[Papa Ray]

Looks like rotation is the hottest subject.. with good reason. Rotation IS the single most likely point of conflict. I wish I had an answer, but I only have feeble attempts at controlling the whole table of people who try to hog the stage by putting everyone’s name up. This is perhaps my biggest problem.

Feeble attempt:
For the most part, singers are a single act, or a group, but not both.
Any person whose name is on my board must be the primary singer for the song they put up…. At that point, others may join if invited. (I don’t permit people to randomly “Help-out” the singer with out the request of the singer). I someone wants a duet or group song, they must use their normal turn, and then invite who they want to sing with.

I play it by ear, but when a table attempts to hog the stage I diplomatically invoke the primary singer concept… ‘to insure fairness to all singers’

I use the “primary singer” rule to control the many non singers who put their names up just to get another turn for their friend. If I suspect that a person has no real intention of singing (just stand there holding the mic while their friend sings) I politely ask them to sing louder, reminding them that it is THEIR song, and that the other singer(s) are back-up. I turn their mic up, and the others down as much as necessary… They will either get with the program and sing, or won’t put another number up
Customer reaction to my actions is mixed… everything from “party pooper” (from the abusive table usually) to “great job!”

I’m very open for better ideas, ‘cause I hate when this happens!

Take care,

Papa Ray