Karaoke Forums

I haven't been to the bottom of this thread yet, so I may be echoing some thoughts others have typed...

There's a couple special circumstances here. One is that you're a regular customer and singer here, so when you sub for the hosts (who obviously like you or they wouldn't have you subbing for them) I don't think you should have to be, or expected to be, as strict with yourself as a full time host. The crowd is used to you singing, and the majority clearly doesn't have a problem with WHAT you sing, so I think you're doing just fine.

The other special circumstance is that you have this split crowd, most want you to do what you've been doing, with just a tiny number who don't want to hear Metal, and they aren't even singing! I wouldn't pander to them at all. I'd take the high road as others have suggested, never get nasty, but not change a damn thing for their sake. Especially those nights you're just a customer!

Which brings me to a third point. The Host (by which I mean the full-time host who owns the system, not subs or employees) is entirely responsible for WHAT songs they offer. If they have Metal in the book, it's there to be sung. No one should ever be faulted for picking from the menu that's offered. (Long before I became a host I'd been to shows where the host might hate the song I picked, and even skip me because they didn't want to play it. Well it was their book I found the song in -- why'd they leave it there if they didn't want it sung?) So if Metal is to go unsung at your bar, that's up to the host. If the owner hasn't asked for it to be taken out, and the host put it there, by all means sing it! Or Country. Or Elvis. Or whatever.

Now I have a confession. My book offers the singers Paranoid, and it offers War Pigs, but I purposely left out the long All Hits medley of Paranoid/War Pigs even though I have it. Just seemed too big a dose of Black Sabbath for most crowds to handle. Well a lot of hosts leave out some longer numbers even though they own the songs. I generally keep them, and I get burned once in a while but not very often. In fact I think I'll put the Black Sabbath medley back in my book just because we've had this discussion, and hope your Metal haters visit MY show

I'm not "strawmanning" anything. You were the one that is "upset" about a few "rude, non-singers" at a karaoke show. I don't believe that (until now) you've mentioned that it's only "2 or 3 new comers" that have been rude.

If that is the problem then it's entirely within you and you need to develop a little thicker skin. Not everyone is going to love your style of music, I get it. And 2 or 3 people don't count at all. Ignore them.

I would agree with you that they are "whiny crybabies and need to grow up." And you need to be able to ignore them.

Yes, and no. Karaoke is about having fun.. and "for a singer" you'll find that they do sing what they love or they just wouldn't sing it to start with. You are a perfect example; you like metal and hard/acid rock therefore, you "sing what you love."
However, as "a Karaoke host" and not a singer, there are times that you need to gently direct the flow of energy in the room (for lack of a better term) and ask a singer to sing something that will be more widely accepted by the majority of people that are there.

One "funeral love song" after another, after another, after another (a.k.a. "ballad hell") will kill a lively night and drive people out the door. The objective is to have everyone in the room enjoying the atmosphere, the drinks, the company and of course the music they hear to keep them coming back... and bring friends. You can't blindly ignore song selection or chalk it up to; "because the singer picked it, I have to play it." That is a "jukebox mentality" and that will kill a show and the unsuspecting KJ will never know why.

I would like to add that while Karaoke may be about you (the Singer) being able to sing what you love, there are times when you do have to consider changing your tune (pun intended), and maybe sing something else. It's not always about the Singer. Sometimes the Singer has to gauge the Audience, and see what they respond to in a positive way. I've done that many times over the years, where I went back up to the KJ to change my song (never at the last minute) because I didn't think the Audience would be as receptive.

In your particular situation, you said that it was only 2 or 3 people (among a regular crowd in the Bar) that didn't like your song selections. Oh well... tough luck for them. But, if it were the other way around, where you sang something, and nobody seemed to care for it (whether people said anything or just ignored your performance), you could feel a bit put-off by that, and if you wanted to keep enjoying what you're singing at that place, you would probably have to find something that you think the Audience would prefer listening to. Part of the Karaoke Experience is not only being able to sing what you love, but also to know that the Audience loves what you sing. So, contrary to (part of) your belief that it's not the Audience's job to tell a Singer what to sing, the Audience CAN (sometimes) influence some of your song choices.

I've had ballad hell nights where i've actually asked the singers to switch up because damn near EVERY friggin song was some sappy love or rememberence song, and they flat out refused to change it up to something more upbeat wanting to dedicate it to this dead person or their family member fighting (insert disease here). Some nights just flat out don't work out to the host's favor - even when requested. It only happened once thank goodness, but that was officially BALLAD HELL!

