General Music Chat

Im in Warsaw Poland tonight and went looking for live music. Couldn't find it anywhere, but then heard something coming out of a basement bar.


It was karaoke...but with a twist. A guitarist was running everything. He had a computer set up and sang backgrounds, played solos, and ran the system. If someone didn't get up to sing within a few minutes of the last person, he would perform a song by himself.

This is brilliant! The guy was making a good living because so many people want to kareoke these days that he has gigs every night of the week and is in huge demand here.

So, I hate kareoke for destroying the livelihood of musicians...but if you can't beat them...join them!

Just an idea that someone here will be able to use.


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One of the guys who used to hang out here does karaoke. It's okay sometimes, but gaw, you have to sit through these people who can't sing and it's horrible.

Chaeya

Im in Warsaw Poland tonight and went looking for live music. Couldn't find it anywhere, but then heard something coming out of a basement bar.


It was karaoke...but with a twist. A guitarist was running everything. He had a computer set up and sang backgrounds, played solos, and ran the system. If someone didn't get up to sing within a few minutes of the last person, he would perform a song by himself.

This is brilliant! The guy was making a good living because so many people want to kareoke these days that he has gigs every night of the week and is in huge demand here.

So, I hate kareoke for destroying the livelihood of musicians...but if you can't beat them...join them!

Just an idea that someone here will be able to use.


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not long ago someone approached me about forming a band for that purpose. after clearing my throat (where i had thrown up a little) i politely declined.

i can't think of anything worse than having to provide backup tracks while some drunk warbled out of tune (and likely out of time) some of the latest Nascar Pop tunes or some Journey, or some Christine Aguilera , or.....

i don't care how well it paid, that WOULD be one daaaaaaaaaaamn long gig!

Yea, it's not for everyone...but this guy is doing well and get's to be a musician for a living.

He performed about 3 or 4 songs per set all by himself and even did a couple of original tunes.

Seems like someone here (who likes doing cover tunes) might want to think about a PAYING gig since kareoke is so popular these days and putting musicians out of work.

Yea, it's not for everyone...but this guy is doing well and get's to be a musician for a living.

He performed about 3 or 4 songs per set all by himself and even did a couple of original tunes.

Seems like someone here (who likes doing cover tunes) might want to think about it.

oh, i'm not putting him down. good for him if he's happy doing it and turning a buck.

like everyone on here i've played some real shitty gigs over the yrs....but wow, for me.....that might just rival any of 'em.

Yea, it's not for everyone...but this guy is doing well and get's to be a musician for a living.

He performed about 3 or 4 songs per set all by himself and even did a couple of original tunes.

Seems like someone here (who likes doing cover tunes) might want to think about it.

oh, i'm not putting him down. good for him if he's happy doing it and turning a buck.

like everyone on here i've played some real shitty gigs over the yrs....but wow, for me.....that might just rival any of 'em.

When I get too old to tour, I might think about it.

If you saw all the hot/drunk girls there tonight, you might change your mind.

I even got up to sing and had a few beers with these people who couldn't speak english, but can sing it. Music is an international language.

Im in Warsaw Poland tonight and went looking for live music. Couldn't find it anywhere, but then heard something coming out of a basement bar.


It was karaoke...but with a twist. A guitarist was running everything. He had a computer set up and sang backgrounds, played solos, and ran the system. If someone didn't get up to sing within a few minutes of the last person, he would perform a song by himself.

This is brilliant! The guy was making a good living because so many people want to kareoke these days that he has gigs every night of the week and is in huge demand here.

One of my friends does this. Live kareoke band Tues/Wed, Country Western headliner Fri/Sat, Worship band Sunday, Blues jam Sunday night. He does very well.

Actually open mic is a variation on this. I hosted an open mic for more than 6 years; I would play a few tunes, then bring people up and put strays together. Some of it was quite good, other times it sucked but it was always interesting. I also put two bands together doing it. I would advise anyone here to check into it; bar owners love it because it brings in bodies and costs very little.

I know a keyboard player here who does the same thing. Exactly as you described. He asked me to sit in one night, paid, and I made pretty good money but I couldn't stand it and told him no thanks on future gigs. He wanted me to join him as a regular. It just sucks too much to see all the people get up there who should never be allowed within 30 feet of a mic...and actually think they can sing...

I did not enjoy it, I don't have perfect pitch but I do have very good relative pitch, excellent pitch control when I sing, and a very good ear, and people singing out of key just really irritate me. I could not do this as a regular gig. I don't go to karaoke at all even though I might enjoy singing one now and then. I'd usually be the only person there who actually can sing...I've only been present at karaoke gigs a few times, but have never seen anyone who could sing, except the keyboard player who hired me to help him out. He was literally the only person I've ever seen at karaoke who could carry a tune...

No thanks, that's not a gig for me. If you can stand listening to it, fine, have fun. I'll pass.

There's a local restaurant/bar here that has a live band for karaoke called 'Liquid Courage'. For the same reasons stated above, I have not gone to witness the carnage.

Although playing/singing along with backing tracks is one way of doing solo/duo shows, it's not for me.

I'll pass . . .

I'm not sure how someone can make a living doing that.. Even at a couple hundred a night, he can't expect to be booked 3-4+ nights a week every week, and I doubt he could average that amount (using US dollars as measurment, but whatever the equal amount in euros or polish kielbasa).

But even if he was booked say 3 nights a week on average, that's scratching out a pretty meager living with no permanent-work benefits or safety net.

Just sayin.. Plenty of musicians do similar amount of gigs here and believe me, those who are "making a living" are more or less scratching by with no long term outlook.

I could see that model as a short-term stepping stone for a career musician, but not a destination.

I didn't know Grant Daniels was in Poland.. lol

If being a musician is only about your personal satisfaction, then yea, please don't attempt this. If you have problems being a servant, this would really aggrevate you.

As a former rock bar singer, helping people forget their problems for a few hours was my job. My ego doesn't suffer because someone else might be having fun embarressing themselves, and bad singing (or bad music) isn't restricted to amateurs.

There are kareoke bars in every city on every night. There are certainly places for a creative musician to begin holding a kareoke night. Like Jimmy said, it's not much different than an open mic, or a blues jam, except you could make a LOT more money doing this solo than struggling to keep a band together more than 5 months at a time.

But I'm not trying to talk anyone into it. Being a full-time musician isn't for everyone or everyone would be doing it.



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If being a musician is only about your personal satisfaction, then yea, please don't attempt this. If you have problems being a servant, this would really aggrevate you.

As a former rock bar singer, helping people forget their problems for a few hours was my job. My ego doesn't suffer because someone else might be having fun embarressing themselves, and bad singing (or bad music) isn't restricted to amateurs.

There are kareoke bars in every city on every night. There are certainly places for a creative musician to begin holding a kareoke night. Like Jimmy said, it's not much different than an open mic, or a blues jam, except you could make a LOT more money doing this solo than struggling to keep a band together more than 5 months at a time.

But I'm not trying to talk anyone into it. Being a full-time musician isn't for everyone or everyone would be doing it.



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I don't equate playing Karjokie with musicianship. Even part time.
Kareoke ( and other lame assed pursuits ) is a big reason real musicians can't make a living doing music IMO
I mean sure, dude has a right to do what he feels he needs.
But he's cutting his own throat ( and his fellow musicians as well ) in the process.
I rank this right up there with pay to play scams.