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When the rotation is long, or even if it isn't, how do you pass the time between your songs?
We usually play cards. (no money on it, strictly for fun so the bar owner doesn't have a problemwith it) usually Trump. It really does make the time go faster.
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LOL, Madgrrl! Since my husband and I don't have friends who karaoke with us, we usually just sit and drink. Sometimes I start to get friendly with strangers by starting a conversation about the song they just sung. Most people are friendly back. This helps the time move along faster. It is not unusual for us to have to wait over an hour between songs. Most of the time I have my face in the songbook. I write songs down that I'm interested in learning. We also keep a small log book and write down our songs and rate them after we sing. Some people get very interested in looking over my shoulder to see what what I'm writing down.
Posts: 397 | From: Strongsville, OH | Registered: May 1999
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Two guys who go to most shows I go to bring board games. I've seen 'em playing Stratego, Checkers, and Football. They have fun just sitting there doing that between their songs.
I usually play Mega Touch, pool or pinball--whatever's available--or chat with some of the people who are there.
Best,
Mark
Posts: 1595 | From: Willoughby Hills, Ohio, USA | Registered: Apr 1999
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I just try to be an attentive member of the audience just like I want everyone else to be for me. Listen, clap, cheer and sing, oh, drink heavily as well, this is a must.
Posts: 531 | Registered: Feb 2001
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Besides drinking, smoking, and asking the KJ when I'm up next repeatedly (just kidding), some more productive things I do include going through the KJ's songbook and writing down songs I want to try, talking to the KJ about the latest in the karaoke world (business, other gigs, new releases, etc.), talking to other singers, etc. I'll read the latest karaoke magazine if they have one.
I usually bring lyric sheets for the new songs I want to try, so I'll be trying to memorize those if I feel uncomfortable about my performance (I hate screwing up - especially with fast songs). I usually bring a portable MP3 player with me, so sometimes I'll step outside to practice a difficult verse or two in private.
I also pay quite a bit of attention to the other singers - what genre of songs they are singing, how well they sound, how the audience is reacting to their songs, etc.
That's about it (besides hoping to meet my karaoke soulmate ).
Posts: 1487 | From: Irvine, CA, USA | Registered: Jun 1999
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There is dancing if the song is right. Otherwise, I will extend the proper courtesy to the singers. I will however admit to running next door to the 24-hour supermarket to do my grocery shopping.
Posts: 1025 | From: San Francisco, CA, USA | Registered: Jul 1999
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Just so's y'all don't get the wrong impression, we do pay attention to the singers as well And there's the drinking, although I need to be part of the Cola crowd since I don't drink n drive.
Although depending on who shows up, sometimes I do have to time my bathroom breaks so I can go when they're singing. Now, I do pay attention to most but sometimes there's just that one singer that sends you running.
There's one lady who only ever sings The Boxer, well not even really singing it just mumbling along with the music. Then during the la la la's she sticks the mike in everyone's face.
Dancing is good too, but it depends on the venue. There's 2 place I go to and only one is really a modern party crowd.
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I do a lot of listening - if I can't stand the song (or sometimes the singer) I step outside for a smoke. Hey, I just step out for a smoke alot. When I am paying attention to just the karaoke and not busy talking I clap. Many times I sing along - sometime quietly sometime quite loudly. I do a lot of talking to friends and the KJ or other people. I look throught the book - what do they have, what brand might it be, do they have something I don't. I might dance one or two songs, I try to keep it limited because of my back. Some people seem to think I never dance, then again some people that have known me for a while think I don't smoke. I'm very good at getting people to sing - especialy odder songs or harder (rock) songs then they would otherwise do. Many people think I know everyone - I do spend a lot of time in different groups, that don't spend time together. Many times I just sit by myself and watch or study the book - I don't tend to like large groups, and rather sit alone. I order a lot of cokes or mineral waters. I used to play pool, but not anymore, it got too ackward when I got called up to sing.
Don't think I could play cards or any game that was not related to music, at this point.
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When I get really bored, no one around and the songs are putting me too sleep, Depending on the location of the karaoke if its a block away from my home, I go home for a bit, time it so I just come there 4 or 5 songs before I'm up. Cause sometimes the wait is 1-2 hours.
Posts: 69 | From: Canada | Registered: Feb 2001
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Well, I'm usually checking out the song book and writting songs down that I want to try at a later date and make mental notes to myself about how well certin songs go over in certin bars. I don't drink as much as I used to in the past but I do love to listen to singers...no matter how good or "not so good" they are! lol!
Posts: 1201 | From: Kansas City, MO USA | Registered: Apr 1999
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I usually pick up my comic books the night before I go to the bar, so I read my comic books or a music magazine. I also drink my diet coke, sometimes eat snickers pie, listen, clap, dance, sing along, etc. And at one point in the evening, I must leave the bar so that I can call a cab in quiet.
Posts: 34 | Registered: Aug 2000
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I usually am helping the KJ while inbetween my songs(you would think that I would be up more often than I am lol). I also try to listen and encourage other singers who are there because we all know what it was like to sing around people you don't know. I guess you could say I'm like the official crowd cheerer for the karaoke people in our area. Other than that I'm usually checking out my own personal song book(yes I think I have no life lol) trying to find something else to get DDSS(you'll have to check out the singers forum for that term).
Posts: 1795 | From: Fall River, Ma | Registered: Feb 2001
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It's easy and fun...just don't cheat and have a Karaoke book to refer to.
Get however many people to play and you start with whatever letter...i.e. "A" and the first player says an artist. Next player says another artist by that same letter and so on and so forth.
(If it's a band, it would be by that letter...if it's a solo artist, it would be by last name! Don't laugh...you'd be surprised at how many people would say Garth Brooks for "G")
Anyway...you keep spouting off artists and if someone can't think of one, then they're out for the letter. Make sure you have a time limit...like 1 minute or so...or your letter will drag out forever.
Anyway...the winner is determined after the remaining two people are left. If the person who can't come up with anything gives up, then the second person has to come up with a winning artist to win that letter.
Once a winner is determined, you move on to the next letter.
Also...the artist must be somewhat recognizable. I've played with some real bullsh*tters who make up names and it's like..."who the hell is that??" Use your judgment, and if you can, make sure you can name/sing one song from the artist you are throwing out there. Any genre is acceptable...not just what's listed in your average Karaoke book. Hell...if you get to "M" and throw out "Mozart," it's totally acceptable, because he was a documented recording artist.
It's a lot of fun...and trust me...oftentimes I've found myself not wanting to sing my turn in the rotation, because I was too into the game.
Give it a shot.
Posts: 124 | From: Oxnard, CA, USA | Registered: Apr 1999
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When I had karaoke in a couple of bars I found that I didn't have time because I worked alone and a lot of people come up to talk, ask questions and some try to get me to look up their songs for them, however, I have been doing only private parties lately which aren't as demanding as a bar. Why? Because a KJ undercut me greatly and another did almost the same. (The first one is doing four hours of karaoke for 75.00! Sorry, but my CDG orders are a lot higher than that!)
Posts: 137 | From: North Brookfield, MA U.S.A. | Registered: Jul 1999
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