KJ's Place in the rotation

[karaoke koyote]

In general, I like to sing at the top of the order for several reasons.

First, it lets everyone know the show is starting, and signals that its time to start getting slips in if you haven't already.

Two, I can make announcements for the bar and in general I do this when I'm done ("I'm the Karaoke Koyote, here at phillips every tuesday night from 8:30 to 12:30 for all your karaoke and musical needs, make sure to take care of Lori behind the bar...etc."). Everyone knows thats the spot that I take a break for that.

Three, Here's the chance to mix it up a bit. Your singers might have put in 5 sappy songs in a row and the bar is ready to commit suicide... so you can put in something up beat for yourself.

Four, entertainment. I'll put on a fedora and sing "luck be a lady" by frank sinatra, or some big glasses and sing "Saturday" by elton john. I grab on of my regulars for a duet... "Cover of the rolling stone" by Dr. hook is a good one. I'll put on sunglasses and get on of the ladies to sing "love shack" with me. I do a trio with Two of my female regualars where we do "Boondocks".... Always a crowd pleaser.

And for a big laugh I take of my shoes and kneel on them (so it looks like I'm short), and get a lady singer to do "I got you babe" by Sonny and Cher... always gets a great response.

Or, as a way to get some "shy" karaoke virgins up to sing, I'll do one with them on my rotation, and if they want to do a solo afterwards... boom... they'll be at the bottom, so it won't look like the "Newbie" is hogging the show.

Of course, if the rotation is overly long, or its at the end of the night and I'm trying to get as many people in before closing I'll skip my spot.

Is this what everyone else is doing, or no?

[WDEWDAD7]

I myself prefer NOT to start and be first. One, I have been at the same places, one for almost 8 years, and another for two. I have my loyal regulars who generally are there to be the first ones on the list. I don't have a problem getting someone to start. This gives me a chance to walk around for a volume and sound check. And, while that 1st singer is going strong, now everyone is asking questions or bringing up their slips. ( I hate it when someone starts asking me questions WHILE I am singing) I place myself when there are too many slow, sappy songs and we need a change. Or to put a break in the lineup when it looks like one table is dominating the night. This also helps in making the appearance that I am NOT making me the star. I dislike the karaoke shows where the KJ sings most the night, or with every other singer. Karaoke is supposed to be for the patrons, and supposed to be fun. So, in answer to your question, I could be anywhere, or nowhere in the lineup. Daryl.

[mindonstrike]

When I decided to get into this biz about 8 years ago I decided to adopt the things as a singer I liked about other shows and vowed to avoid the things as a singer I disliked.
2 of the things I disliked was the KJ singing when it was busy and the KJ singing before I got my first turn.
8 years later I'm still true to my vows, I don't sing when the rotation is larger than about 8 people and I don't sing if it means a new singer will be after me unless maybe they signed up during the song previous to mine. If I need to do a special request I'll put it off until I'm caught up on the new people. Most singers aren't there to hear the KJ or anyone else sing, they are there to hear themselves sing.
Most nights the first song I do for sound check is all I get, which is fine, I make it as much about the singers as possible and as little about me as possible.

I never beg anyone to sing. If they want to signup and sing and/or have me help them on THEIR turn thats great, and if they don't they don't, the bar needs listeners as well as singers.

Sam

[gd123]

Well, since it's all about the "Singers," I don't mind giving a little "Free" overtime...many times...about 90 minutes without pay.

Let's see...a 4 hour show with 30 singers and 3 songs per singer is 90 Songs. The KJ will, most likely, get 3 songs, too. At 4 minutes per song, the KJ will have taken up 12 minutes in 4 hours...LOL.

With my 30 to 90 minutes FREE OT, I dare any Venue or Singer or KJ to tell me that I'm hogging the show.

12 minutes of 240 minutes...I'm still ROTFLMAO.

[karaoke koyote]

That's another reason I like to sing first... so I can sound check. As a singer I HATE being the guy who the KJ is going to system adjust for.

I know the all the lyrics of my first song by heart, so I can walk the room, listen to what's going on and go back and set music and mic levels. I use all three of my mics during my song to make sure the levels are correct, which is something my singer can't do. I usually don't have a full boat of singers to start off anyway.

I don't start the rotation until I have four singers plus me (I play regular music until then... usually takes about 15 to 20 min). By the time it gets to the fourth singer it usually gets to eight, and by the second rotation I up to 14 or 15. It can go up or down from there.

[Lonman]

I will sing first just because people don't like to be the first. Sound check is my excuse. Then will only sing if needed throughout the night. If it's busy, I will not sing, as a host I feel I am taking away a spot of a paying singer that may not get up now because I took an extra spot. If I want to sing I will come in on an off night or go somewhere else.

