Karaoke Forums

...or " Crappy-okeists That Take Venues Off The Market".

New Singer: " What should I sing?"

Dumb-a$$ KJ: " How the hell should I know? Look in the book...."

Genuine Karaoke Host: "Do you sing in the car or shower? Yes? What do you sing?"

New Singer: " The songs I like are too ( high/low) for me."

Dumb-a$$ KJ: " Look in the book for something else."

Genuine Karaoke Host: " We have the ability to digitally keychange the music. This means that each and every song you choose can be set in your comfort range. After listening to your voice, I believe I Know where to set it for you. Give it a try..."

New Patron: " I've been waiting 20 minutes for my drink."

Dumb-a$$ KJ: "Not my problem."

Genuine Karaoke HOST: " Please let me check with your waitress- maybe there is a problem that can be solved.", then mentions the complaint to the responsible party.

People entering the venue...

Dumb-a$$ KJ: Continues sitting on butt and pressing play.

Genuine Karaoke Host: Meets and greets, with a bright and welcoming " Hi! Glad You're here! How are you?"

Just SOME of what I've been hearing.

Folks, if you want to host karaoke, PLEASE- learn the business and the skills. Those of you who don't are not only doomed to failure, but will sour venues for REAL Karaoke Hosts.

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

Basic CUSTOMER SERVICE 101.

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"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

Watch it with the sitting on the butt thing. I have a bad back. Standing for four hours is not very comfortable for me.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

Key changers sound like guano. I'm with the Dumb-A$$ guy on this one.

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Okay, who took my pants?

Please. Key changers may not sound as good as original key, but to tell someone to look for another song is just asinine! Even original recording artists change their keys while performing live.

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

or getting older. Look at Black Sabbath. If they tune down any more Ozzy will have to learn how to sing baritone.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

Especially the older bands - Stones, Kiss, Robert Plant, Bob Seger, etc all drop keys from the original key they were recorded in. But I have been to some shows of even younger bands that will play a key or two down from the original.

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

I don't know if they still use it, but I remember bands tuning to what they called Concert A, which was lower than what they recorded in studio.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

When I heard OAR do "Shattered" live, I didn't feel as bad for trying and failing to hit the high notes in that song at karaoke.

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

Yeah, there are some good screams in that song.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

What's wrong with singing a different song? You can't sing this one so sing another. It's a song and it's not in your key. Big deal. I cannot sing "One less bell to answer." and I've learned to live with it.

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Okay, who took my pants?

Some people have songs that mean something to them and they are very attached to wanting to do them. If a key change of a few steps gives them a success then why not? Sometimes just changing a key one step puts it into the comfort zone for me rather than it be a strain. Granted I don't try to pass myself off as a "real" singer but many karaoke singers fall into that category and if a key change can make things easier and more fun for them then what the heck.

Recently I did a major key change and used the Helicon to turn a male voice into a female voice when two males sang "You Don't Bring Me Flowers." The fellow, who had a high range to begin with, caught on and was hitting notes a few steps away from being a dog whistle. What was weird was with so obvious a distortion of his voice, most of the audience didn't realize he was singing through a machine and thought it was all him. If they couldn't figure that out, how offended will they be by a few steps key change?

Key is important. Changing by even a half-step can make the song 'feel' entirely different.

If you have the ability to accomodate a guest, without compromising quality (and key-changing DOES sacrifice something) I think you should. But at the same time, if you can't sing it, then you can't sing it. I wanna slam dunk, but doing so on a 7-foot hoop is nothing to be proud of.

My point in giving the singer the key-change information was to offer an option, rather than simply a blow of and a "sing something else." Then THEY can make the choice.

Same thing with passing on ANY karaoke information. Like the man said. "An educated consumer makes the best customer." It also show the singer that you actually care.

Again, all about the customer service...

Smooth, if one has a medical reason to sit, than they should do so. Otherwise ( and this is strictly my own personal opinion), a sitting host can suck the energy from the show. I never sit, and am rarely standing still. Either dancing on the side, walking around schmoozing, meating and greeting, whatever....

And yes, my remote is in my hand at all times, and I pay attention to each and every singer, adjusting as needed- even if away from the equipment.

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

How are you adjusting while away from the equipment??

I get up, don't get me wrong, it's not like I am immobile. My table is standard size, so I would have to bend to work everything. But I meet and greet, and talk to people and everything. I getup to sing, too, unless I am helping someone with harmony.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

Read the last line Smooth....He has a remote in his hand at all times...ect...

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I like everyone when I first meet them. If you don't like me that's not my problem it's YOURS!
A stranger is a friend you haven't met yet

Must have a digital mixer then. I know mine didn't come with a remote.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

Based on what Joe's self-professed ludditeness.....

(except he is standing)

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-Chris

I am with you on this one. Key changer just doesn't sound good at all. I'd rather choose a different song. There's nothing wrong with choosing another song. But, of course, ask the guest to do it, nicely

"Must have a digital mixer then. I know mine didn't come with a remote. "

The digital changer is on the player and the remote has buttons on it to change the key.. Unlike an analog which slows or speeds up, digital changers actually change the key. A computer and music are both based on math so changing the key is quite simple in the digital world.

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You can be strange but not a stranger