With that being said, my husband and I do not expect ANY special treatment. All we ask is for FAIRNESS. It seems like it should be rather simple. We have been to several places in more than one state, and have experienced both good and bad about shows. The best shows are the ones where the KJ has good quality equipment, keeps an orderly list of singers, keeps you informed about how long it may take to get a turn, doesn't play favorites, etc. Also, the good shows are when the KJ's and bar staff don't sing more than the customers, esp. when it is a very crowded show with 20 or more singers. Also, if there is a large number of singers, the KJ doesn't feel the need to put on a comedy act where you wait 15 minutes or more between singers while he tells every joke known to man
There is one place in particular where I found that I needed to speak personally with the KJ regarding a culmination of incidents. This KJ:
1. NEVER has an order of singers. He takes slips, but it doesn't matter what time you get there and put your song in. Even if you give him the first slip, you may have to wait for 15 singers ahead of you.
2. Everyone does two songs for their turn. This does take up alot more time, and works ok if it's not a busy night.
3. The KJ leaves his post for EVERY singer, as he has preprogrammed all the songs in his computer. He goes outside to smoke and sometimes doesn't come back until two or three singers are finished. We have to go up and check the computer list to see who's next and announce the next person many times.
4. The KJ sometimes will tell you that you are next in line, then proceed to put another person in right in front of you if they happen to walk in the door at that moment.
5. There are several women and men (friends of his and the bar owners) who walk in late, walk in front of singers during their performances, put a song in, and their turn is next. This has happened several times to us where we had our songs in for over an hour or more and got there very early. Several women blatantly flirt with the KJ, and magically, they sing 3 songs on their turn (which again, is before many of the singers who have been patiently waiting).
6. The KJ does many duets with the above mentioned women in addition to them taking their 3 song turns.
7. The owner has been approached about this by several customers (I had not said anything yet), and the answer they get is "If you don't like it, go somewhere else."
This is just a partial list about what happens at this place.
The last time we were there, I asked the KJ if there was going to be a last round (it was about 1 a.m., and sometimes they will play later, depending on the crowd). He informed that he wasn't putting in more singers, the owner wanted him to stop after the last singer in the computer was finished (which was about another 20 minutes). OK...that is ok by me.
All of a sudden, 5 more singers were added in, and several of them got another 2 rounds in and they played until 2 a.m.! When I noticed there was going to be another round, I asked if I could do one more song, and was told NO. After the show, I asked the KJ why he told me the show was over, then put in many other singers who had been up there no less than 5 times in just an hour or so? He told me he understood why I would be mad, and that the OWNER told him he MUST put these people in first because they are like his "family." He said they get special treatment every time.
I didn't cuss, yell or scream (like I've seen some people do), but told him in a blunt, yet calm voice that because of that, we were going to go elsewhere and that it's NOT acceptable.
Just recently, we paid a fee to attend a New Year's Eve party there. When we arrived, we found out the KJ and the owner allowed a friend of the KJ's to have her wedding reception there that night! There were kids running around (this is a BAR), and they did all the things you would do at a reception. We got our money refunded, but we would not have gone there if we had known. Our entire group felt as if we were uninvited guests at someone else's party. And, this was an advertised function where this man collected money to participate.
Again, I totally agree with karaoke etiquette for singers! But, I do feel this KJ broke all rules of etiquette he should follow. My husband and I always buy food, drinks or a combination thereof, we don't just order water all night long. We try our best to be considerate of other singers, we know how hard it is to get up and sing....we've been there as first time singers! But, when a KJ does these things, he invites problems between singers because people get upset at other singers when they are monopolizing the evening. I totally understand there are times when it's not going to be perfect, but this place is beyond that.
Again, thank you for your time in reading this. I appreciate the good KJ's who are considerate and want to run a good show so everyone has fun!