[bryant]

Originally Posted by karaoke koyote

I don't start the rotation until I have four singers plus me (I play regular music until then... usually takes about 15 to 20 min). By the time it gets to the fourth singer it usually gets to eight, and by the second rotation I up to 14 or 15. It can go up or down from there.

Same here, sometimes start with three (w/o me).

Then again, once in a while I'll get one or two ppl that want to sing over and over till the crowd comes in.

[Lonman]

Originally Posted by karaoke koyote

I don't start the rotation until I have four singers plus me (I play regular music until then... usually takes about 15 to 20 min). By the time it gets to the fourth singer it usually gets to eight, and by the second rotation I up to 14 or 15. It can go up or down from there.

I like to start up if I have one singer that wants to sing, more singing time for them which they like. Usually by their 2nd or third song I have a few singers up.

[bryant]

Originally Posted by gd123

With my 30 to 90 minutes FREE OT, I dare any Venue or Singer or KJ to tell me that I'm hogging the show.

12 minutes of 240 minutes...I'm still ROTFLMAO.

Then again, you are hogging there time if they are not present "after show hours" although you are.

[mindonstrike]

double post

[mindonstrike]

Originally Posted by gd123

Well, since it's all about the "Singers," I don't mind giving a little "Free" overtime...many times...about 90 minutes without pay.

Let's see...a 4 hour show with 30 singers and 3 songs per singer is 90 Songs. The KJ will, most likely, get 3 songs, too. At 4 minutes per song, the KJ will have taken up 12 minutes in 4 hours...LOL.

The problem here is you are expecting your singers to overlook the appearence of the KJ singing every round even when it's busy, but noticeing the substance of the fact you are going overtime, working for free, and it's a net gain for them.
It's been my experience that people who are drinking, people who go to bars and people in general are more likely to notice "appearence" over "substance". You've also got a lot of folks who won't stay to take advantage of that extra time, they've got babysitter issues or they work in the morning or whatever so they need to leave by some certain time.

With my 30 to 90 minutes FREE OT, I dare any Venue or Singer or KJ to tell me that I'm hogging the show.

For every guy who argues with your policies there will be a number of people who won't say anything and you won't get the opportunity to explain the logic behind them. I rarely get appreciation for running overtime (most don't know or care) but I have gotten a number of comments over the years from people who appreciate that I don't sing when it's busy.

Whatever works for you and your crowds.
This has worked well for me and mine.

Sam

[karaoke koyote]

Originally Posted by mindonstrike

The problem here is you are expecting your singers to overlook the appearence of the KJ singing every round even when it's busy, but noticeing the substance of the fact you are going overtime, working for free, and it's a net gain for them.
It's been my experience that people who are drinking, people who go to bars and people in general are more likely to notice "appearence" over "substance". You've also got a lot of folks who won't stay to take advantage of that extra time, they've got babysitter issues or they work in the morning or whatever so they need to leave by some certain time.

For every guy who argues with your policies there will be a number of people who won't say anything and you won't get the opportunity to explain the logic behind them. I rarely get appreciation for running overtime (most don't know or care) but I have gotten a number of comments over the years from people who appreciate that I don't sing when it's busy.

Whatever works for you and your crowds.
This has worked well for me and mine.

Sam

I think what it comes down to is: am I entertaining, or do I think I'm being entertaining?

The only way to verfiy that is whether or not your singers come back every week, and do they bring friends? If the answer is yes, keep doing it. If the answer is no... stop.

There's no argurment... some hosts can do this well, others can't. Period the end.

So far, my singers come back, and they bring friends. I make it a point to get people involved, and have fun, and don't take myself too seriously. You want to stand behind the table all night and collect slips, more power to ya, if that's working. Personally, I enjoy getting out on the floor and talking to people... I couldn't do it any other way. There's nothing more rewarding than getting that "shy" person to pop their Karaoke cherry and become a regular singer. If I've got to sing with them and hold their hand the first time, then that's what I do. The karaoke community loves to find newbies and bring them "into the fold". That's how your business grows... that's how you get the private gigs... because people see you're personable, and easy to approach.

That's the difference between a "host" and a "KJ". Any monkey can change disks/ work a computer, and introduce the next singer. A host remembers that besides the singers, there are others that come for the entertainment, and if thay doesn't happen they won't be back. You can't keep a gig on going if the bar isn't making money. That means non-singers need to be there as well. I choose my song not based on what I want to sing per say, but what is happening in the bar... sometimes the crowd needs to to get perked up. Singing or doing something silly can get a good laugh and "break it up" a bit.

There may be someone wanting to sing, but with someone else, and the don't have a willing partner. How will they know your willing if you don't sing? How can you expand what you sing, if you don't sing?

Are people laughing/ hugging you shaking your hand at the end of the night? Are they saying they can't wait to come back next week???

Sell drinks, entertain, and keep your singers happy and coming back. I don't think that's going to happen if all you're doing is changing songs and introducing the next singer all night. Boooorrring!