Karaoke Forums

Hi, I have a slight problem in that one of my regular singers, an nice old man aged 87, only has a few selected songs he likes to perform. One of these has become his trademark tune and he always gets a standing ovation as he is very good. Anyway, here is my problem. Another guy in his 40's and is a semi pro entertainer keeps asking to sing the same song, always just before the old man's turn. Up to now I have let him sing it, but this means the older guy isn't able to. Do I just tell the semi pro he can't sing it? I know the older man gets a little upset when this happens, as do quite a few of the customers. I don't want to lose either of these guys as they are both good singers. Oh, forgot to mention, the semi pro guy is an arrogant big head and couldn't give a hoot about how his actions upset people. Just wondered how others would handle the situation. Thanks

I have a 1st come 1st served policy and once a song is done it's off limits for the night (except in some rare exceptions). I don't play the "hey that's my song" game, if they want to sing it - put it up. If someone else sings it, the other person needs to put it up sooner.

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If old guy wants to sing it first, he should get there first and put it in first, bottom line. What's to stop old guy from saying there are 10, 20, 30+ songs that are "his?"

I have a few people that think they "own" songs as well. If someone else puts in one of these songs before they do, well, that's who gets to sing it. If someone wants to do the same song in the same night, I typically let them know that it's already been done, but if they really want to, they can. I won't let anyone do it in close proximity, because that's usually the "I can do it better" type divas, but if it was done early in the show and someone wants to do it late in the show, like 3+ hours later, I have no problem.

When someone gets upset that I let someone else do "their" song, I let them know that I was not aware that they wrote it

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C Mc
KJ, FL

Or the ones that claim it's their song and someone else sings it but they sing from their seat as loud as they can - real mature there people! This isn't high school, grow up!

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@ maltloaf53:

Are you one of those KJs who does not allow the same song to be sung more than once in the night?

If so, I might suggest that you approach the older man (who is liked and respected), and let him know that the "Diva" has arrived, and if he wants to sing "My Way" (or whatever his Signature song is), he better submit it now (before said "Diva" submits it).

If not, then, if the older man decides to submit his "Signature Song," and said "Diva" has already submitted the same song within the same Rotation (and said "Diva's" turn is before the older man), just politely tell him that he can't sing it during this round, but you'll allow it for one of the following rounds.

As far as ownership of the songs, YOU (the Singer), only own that song for the 2-10 minutes that YOU are on stage singing it. THAT'S ALL.

TEN minutes?? Damn!

Yeah... no!

First person to sign it up sings it. If you have an issue, it is not with the KJ. Try tact and diplomacy. That's right, try talking to your antagonist and see if you can't work something out.

Otherwise, beat them to the punch.

A week ago, Monday night I had a singer ask me to "back him up" on "Wanted Dead or Alive" and we did it early in the evening (the first hour). About 3 hours later he comes to me and says: "I want to sing that again." I said: "No way. That is a bad idea and I do not let songs get performed twice in one show." Now, I've never had anyone ask to sing the same song twice (themselves) and he seemed genuinely put out so I decided to make the exception and let him do it, but I declined to "help" with the song the second time around. Well, as you can imagine, the second time around was met with total disinterest and he was disappointed in that outcome. He did apologize to me and said that I was right and he shouldn't have pushed me to ignore the rules. It didn't exactly thrill me that I was right because it was never my intention to have the guy have a negative experience. That is one rule that I will not compromise ever again.

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Never the same show twice!

Thanks all for your input. I work on first come first served, always. But the main problem I have is the Diva only sings the old guys song to wind him up, he thinks its funny. I have tried, very politely, to persuade him to sing something else but he refuses and gets all diva-ish, if you know what i mean. Oh well, I will keep on trying to please them both. I have suggested to the older guy that maybe he ought to sing one of the diva's songs, see how he likes it. As you rightly say, no-one owns any of the songs, so if someone gets in first, normally that's tough, find something else. I am hoping the diva gets bored with his childish game, heres hoping

first come first serve for me as well *EXCEPT*
in s situation where the old guy only has 2 or 3 songs he can do (i have several at private clubs with memory problems like alzheimers) i WILL go ask the other person who always sings it if they would THIS TIME let so and so do it because he only has 3 songs he can do.
if he is insistent i will let it drop there, but so far the times i have done it they have been more than happy to find another song and make the old guys night.

