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Shakermaker Promotions
22-05-2015, 10:05 AM
Hi all,

A few weeks ago I caved in and agreed with my local that I would do Karaoke once a month.
A bit of background first of all though - Karaoke is not something I enjoy doing for a number of reasons. I have a decent system and 20,000+ songs and I've kept it updated but I generally use it as an add on.
The last time I did Karaoke at my local was over 3 years ago under different management. I decided back then that it was too much hassle (lack of respect for equipment being the main one and people not listening to me when I told them no drinks on the stage / whilst singing etc). I ended up either refusing people or cutting them short when they started taking the mick and it wasn't that enjoyable to be honest.

Anyway, new management have been in place over the last 3 years. We get on very well and up until Christmas I had been doing 2 nights a month (mainly Friday's). The money is good for pub work and I get lots of referrals for private work and do lots of other stuff there too. It keeps / kept me ticking over. I was there every 2 weeks alternating between live music nights that were put on by local promoters.
After Christmas the owner of the pub told the management that he wanted to cut the entertainment by half so 1 night a month for me (DJing) and 1 night a month for live music. No more outside promoters and from now on all live music is put on by the management themselves.

There used to be a number of venues in town that used to put on Karaoke nights but as far as I know, now there is only one other and that's on a Sunday.
The management asked me a while back about it and I said I'd rather not but that was before when I was doing 2 x DJ nights. They've been asked lots of times by punters about Karaoke so asked me again a few weeks back. I said I'd give it a go if it meant I had 2 nights a month again and they said fine. I'd rather this happen instead of them getting someone else in.

So, tonight is the first one. I've set out some rules and the pub has laminated them and they'll be put up around the pub so that people can see them. I want it to be fun but have to let everyone know the score. Everyone that has commented on the group event has been cool about it and understands.

My purpose for posting this is because for the first time in ages I am actually NERVOUS....or maybe apprehensive. I want it to be good. I want them to enjoy themselves but I want it to be hassle free if possible.

Some of you may be thinking "Why do something you don't like doing?" - Well, it's my job isn't it. I am sure there are things many of us don't like doing but if it's a choice between sitting there and not earning or giving it a go and grinning and bearing it for 4 hours when it might actually be ok and getting paid for it....well, I'd rather do that.

It's a strange feeling being like this after many years. It doesn't start until 8.00pm tonight and I am going to set up shortly.:daft:

DJ Jules
22-05-2015, 11:05 AM
Good luck - hopefully the punters will behave.

If not, that's what door staff are for (you've got those, right?)

little al
22-05-2015, 11:10 AM
I recently started back doing karaoke at my local pub, every friday, the olnly good thing is that between singers you can play records that you don't normally play, and play stuff that you would want to play at a disco but are ubsure of to guage the reaction.

Good luck.

Excalibur
22-05-2015, 11:11 AM
Gary, I know exactly whereof you speak, and I agree 100%

Andy P
22-05-2015, 12:45 PM
I love a bit of karaoke but normally don't use my good stuff for it.

I've a set of radio mics and some older lead mics that I use, I have a pretty old monitor for it incase it gets knocked over and try to keep the booth and the singer apart so there is no chance of knocks, drinks or falls.

enjoy

Shakermaker Promotions
22-05-2015, 12:51 PM
With reference to doorstaff - No, there aren't any. It's always been a hassle free place and everything is generally sorted in house. I have been a regular at the pub for.....ahem...*cough....30 years. In that time I have probably seen trouble three times and that's the truth.

I also feel very loyal to the pub and its management as they've been good to me. I book 6 months in advance and they are flexible with me too because they know I do the job full time so understand if I need to move a date because of a wedding or something so I kind of felt that I should at least give it a chance if you know what I mean.

Plus, I have a new van to pay for and the 2 nights a months pays for that. I am sure it will be ok as they're good a bunch down there. It's only when 'outsiders' come in or people that are regulars at other Karaoke nights that think they can get away with what they do at those. I know for a fact that the other Karaoke night is hosted by the landlord and he actually said to me himself when I was at the venue a couple of years ago for darts that he gets most of his stuff from torrents and has close to a million tracks. I've walked past the venue before on my way home and seen people singing with pints in their hands...... That is NOT happening when I do it...simple as that.

Also, yes, I agree with the music in between singers. I've played the more obscure stuff or new releases in the past and that's what I will probably do again.

Shakermaker Promotions
23-05-2015, 01:56 PM
Well, what can I say?
It went far, far better than I or anyone else could have anticipated.
A total of 38 performances throughout the evening with everyone asking when we can do it all again.
I have to admit too that I thoroughly enjoyed the evening. It was mainly stress free with the only niggles being when someone came up really early with a stack of slips with just song titles on. I told him to write down the codes for them as that was the rules and also because the night was expected to be busy. Other than that, everyone abided by the rules and it created a really good night.

Phew!