Disabled karaoke singers told 'no more'

[Javlingames]

I just read this in a northampton paper

http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/local/families_upset_by_karaoke_row_as_pub_owner_postpon es_friday_sessions_1_3269057

[hammy]

I read this yesterday, and as a karaoke jock as well I find it disgusting, So what if they cant sing, Have you seen the delight on their face when doing karaoke its priceless.

[CRAZY K]

I read this yesterday, and as a karaoke jock as well I find it disgusting, So what if they cant sing, Have you seen the delight on their face when doing karaoke its priceless.

Very unfortunate for these people--probably their highlight of the week---

All of which is why I never listen to ANY ONE singing karaoke myself---

This quote from the Newspaper sums it up--

“It is most definitely not about singing ability because karaoke is not about singing ability.”

So all a bit baffling to me---

Dare I suggest the filthy commodity MONEY has something to do with this---it usually does:daft: :daft: :daft:

[DiscoMagic]

Does this now mean I can't sing tomorrow then Hammy??!! :lol:

In also seriousness folks - this is an absolute :Censored: :Censored:

outrage :mad: :mad:

[katman]

There was a whole feature on this on Jeremy Vine's show yesterday.

[hammy]

Does this now mean I can't sing tomorrow then Hammy??!! :lol:

In also seriousness folks - this is an absolute :Censored: :Censored:

outrage :mad: :mad:

Course ya can buddy as stated “It is most definitely not about singing ability because karaoke is not about singing ability.” :D :D :D :D

[BeerFunk]

Having not heard them sing, and not knowing the full circumstances, it's difficult to form an opinion, but I actually suspect the landlord may be quite right.

Again, I don't know this, but I suspect that some of these disabled singers might have some form of Autism, such as Aspergers Syndrome. If that is the case, then they will struggle to interact on a social level, and are quite unaware of how they appear to others. Another aspect is an irrational and intense interest in certain subjects or activities, again unaware that others aren't as interested in that subject as they are.

So, a possible scenario is that they love to get up on the karaoke, have no idea how bad they sound, and will relentlessly put in requests to sing all night - including earlier on when it's quiet.

You might say, well what's wrong with that? Well I suppose it's an issue for the rest of the people in the pub, they won't want to listen to it. They are, after all, bringing the money into the pub, so surely the landlord has to keep them happy?

You might also say, well a drunk might get up and sound just as awful, but then the key difference is that it's OK to laugh at a drunk, whereas it's not OK to laugh at someone who is disabled, and quite possibly think that they actually sound really good.

So my point is that you can't just jump straight on to the discrimination bandwagon without looking at both sides of the argument.

[Corabar Entertainment]

I agree, Callum. People jump on the 'discrimination' bandwagon, and others are scared to say anything against that, but there are two sides to every story.

Just like children, many adults with learning disabilities do not know when to say enough is enough. God, I know that if my own niece went in to a pub that had karaoke on, you'd have to prise the microphone out of her hand, and that would be no mean feat seeing as she's got cerebral palsy, but I can also guarantee that there would be no-one else in the street - let alone the pub! However, the only profit from her to the pub would be that on a half a pint of Guinness.

I have seen it first hand at a karaoke where there were both children and people with downs syndrome present. During the early part of the evening, they completely monopolised the karaoke, and most other people left as a result. When they left at around 9pm (pub has a strict 'no kids after 9pm' policy), the pub was left almost empty. Fortunately, another couple of groups came in later to boost numbers a bit, but being a small pub in a residential area, there is no way that they could afford for this situation to come about week after week: they would make more money by cancelling the karaoke altogether.

[Corabar Steve]

Just like children, many adults with learning disabilities do not know when to say enough is enough. God, I know that if my own niece went in to a pub that had karaoke on, you'd have to prise the microphone out of her hand, and that would be no mean feat seeing as she's got cerebral palsy, but I can also guarantee that there would be no-one else in the street - let alone the pub! However, the only profit from her to the pub would be that on a half a pint of Guinness.
Fair point. On thing folks seem to forget is that pubs are run as businesses & as such put on entertainment as a means of getting people in & drinking, not as some sort of community service. They make their money from people buying drinks not enjoying themselves.


While I would be annoyed if Kerry was refused a go, I could understand why.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

So my point is that you can't just jump straight on to the discrimination bandwagon without looking at both sides of the argument.

I totally agree. I saw this about a week ago on Facebook and everyone was saying how disgusting it was because it was a disabled (or what ever the correct term is) person and they were enjoying themselves.

The fact is, others should be able to enjoy themselves too and if this was spoiling it for the majority, then whether they were disabled or not, they would have to go.

[WWDJ]

I agree with posts 7 - 10 and it was my thought when I read the article, and you guys have articulated it very well.

