posted
I've got a Thursday show that gets kinda wild.
Here's what drives me nuts!
Drunks screaming into the mic.
Dropping the mic or swinging it around by the cord.
People that don't sing all night then decide they just have to sing at closing time!
Someone say's "Somethings wrong with this music, it ain't right!"
people who throw my books on the floor, spill beer all over them, write on them and burn them with cigarettes!
People that walk up and say "This mic here?" when it is the only one right in front of them and the only one everybody else has been using all night! Then they don't turn it on if the person before them turned it off.
Oh, so many more, guess I 've been karaoken' too long (smile)....
posted
I have felt like hanging up my Karaoke hat many times but I must admit it is still much better than a 8 to 5 hitch in Corporate America plus there are still many times I enjoy what I am doing. They are not all bad....
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You are in control of your show. Managemnet has to be behind you on calls you make to do business. Warn the offender(s) once. If the behaviour continues, take them out of rotation. Before you stop accepting song reuqests announce it several times. Once you are at that point, tell the drunk to bring their request in the next time they come in. If they get beligerant cut them off. Before you institute this make management of the club aware of your policies. They don't like beligerant and unruly customers either. As a KJ YOU are IN control, it often requires a thick skin and smile when they get/if they get ugly. Smile and be nice, tell them to come back in and put in their song early you will be glad to have them at your next show(s).
Posts: 542 | From: Mobile, Alabama, USA | Registered: Jan 2000
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posted
All those idiotic things due occur and they suck, unless she's really hot and tips good. OHHH BABY. peace love karaoke
Posts: 110 | From: Santa Fe Springs Cal.cou | Registered: Aug 2000
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jdddd - Sounds like just about every gig I've had. I agree with all of those. I now have a "Rules page" in my books. I guess it help's but that crap still happens.
Here's a couple other peeves.
The "how long till I'm up" pain in the butt.
And the old "what can I do or say to get the KJ to put me or my friend up next" trick. - Sometimes those tricks work. Right, Metalroke? >:P
You can only bite your tounge and shake your head after they leave you alone.
With all said, it's a hell of alot better than punching a clock.
[This message has been edited by Jerry_at_Raven (edited October 04, 2000).]
Posts: 94 | From: MI - Kalamazoo area | Registered: Feb 2000
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posted
A few months back, a friend of mine asked if we'd do a gig for a party. It was to be held at a recreation center for people with Down's Syndrome and other maladies. Needless to say, they were rather excited. No one wanted to wait their turn. There was no beer (for the host..me!) and no smoking in the bulding. After an hour to setup, then another half hour into the gig, I was in the throws of a nicotine fit, so I made my wife run the system while I went outside and burned one. When I returned, a couple of guys were on the stage wailing away on a song. After the song was finished, they had to be told to leave the stage. In the meantime, another gent approached me and asked when he was up. I asked his name and it turned out that the previous duo had jumped his song! This particular pair would attempt this throughout the evening!
And then there were the three individuals who asked me "Who's next?". I told them. Then they inquired "Then who's after that?". I told them. Then, "And who's after that?". Can you see where this is going?
Oh yeah...there was the lady who started to grab CDG's out of my box to have a peek...the feller who kept bumping into my system...the yougster who requested I spin his copy of "The Chicken Dance" that had an abbrasion in it 3 minutes into the song which caused it to skip back a couple minutes that I didn't realize until about 15 freakin' minutes later!!
My friend asked if I'd be interested in doing this once a month....
------------------ The K-Wolf, Daron
[This message has been edited by Karawolf (edited October 04, 2000).]
Posts: 490 | From: Irving, TX. USA | Registered: May 1999
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Oh I forgot to mention this one: My friend and I have to leave in a few minutes so can we go next??? Pleeeese. Then 30 minutes later they are still there and wanting to sing again.....
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I have seen shows where the K.J.'s don't correct the singers for blowing, tapping, swinging, cupping and all the other things they will do that is either annoying and/or harmful to our equipment. Maybe they feel it's too much hassle to deal with when you sometimes have to deal with hostility from the offender. I have always felt an obligation to instruct the singers in correct mike handling and Karaoke Show protocol, not only for their own benifit, or the audiences' but for the next K.J. that gets them on down the road. Even though I run a compressor/limiter on my mics, the wannabe rapper/rockstar still will hear it from me if they wrap their fist around the ball of the mic and scream into it. It just ain't done at my shows. JimboDJ, So. Cal.
