Are KJ's Professional?

[kilith]

Here is how this topic started.

Originally Posted by SteveWalker

I think the top DJ's and top KJ's can provide the same quality of entertainment but they are at the top of the pyrimid. In general the public expects DJ's to entertain at a much higher level and quality compared to KJ's. A professional DJ makes much more money and would not switch over to be a full time KJ. This is just my unbiased opinion as I'm am not a DJ. I am musician and professional singer.

Originally Posted by kilith

Yes that is right. The public thinks there is more to being a DJ then a KJ. However it is the other way around. a KJ puts a lot more time into their business. Making books is a long and tiresom project and are changed almost weekly if not monthly. Most DJ's do not even have books it is go up ask and pray they have the music you want.

A DJ plays music to get people up and dance... I have had nights where I sang for the first 2 hours out of 5 hours before people were brave enough to come up and sing but once you get them up there then they do not want to stop but that is what you have to do to keep your show going... I have never seen a DJ come out from behind his computer or CD tray to get a group dancing by dancing by him/herself out on a floor.

That is the problem out in the world is everyone knows how much a DJ is paid and that it is anywhere from $600-$1500 a night and bars are happy to pay that price but they are not happy to pay a KJ $200.00. Yes I know that a lot of troll KJ's have taken down the respectability of the karaoke industry. Once of my friends who used to even be my baby-sitter lol is now starting up her own karaoke system and I am sorry she is a horrible KJ when it comes to running a system. As a MC she is great! but she does not know how to adjust her music and vocals which is what makes a quality show. For me it would be rude to go up and tell her how to run her system even if it was to help her quality. I do have 9 years experience on her but I just do not know how she would take constructive critisizm from me knowing I am a KJ.... Any comments on how I could maybe go about helping her out? She does give a good show but she could give a heck of a lot better show.

Originally Posted by SteveWalker

The professional DJ can MC and motivate the crowd in a way only a KJ (except a very very few) could dream of doing. The professional DJ does more to learn the skill of being an MC and motivating a crowd. The KJ concentrates on motivating singers and adjusting their vocals. Actually, we are talking apples and oranges in making this comparison. I think the DJ profession would be a great leaning ground for KJ's because this is where the real people skills are learned and used.

[peppe]

my husband and I do kj/mc and have a classic rock/blues band here in naples italy. Its a unique situation that actually lends itseelf perfectly to this discussion. For example...we were hired by the american military to entertain a large aircraft carrier that had come into port, we have a large private park here for the troops, they sat up a large tent and had our band along with one other band, plus our karaoke and a dj playing dance music. The DJ was in another tent in a lower part of the park. sorry for the details but its important to my point. we were scheduled to play for 4 days in a row. the bands played starting at 5 finished at about 7 then karaoke till about 11pm. SO, the first day we went by the schedule, BUT....the whole time the bands played all the sailors were asking WHEN IS KARAOKE GETTING STARTED?? well needless to say, we were called in at 12 NOON to start karaoke for the last 3 days of the event, it went over like beer at a fraternity party. they didn't want the bands they didn't want the dj. in fact the dj didn't even play after the first 2 days. We have found over and over again, because I try and book the band as much as for the karaoke, Karaoke is #1 with all. we now have continuous gigs through september 3 times a week just to satisfy the military public here. it amazing and fun and exciting!!!! I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Wendy and Peppe JOKEY KARAOKE, NAPLES, ITALY

[bryant]

Very interesting!
FYI: My show has grown to 6 times a week, and might hit seven by late this spring. I never wanted that much work, and would never do it with disks, either. Thanx to the Hoster staff we have Hoster.