posted
Why is it when I both leading KJ's here about ordering "new" CDG's they whine about it and say I'd be the only one who would it (NOT!!!!) and then have the nerve to say this, and THIS is what I'm asking! "No one can sing Luther Vandross' music!" There's ALOT of men who could/WOULD sing it & I would LOVE to sing "I'd Rather". NOONE here has it!
Posts: 378 | From: Bloomington il | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
I'm not sure I understood the question either - I'm guessing Annie's asking her KJs to get certain discs and they are telling her that nobody would sing the particular discs she is requesting?
If that's the question I guess I'd need to ask the question how regularly do you attend the KJ's shows?
If you come out every week and tip I bend over backwards for you when it comes time for a buy.
On the other hand if I see you once a month or less I probably will just count your vote in with others and see what the most people are asking for.
posted
Sounds like your host doesn't care about his regulars. I've bought discs for 1 song if I have a faithful customer - now, true, I do usually try to get a few requests for a song or make sure there are other songs on the disc that will make it worth while, but have thrown this rule out the window if it's something that will generally keep someone happy.
Posts: 1845 | From: Tacoma, WA, USA | Registered: Nov 1999
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posted
Sure it would be nice if the KJ bought the disc, and there is still that other option: buying the disc yourself. If you really want to sing that song, why not buy the disc. I find for the most part KJs will buy the new pop/rock discs and occasionally buy the Spots, depending on songs, etc...
So your choices are find a KJ who understands the meaning of a faithful customer, one who does buy drinks, tips (both the bar and KJ), and comes at least once a week; or buy the disc yourself.
It can also be a wake up call to a KJ if you have a few of your discs, and people are asking to sing off them instead of the KJs stuff.
Posts: 2246 | From: Palmdale, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2001
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posted
I think Luther's music is popular enough that it should be included in most collections, unless that collection is just oriented towards a particular type of music, like country or hard rock. Ultimately this pays off in the long run. I myself don't like singing the same songs over and over. 3 or 4 times is max, and then I don't want to sing it for long while. Hence if the KJ didn't have a good selection of songs, I'd be inclined to go to a place that did. Muscical variety is the spice of karaoke. If the KJ buys a disc that has one of Luther's songs on it, it probably has 10 other songs that even if I don't know them, someone else will. It's a good investment.
Posts: 683 | From: seattle,wa,usa | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
Do you guys know of any KJs who "specialize" in certain types of music, i.e., country or hard rock as Touron brought up?
The first KJ I ever sang for (13 years ago), the lovely Lisa, only bought certain discs. Her attitude was "People wanna rock and roll", yet I heard a number of people b--ching that she didn't have enough country (she had one Pioneer laser and that was it for country, aside from the few country tunes sprinkled over the pop/rock lasers she had, and she never had all the lasers that were available, which irked the hell out of me at the time). One guy wanted Garth Brooks. I told him that "The Dance" was available (it was on Pioneer 202 of the laser disc series), but I told her about this and she wouldn't budge.
Contrast this with one of her competitors at the time, Bobby, who bought anything and everything that Pioneer put out. He obviously knew that people wanted more than pop/rock and accommodated them. His show wasn't as much fun as Lisa's, though (Her attitude was 'let's have some fun', he praised his singers up the wazoo and his following was kind of a snobby, cliquish bunch).
I'm glad that the current crop of KJs in my area buy a mix of music. It's nice to have a wide range of songs and genres at my disposal.
Best,
Mark
Posts: 1595 | From: Willoughby Hills, Ohio, USA | Registered: Apr 1999
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posted
After looking at my own collection I have to admit I only have one Luther Vandross song in my current collection - "Dance With My Father" and nobody has ever asked to sing it yet. Maybe it's just a function of the area I'm in.
I've also noticed that while the college kids enjoy listening to hip hop, very few will actually attempt the newer rap or dance hall music.
I finally decided I was going to learn "Get Busy" by Sean Paul just to show them it can be done and see if that will pique interest in that part of my collection.
[This message has been edited by NewbieKJ (edited February 17, 2004).]
posted
I listen to my regulars if they request songs, and do my best to get them. However, I've found that most people don't want to try new songs. The majority of regulars tend to sing their favortie songs week after week and rarely try experimenting (that does get a little boring for me, so I love it when new people come into the bar!) Where are all these brave, spontaneous singers? Come to my show! Mike
Posts: 17 | From: Brooklyn, NY, USA | Registered: Nov 2003
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posted
Well, there's your answer. Practice, most people want to be familiar with a song before they do it. That is one more reason for the person wanting the song to buy the disc - now whether or not the KJ will have will be a mute point, but if they have it, no need to use yours, if they don't then you have a disc that you can use.
