Getting The Ball Rolling.....

OK, you've just started a new venue. Say that none of those who follow you have shown up yet. Or you're hosting a private event and no one is stepping up to the mic yet....

What do you do to get the ball rolling?

I have several techniques, and will post them later in the thread, but wish to hear from you first..


An added question: Just how interactive are you with your patrons/guests?

By this I mean more than mic work. I mean physical accessibility, and inter-audience movement.

For instance: I never work in a booth or behind the table/facade. I always work in front where people can get to me. I also go into the crowd and interact one on one ( Yes, Toq, I have the time to do that- even running disc based. :sqlaugh:) I find that this puts the crowd more at ease with me, which helps get the shyer ones up....

You gotta come visit here one of these days joe.

I never really have to get the crowd going. Today I showed up at 5-6ish hopin to get some work/tweaks done and there was some guy there named John. John sang about 30 songs all by himself for the next 4 hours.

This is typical. I'm really hate it when I get to work early intent on having some *lab* time and some douchebag wants to sing. I don't get paid for being there early, and I don't get paid to service them.

Not that John's a douche, he was pretty cool. Mamasan came in which meant no more free singing, he dropped a $10 on me, shook my hand and left.

My crowd interaction is weird...Typically it goes like this.

Hang outside the back door. Smoke with/out with the regulars. Keep my eye on the lower right corner of one of the karaoke monitors.

http://shup.com/Shup/15550/107112333921-7-Bamboo-Karaoke-Lounge-Karaoke-is-HARDCORE-Windows-Internet-Explorer.png

That's a remaining time timer. I wait for it to hit 30 seconds, then mid conversation i'll tell whoever i'm talking to outside "Oops, 30 seconds, gotta run." I cut a lot of conversations short that way.

My crowd interaction really depends on the crowd. Tonight, it was mostly my really good regulars. The two previous nights we had a bunch of punchy douchebags, and both nights someone wanted to fight me. Ya, it was pretty lame.

Those nights I tend to stay behind my booth. I have what one of my regulars calls my "Pretencious jerk rope." It's like one of those ropes that banks use in their lines... I close off my booth with it whenever we have a lot of jerks that night.

It depends. Right people, ya i'm out there with them. Wrong people, I hole myself up in my little fortress of a booth and try to keep myself and the equipment protected.

I play dance music. If people want to sing they will eventually turn in slips.

Every few songs I make a freindly reminder if people would like to sing that books are available and find their favortie song and to turn it in to me to get things started.

My karaoke is different that most others in the country. I could care less if people sing or not I'm happy DJing the whole night. It's happened a few times.. Then there are nights that I have 30 different singers you never know what is going to happen.

I thank you both for your replies, but the question wasn't really aimed at you two. Toq, you are working an ongoing place that is known as a karaoke bar. People come in ready to sing. Cam, if I recall correctly, you are primarily a DJ, and as you stated, you don't care if you have singers or not

I am looking for input from Karaoke Hosts who have worked in what is or was a non-karaoke venue, and had to motivate a new, non-singing crowd, in order to keep a new karaoke venue, or make a karaoke event successful.


Toq, you really use a velvet cattle rope? Geez, if I had known that you were that exclusive I woulda been nicer to you...:sqlaugh::sqcool:

It can be tough getting singers going - especially in a bar or at a party where people don't see karaoke every day/week.

I'll make sure the books are on tables and not just piled up next to me. I find that people don't want to come to me for a book - they start to look at them pretty much at their own pace (get a drink, set down the purse, get the coat off...).

I'll play "bumper music," kinda like Cam, if no one is singing. It keeps some kind of musical groove going & it's much better than dead air. I'll sometimes buy drink chips from the bar & do trivia - it keeps non-singers around longer & sometimes they turn into singers after enough "vocal lubrication." :D

I'll sing something about every 15-20 minutes or so as people trickle in to let newcomers know that it's karaoke. Sometimes I'll try to find a sing-along song (ala Sweet Caroline) or a dance song (slow or fast) to get the crowd going & try to encourage singers - yes, getting them to dance has worked for me some nights!

