Drunks..what to do with them

[Lonman]

Originally Posted by bryant

Most people, drunk or sober, rarely take the time to read an entire page of anything. And rules are one less notch below an "anything\". In fact, I asked a total of 20 of MY friends who were at a bar one night, who were not drunk, knew me well, and had manners. I asked them if they had ever seen the front page of rules. They said they didn't know there was one there. They had been regular followers for over a year. I hardly think that the drunks are goping to take the time and say to each other "gee, better read this or I'll get in trouble".

I have two big screens on each wall that display things constsntl like "don't step on the stage please" or "don't interupt the singer". Yet, I've had people do just that and say "oh, i didn't know I was not supposed to".


I'm not sure what the easy answer is here.

Which is true, not all will read it, but many will & respect them. The ones that don't, you educate them. Our club even paid the money for an 7x4 foot wall version that no one can miss.

[bryant]

I see Lonny. I think most bars in rural maine are not that close knit. They are just a bunch of middle class people bar owners trying to get real rich fast w/o putting themselves thru a lot of extra work, e.g., get the ppl in and serve 'em.

Like I said 20 out of 20 of my respectable friends knew nothing about the rules page. Some may look at a page like that and say "gee, there's a rule page". that's it.

How often do you read ALL your junk mail. that is junk to them, the important mail is the songlists from which they choose their songs.

[Lonman]

Originally Posted by bryant

How often do you read ALL your junk mail. that is junk to them, the important mail is the songlists from which they choose their songs.

Which brings up - how many actually look through the book anymore? I know I have several that just put up songs - most I have (are from regs), but some newbies don't even know & put up songs without even checking if it's there or not.

[horseshoe]

When I help one of my KJ ladies, I constantly work the room and talk to the patrons. I never seem to have any trouble that way.

The worst ones are your good friends who get loaded. If one of them tries to get on the stage with another singer without an invitation, I simply have a set procedure my girls always use...........turn the song off. Then I ask the singer if he/she wants it to be a duet. Depending on the answer, we continue the show. Sometimes they don't mind, but most of the time they say "thank you". Every time thus far, the drunk has simply given some mumbled apology and walked away.

As soon as that happens you get instant reaction from the drunk and from the crowd. They police if for you very quickly and easily. It's amazing what his friends will do to shut him up, including putting him out the door.

[peppe]

very interesting...the rules sheet I guess is a good start for those who read it, and then just policing the area better is an added solution. I have a very tight crowd here, in the fact that most of them are friends, the barracks is right across the street from the pub, that causes a little problem in itself. but not everyone that comes is 19 to 25 and working together. Please continue the comments and suggestions...its all really helpful.


thanks peppe and wendy joky karaoke, naples, Italy

[bryant]

Originally Posted by Lonman

Which brings up - how many actually look through the book anymore? I know I have several that just put up songs - most I have (are from regs), but some newbies don't even know & put up songs without even checking if it's there or not.

Lonman, Exactly.

[kilith]

I also have a rule sheet. I also have at the bottom of that rule sheet that if you turn in a song slip you are agreeing to abide by these rules which then in turn puts them into a legal binding contract even if they do not read them or not. If they break anything they are the ones to replace the broken property or equipment. If they break one of the rules they are no longer to sing for the rest of that night. The bars I play in also enforce the rules along with me. If someone gets drunk and out of control they will be asked to stop. If they do not stop then they are asked to leave. Reason being the bar rather kick out one person then have 5 or 10 leave because they can not stand the drunk ruining the show.