Karaoke Forums

So what were they using? They didn't drag in the old 8 tracks did they. When I went there last year they could at least play my disc. The first time I left my discs at home assuming since they were the first they would be the best and have all the good stuff. Boy was I disappointed. That's when I asked why they didn't have alot of the stuff I sing and the version I prefer. That's when he told me he was completely tone deaf and all the versions sound the same and there was no need for multiple versions esp the ones that cost so much like SC. And the sound system sucked both times. I would assume that it should sound better now. BUT, the guy is tone deaf and might not be able to tell balance and tone mixing with the singer. When I get there in June I will stop in and at least drop off my card.

Well I've been looking forward to checking it out. . I'm just bummed that the Bar Business and even Mr. Taffer don't have a clue about it really takes to "Draw", "Retain", "Please" the Karaoke Customer. Maybe others can add to or help me redefine this list. This is what I have observed at different Karaoke Venues what has worked is what i attempt to emulate in My Shows. The Best shows I've been too have almost all of these rules that Follow for hosting. These are My rules and reasoning behind them. Was wondering what others thought. As I've been reading posts and while I don't always agree with others opinions. Many of them to give me another perspective.

Rule #1
The Customer is the Diva/Devo! Treat them as such.
Reasons: They are the reason you are getting paid to be at the location you are at. Accommodate your customer as much as possible. If they ask you for more reverb give it to them. It's not that difficult. They appreciate the attempt whether it satisfies them or not.

Rule #1A
Don't run your mouth and don't inject yourself into the rotation unless it is a small rotation. The early crowd is usually small. Singing with the smaller crowd of 5 or less allows for customers to have time to visit with the friends or eat and drink. Constantly hopping up to sing will make SOME of them not want to put songs in so they aren't always getting up right away. In the evening when you've got 20 singers in the rotation YOU ARE being paid to be there. They came to be the entertainment. Appreciate your customer and don't waste their time by making it the KJ's Karaoke show. Potential customers won't return and you'll never know why! (nothing get's me more angry then spending my money to be at karaoke and having a host up singing taking a turn away from the customer who is paying for them to be there. If the host thinks they are that good then they should sell tickets)

Rule #1B
Keep rotation moving. When the singer is finished thank them and announce the next singer and who is on deck. Start their song. No more than 5 seconds of dead space. Dead space lowers the excitement level. Keep the show going. (this is one of my pet peaves because of so many years watching transition times of 45 secs to 90 seconds between songs. When there are a lot of singers after 3 hours you can lose 12 to 15 turns a night. Because of dead space. Plus the bars I've been to that are standing room only for Karaoke, move exactly like this. Only when one song is over they start the next one and make their singer announcements)

Rule #2
Follow a fair ROTATION! 1 song per REQUEST! Sometimes people will sing a duet with another singer. Don't make the other singer loose their next requested song and place in the rotation because they sang with someone else. Sometimes people do what a friend to help them sing who is a better singer. Don't punish them for being a friend. By the same token Don't slide friends in sooner or multiple times. Karaoke singers do hold grudges. If you skip someone always apologize and make it right as soon as possible.

Rule #3
The KJ is there to support the entertainment. Which would be the Customers singing Karaoke. If you want the Host to announce drink Specials and food specials then the KJ gets the tips from sales of those every time they make that announcement. Regular bar announcements are fine, upcoming events, etc. But if the owner can't get his wait staff to do their job stop paying them to work there. Personally I have no problem adding stuff like that to my stroller so everyone can see it. Anything that is needed to be announced during the evening needs to be written down word for word. (past history has found that NONE of the bar owners are willing to take 3 minutes and write anything down.) They are too lazy.


I can't wait to see the reaction to this post. I almost think I should start a new thread.

You have to be very careful of number 2. It is easily abused with John or Jane singing duets with a few of their friends and then their own song. You want singers ticked, just let this happen a few times.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

I understand I would classify there being a difference between people singing a duet and a singing with a group goofin off.

I don't have a problem letting the customers know what the specials are. It helps the bar plus lets the customer as they may want to try them. I do call-outs for the service throughout the night, and I know the bartenders/waitresses appreciate it. All in all, it only takes five minutes of the night away.

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

Lonnie, it not only plays cd-g but super cd+g as well.

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

So dose the software I use. I just learn how to get to it. So easy now.

Well I went to Dimples about a month ago when in LA. WOW, Just plain sad. While the owner and some of the employees seem to care. If we wouldn't have actually ran into someone we knew that night (which was a great surprise) We would have left a lot sooner. Instead we stayed and closed the place down. With about only 6 other people.

As far as the Taffer affect!
Karaoke JUKE BOX #$%@'S!!!!! The selection was terrible on that juke box but I did have to try it. No B/S/T "you make me so very happy" or Blue Suede "Hoooked on a feeling" had a really crappy version of Kieth Urban "Who wouldn't wanna be me" The sound to the system was terrible. It does sound great out in the audience. But on stage you can barely hear the music or yourself singing it. Was better but not much once regular Karaoke started.

The Menu I'm finding it difficult to believe he left them with that menu. Still confusing or one might say Miss leading. Either the sandwiches come with fries or they don't. We still don't really know.

Oh, and the old guy still can't see how his B1@W Job birthday celebration thing is killing his business. How he misses the customers getting up and leaving when he does that... wait a sec.. He is so focused on getting his thrills from the whipped cream drink in the guys lap he doesn't see the customers that leave. One would think he would notice when he goes back to sit down to continue karaoke after draggin it out for 15minutes of wasted time. But he doesn't.