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I have, and will again, offered "the next 3 singers that change their song from a ballad to a fast dance song, will get a free drink on me". Yes, I eat the cost of the drink but I add to my personal enjoyment by seeing the mood change before my eyes.

There are many occasions that "singing what I want to sing" is not appropriate, and it doesn't take a genius to know when that might be.

@ The Butt,
I get all ages of people at my weekend shows, and you REALLY have to watch what you sing, and when. If I have a bunch of seniors in the room, I will not be singing Metallica. I will switch to Sinatra, or Dean Martin, and more light rock type songs. If I have my age, and under, then the metal comes out. It is also the same with songs with bad language. I call them "Last Hour" songs. The owner of my weekend place is fine with those songs, at the right time. Usually, by the last hour, the Oldsters have gone home, and it is just the younger folks. Then Crazy Rap can be done, or maybe Closer, as examples.

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I am the ONLY SANE 1 HERE

Ballad Hell is the very reason that KJs play one or more dance songs between singers. As the host, you have to do something to prevent mass suicide. If you let it go too long you'll lose the audience who aren't singing and some of those folks won't ever come back on karaoke night. If singers want to know why you're playing dance beats between singers, point out all the downer songs being sung.

People (usually) come out to a bar to drink and have fun, not relive breakups or tragic situations. Sing songs for dead people on your own time, it's party time!

Another thing you can do is play upbeat bumper music between singers, anything to stop the skid into crying in your beer.

We had some conversations on these things Halloween night. First, the KJ put four REALLY BAD singers at the top of the list and never broken them up. Then, many of the decent to good singers were singing ballad hell songs. One girl did nothing but rap. I was the only one doing songs like Monster Mash, Werewolf in London, People are Strange, Highway to Hell type stuff.
So I and my wife are there with a great friend and his girlfriend. the ladies do not sing and have a very low tolerance for bad\boring performances. So my friend, who is a very good singer, gets up and does a ballad hell song. He gets back to the table and his girlfriend asks him what was he thinking in doing that slow country song.. He replies, "I did it for you baby". She flat out tells him, don't sing any more songs for me until I tell you you can. HA!!

So the conversation ensued on the karaoke quality topic and this is what the girls said:

1) Hate the singers that get up and do the same songs over and over. They called them parrots.
2) PLEASE spread the bad singers out. "Tonight every rotation starts as a four song night deflater after upbeat line dances" was the general comments.
3) They have a lot more respect for the singers that not only change up songs, but change up styles.
4) They preferred to have some other music to dance to every now and then.

In all honesty, the extreme metal they have is only there because I gave it to them. Lmao. I asked them if it would be okay if I did some metal with growls, since it is my favorite kind of music, and they said "we don't have any, but if you can provide it, feel free".

Update: I did an extreme metal song last night at karaoke and the one lone table of two or three complainers seem to have learned to keep their opinions to themselves. Victory.

I'm usually pretty good at knowing what songs a person is capable of and on occasion I will announce to them and to the audience that it is my pick. Then I'll give them a new song. It's always up beat and they wind up with a new song in their repertoire that they'll sing again next week on their own. Even if they have a little trouble with it in spots it is acceptable to everyone because it is new and on the spur of the moment and because of that it eases them.

It keeps the place lively, too.

I have a few that tell me to pick their songs for them for the night. Then, I'll pick one they've done well before that's upbeat and that they have not done in a while. For seasoned singers many times that opens up new avenues for creativity in the song. It does for me when I haven't done one in a long time. I love creative nights.

Some people's ballads are very good. Even if that is all they wish to sing. A few sing them with feeling, utilizing differing diction, using eye contact, and appropriate gestures thus bringing the song to life. They make it their own. Those people can keep an audience mesmerized each time they get up. That still doesn't stop me from encouraging them to broaden horizons by singing a song with less vibrato, shorter notes, faster tempo. I tell them that all styles help the other. Just like after you learn one musical instrument the next is easier and the next and the next. They help each other.

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You can never argue with a crazy mi-mi-mi-mi-mi-mind ----B. Joel
I have great faith in fools; My friends call it self-confidence ---- E.A. Poe
I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity ----E.A. Poe
I don't know, I don't care, and it doesn't make any difference! ----A. Einstein
Double bubble, toil and trouble ----W. Shakespeare & Walt Disney
I hate it when I get on FaceBook ----Me
Karaoke might be Groundhog Day ----?
Of All the Martial Arts, Karaoke Inflicts the Most Pain ----?

Which is why it took me several year to get the crowd to singing more metal and todays pop and country, It's rare we get the 'stereotypical' karaoke regulars tunes sung at our show.