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Paradigm Karaoke, The New Standard.......Shift Happens

What... you never heard "American Pie" done at Karaoke? Or Meatloaf (most of his songs are 9 minutes plus).

If the younger Diva is putting in these songs just to rile another customer, I would give him a choice:

#1. Pick a different song -- that is not in the limited repertoire of the older man or,

#2. Hit the door.

Karaoke is about EVERYONE having fun and his doing this just to antagonize someone else (at the audience's expense) for his personal jolly is not welcome where I work. I will not be used as his tool to make someone else miserable.

If the younger one is "so good" then he should have no problem with his obvious unlimited skill...

I have to agree with Chip. The younger guy is just being a jerk. I'd let him sit there all night, thinking that he was going to sing, and then not let him sing at all. When he finally came up to me to complain about having to wait so long, I would tell him that he will get the same treatment any time he hands in a song slip with the old guys signature song on it. People should show a little more respect for their elders. There's an older gentleman around my parts who only sings Frank Sinatra songs. I have never sung a Sinatra song in his presence. I would not even want it to look like I was trying to show him up. If I was a patron at the bar in this scenario; I would definitely sing a lot of the diva's favorite songs to give him a taste of his own medicine.

I used the word jerk in the post above because the words that I really wanted to use would have been censored anyway.

Years ago, a bunch of my friends used to go to a particular show every Saturday night. We used to bring our personal discs with us to the show and hand them up to the KJ when it was our turn to sing. I had a songbook for my discs, and I used to share my discs with anyone who asked. The women I used to hang with would also shared their discs with others (if they were asked politely). There was this one "Diva" who used to ask the KJ for songs that he did not have, and then the KJ would point her in our direction (to see if we had those songs). Then, when someone else borrowed one of our discs and sang a song that she happened to ask the KJ about (just coincidence), she would go running up to the KJ, accusing him of lying because he said he didn't have that song. The KJ would tell her (again) that he did not have that song, and that it was ours. Then she would come over to our table and DEMAND, "Why didn't you tell me you had that song???!!!", and we would say, "You didn't ask us." She acted ENTITLED, like we were supposed to not only tell her that we had the song she was looking for, but also loan her our discs.

This same "Diva" used to comment all the time that somebody was up on stage singing "Her Song." And, it wasn't just one song. She would make comments like, "Oh! I sing that song" for everyone to hear. Also, when she would get up to sing, she would be average... nothing as SPECTACULAR as she claimed to be. Then she would make excuses, like, "I had a sore throat." After a while, it started to become old, and my friends decided to fix her wagon. One night, we lined ourselves up in the rotation, ahead of this "Diva," and we each put up something that we knew she sang. Her reaction was PRICELESS as each of us sang something she had laid claim to. By the time it was her turn, we had all sung her songs. She walked out.

Cue,
I had the exact same thing happen to me with a lady who thought she was the best singer since Elvis. She was just average as well, and wanted to sing with everyone. People got fed up with her and her "Diva" attitude and did the exact same thing. So, the rest of the singer did what yours did and lined up with "her" songs. She was so miffed that she actually got into a fist fight outside and got arrested that night. She has never been back, and I can honestly say...good riddance... I don't miss that type of attitude and my show was even better for it after her departure.

As far as the OP goes, if it were me in their shoes, I would try to be as congenial to both as humanly possible, but if the "diva" is just trying to get under peoples skin, I would never let him sing at all. When he put up a request, I would just skip it. Somewhere during the night he would notice that he hasn't sang yet and ask why/when,, then I would put it to him straight. I don't need someone causing drama and would put the ball in his hands... Either he tries to fit it and sing something else, or he can find the door.

you reap what you sow. Do unto others...

Thanks everyone for your replies, it seems I am not the only one with this problem. There is always that one person who will not play the game. I will try to appeal to his better side, if he has one, failing that I think I will tell the older gentleman to practice some of the diva's songs, see if he likes it. If it was my bar I would be a lot firmer but I only run the karaoke so have to watch my step, don't want to upset the boss. Anyway, thanks again for all your advice.

You could let the old guy know you'll put him in the rotation for his signature song as soon as he walks in the door.

After that it's up to him to beat the young pup to the show.

Bottom line. Who is your ideal karaoke customer? Decide and cater to them.

Duplicate post sorry

Oh, yeah Cue... I've heard "American Pie" and "Parasite" but I figured they were only around 8 minutes. Time flies when you're... umm, drinking.