First off, there needs to be an emoticon that's beating a dead horse. Can we make that happen?
Until then, remember that NOT ALL VENUES ARE THE SAME! Just like Richard Prior's act won't work at the Grand Ol' Opery, and Lenny Bruce's act won't work at the Apollo (both would likely insight riots), no one's karaoke show will work at every bar out there, they have aspects that are taylored to the audience, at least if you're any good at it.
Not EVERY karaoke singer in every bar just wants to maximize how many songs they sing. That's not every karaoke singer in the country's main objective, and it's certainly pretty low on most non-karaoke singers' wish list.
Well selected and well performed filler creates an atmosphere that just isn't there in these more traditional karaoke shows. Filler creates and maintains energy, sometimes despite the singer selections. It also entertains the non-singers, and those who could care less about karaoke. My crowd has 10 non-singers to every singer, and those non-singers would LEAVE MY BAR if there was a karaoke show that was just karaoke. Period. My job is to maximize the bar's profit, not reduce it, so chasing off 100 people so 10 karaoke peeps can have a better time is a BADDDD business model - IN MY BAR.
But, guess what.....I keep them both happy. I play upbeat dance filler that keeps the non-karaoke peeps entertained. I DO NOT play whole songs. I cue to the beat drop, which can be as far as almost a minute into some songs, and only play through the hook, which typically comes about 30-45 seconds into the song.
Do I get 15 singers in each hour? NO! But I don't want to. That would be bad for business. I get about 10 in an hour. There's another karaoke bar down the street that has no filler and gets in 15 singers an hour. You can go there and sing 8 karaoke songs in a night in front of an audience of about 25, 15 of which LOVEEE karaoke, or you can come to my SHOW and sing 4 times in a night to a crowd of about 125 with HIGH ENERGY where it feels like a live, produced SHOW. It's up to the singer. It doesn't hurt my feelings if they choose to go down the street.
In fact, you may or may not be aware that MOST of the general public out there, especially the younger 20-30 crowd, mocks karaoke and thinks it is stupid. You know how it got that reputation? Your typical 20-30 year old doesn't want to go to a traditional karaoke show where people sing over and over and that's the only thing going on. There's certainly still a market for that, as we all know that even though they are a minority, hardcore karaoke singers are rabid about supporting their shows. BUT, I'm telling you, my brand of karaoke caters to the other 90%, and I won't make any apologies about it. Hardcore singers typically HATE my show for all the same reasons they would love a more traditional show. Even most of the people I go out to sing karaoke with that consider me a good friend only rarely attend my show. But that's OK, because I still fill my niche. I don't need the hardcore singers.
You WILL wait 40-60 minutes to sing after about 10:30ish every Saturday night at my show, and it will be well worth the wait for the incredible energy you feel when you hit that stage.
Dozens of non-karaoke singers that would normally walk out the second karaoke starts at most bars are regulars to my show. I also often hear people that are new to the bar grumble when they find out I'm setting up for karaoke, with the typical "man....I freakin HATE karaoke," and more times than not, one of their peers (who don't even sing) will interject with "well you've never seen this karaoke...it's not like a normal karaoke show. You should check it out." That situation happens almost every show, and gives me the most satisfaction.
It's not for everybody, and it's not BETTER or WORSE than your way if you are filling the seats, but it's MY BRAND of karaoke, and I do MY BRAND better than anyone.
I would argue that the bar's bottom line is the ONLY indicator of show success, no matter how you do it. If you allow two singers an hour with polka music filler while a midget stripper dances in a cage, and it brings in more $$$ for your bar, then you are doing it right!
They ring about $4000 in a relatively medium-sized venue (about 5000 SF) on my average Saturday night, and they have gone as high as the low $6000s. If you can't beat that, then PLEASE stop telling me how I'm doing it wrong!
Rant over, horse deader than when I found it!
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... I don't wear glasses anymore... except to read.
