Karaoke Forums

20 seconds between song stop and click to start is very doable if the singers are on task. If guys and gals KNOW when you said they were next that they really are next and start heading to the stage without having to be called... The KJ sees the right singer coming and announces the next two (or three if that suits you). When I announced the next two, if I didn't see one of the two, I would try to find them after the current singer was set and I had all my songs entered. At least I did that until people started hanging outside ALL THE TIME do to the smoking ban. After that it was announce and move on, and move them down three when they came in wondering why they got "skipped".

I have evenings that are so busy that I direct my singers to be ready immediately after the prior singer is done with their last note. You still have time for a proper applause and acknowledgement even with zero dead air or filler. Sometimes a restart is needed put not very often. So, yes, 20 seconds is easily doable. It's all about training your singers to be attentive, considerate, and ready.

The OP TedJankowski has mentioned a place in Sarasota Fla. by the name of "Captain Curt's". One our members by the name SINGYOASSOFF is the host there. He does a fabulous job of keeping things moving very efficiently. The place is right across the street from the Crescent Beach and about 1 mile from Siesta Key Beach, which is world renown for it's beautiful beach, and 2 years ago received the best beach award from "Dr Beach". On the 3rd of July I had the pleasure of having SINGYOASSOFF attend my show. Both he and his girlfriend sang a a song a did a great job.

Captain Curt's is where I met my beautiful wife, Margo, on Feb 13, 1999 at 9 PM, and Crescent Beach is where I proposed to her. Our 14th anniversary is July, 18.

Well when I say 20 seconds, I want them up to the stage within 20 seconds. I start the song once they reach the stage.

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

WOW! Nice pic... She kinda looks like Barbara Eden.

Very pretty lady. And in the spirit of I Dream of Jeannie, no belly button.

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

I can see that I am in the presence of kindred spirits. My own shows I usually am transitioning between singers within 10 seconds under (Compuhost) auto play. I whole hardheartedly agree that you just have bring your customers up to speed on being ready and keeping things going. Since I've moved to NoHo I've been checking out the local Karaoke Scene. I'm finding many of these bars are worse than where I came from. While I can see where having the staff come up and sing every now and then may help with the evening. I was just at a bar around the corner and we went in. Sat in the back room where the Karaoke is going on. It was almost so dark you couldn't see the tables. Then sat there for 15 minutes until we figured out this was a go to the bar and order place. They seemed to have 5 people working behind the bar. And the only thing the left from behind the bar to do was to sing. So after singing one song then serving (basically) myself at the bar. and waiting behind 14 other singers plus the 5 behind the bar I decided this wasn't the type of place I wanted to be at. Hell I just went ahead and tipped myself and we left.

Then we stopped in at another bar. Waited over an hour and a half to sing, then the host got up and started to sing (before me) so we just got up and left. That's the other thing that kind of get's under my skin. As a host myself I just cannot bring myself to sing in a rotation where i have customers that have been waiting a over an hour to sing. I will at the beginning of the night to set my board and balance the sound in the bar. Even stay in the rotation until I've got about 5 singers. But I've always felt that my customers aren't coming to hear me put on a concert. They came so they could feel like they were putting on at concert.

Anyone recommend a good karaoke Bar that has reasonable beer prices. I've been to Sardo's and their karaoke is pretty good and also Paolis. But the prices are just way to high to actually enjoy the evening to the fullest. 4.50 to 6.00 for a bottle of beer makes me want to leave early no matter how much fun I'm having singing and listening to others. Maybe I was spoiled being in Flint where the hosting was pretty bad but the beer was at least cheap. Here to get deceit host's the bar wants your entire paycheck in one evening.

P.S. Thanks for the correction on Captian Curt's.

It can be difficult if people are at the bar or in the loo when they are called, but what we do is make sure we've been to the loo and got a drink before we put our song in, then once we have put our song in me and my girlfriend get out a fag each and lighter on the table, then when we are called we light up and make our way to the stage.

I know it works fine for some venues, but I am not a big fan of "cattle call karaoke". I will pick up the pace on heavy rotation nights, and I do skip over folks that are outside smoking or in the restroom, but I also give plenty of time for people take care of their respective butts.

I have been to karaoke places where there is practically zero filler music because singers are expected to be queued up next to the stage so they can immediately start when the current singer finishes. I find that distracting (as the person currently on stage) and too much pressure (as the next person up). I prefer a more leisurely pace and I have never had a serious complaint about the pace at which I get singers on stage.

Karaoke is not a race.....

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-Chris

I have to agree with Chris on this one. I don't want people to take 5 mins. to get to the stage. But I don't think it needs to be a foot race to get up next. For people that do take too long a little light hearted encourgement on the mic gets them moving.

