General Music Chat

How would bands acknowledge the kareoke craze? Will they start bringing up people from the audience to sing?

Bin there done that ... for a year .. a band I played in did just that. We'd pick 3 of the best kareoke singers each month and learn 6 songs for each singer. Have a rehearsal each week to prepare them for the stage and to sing with a band.

There is a huge difference between singing with a band and singing with a bouncing ball on a moniter. Out of the 36 singers there were maybe only 6 that really could pull it off ... there were alot of train wreaks from the singers ... that the band had to plow through.

We have never done it again

I'm wondering if your participants shared similar venues. Or did you find yourself covering a broad variety, in order to support them? (i.e. soft to hard metal, etc)

Yes there were a few that went to the same venues.

We started out doing this at one venue but it was so popular that 3 other venues wanted to participant (the first venue was sold out with family and friends of the singers) ... so we suggested, to all the venues, that they hold a contest "sing with a live band" for the karaoke singers and the audience would be the judges.

This brought a lot of people (singers) out of the wood work and there were some suprisingly good singers but they were very nervous gettting up infront of a full house. The venues love it they were packed full for all the preformances ... and we (the band) were well paid. We played at a different venue each month.

We cover everything .. from country, country rock, country swing, jazz standards, big band swing, hard rock, soft rock, ballads, pop ... etc.

All the players were pro and we had no problem getting the 18 songs down .... but gettting the singers to come in on the que's ... singing the song with the right structure V/C V/C C / Bridge ... or even coming in at the right time ... well that's where the challenge was ... the band had to be ready to make an instant shift to where the singer was and try to make it sound as flawless as possible

I think we live in an attention-starved era where people will do anything to feel more special than the next guy. Look at the Narcbook sensation where people think we actually care what they do and think throughout the day, which 90% boils down to absolutely nothing much. They go to a Karaoke bar bring their friends, get up and sing with an average (most of the time less than average) singing voice where if they go enough they can become a minor celebrity in their small town.

The same is with writing. With all the easy self-publishing routes like Amazon Kindle, Lulu and Creatspace, any bozo can write a book with a less-than-average knowledge of grammar and they clog up Crapazon with their poorly self-published books. So now authors are posting their work up for 99 cents or free to "win fans" in hopes that they'll become a famous writer. The publishing industry has taken a hard hit because of the drop in print book sales, so that it's been difficult for people who have made a living as published authors. Then it becomes difficult for someone like me who wanted to get published, so for the time being I'm holding on to my work. If you want to talk about bad music, I know some writers that really have no business writing, but they'll tell you their fans love them, and the reason they hang in there is because they throw out a new book every 3-4 months which is how they make their living. People obviously don't care whether the writing is poor or not because they don't know any different.

My general consensus is we're living in the instant gratification me generation. It's me me me, all about what I want, oh but I don't have to really learn the craft because all my friends says it's cool and you're just hatin'.

I came from a time when you worked your ass off for your art. You practiced for hours on end to get good and play your butt off. True, not everyone is going to like you, but they'll know you're good at what you're doing.

So I agree with Paper, that the Internet and these iPhones have made it very easy for folks to do things that back a long time ago took a lot of money and commitment to do.

It's going to be very interesting to see what happens in the next 10 years. True artists are going to have to be very smart about what they do and how they execute their moves. I wish I had more answers, but I'm blindly feeling my way in the dark just like everyone else.

And I'm sorry to sound so harsh, but it's outrageous to me what people will do and put up with all for the sake of getting some attention.

Chaeya

I think we live in an attention-starved era where people will do anything to feel more special than the next guy. Look at the Narcbook sensation where people think we actually care what they do and think throughout the day, which 90% boils down to absolutely nothing much. They go to a Karaoke bar bring their friends, get up and sing with an average (most of the time less than average) singing voice where if they go enough they can become a minor celebrity in their small town.