I'll make announcements about every 5 or so minutes until some singers get the rotation going.

I'll walk up to people looking through the books and let them know that request sheets & pens are in a pencil pouch in the front of the book (I always restock every book before every show). I also give them a little "tour" of the book (New Releases on blue paper in the front, songs by title in this section, songs by artist in this section). I let them know that their CDGs are welcome (if they have any) and that I'm always available if they have problems finding a song.

Some nights (even in a new place), singers are ready to go before I can even get my L1 base out of its sleeve and other times I get maybe 10 singers all night. I just try to mingle & encourage people to join in & have fun, whether or not they sing.

Joe : Having owned (then sold) one of the most successful (both in patronage and financial gain) karaoke businesses in our region, which had a non-stop ten year run, just as in all things DJ/KJ, the "show" is a reflection of the host and the desired outcome of patronage.

There were others already in karaoke at the time and observing them in action obviated (to me) some basic crucial errors.

Biggest mistake #1: Playing dance music and doing karaoke. It has to be one or the other or you set up a conflict between singers and dancers.

Biggest mistake #2: Equipment looked too portable. Using huge speakers (BOSE 802 & 302s), wireless mics, and larger screens, plus cabaret controllable lighting, made patrons feel a commitment to them, and to the good singers, a righteous stage on which to perform.

Biggest mistake #3: The KJs just didn't know how to communicate with an audience effectively. "Here's Jim to sing a little song by Johnny Cash." What?? Johnny Cash never sang a "little song"!! Everything needed to be focused on the singer and the "great" song they choose.

Biggest mistake #4: The KJ/host seemed to sing every fourth song. No sir. The KJ is the Host, not the star. It is not their springboard or showcase, it belongs to the folks buying the suds.

Biggest mistake #5: Not effectively arranging request slips in logically timed "rounds". Some folks sang three times while others who were there early didn't sing once. Not being totally absolutely fair, logical, and telling folks exactly how it is, will cause folks to bail.

Biggest mistake #6: Allowing the same patrons to sing the same songs week after week. By developing friendships with regulars, listening to what they sing and how, the Karaoke Master's Challenge became a huge hit (one round of songs where I picked what they'd sing and they could not refuse or lose their place in line).

Biggest mistake #7: Not controlling the boo'ers, hooters, and cat callers. Anyone who ever did or said anything to negatively disparage a singer was immediately, in your face, called upon to sing the same song they just poo-poo'ed someone doing. It was called Put Up or Shut Up. After two or three of these, no one would dare do anything but support the singers.

Biggest mistake #8: Allowing bartenders and waitresses to have any influence on the show. Yes, we all had to suffer on occasion, however they we always sternly reminded them who was responsible for the biggest portion their non-reportable tips...the drinkers.

Biggest mistake #9: Never made a big to-do about a first time karaoke singer. It was always treated as a huge life-time experience. We called them and announced them as Karaoke Virgins. Everyone in the club knew it was a first timer and showed enthusiastic support and acknowledgment. Their first performance was always taped for free and presented to them with style and gratitude (no matter how good or bad...always the same).

Biggest mistake #10: Never telling a new audience what to expect the first time they decided to sing. An honest rundown about the fears, the trembling knees and hands, the shortness of breath, the probability of mistake, and the thrill of completion, will instantaneously turn them from Karaoke Virgin to a Karaoke Slut.

My karaoke business was sold outright a few years back so perhaps the qualifications to make this post now are significantly reduced however if it helps at all, it comes with a wish for total continued success.

Excellent post Cap however in the right situation or done correctly. I must have just gotten lucky. We ran Friday and Saturday Nights with dancing along with Karaoke from 10-2. it was known that straight Karaoke was done other nights and before 10 on Saturday and Sunday. It worked succesfully in Southern California for me. Oh and we also had the COCKTAIL style bartender completing the three ring service in this particular Cantina.

Biggest mistake #1: Playing dance music and doing karaoke. It has to be one or the other or you set up a conflict between singers and dancers.