I agree. Most people do pay attention to their spot and see their name on screen & usually are on their way to the stage by the time the current singer is finishing, but it's never been a requirement of my shows that they had to be up there.
But like stated, I also don't like shows that have so much time in between singers - I remember this especially in disc days with some hosts - scenario: current singer is singing, singer finished. Host makes general hey good job over mic, pulls disc, puts away, looks for next disc, loads it up, cue it, then call the next singer. All this could take as long as a good minute or longer between songs. I also don't care for shows that run in 'auto' mode that let entire song outros play out to the end, once a singer is done and hung the mic up, fade the song out & move on to the next. I'll ONLY run a song to the end if I have a light rotation & trying to fill up a little extra time so singers can have a chance to breath - because as odd as this seems, many singers really don't want to be singing every 3rd or 4th song and often try to get more people singing to fill out the rotation a little more.

Which this question probably should be a separate topic, but how many singers is a perfect rotation for both singers and kj's alike. Not too short that singers complain they don't have any time to sit, not too long that singers complain about not singing enough.

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

Well Having to wait 45 seconds between singers insures that at least two singers an hour and as many as 10 don't get to sing. Then consider if you're playing a 3 to 4 minute song between every singer. Each song is a singer that doesn't get to sing. Do you think people want to wait twice as long for a chance to sing? I know I don't and I don't frequent the bars that do that. And the thing I've noticed about hosts that move things along is the place is always packed. That is what the host is there for to keep the business in the bar and keep the people entertained. I actually had a friend of mine that didn't want a crowd larger than 7 singers. So basically once his friends showed up the night slowed drastically. I am blow away at hosts that are happy with just getting by. But as long as the bar doesn't care I guess it works for them. And he complained when there were more people. But when you're being paid 75 bucks a night I guess the bar get's what they pay for.

Lonman, You're right on the money/ There is no problem with filler music when needed. You gave that scenario and I almost fell over laughing. I have a friend who does that. Sad part is she has a computer system. She starts the music after the singer has finished, then looks up the song for the next person. A few of us (her friends in the business) have attempted many times to help her set up the rotation in Sax and Dotties. After two years she is finally at least setting up three people ahead now. I like to put in songs right away. I have place holders for people int he rotation. If they don't put i a song I will pass them by if I don't remind them they don't have a song in. But I don't move them ahead because they missed their turn. Only had that happen once. They were out smoking. For about 5 songs. I'm not chasing down people for their turns. But if I see them I'll mention it to them.

That's a good question. I've actually been trying to figure that out. As in how big should a karaoke bar be before it needs two hosts.

Instead of filler songs I started to use funny song videos when the rotation is vary short. It gives everyone something different to do between singers.

I think 10 singer is the best, but good luck finding only 10 some nights.

I don't want it to sound like I play full songs between singers. That may happen on a particularly slow night, but I usually have no more than 30-45 seconds between singers. When I have 20 plus rotations that is more like 15-30 seconds tops. The only reason it makes it to the high end is because we are waiting on the next singer.

I have been to places where busy or not, they announce the next singer once and then move on and even sometimes remove you from the rotation if you aren't ready to go. I am not a fan of that kind of Nazi KJ.

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-Chris

I don't mind the funny shorts but not in between every single song. For me it makes the night long and boring. It's nice once in a while but after every singer get annoying. And Chris, Isn't it rude to the other singers to have to wait for a singer who is out smoking or decided 3 minutes before their song they needed to use the restroom? I don't mind putting them right back up next if they magically appear after the next singer starts. But, I do find it rude to the other patrons that someone isn't ready for their song when you're scrolling the line up and they know 15 minutes before they sing when they are up. I understand things happen. But to come up 5 songs later I'd have a difficult time putting them back in next. They would get their spot in the rotation when it comes back around. But not that late.

I won't wait for a singer to get out of the restroom, if their name is called and they are indisposed, I will move them down one & get the next singer up. If they are STILL unavailable I may move them one more time, if not ready again, they wait until what would've been their next turn.

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

AMEN

I KNEW I couldn't tell the thickness of your prescription from your pic...I have a better idea now...

On Valentine's Day my wife and I are going back to the area that we met (Captain Curt's/Crescent Beach) for our 15th anniversary of that day. It is where we met, where I proposed and where I scattered my daughter's ashes (in the Gulf waters). My wife is a huge part of our success in karaoke. She is my meeter and greeter, feather unruffler, dance instructor, get the party started promoter, feedback gatherer (sound, rotation, special announcements, etc.), and roadie. Everyone loves her and you can see why.

Thanks for all the great compliments, I will pass them on to the deserving one.

Ps She gets the Barbara Eden compliment all the time and especially when she puts her hair in a pony tail. Life is good. Her Christmas party dress was even better this year, but she won't let me post any pictures.