The same is with writing. With all the easy self-publishing routes like Amazon Kindle, Lulu and Creatspace, any bozo can write a book with a less-than-average knowledge of grammar and they clog up Crapazon with their poorly self-published books. So now authors are posting their work up for 99 cents or free to "win fans" in hopes that they'll become a famous writer. The publishing industry has taken a hard hit because of the drop in print book sales, so that it's been difficult for people who have made a living as published authors. Then it becomes difficult for someone like me who wanted to get published, so for the time being I'm holding on to my work. If you want to talk about bad music, I know some writers that really have no business writing, but they'll tell you their fans love them, and the reason they hang in there is because they throw out a new book every 3-4 months which is how they make their living. People obviously don't care whether the writing is poor or not because they don't know any different.

My general consensus is we're living in the instant gratification me generation. It's me me me, all about what I want, oh but I don't have to really learn the craft because all my friends says it's cool and you're just hatin'.

I came from a time when you worked your ass off for your art. You practiced for hours on end to get good and play your butt off. True, not everyone is going to like you, but they'll know you're good at what you're doing.

So I agree with Paper, that the Internet and these iPhones have made it very easy for folks to do things that back a long time ago took a lot of money and commitment to do.

True artists are going to have to be very smart about what they do and how they execute their moves. I wish I had more answers, but I'm blindly feeling my way in the dark just like everyone else.

And I'm sorry to sound so harsh, but it's outrageous to me what people will do and put up with all for the sake of getting some attention.

Chaeya

The attention that many seek is "worship and adoration". In America, we have been inundated with a message of reprimand, and we are touted as failures if we don't make people laugh or cause an emotional revolution by our works. Its bad enough that we have a clingy, needy public, who insists that it's the artists' responsibility to change or define the times...However, the most tragic reality of present day art/music/Lit...is that Inspiration has been narrowed down to those things which flash, are shiny, and above all ...can distract us from whats real.. Whole bodies of contemporary music, contain strict, technical effect and 'experimental sound' are being passed off as existentially-brilliant and meaningful expression... (It's the equivalent of telling ourselves that a painter's palette "is" the real art.) Intellectual, ethical, moral elements of artistic expression get skeet-shot down like a clay pigeon being waved on a brass pole. American taste seems to exclude and dismiss the opportunity to become edified by the art it consumes... And so...

It's going to be very interesting to see what happens in the next 10 years.

You will see less paper-bound books, more music EPs, the demise of LPs... Contracts geared toward internet models. Songs will be rated more by how good the web-page looks (that hosts your music). The craft and guild of writing songs has already begun its true decline (at the advent and proliferation of digital/software tools.) In ten years, you will see a proliferation of digitized movies (compliments of Dream Works...) Given the nature of object Methods and O.O. programming principles, whole symphonic pieces can be created on the fly, made to order...with nary a need for a real conductor... (Maybe they'll keep one for consulting) Lately we've been noticing Mash-ups... a new DJ technique , rapidly dominating the market in lieu of new material. Everything under the sun, has already been done...and the world of Song -writing is played out. ...

Hey CHaeya...all this that I just wrote... Its just fiction... Think I should try and sell it to a publisher ?

My 2 cents...

- Karaoke is pretty inexpensive compared to having a live band on a regular basis. Many bars here in PHX do both. Bringing in a KJ can be in the $150-$200 range.

- Space is also a consideration. Many places want "entertainment" but don't have the space/facilities to host bands on a regular basis.

- To me it seems like the main thing with Karaoke is for the social aspect of singing (whether your're serious about it--e.g. decent singer -- or goofing a rendition of "I like big butts"). While live bands have that too, it is a bit different b/c the focus is on the band even tho many will get up and dance.

- If you want to sing, it is WAY easier to go someplace and do a few songs with friends than getting the right mix of people together form a band.

- There are several places that do live band Karaoke as well. The one place I did it in worked out fairly well -- But the song list is limited and all you get for "help" is lyrics. The band will help you if necessary as well.

There's room for both but they are different in many ways.

Kareoke is also a mixture of music and comedy.