Biggest mistake #2: Equipment looked too portable. Using huge speakers (BOSE 802 & 302s), wireless mics, and larger screens, plus cabaret controllable lighting, made patrons feel a commitment to them, and to the good singers, a righteous stage on which to perform.

Biggest mistake #3: The KJs just didn't know how to communicate with an audience effectively. "Here's Jim to sing a little song by Johnny Cash." What?? Johnny Cash never sang a "little song"!! Everything needed to be focused on the singer and the "great" song they choose.

Biggest mistake #4: The KJ/host seemed to sing every fourth song. No sir. The KJ is the Host, not the star. It is not their springboard or showcase, it belongs to the folks buying the suds.

Biggest mistake #5: Not effectively arranging request slips in logically timed "rounds". Some folks sang three times while others who were there early didn't sing once. Not being totally absolutely fair, logical, and telling folks exactly how it is, will cause folks to bail.



Biggest mistake #7: Not controlling the boo'ers, hooters, and cat callers. Anyone who ever did or said anything to negatively disparage a singer was immediately, in your face, called upon to sing the same song they just poo-poo'ed someone doing. It was called Put Up or Shut Up. After two or three of these, no one would dare do anything but support the singers.

Biggest mistake #8: Allowing bartenders and waitresses to have any influence on the show. Yes, we all had to suffer on occasion, however they we always sternly reminded them who was responsible for the biggest portion their non-reportable tips...the drinkers.

Biggest mistake #9: Never made a big to-do about a first time karaoke singer. It was always treated as a huge life-time experience. We called them and announced them as Karaoke Virgins. Everyone in the club knew it was a first timer and showed enthusiastic support and acknowledgment. Their first performance was always taped for free and presented to them with style and gratitude (no matter how good or bad...always the same).

Biggest mistake #10: Never telling a new audience what to expect the first time they decided to sing. An honest rundown about the fears, the trembling knees and hands, the shortness of breath, the probability of mistake, and the thrill of completion, will instantaneously turn them from Karaoke Virgin to a Karaoke Slut.




Cap, one of the best "not to do" lists that I've ever seen posted in regard to karaoke. No wonder you were successful.

I did skip #6, only because I believe in letting the customer have the choice. However, I do make strong suggestions for new songs, and on most occasions I can convince them to give it a try. If I can't, I don't force my will on them.

As great as the post was, my question was "How do you get the ball rolling?".

That was an excellent post cap. I gave thanks.

Joe : Having owned (then sold) one of the most successful (both in patronage and financial gain) karaoke businesses in our region, which had a non-stop ten year run, just as in all things DJ/KJ, the "show" is a reflection of the host and the desired outcome of patronage.

There were others already in karaoke at the time and observing them in action obviated (to me) some basic crucial errors.

Biggest mistake #1: Playing dance music and doing karaoke. It has to be one or the other or you set up a conflict between singers and dancers.


I try to get this point across to lots of people, some take it to heart, some don't. For the 10 or so seconds between songs, (10 seconds MAX) I do play something off House Family Vol 1-11, or taiko drums

Biggest mistake #2: Equipment looked too portable. Using huge speakers (BOSE 802 & 302s), wireless mics, and larger screens, plus cabaret controllable lighting, made patrons feel a commitment to them, and to the good singers, a righteous stage on which to perform.


I can go both ways on the speakers. You can use many wall mounted studio monitor type speakers and a sub hidden away somewhere so the room magically seems to be filled with sound from some hidden speaker.


Biggest mistake #3: The KJs just didn't know how to communicate with an audience effectively. "Here's Jim to sing a little song by Johnny Cash." What?? Johnny Cash never sang a "little song"!! Everything needed to be focused on the singer and the "great" song they choose.

Technology can crux this. Wireless mics and playlist screens put singers in charge of thier own greatness.

Biggest mistake #4: The KJ/host seemed to sing every fourth song. No sir. The KJ is the Host, not the star. It is not their springboard or showcase, it belongs to the folks buying the suds.