Posts: 37 | From: So Cal | Registered: Sep 2000
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I agree, I try to stay on top of those things as well. I've got a few pecker heads that like to cup the head of the mic, I will let them get away with that (until it feeds back)then I correct them but the swinging by the cord is what gets my dander up. I've got one guy that thinks he's Ice T or something and wants to make rap nioses into the mic. I turn him off everytime he does it and it ****es him off. I am surprised he keeps coming back to the show but he does.
I agree the KJ must keep control of the show and most customers will conform. Sometimes alcohol takes over and they just get too out of hand that's when I really get serious. I have not had any serious problems lately, thank goodness.
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I get some drunks that are P*SS*D off that I turn off the moc when they yell or scream into it.
I tell people NOT to bang on the mic. They still do it. I tell people they cannot bring drinks or cigs on stage. They still try. I still have singers TRy to turn off the mic switch even though I've duct taped the sucker ON.
I tell the singer to SING LOUDER, but when they do, they actually hear their voice and then quickly sing softer, until the chorus of course, which they know and sing REALLY loud.
I hate the 'hoverer'. The singer that hovers over your shoulder looking at the rotation slips, asking when he/she is next.
I dislike the drunk that comes in at 12 thinking he/she will be up NEXT because they are a new singer.
Oh there's more--much more.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
Dale
------------------ (<>..<>)
Posts: 175 | From: Grand Rapids, MI | Registered: Apr 1999
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posted
I think Star Karaoke hit the nail on the head. You are in control of your own shows, plus having management back you,warn them and take them out of rotation if necessary. I can't think of very many weeks that I haven't pi**ed somebody off. Face facts, you will never please everybody all the time. Ornery Drunks are just that. Ornery drunks.
posted
Welcome to the karaoke world. I look at it this way. Swinging mics, screamers and drunken A holes is part of the biz. Theres no getting away from it. I no longer buy good mics. Most cant sing anyways so why spend good money on mics. Screamers I simply turn the mic off and they quickly get the message. As far as drunken A holes are concern my suggestion to you is dont tolerate them. If someone is giving you a hard time simply tell the venue owner or manager. One of the most important things I have found in this biz and I right up front with bar owners. I do not tolerate owners who do not back me up or support me when theres a problem. I have two experiences one very recently. I had singer who was mad because she had to wait a while to sing. I explained there was 15 people ahead of her..she couldnt do the math..hmmm let me see 10 people times 4 mins each song means I sing in 40 mins. When her turn came she complained and then I was further heckled by her husband and friends. I ignored them and moved on. Next thing I know theres a big comotion, the owner is involved. The owner sided with the singer because they had spent an estimated $140. I was not fired but I did make that my last night there. My point is dont work for jerk bar owners who side with the money and not you. You get hurt because they didnt throw some jerk out.
You are always gonna have JO's in a venue that includes alcohol. No matter what venue I am at I always end up have a buddy. Some drunken dude who wants to ask me questions, look at my CDs and annoy me.
MY BIGGEST pet peeve is I'm up on stage singing and some JO comes up to me and starts asking me a question right in the middle of me singing. I can deal with mic swinging, screamers, mental patients but I draw the line on rudeness. I do not tolerate it in any shape or form.
I also do not allow anyone to use my mic. bad breath and colds is he number reason why I refuse to let anyone touch my mic. Singers often think that my mic is more special then the ones they are suppose to use. The fact of the matter is its the same mic but without food chunk, spit and other unexplainable organisms.
Posts: 66 | From: Port Monmouth, NJ 07758 | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
I've got a regular...Let's call him "Louis"...who only knows 3 songs...He is rude, obnoxious, and a reeeaallllllly bad singer. He also nurses 1 beer for 3 rotations, never tips the server, and hits on every woman in the bar (age, interest, big boyfriends don't seem to matter). I've tried everything I could think of to help-him-find-another-venue, but he already makes the rounds here. In short, I let him get to me.
