Originally posted by John DiLeo:
A few weeks ago we went to dinner at a local sports bar & steak house....unknown to us about a 1/2 hour into our dinner a young guy came in & started to set up his gear only 2 tables away from us on stage because it was Wednesday "KARAOKE NIGHT"....as we had just started our dinner we had to endure the festivities. Singer after singer came up from the bar/dining area and did their thing & I'll tell you the audience was thoroughly entertained as were we also, they applauded wildly and really had a fun time. We acually stayed a while longer after dinner as we were enjoying the show. I dropped a $10.00 bill in the tip jar! I can see why this is getting very popular it involves everyone & it's fun too.Its a great alternative to LOUD annoying live music in these places.
[This message has been edited by John DiLeo (edited 12-21-2008).]
You nailed it.
Karaoke is huge here as well. People who otherwise would never have a chance to "perform" publicly get the opportunity to do so. The audiences PARTICIPATE rather then become passive consumers of the same voice for 4 hours. They get a little of everything. Variety in talent,gender,music and a good KJ will know when to put the dance music on and what to play.
Its not cheaper then a OMB either in the better places. KJs make $45 an hour around here and show up with a notebook computer an external hard drive with BeatBox and Virtual DJ. For that they take home over $200 in salary and nearly as much in tips. Karaoke People tip better and will tip heavily to get someone else to sing a requested song. All the while the KJ has to only conduct the party. How do I know this?
I was part of the beginnings of Karaoke in the US in San Diego in the early 80's
The "show" was featured in Time Magazine. We used 8 track tapes and a notebook with lyrics. It was an instant hit. We were paid a percentage of the bar at that time. $1000 a night was not uncommon. It was at those shows I realized I could do a pretty good rendition of Neil Diamond and made a career of it for 12 years seeing the world and retiring at a relatively young age in MB.
I owe Karaoke my ability to leave my corporate job at 35. My wife being a performing keyboard/guitar player hates it. I understand her opinion totally. But she is good and gets plenty of quality gigs.
I will still substitute today for local Karaoke/Dance KJs for $30 an hour. Its a hoot and anytime you can get an audience involved in the entertainment thats a good thing for those who sell "liquid courage." Karaoke singers will pay more in tips to sing then people simply making a request to a performer like my wife because KJs have the "suck button" and can make marginal singers better using dynamic volume changes and efx.
You would be surprised at how many people love to perform. Some of them are very very good. Others are terrible singers but don;t take themselves seriously and are still entertaining. the worse room killers are those who are not very good and take themselves too seriously. but they are the exception,
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