Karaoke Forums

I have been pretty clear about my position on holding contest at my own venues. Not a fan.

But I have considered being a contestant in local contests now and then, but for a variety of reasons I have not participated. The last time I was a contestant was probably 10 years ago, and before that another 5 years.

So my question is this, is participating in a contest, potentially against some of my own regulars.....is that a party foul?

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-Chris

Nope. Not a foul at all.

Entering a singing contest was on my bucket list for years, and I finally got up the nerve about 14 months ago. Some of my regular singers were also entered, and we all showed mutual support for each other.

I have no intention of entering another. As I said, it was a "bucket list" thing.

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Earl
(BS, PHD & Certified CurmuDJeon)

[font=Times New Roman]"Growing Old may be mandatory... but growing UP is still optional."[/font]

I agree with Chris. I hate them. Especially when they are wide open and not themed. How can you even attempt to fairly judge a ballad against a metal against a hip hop against a CW twanger song? I have never seen a competition yet that ended without controversy of some sort over the outcome.

It actually is way deeper for me than just karaoke. I hate any competiton where the outcome is based primarily on subjective judging. Too much room for hanky panky going on . . . especially when money is involved.

Just because someone is a kj doesn't make them any better or worse than anyone else as far as singing. As long as you are not competing in a place you are involved in either directly or indirectly (where there are multiple bars participating), I see nothing wrong with it. There are some contests you'll come up against that do state no pro's or kj's but unless they know everybody and keep tabs on the kj scene - there is no way anyone would know. Just because someone is a great singer doesn't make them pro either. I know a few people that were disqualified in contests like this because they were just really good & the kj claimed they were pro & disqualified them. There was a lot of heat on that kj for a couple years after that before he got out of the game.

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

Maybe in another town but no way would I compete against my regulars locally. It just wouldn't feel right to me. The kj's that work for me know that they are not allowed to compete in local singing contests and most agree with my logic. I do have one kj that is a phenomenal singer who had attitude when he asked me recently about entering a contest here in town but eventually things have settled down.

To each his own, I guess.

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Sound Choice and Chartbuster Certified

A Contest is open game to anybody and everybody (unless there are certain rules which stipulate differently). That being said, if you (the KJ) have any affiliation with the establishment (other than just being a Regular Customer there), then you should NOT compete in that contest. Other than that, you are probably just as good (or bad) as your Regular Singers, and they probably know this. I see no reason to why you can't compete against them (other than what I already stated).


As a footnote, it can be a very gray line for one to define what a "Professional" is. Personally, I don't consider a KJ to fall under this heading when it comes to participating as a Contestant. As Lonnie just stated:

I entered one MANY years ago.

I won. Great right? Wrong. I never even should have been in the top 3. Ther were several better singers and entertainers. The contest was held in a venue where I used to tend bar for some years and was well known.

I felt for a fact that this was why I won when I got home.

Never did it again as it left a bad taste in my mouth.

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

And the fact that you worked at the venue is exactly why you should not have entered.
Again you shouldn't enter contests in places you are directly or indirectly involved in (which included past places of employment). Only enter in places that you do not work, have not worked or have no chances of interacting with your shows - ie multiple club contests where your club is involved but you may win somewhere else.

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

You are right of course, but I hadn't tended bar there for over 3 years and never thought to be remembered.

While a great compliment, not a way to win a contest.....

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

" Disc based and loving it..."

I'm sure you all know by now how I feel about contests. I hate them. I wouldn't run one or compete in one, period!

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Electro-Voice Evolve 50... Taking Sound To The Next Level.

This is why when I do contest I get judges that are music pro and the judging is based of vocal ability ONLY..tone color...focus...placement...pitch and ect.... this will weed out those that think they know what they are doing and don't. I also have a rule that if I hear any complaining..put downs about the contest those involved will not be in the next contest.
You want to act like a five yr old Ill treat you like one and you wont like it...
As of todate..I have only had to remove three people. Once it got around that I didn't put up with it..alot of it stop...of course im sure stuff was said I didn't hear but oh well
Again since the bar have no say so in the way I run my show and know that I can and will ban people from singing.

I went to a contest at "The Vintage" in White Plains, NY a few years back to support a competing friend and the KJ ENTERED HER OWN CONTEST! She hosted the weekly semi-finals for six months, but on finals night she had another KJ host. On this night she entered and passed the last semi-final round (shocker!) to compete later that night for a trip to the Bahamas. This was her excuse to be impartial you see: "Well I wasn't working tonight. I'm just a regular contestant.".

Guess who won the finals and the trip later that night? Yup. It was so obvious a fix it was crazy. I know some of you run fair contests without issue, but I firmly believe you are the exception, not the rule.

(To add insult to injury...she won with "Mustang Sally". I sh!t you not!)

Was her name Sally?

That's all fine and dandy. You can run a Contest any way you see fit. But, what does that have to do with the OP?

It said contest?

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

Funny you should tell this story. For my very first exposure to Karaoke, they happened to be running a contest. I was just getting my feet wet, learning what songs I could sing and improve upon from week to week, and I somehow made it into the finals. Reflecting back upon this, I know that I was just one of those people that was placed in the Finals who didn't stand a chance in hell of winning (but I actually thought I might have been deserving of qualifying). At least I didn't delude myself into believing I could really win (like I know many poor singers have done in past contests). The first prize was a Pocono Weekend Get-away. Guess who won... The KJ's Cousin (I believe he sang "After the Loving").

Popularity contests, nothing more.

B.S.

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Earl
(BS, PHD & Certified CurmuDJeon)

[font=Times New Roman]"Growing Old may be mandatory... but growing UP is still optional."[/font]

What's BS?? There are no karaoke contests at bars/clubs/VFW etc. that are anything but popularity contests. And the OP being a KJ is much more likely to be the most popular.

Doubtful that I would be more popular. I don't get out to other bars very often. I think a fair number of other KJ's in the area know me by name, but very few singers outside of my venues know who I am.

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-Chris