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Oh just remembered a few more tricks... I use a laptop for my catalog, helps when someone asks what songs do you have by So-and-So...just a few keystrokes and voilla, you tell them... I figured since the laptop is there, why not make more use of it...I take my regular music CDs and put them in in as MP3s, not only does this help in the begining of the night, you just have a playlist playing while setting up doing sound checks etc, but you keep a song cued up in case of emergency...so and so is in the bathroom etc..., play some filler music while you cue up your next singer...also a great way to add sound bytes to your show... We have a gong at the bar where I host, VERY occasionally (and never to a bad singer who is really trying) the bartender will gong a person, most often really drunk people that do nothing but shout into the mic...my favorite is the quote from Chris Tucker "You got knocked the f*** out man!" as soon as that gong, music is off, and that quote plays...very funny! Or play a few sound bytes from Austin Powers throughout the night or an Adam Sandler quote... gets people's attention, and a laugh... Occasionally on slower nights I will announce "Scare-e-oke" and ask for participants... mainly the regulars play, and I will randomly pick out a song for them to sing, sort of a mini contest with no real prizes or winners, but just breaks up the monotony. You know get them to sing the theme from Gilligans Island or Love Boat or something...which by the way is a great song to sing if there is a fight in a bar. Calms people down and most will start laughing as I sing "Love... exciting and new...come aboard..." mix it up a bit and have fun, most people know when you are having fun and it makes it fun for others as well...
Peace...
Mike
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