The Shrimp was excellent! Our waitress hadn't ever worked there before and didn't know anything nor could she keep up as I had to go to the bar twice to get drinks. The regular waitress was on vacation.

I must have tripped 4 times going to the stage forgetting the step down in order to step up on the stage from the right side of the stage. How could Taffer have missed something like that?

The bar claimed that The sound system was installed incorrectly. That Left/Right outputs where set to front back. They also said there was a monitor for the stage. If there was it wasn't on. So the sound issues could be Taffer's issue or possibly the bar's from monkeying with it.

While we were there we ran into one the best Karaoke hosts I've had the pleasure of being at their venue. Steve, he hosts on Wednesdays at Paolis pizzeria and piano bar. Ill definitely be going to his shows once I move to LA. The only host I've run into better was the owner of the Karaoke show at Kaptian Kirk's in Sarasota Fl. But I don't remember his system being as finely tuned as Steve's was. And its my understand it only sounds that good when Steve is there. So if you're in LA check out Paolis on Wednesday. Food a little pricey, but not bad for LA.

A good thing about Dimples was that they can play your disc if you remember to bring them,. I was kind of bummed I forgot to take mine. as their selection has a bit to be desired. And I don't believe they have the ability to change keys. At least it didn't seem that way but I couldn't tell since I was singing versions of songs I would never willingly play for my customers.

Oh and for those of you (like myself) that wondered if they did anything with the bathrooms during the remodel. It sure didn't seem like they did. Although they did appear to be cleaner than before. I don't know about the ladies room. I forgot to ask my girlfriend. But, i don't remember if she used it while we were there.

They genuinely seem to want to do better. The owner is very personable and seems to be somewhat interested in the customers. But the bar seems to be lacking any leadership in getting better.

The only thing that really bored me to death was the constant replaying of the last singer on video. It gets annoying quick. And if you really didn't like the sound the first time. You'll hate it hearing it a second.

Has anyone else been there since the Bar Rescue. What are your thoughts.

I was there before and after NO CHANGE. Vary sad. that's all I CAN SAY. i DON'T KNOW IF i WOULD BUY THE PLACE IF i WON THE lOTTO. Opps cap lock was on sorry.

Personally that's what I believe it needs to be successful. New Ownership or at least new management without owner interference.

The place is so funky and ecliptic. I just like it, but Sal is just so out of it and the sound is all over the place. I never could hear myself. Not that I'm so good(I'm not).

I got a friend who once I'm in LA permanently will probably drive out to visit. I know he will LOVE Dimples style of Karaoke (More of KWCUSA style) where I'm more into the talent Quest style of Karaoke. Both have their place and can coexist. Just not at their contests.

Out of curiosity--what are the differences of style you mentioned? I'm not familiar with the terms.

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Co-host of The Greatest Song Ever Sung (Poorly), a karaoke-themed podcast

Some states hold national contests http://www.talentquest.org/ for more of an American Idol or Performance based karaoke. Getting up and singing to the best of your "Singing ability"

The other is http://kwcusa.net/ which is the Karaoke World Championships which people dress up in costumes and and are graded more on costume and acting out the karaoke songs then they are singing ability.

Each is fun in my opinion but I prefer to sing to the best of my ability and not worry about lighting off farts or dressing up like a clown.

Where my friend travels with his "Bag of Tricks" Ie costumes, and props. Whips, pedals devil suit, trident and the list goes on. But no discs of his own.

Hmm. The best of my ability is still pretty awful. Maybe I should go the other way and try props.

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Co-host of The Greatest Song Ever Sung (Poorly), a karaoke-themed podcast

Oooo

Oooo

Oooo

(in my best Arnold Horshack voice)....

How about performing "Lady Godiva" by Peter and Gordon.

Well I've finally moved in here in North Hollywood. Just about settled enough to start checking out all the karaoke bars. Took a friend of mine to Dimples. He's not really a Karaoke aficionado but ended up staying longer than we did. They cut off food service at 11.pm Which we do like their food but couldn't eat. We left early so we could get something to eat. It seemed the sound was better. Still don't sound very good up on the stage. Sal is trying everything he can to be reinvent. Gives you a DVD of your performance and a Picture of you up there singing. All very nice touches. But he seems to really want to be more of a tourist attraction instead of a Karaoke Bar. 2 to 5 minutes between singers becomes boring and makes the atmosphere uninteresting. THey did lighten the place up since the last visit. No tripping over the steps to the stage because ya can't see them.

I also checked out the Good Nite bar which has karaoke. Not my type of crowd there but the hosting seemed pretty good the music and vocals seemed very balanced on stage but vocals louder in the audience. But the bar was full beer rather pricey. I'll probably go back with my girlfriend. The crowd was a much younger crowd.

I have to disagree on that one... I went to a few of the KWC events last year and costumes were not part of it all... Last year's US winner, Drew Andrews is related to a co-worker of mine and he told me how blown away he was by the level of talent that he competed against at the World Championships... Here is funny clip featuring a karaoke taxi that Drew was in as well..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQ17AqR7QKE#t=20

Thanks for the youtube post, Brad. I enjoyed that. Too funny! I googled karaoke taxi & they're all over the place. Here's our competition "on the move".

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To be fortunate enough to derive an income from a source as fulfilling as karaoke music has got to be as close to heaven as we can get here on earth!