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Maybe you do suck? If you're having fun, screw it. I am actually very entertained by the people that suck and appreciate the fact that they make me sound much better. If you are a KJ and do that, well that could backfire on you. If I didn't like what you were doing and you were there every week, I'd find a new place to go. Don't be one of those people that thinks they're good simply because no one has the guts to tell you you're not. Post something up here and let us here it. Karaoke isn't always about quality, it is about having fun. Irritating people or being confrontational takes the fun out of any evening.

Well I know my voice is good; not meaning to be cocky or arrogant but I can hold notes and I have good enough control/technique. Just to add some variety I sang Ed Sheeran - Lego House last night and pretty much nailed it.

I will put up some videos though sometime. One clean-vocaled song and one with death growls.

One thing that I tell new KJ's is to remember that you really are being hired to be more than a "jukebox with lips".
You are expected to curate and run the show, what makes that hard is that you don't have 100% control over what gets played (singers).
BUT you do have a bit of leeway on WHEN it gets played.
I will regularly move singers around to make what I feel will be a better show, and I explain to them why they got moved.
I also will go to a singer (like somebody else here suggested) and offer to bump them up the list if they will do a more upbeat song.
And I always play some normal DJ music every set, even when we do have a lot of singers - it is a BAR not a private event.
If I am doing a private event then they can dictate 100% what I play and when I play it and I will smile and nod the entire time.
But those folks sitting at the bar who have not sang yet (ever even) are customers also and deserve some consideration as well.

Just some thoughts.

Joe

Was the show advertised as a "Karaoke" show or a "Karaoke/DJ" show?

This is the absolute biggest peeve I have with all kj's that play regular dj music but only advertise karaoke night. ADVERTISE that you are going to be playing DJ music as well. If you advertise karaoke - make it karaoke! I don't mind hearing a line dance here & there at karaoke, but I can go to a dance club to dance, I go to karaoke to sing - not listen to regular music every round - ESPECIALLY when it's busy with singers.

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Lol. So Sunday's karaoke was a writeoff when I went. I agreed to run it all night for the owner of the equipment in exchange for beers, so he could play pool. So I was sitting at the computer slamming free beers and singing once every rotation also.

Well, lo and behold, halfway through the night, one of the really mouthy karaoke divas was there; starts trying to get me to bump her up in the rotation because "I need to sing this song now, it played at my father's funeral today; I just buried my dad and everyone at my table wants to hear it." I politely tell her sorry, I can't bump you up, it's not fair to the ten people above you in the rotation, you can sing when you're next up and no sooner. She says "I'm leaving soon, I can't stay that long". Again I say sorry, but no. So she goes to the owner of the equipment and bugs him, he tells her no as well. Buddy comes up to me and says if she gives me a hard time again, I have free reign to tell her to find somewhere else to sing from now on.

Six songs in, I'm up. I sing a version of Slayer - Raining Blood I made for the karaoke. I can hear her whining four tables down about "they won't let me sing but he can sing this (@$%&#!) (@$%&#!)? This stuff is (@$%&#!)." Blah blah blah.

When she eventually was up, she sings her song. Ruins it, also with all her drunk cursing. When she is done, I pull her aside and tell her outright "listen. You need to understand there are rules here, and you need to wait your turn just like anyone else. Throwing a tantrum, and mouthing about people's songs - yes I heard you - doesn't fly here. Keep it up and I won't allow you to sing here anymore."

She looked at me stunned, then walked off pissed to her table. She ended up staying the rest of the night. So not only was she mouthy, she outright lied to my face about having to leave, so I'd bump her up in the rotation. Lol.

I wonder if all karaokes have prissy divas like that, or just the one in my area, lmao.

Yep this is one of the most common excuses and 99% of the time - they never leave anyway. I had one tell me her babysitter called with an emergency & needed to be up next, I told her well you'd be up in about 1/2 hour so i'll pull you out so you can go tend to your child. She stayed till close, but I didn't get her up again!

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Did she have the nerve to keep coming up and asking when she'd be up again?

My 2 cents on the original subject...

When you're a karaoke host you have to maintain a little bit of a DJ mindset.

A good DJ knows what songs are popular in a variety of genres, looks at the crowd's age, the way they are dressed, the way they react to the music and he gives the crowd what they want whether he likes the song personally or not.

That's all part of his talent as a DJ plus his ability to talk on the microphone and manage the energy level in the room.

A good karaoke host needs to aspire to having all of those skills plus the ability to run live sound and sing a variety of crowd pleasing songs so he can personally pump the room up when it's necessary.

If you're only singing one genre that you personally like, you're in a karaoke singer mindset.

If you're going to host you have to be able to change your approach to the music at least during the time you host.