Agree 100%

Biggest mistake #5: Not effectively arranging request slips in logically timed "rounds". Some folks sang three times while others who were there early didn't sing once. Not being totally absolutely fair, logical, and telling folks exactly how it is, will cause folks to bail.

Again, this can be fixed with technology. We keep everything out in the open via playlist screens.

Biggest mistake #6: Allowing the same patrons to sing the same songs week after week. By developing friendships with regulars, listening to what they sing and how, the Karaoke Master's Challenge became a huge hit (one round of songs where I picked what they'd sing and they could not refuse or lose their place in line).


I subscribe to the "Ace in the Hole" Theory. There's just some songs that your regulars sing that are *TOO* good to not have them sing at least once a night. Case in point, my favorite middle aged spanish singing 6 foot tall chinese man vic.
http://uncutvideo.aol.com/videos/3b3df833bfe7f70dbe1ba9124d842587
Please watch his video, it'll explain everything.

Biggest mistake #7: Not controlling the boo'ers, hooters, and cat callers. Anyone who ever did or said anything to negatively disparage a singer was immediately, in your face, called upon to sing the same song they just poo-poo'ed someone doing. It was called Put Up or Shut Up. After two or three of these, no one would dare do anything but support the singers.

Depends who they are. If the peanut gallery is the singers friends just giving them a hard time, you gotta let it slide.

Biggest mistake #8: Allowing bartenders and waitresses to have any influence on the show. Yes, we all had to suffer on occasion, however they we always sternly reminded them who was responsible for the biggest portion their non-reportable tips...the drinkers.

What if the bartender, is also the owner?
The owners at 7b are an old Japanese couple. The husband never tries to pull crap, his wife always does. If she comes up trying to get someone in after "sellout" time, I give her an estimate like, "Sayoko, we're gonna run till 1:55am, do you want that?" Most of the time she'll go back to the customer and tell them to come in earlier next time.

Biggest mistake #9: Never made a big to-do about a first time karaoke singer. It was always treated as a huge life-time experience. We called them and announced them as Karaoke Virgins. Everyone in the club knew it was a first timer and showed enthusiastic support and acknowledgment. Their first performance was always taped for free and presented to them with style and gratitude (no matter how good or bad...always the same).
I too, call them virgins.

Biggest mistake #10: Never telling a new audience what to expect the first time they decided to sing. An honest rundown about the fears, the trembling knees and hands, the shortness of breath, the probability of mistake, and the thrill of completion, will instantaneously turn them from Karaoke Virgin to a Karaoke Slut.

And lets not forget to remind them, it's karaoke, not American Idol, have fun.

My karaoke business was sold outright a few years back so perhaps the qualifications to make this post now are significantly reduced however if it helps at all, it comes with a wish for total continued success.

Everything you said still applies. My preferences are a bit different, but I agreed with you on most points.

I dunno.....Except for Kayleigh, no on has responded to my question. I kind of expected all kinds of suggestions...

I'll give it another day- busy season, ya know :sqcool:

Well this is my best advice I can give you Joe,

Always have a regular or two with you. KJ starting things up might get construded as KJ favoring themselves and that can really be intimidating. Bringing a non-kj person/regular singer and having them get the ball rolling.

Also, make sure they're not your greatest singer. An OK singer is better, since folks won't have too high of a mark to measure up to.

Finally, make sure this person gets some noobs to sing duets with them.

Hopefully this doesn't come off as ilogical to you, but a big part of what scares people from singing is seeing the person running it totally kick butt. Maybe it could be compared to you being at a home run contest, and Babe Ruth just knocked out 10 homers, and here comes you, Joe, following the Babe.

It would scare people in any contest. OK Granted, karaoke isn't about contests, but that seems to be the general perceptions these days thanks to AI.

Try to become the man behind the curtain. Try to get people to pay you no mind, just like the wizard.

Well this is my best advice I can give you Joe,

Always have a regular or two with you. KJ starting things up might get construded as KJ favoring themselves and that can really be intimidating. Bringing a non-kj person/regular singer and having them get the ball rolling.