Posts: 2246 | From: Palmdale, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2001
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posted
If a singer wants a song bad enough they will go buy it . Very true in some circumstances. I've had my LOYAL singers buy me discs on numerous occasions. But your always gonna get those FEW people that will bitch about you not keeping current. If they show up regularly and tip they get it. Otherwise they will be directed to the other 15,000 songs to chose.
Posts: 65 | From: Santa Fe Springs Cal. | Registered: Nov 2003
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posted
Huh? Ok, let's just say that common sense is well, uncommon. This is a thread that shouldn't be.
Posts: 531 | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
When I started I engaged in a flurry of purchasing CD+Gs. In fact, just to have the songs, I have purchased collections of some of the more notorius brands. NOw that I have the variety, I tune for two - three areas - Rock, Alternative, and Country.
Posts: 1 | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
I had the same problem with kj's not wanting to buy a whole cd for just one song. My husband and I came across the mycdg.com site and we just order what we want. The best thing about the cd's we order is that we will sing ALL the songs on the cd-so it's not a waste. We figured it saved us alot of money ourselves since we don't have to buy a whole cd for just one song either!! (and no, I don't work for mycdg.com) just a fan
Posts: 1 | From: Moline, IL, USA | Registered: Feb 2004
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quote:Originally posted by DavidE: [B]Well, there's your answer. Practice, most people want to be familiar with a song before they do it. B]
This is an interesting thought, and most people you hear sing a song know it pretty well. You would think though, that you would fairly often hear some atrocious hacks as people learn a song. My own experience is karaoke crowds don't like hearing someone learn a song on their time. What does everyone else think? Should listeners be more tolerant and allow for the true newbie who doesn't know a song that well to give it a shot?
posted
Karaoke is for fun period. It doesn't matter what a person sounds like or whether they've done the song before or not. The only question I ask singers is "Did you have fun"? and that is all that really matters.
I know some people are going tosay what about contests. Well a contest is just that a contest, not karaoke. The karaoke is just a device to deliver the contest.
Posts: 377 | From: Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada | Registered: Mar 2002
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posted
"...Karaoke is for fun period. It doesn't matter what a person sounds like or whether they've done the song before or not. The only question I ask singers is "Did you have fun"? and that is all that really matters."
I sort of agree Timberlea - I think your sentiment is noble and all that and I frequently encourage people who didn't sing a song so great with a similar reminder that karaoke is about fun.
However....everything is relative.
If you have a group of average singers and you have a few really terrible singers mixed in here and there the audience will generally be polite if not encouraging. People generally don't mind so much because of the fact their ears are getting some occasional relief.
However, if absolutely EVERYBODY who sings, every night is absolutely terrible I don't think the show will last very long. Twenty terrible singers who drive everybody else out of a bar won't drink enough for the bar owner to pay the KJ...
[This message has been edited by NewbieKJ (edited February 28, 2004).]
quote:Originally posted by superstarparties: I listen to my regulars if they request songs, and do my best to get them. However, I've found that most people don't want to try new songs. The majority of regulars tend to sing their favortie songs week after week and rarely try experimenting (that does get a little boring for me, so I love it when new people come into the bar!) Where are all these brave, spontaneous singers? Come to my show! Mike
Hi there,
I am new here and have only been singing karaoke for 3 weeks now. I must be a joy for the KJ where I sing, because in just three weeks of singing I must have done close to between 25-30 songs! I am always trying to find new ones to sing and keep one or two of the others I have already sang. These usually are requests from the audience. Example they love when I sing Tiny Dancer by Elton John.
Hopefully I will learn a thing or two here on these boards.
CelticCircle1961
Posts: 3 | From: New Jersey, USA | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
Variety is always welcome at a karaoke show. Listening to the same people sing the same song every week does get old. Welcome to the board Celtic...
Posts: 177 | From: Girard, KS 66743 | Registered: Dec 2002
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posted
It depends on the venue Timberlea... I've been in places where virtually everybody who hung out there was pretty darn good. I've been to other places where nearly everybody howled like a banshee although thankfully it is a rarer occurrance.
The problem seems to crop up most often when you are playing a locale where the only person in town running a fair rotation is you.
When that happens sometimes all the people that the other KJs won't even let touch a mic will come to your show at the same time and ... well let's just say my ears are still ringing from some of those nights...
quote:Originally posted by NewbieKJ: Variety is always welcome at a karaoke show. Listening to the same people sing the same song every week does get old. Welcome to the board Celtic...
NewbieKJ, thanks for the welcome.
CelticCircle1961
Posts: 3 | From: New Jersey, USA | Registered: Feb 2004
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