Karaoke Forums

Can karaoke work without alchohol? Every venue I've been to for karaoke has included alchohol in some fashion or another. It's either been in a pub, bar or a restaurant environment that sells alchohol. The alchohol has served as the primary reason for many patrons attendance and even been the liquid courage many have needed to get up and sing.

I was curious if any of you have been to a venue or work in a venue where there was no alchohol and still had successful karaoke.

If so was/is the karaoke the primary reason for singers?
Was there a cover charge?

Or was it at a resturaunt or was there some other source for generating revenue?

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My statements, opinions and conclusions are based on my own personal experiences, observations, research and/or just my own $.02. I'm not a "cheerleader", but that doesn't make me a Pirate.

I've done a few private parties where there was no alcohol. Weren't many singers either. Liquid courage has a lot to do with that. People that go out to drink instead of staying home want some entertainment too so I think that helps the bar business.

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

Even with alcohol being served, especially at private parties, singers don't materialize until the alcohol sets in....
Can a place make money on karaoke night with out serving alcohol.......I'm confident with the right conditions, that they can.

I want to chime in here. I think where i am is a prime example of what happens when there is no alcohol served at a karaoke show. I live in a predominant state of non-drinkers. And the bar scene is really pathetic as well, (compared to other states). With that said, even here in Utah, karaoke doesn't work very well without alcohol to boost things, whether it be boosting confidence or profits, alcohol is the best catalyst for karaoke. When you take the liquid courage away, and offer even great food, the number of people who will participate will drop substantially. Then there is this scenario,,,, kids will dominate the microphone when entire families attend a karaoke show.. Now, while some of these kids are cute and might have some singing ability, there is only so much an adult can endure when it comes to other peoples kids. So, they will leave.

There is a place in one of the larger areas that is a pizza house that does offer karaoke on a steady basis. This place is quite busy as far as the sales go by themselves without using karaoke as a draw. However, they go through host after host, saying "they are driving people away", when in fact it's the inability of the venue itself to let the host run a proper show. The host is told to "turn it down, keep the kids to a minimum, no over-the-top antics",,, hence stifling the show. On the other hand, if the host ran a show that was fun and exciting, yet still let the entire family sing,, it would actually still work in the same said venue, but it wouldn't be the karaoke show that was making the venue successful, it would be the successful venue making the karaoke show work.

That's how I see a show working without alcohol.

I know kid/family shows (no alcohol) that thrive. If they can do it w/o booze, why can't adults. There was a clean & sober bar here that had karaoke for a couple years, they were pretty busy until the bar closed down a couple months ago due to (rumor) tax issues.
I have an AA group that comes in once a week after their meetings to sing, they only buy virgin drinks or Energy drinks.

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There is an old thread on here somewhere about coffee house karaoke and many had heard of it tried and not working while I think at least one person said they knew of one that worked. Someone else said they had a show in the middle of a shopping mall.

I can think of a lot of "one times" that happen without alcohol like being asked to run a school karaoke talant show or fundraiser or senior center show but can't personally say I know of any long running regular no alcohol shows. There is a skate rink in our area that will sometimes bring in music for kid dances and they charge a cover with the cover going to the music. We tried to get them to let us try a karaoke day but that's a long story and we never got the chance.

I second that! If you think karaoke divas are sensitive, demanding, and uninterested in other singers, try dealing with the parents that make them that way.

But that's just half the reason long running non-alcohol shows are so rare. I think the other half is that non-alcohol often translates to anti-alcohol. And just like anti-smokers or any other "anti-people" they can only have fun for so long before they find something else they don't like and suck the fun right out of it. It only takes a few of the anti-people to ruin it and a non-alcohol show is a magnet for anti-alcohol types.

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KNOW THYSELF

Actually, I wish some local coffee shop would offer karaoke.

Then I could also karaoke Java Jive. That would be cool.

I do a job at the local library for kids and their parents... It's a blast! The kids sing and made their parents sing.. we play musical chairs and last time, one kid sang the hokey pokey. They are all so much fun... and so polite, sweet.. they even send me letters of appreciation! BUT... is a yearly gig, not weekly

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SoundChoice Certification coming soon!

I've mentioned on here a time or two, that I did a coffee house karoke once........I was getting up to 30 songs sung per hour, and their was a constant line at both bathrooms........people eventually quit comming, because they said they coundn't sleep after a night of coffee karaoke.

ps....from hence forward we can refer to such as Javaoke, or coffeeoke......

I am slightly nuts - but even knowing that I am not the best singer in the World - I am very happy to get up and do Karaoke sober

Really? 30 songs per hour?

1 hour = 60 minutes
30 songs / hour = 2 minutes each.
subtract 15 seconds for vocalist change over
average song = 1:45

What were they singing?

(swoosh sound).......feel anything passing overhead...?

Yes coffee, jittery, quick, everything doubles.......!

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I've got a regular gig at the local Golden Corral restaurant. Tuesday night is kids night. I alternate once a month with a magician, a balloon clown, and a cartoon charachter. I've got the last Tuesday of each month. Although it's only a once a month gig, it's been very successful. Kids, moms and dads, and even many of my regular club singers come out. Plus it's only from 6:00 to 8:30, so it's nice to have an early night.

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My first choice IS Sound Choice.

Yep, like I said,,, it's the successful venue that is making the karaoke show work,, not the other way around.. But, anyway,, congrats to you for what you are doing!!

Hey, we slip the kids a little wine cooler and no more problems..