Also, make sure they're not your greatest singer. An OK singer is better, since folks won't have too high of a mark to measure up to.

Finally, make sure this person gets some noobs to sing duets with them.

Hopefully this doesn't come off as ilogical to you, but a big part of what scares people from singing is seeing the person running it totally kick butt. Maybe it could be compared to you being at a home run contest, and Babe Ruth just knocked out 10 homers, and here comes you, Joe, following the Babe.

It would scare people in any contest. OK Granted, karaoke isn't about contests, but that seems to be the general perceptions these days thanks to AI.

Try to become the man behind the curtain. Try to get people to pay you no mind, just like the wizard.


I agree having a singer to start things off is a great way to break the ice...

I've been to shows where there were a lot of ringers in the audiance singing from local bands... and I also watch the mediocre to average singers that were spending the money leave because they just couldn't or didn't feel the could measure up and rather than embarase themselves infront of "Pros" so-to-speak they left....

they were all friends of the KJ as it turns out... but they were a show killer.

Then I also found out this KJ was a pirate and I haven't been back since, either.

OK, I guess it's just us here as karaoke hosts.

Of course you want some followers there to help, but I was talking about getting karaoke rolling at a venue or party from a dead start.

These will seem like common sense to those who answered, but may be of help to those less experienced.


1) Always, always, ALWAYS, have at least one decent sized monitor facing the crowd so they can follow along and see how easy it is.

2) Beginning, or filler music: Do NOT use regular music. Use karaoke multiplex so even filler music lyrics are on the crowd monitor. It keeps it in front of them, and they begin to sing in their seats along with the vocals, priming them up.

Note: Because of how they are recorded, the "name brand mfrs." are not the best for this. Believe it or not, a dept. brand, Medacy's Karaoke Party (not to be confused Sybersounds Party Tyme), have full rich multiplex with good vocals.

Unfortunately, I don't know if karaoke with vocals is available from this company to be downloaded for you PC run shows.

3) Before the show, make time to go out in the crowd and make small talk, putting them at ease with you in general. Extra smiles and compliments for the ladies, your probable starters.


4) It has been my experience that women are more apt to sing and not worry about how they look then men. Search the crowd for the most relaxed looking woman ( or most buzzed). Tell her that you need help for a duet, then pick something easy ( I Got You Babe is almost a gimme). If she's got a boyfriend or husband there, a bit of jealousy can get him started. Look for close groups. Tell them you have a request for ( insert played out group song- Paradise, Love Shack, whatever- here), but need a bunch of singers, yada, yada.

5) Sing one every 4-5 filler songs. They'll get tired of your singing enough to try themselves.

6) Right on in regard to good luck if you start with a so-so singer. ( BTW- in regard to #5, if you are a great singer, feel free to screw up a bit)

7) Make sure your books, as Kayleigh said, are distributed where they are close at hand for leafing through.

8) Make sure those books are easy to read, and make sure that your collection is up to a professional standard. This doesn't mean a million songs, but a full spread of genres in quality versions.

9) Keep circulating and making acquaintance, ask people if they need a book ( or a drink, or anything else) and use your mic skills to talk about singing ( There's no Simon Cowell here, and no one will remember in the morning. / It's not about sounding great, it's about having a great time.....yada, yada)

10) Keep it light, do NOT high pressure anyone ( you'll scare 'em off, or p*** 'em off).

11) BE HAPPY, and SHOW that you're happy to be there! Let 'em SEE how much you love your work, and that YOU are having a good time! YOUR mood will be infectious.

12) ALWAYS acknowledge ( as Cap stated) the singers.

13) .....and remember, it's Karaoke, not world hunger.:sqcool:

Excellent Joe I would have posted a similiar list but Im not a regular host these days though having done many Karaoke hosting jobs on a regular basis many yrs back at the advent of CDG. I most often resorted to number 4 and 5 but using every one you listed for complete success. Thanks for sharing.