I noticed that people have a lot more tolerance for a horrible singer when it's kareoke, too. I feel sorry for those who get up to sing a song but it's in too high of a key for them. Whereas, a band "could" change the key to fit the singer.


It seems that it's a better social environment to have a kareoke bar. People enjoy each other more when they get involved in the entertainment, as opposed to being spectators.

Kareoke is also a mixture of music and comedy.



I noticed that people have a lot more tolerance for a horrible singer when it's kareoke, too. I feel sorry for those who get up to sing a song but it's in too high of a key for them. Whereas, a band "could" change the key to fit the singer.


It seems that it's a better social environment to have a kareoke bar. People enjoy each other more when they get involved in the entertainment, as opposed to being spectators.

What's really weird is the magic Beer they Sell at Erin's... It really improves everyone's voices..and man do those chicks really look good as well...

Tragedy and comedy. Separated by a thin line. A lot of Karaoke singers prove how thin the line truly is, and are very entertaining for that reason alone. I think most people go to those events to see musically (frequency / timing) challenged folks just for the "train wreck" effect. And it's way funny when they take themselves seriously.

It's like watching that screwy TV show where people get sent flying through the air by giant Nerf bats and big rubber globes.

I saw a few people the other night that should have been ashamed of themselves, but instead, they walking around like they were something. I understand the need to feel significant, but I would have gone into hiding if that was the best I could do.

I have done kareoke twice. The first time was done out of revenge, the second time was with my oldest son at a comedy club in Times Square.

The revenge story:
My wife and her sister were having a meal at a local restaurant when the manager came over and starting hitting on my wife. Don't blame him...she's pretty hot. He started bragging about how great of a singer he is, so she asked where and he mentioned a local hotel bar.

When she got home and told me about it, I went over there and found out that he was the king of kareoke. I decided he needed to be taken down a notch....so I got up and sang "You Make Me Feel Brand New" by the Stylistics and half the room applauded and the other half was mad because they could tell I was professional. Evidently it's only supposed to be amateur hour.

If it weren't like that, kareoke bars might be a good place for singers to perform without having to worry about forming/paying a band.

Man, this thread is making me puke. This is BANDMIX and we're talking about the pros and cons of karaoke. THERE ARE NO PROS ABOUT KARAOKE. It's retarded B.S. Quote: ..."all we have to do is record our own work, then lip sync it at live shows." Imagine that, becoming YOUR OWN karaoke band. WHAT A CONCEPT! Better yet, why not change your band name to something similar, and then become YOUR OWN KARAOKE TRIBUTE BAND! The name of my blues band is fisherman bob & The Bluefin Tuna Band. I could rename it angler mike & The Blue Marlin Band. Then we could do our studio CD, bring it to a karaoke bar, then I could get up and sing karaoke to my very own tribute band. The venues would NEVER have to pay for a live band. Live original bands would be forever COMPLETELY ANONYMOUS. Hell we can hardly sell any CD's because nearly everybody downloads CD's for free. This is almost the way the music business has become. Karaoke everywhere, tribute bands everywhere. Why even bother trying to create anything original? What retarded B.S....

Man, this thread is making me puke. This is BANDMIX and we're talking about the pros and cons of karaoke. THERE ARE NO PROS ABOUT KARAOKE. It's retarded B.S. Quote: ..."all we have to do is record our own work, then lip sync it at live shows." Imagine that, becoming YOUR OWN karaoke band. WHAT A CONCEPT! Better yet, why not change your band name to something similar, and then become YOUR OWN KARAOKE TRIBUTE BAND! The name of my blues band is fisherman bob & The Bluefin Tuna Band. I could rename it angler mike & The Blue Marlin Band. Then we could do our studio CD, bring it to a karaoke bar, then I could get up and sing karaoke to my very own tribute band. The venues would NEVER have to pay for a live band. Live original bands would be forever COMPLETELY ANONYMOUS. Hell we can hardly sell any CD's because nearly everybody downloads CD's for free. This is almost the way the music business has become. Karaoke everywhere, tribute bands everywhere. Why even bother trying to create anything original? What retarded B.S....