It sounds like the karaoke situation got out of hand and sounds like there could have been a situation where the disabled lads were dominating proceedings, albeit because they enjoyed it.

Shame, but I can see both sides.

[Dynamic Entertainment]

I originally posted this in the supporters section...it was before the last few posts...and daz has swayed me to post it there



Posted in here for a very good reason....

Now, I agree with the comments in the main thread...but one of our local pubs used to have a exceptionally good trade on a Thursday night for karaoke....and I mean absolutly packed to the rafters...that was until a group of customers with learning difficulties started attending every week...within 2 weeks the numbers had started to drop, and within less than 2 months, the only people left are the group mentioned, and a couple of die hard drinkers...

So, in this instance, could anyone blame this venues owner if he decided to stop them singing?...theyve single handedly destroyed his thursday night trade....and before anyone says about being unsure if its because of the group, he asked around...and that was the answer he recieved....

I dont agree with the main article...but i can see the pubs viewponit from what its done to a venue local to me...


Can a mod/admin please delete the supporters section thread, as its now just wasting space (sorry to be a pain) :beer1:

[Javlingames]

I think it would have been possible for the karaoke host to manage it a bit better, just like the karaokes I've done in the past, regardless of who put slips in I would make sure that nobody sings too many times and keep it varied.

[Corabar Steve]

I think it would have been possible for the karaoke host to manage it a bit better, just like the karaokes I've done in the past, regardless of who put slips in I would make sure that nobody sings too many times and keep it varied.
& if they're the only ones puttng slips in?

[Javlingames]

It is still manageable IMO. For instance you could say only 1 song per person every half hour.

[Dynamic Entertainment]

It is still manageable IMO. For instance you could say only 1 song per person every half hour.

I take it youve never worked with people with learning difficulties....i do the cumbria branch of People First's AGM...that doesnt work :)

[Javlingames]

I've done discos for many of them but I'm always in control of what happens. Karaoke should be no different. People sing when YOU decide.

[Dynamic Entertainment]

I've done discos for many of them but I'm always in control of what happens. Karaoke should be no different. People sing when YOU decide.

I agree...as long as you dont mind getting pestered (for lack of a better word) every two minutes ;)

[DazzyD]

What a saddening story that highlights just how intolerant we are as a society.


...

You might also say, well a drunk might get up and sound just as awful, but then the key difference is that it's OK to laugh at a drunk, whereas it's not OK to laugh at someone who is disabled, and quite possibly think that they actually sound really good.

So my point is that you can't just jump straight on to the discrimination bandwagon without looking at both sides of the argument.

To be fair, Callum, what you have posted there is disability discrimination (albeit unintentional). When you treat someone disabled (in this case the person with learning difficulties) differently from an abled-bodied person (in this case the drunk) then you are treating them differently on grounds of disability thus making it disability discrimination. However, out of the 3 main types of discrimination defined in law, disability discrimination is the least acted upon. And, until society changes its attitudes as a whole then I can't see this situation changing anytime soon. I spent 7 years as a Divisional Equality (Equal Opportunities) Officer for a major trade union during which time I saw situations which shouldn't happen but that doesn't stop it. And, as a businessman today, I can see both sides of the equation but I still wouldn't have acted in the way this publican did. With any conflict there's always room for compromise but I don't think that's been considered in this case.


I think it would have been possible for the karaoke host to manage it a bit better, just like the karaokes I've done in the past, regardless of who put slips in I would make sure that nobody sings too many times and keep it varied.

I agree totally with these comments. The KJ should be in control of the whole event and should be able to stagger singer requests. If no-one else is singing then why couldn't he have sung a few tracks? Or played a bit disco inbetween. That's what I would have done, anyway.


I take it youve never worked with people with learning difficulties....i do the cumbria branch of People First's AGM...that doesnt work :)

I work with a local special school for children with learning difficulties doing several shows a year and I love it. Getting the kids involved and seeing them enjoying themselves is a thoroughly rewarding experience. I certainly don't see it as a chore.


I agree...as long as you dont mind getting pestered (for lack of a better word) every two minutes ;)

This happens at weddings and local friday night pub gigs so a karaoke with disabled people in attendance is no different to me.

[James]

You can't discriminate just because they're terrible singers

I'd rather listen to the special needs i reckon

12 million people watch the x factor, what's the difference?

[abbotsmike]

You can't discriminate just because they're terrible singers

I'd rather listen to the special needs i reckon

12 million people watch the x factor, what's the difference?

/entirely off-topic and humorous post

The mute button!!

/end

[Javlingames]

An update on this story.

http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/local/karaoke_company_s_offer_to_trio_in_pub_singing_row _1_3284677