Lucky me, a couple of Wednesdays ago I was singing at another Show...In comes "Louis"... The host, "Too Cool Dave" Gave him a big build up...you'da thot Elvis was next...It didn't help..."Louis" was Still "Louis" -BUT- the host took it philosphicaly. "Louis" didn't get to him...And now he doesn't get to me either !!!
My 5¢ (10¢ Canadian) Advice... Check out other Shows Regularly. We can always learn from each other
Posts: 139 | From: Ottawa, ON, Canada | Registered: Oct 2000
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SINGERS THAT ARE EXTREMELY DRUNK EVERY WEEK. Alcohol seems to warp them.
Posts: 137 | From: North Brookfield, MA U.S.A. | Registered: Jul 1999
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What drives me nuts is when someone asks me to explain why they aren't singing (I try to explain the rotation to them) then they get upset and tell me they don't want to hear it and demand to be up in the next few songs. I start over and try to explain it again and if they interupt me again I will tell them, "You just asked me to explain this too you. Obviously you aren't listening to me so please go sit back down and come back when you are ready to listen to what I have to say." I'll turn my back on them and continue what I'm doing and USUALLY they will calm down or go back to thier seats. So far, only ONE guy has pushed it to the point where I told him to get off my stage or I'll have the doorman ask him.
[This message has been edited by AnthonyT (edited October 27, 2000).]
Posts: 1201 | From: Kansas City, MO USA | Registered: Apr 1999
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People who sing the same freeking 4 songs everytime they come out to karaoke. I can't believe these people are so insecure that they are afraid to try anything new. Typically, those four songs are by the same artist...aka...Patsy Cline/Frank Sanatra
Posts: 1201 | From: Kansas City, MO USA | Registered: Apr 1999
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There's one chap I know who always sings very few song choices. It's funny, because he's really a good singer. I think those are just his favorite songs to sing. The problem is, they're boring. The audience doesn't applaud much, but he continues to do it. He's not the insecure type, but I think he's just has the self-focused personality where he's pays no attention to anything externally around him.
Sometimes I can actually predict the line-up for the night when I see a group of these people together .
Sometimes I think it has to do with not knowing any other songs. Some people don't realize that they're singing the same songs over and over and that people actually do get tired of them. I was one of those until the KJ said to me (as I handed him a slip with a new song number on it) "Oh, what song is this? You're trying something different?"
I don't know if he was being sarcastic or not, but for one year I learned 3 new songs each week and tried not to repeat ANY song at the same venue for the whole year. They never knew what I was going to do next.
Posts: 1487 | From: Irvine, CA, USA | Registered: Jun 1999
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Wow... I wish I had a hundred customers like you... There are regulars who not only sing the same songs every night, but even in the SAME ORDER. I usually have their first song already loaded before they hand me the slip. Sometimes a gentle nudge and suggestion of a new song can do wonders, but... it usually ends up being just another song they will sing every week You can't win Posts: 575 | From: West Hartford, CT USA | Registered: Apr 2000
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That's a seriously scary thought! I love to do new songs myself and I'm always learning something new to sing. Every once in awhile I'll latch onto a song and singing it just about every night I do karaoke for a week or so before I file it away in my mind. The most current song I've done that with is John Mellonball's (lol) version of WILD NIGHT. Creed's WITH ARMS WIDE OPEN will probably be like that next week.
Posts: 1201 | From: Kansas City, MO USA | Registered: Apr 1999
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I'll always tease the regulars at the karaoke gigs I do who turn in those old, tired songs. Soemtimes I'll give them the old "Hey! A new song!" comment along with a chuckle to let them know I'm kidding. However, I think they realize that maybe trying something new isn't a totally bad idea. One of the things I love about karaoke is the variety of music that is sung. Only in karaoke will you hear a song like NOOKIE followed by WALKING AFTER MIDNIGHT! LOL! :^)
Posts: 1201 | From: Kansas City, MO USA | Registered: Apr 1999
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posted
Along the same lines as the people who sing the same songs all the time, they are often the same ones who ask you to suggest a song for them to sing. Then they reject your idea and sing the same old song anyway. Why did they even bother asking in the first place?
Posts: 1025 | From: San Francisco, CA, USA | Registered: Jul 1999
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