When she called me up to sing that night, for the first time, I started to pull back on the Mic when I new I was gonna start to project. When I finished the song, the Host came up to me, and said she was very impressed with what I did, and she said that if I continued to do that, she would start giving me more normal volume on the Mic.

Sorry Troy........I flunk the very first rule....

Here's what I have on the inside front cover of my books.

Karaoke Guidelines
(Please Read Carefully - And Review Periodically)

** As soon as possible after you arrive, let the host know you are here and that you want to sing.

Please take your song request slips to the host before your turn in the rotation. Please remember, if you do not submit a request slip, you could lose your place in the rotation.

Please be ready when its your turn to sing. Watch the board. If you’re outside smoking, or in the washroom, you could miss your turn in the rotation.

Please do not “duet” with another singer unless you have been invited by that singer.

Please do not ask the host to “move you up” or “slip you in” to the rotation. That is unfair to others. We make every reasonable effort to respect the principle of “first come - first served”.

The wireless microphones are very directional. Hold the microphone in a horizontal position, at an average of approximately 2” from your mouth.

Please do not bring any food, drink, or snacks into the venue. These are available at the bar.

Library books are provided for your convenience in looking up an artist or title (or both).. PLEASE check the book before filling out a request slip. The books are current as of the date on the front cover, however we are always adding to our library. If you do not see the song you’re looking for, ask the host… We may have it in the computer.

Above all else, Karaoke is meant to be FUN - nothing more nor less… and if the host happens to screw things up once in a while, please forgive him. (he’s elderly, ya know!!)

Finally, please remember.. The only way the venue can maintain Karaoke services is if YOU spend money here. Please - Support Karaoke by Supporting The Bar.

Your suggestions are always welcomed and appreciated.

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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]

Yikes... Karaoke must be very very different over there.
You expect people to read this stuff???
You are currently on planet Earth.

@jerry - It is very common to see karaoke guidelines published in books or menus around American karoke bars. Less so now than say 10 years ago. I attribute that to the number of pirate DJ's going up who don't even bother printing books.

-Chris

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-Chris

I too, print a page of rules. I keep it as short as possible. I was amazed after putting this page in, the incidences of 'breaking the rules' went way way down!

It always surprises me how rude people can be sometimes but if you remind them they obey.

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SoundChoice Certification coming soon!

I know from my experience at work that no matter how many times you write something, post it, enlarge it, the % of people who actually take the time to read it will disappoint you.

Having said that, I do have a set of rules in my book. I pretty much copied them from Mcky but tweaked them a bit. I do refer people back to those rules (including owners) when something comes up. If something comes up, I politely correct them. If they want to debate or question the rule, I telll them it's in the book and that is how the show is run.

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

That's kinda it, isn't it? Refer to the rules... they don't argue much if they find out it's in writing!!

But really, the incidence of people breaking said rules has gone way down since I put in the 'rule page' a couple of years ago.

Wireless mic's took care of the swinging issue
Screaming is way way down!

I think the only problem I run into lately is people that try to sign up using different names. That only happens once! and they lose their next turn for doing it.

It always amazes me how much attention singers pay to when they are up.. who's been up before them... I even had one girl recently give me a hard time about a new singer that she said had just walked in the door. Funny thing was, that new singer was my niece and had been there for an hour! The gal complaining said, "I've been here since 8 o'clock and I've only sang once! That girl singing walked in the door 10 minutes ago!" My show starts at 9... I get there at 8 and that night there was NO ONE in the bar when I arrived. This gal wouldn't tell me her name so I could find out where she was on the list... she got mad and walked out. I had spent so much time talking to her... explaining how a lineup works.. that the singer had finished and filler music was playing.. I looked at the list to call up the next singer and realized that SHE was the next singer!!
The next day this girl left a bad review online! Said I was rude and unprofessional. Couldn't have been further from the truth.

This job frustrates sometimes!! But gotta take the good with the bad... and be thankful the bad hardly ever occurs.

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SoundChoice Certification coming soon!

So what your saying is you attribute more karaoke guidelines being published in books today, than in the past, because of the growing number of pirates who don't even bother printing books?

???

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Music speaks to the heart in ways words cannot express.

And it is even more common for singers not to read these rules........and I attribute that to the length and windiness of the some of the writers of these rules....

I know some hosts over here have rules.
I couldn't imagine anyone actually reading them.

I think Andy was right on this one.
I personally could never treat people like they were learning impaired.
I would feel so insulted reading it.

Jerry,
Would you still feel insulted after seeing a singer scream into the microphone then swing it by the cord? Before I switched to wireless, this was a nightly occurrence. Even had a mic fly off the cord once! I'm a really easy going person, but nothing would get me more angry then those two things. It never failed that as soon as I would take my hand from the mixer, some wannabe rock star would do those two things!
That's what made me print the 'rules'.. they helped, so somebody must read them. I haven't updated them at all... have shortened them. Short, sweet and to the point.
If they don't read them... oh well, I don't care. But if they do, they become knowledgeable karaoke singers... better for me and better for any other show they go to.

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SoundChoice Certification coming soon!

Sorry for the confusion. Books are less common these days than 10 years ago. I attribute the decline in book printing to pirates. Those that do print books often have guidelines in them.

-Chris

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-Chris

Yes I would feel very insulted.
Anyone new I always tell to behave when I take their request.
I have had two so far that didn't.
My fault though, I thought they were sober enough.
(I think they were pretty much rule proof.)
Other than that I tell them to behave and they do.

Those are people, who don't read rules anyway.......the people that already know how to behave, are the only ones, that might actually read the rules...... .....now please, humor me......do I actually have a good point for a change....

You have an excellent point Johnny.
A bit catch 22 really.

Ok, another cup of coffee and some fresh air, reread your post and it was clearer to me what you meant. Thanks Chris.

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Music speaks to the heart in ways words cannot express.

[quote="RLC???[/quote]

Sorry for the confusion. Books are less common these days than 10 years ago. I attribute the decline in book printing to pirates. Those that do print books often have guidelines in them.

-Chris[/quote]
Ok, another cup of coffee and some fresh air, reread your post and it was clearer to me what you meant. Thanks Chris.[/quote]

"Books??? I don't need no stinkin' books".......I got over a hundred thousand songs........just come up and ask me for a song".......ever hear that one?...... no song slips either