AMEN ... here endith the lesson.

Then we could do our studio CD, bring it to a karaoke bar, then I could get up and sing karaoke to my very own tribute band.

Yes, but you'd be making a living as a singer if you did.

Isn't this basically what people are doing when they use tracks? That would make 99% of hip-hop singers "kareoke" and quite a lot in other genres as well.

If it keeps a musician working, then it's a good thing, imo.


I confess that I do a mixture of live with tracks that I've produced of original material. No one complains but the guitar players and drummers.

Who cares what they think if it pays the bills? If I could find a few great musicians that were dependable and worked cheap, I would never have tried it...but I'm very happy that I did now.


But the point of the thread was that kareoke bars are where the people are going these days like crazy... but not the live band venues. Just saying... and if we never face reality, it will leave us behind.

Be like Bruce Lee on WWE RAW ... LOL

[quote="PaperDog]Hey CHaeya...all this that I just wrote... Its just fiction... Think I should try and sell it to a publisher ?

[/quote]

Yeah, I think it would be called "Brave New World, Part Deux"

LOL!

Chaeya

Man, this thread is making me puke. This is BANDMIX and we're talking about the pros and cons of karaoke. THERE ARE NO PROS ABOUT KARAOKE. It's retarded B.S. Quote: ..."all we have to do is record our own work, then lip sync it at live shows." Imagine that, becoming YOUR OWN karaoke band. WHAT A CONCEPT! Better yet, why not change your band name to something similar, and then become YOUR OWN KARAOKE TRIBUTE BAND! The name of my blues band is fisherman bob & The Bluefin Tuna Band. I could rename it angler mike & The Blue Marlin Band. Then we could do our studio CD, bring it to a karaoke bar, then I could get up and sing karaoke to my very own tribute band. The venues would NEVER have to pay for a live band. Live original bands would be forever COMPLETELY ANONYMOUS. Hell we can hardly sell any CD's because nearly everybody downloads CD's for free. This is almost the way the music business has become. Karaoke everywhere, tribute bands everywhere. Why even bother trying to create anything original? What retarded B.S....

Its like I said before... "Inspiration has been narrowed down to those things which flash, are shiny, and above all ...can distract us from whats real..."



Now here's a thought, Bob.
In order for me to learn the lead for Voodoo Child, I have to do a couple of things:

LIVE PERFORMER PREPARES:
1) Gotta separate that guitar work in my mind, from all the rest of the parts chugging in there.
2) Need to play back that song a thousand times, whilst I play along with it ...until I get my part right.
3) Then I'm ready for the band (on that song).
4) I Perform My Part LIVE

KARAOKE PERFORMER PREPARES:
1) Gotta separate that Vocal from the rest of the parts chugging in there
2) Need to play back that song a thousand times, whilst I sing along with it, until I get my part right.
3) Then I'm ready for my recital (on that song)
4) I Sing the vocal Live.


SO ya see, , this discussion isn't completely out of whack. We are able to draw parallels. Now, here's the part that kills me... There are live performers, who can't karaoke, simply because they just can't sing...Period. So if karaoke is a barometer, they should pay attention to that.

I know of some yokers (for want of a better phrase , sorry...) .. who actually play guitar like a bat out of hell... AND can sing. ..Go figure.

So, the big question is: What's the benefit of yoking? To You and me, its nothing, To some others...its quite possibly the only form of validation they will ever taste in their otherwise banal lives... And you know what... who are we to take that away from them?

My 'Songwriter's' creed
Cultivate compassion for all life and its forms. Know the heart of thine audience


Perhaps, the public hasn't been getting a lot of that lately, Bob... and it could explain why CDs and Live performances are NOT at the top of John Q Public's Search-list for relief from an evil world.

OK ... I no longer do bars.
Thatbeing said I have not been exposed to much KARAOKE

What I have been exposed to sucked really bad.

People whom can't sing, should not.