I read this post with interest. Many argue about what is cheating.

Karaoke is random audience members performing to pre recorded music they select. Without inviting the audience to sing alone, it's not Karaoke. Period. Pre recorded music does not make it so.

Some of the biggest spectacular showroom shows in Vegas can be condered "Karaoke Shows" by that definition just using using pre recorded music or an Arranger and rhythm section providing the sound of 40 pieces. I do not think performers (especially those who earn a living as such) can maintain an elitists point of view with regard to what the public is buying.

Many "musicians" have been put out of work by Karaoke AND SAMPLERS/Arrangers which is pre-recorded music. Theres the resentment. However those who adapted and embrace the latest trends work forever. As long as you are playing notes with your right hand and letting the keyboard arrange chords for you in the left you are NOT considered Karaoke? But you get up and walk into the audience you are?

I know many people who see OMB performers who feel the only difference from them and Karaoke is they don't invite the audience to sing whether or not the leave the keys.....THAT'S Karaoke to them.

One could say synths put many musicians out of work. We all search for that Holy Grail perfect acoustic instrument in our keyboards. WHY not just hire a player instead of allowing someone elses' style arrangement play the part perfectly with a perfect sample?

I know you know the answer to that. I also know those who are elitists in their thinking becasue there was a time where you HAD to suffer through years of Hanon to get work as a professional and now can buy a keyboard today spend 6 months learning chords and theory and actually be paid to entertain is unsettling to many who value their skills and feel the paying public should as well over those who did not put in the work and time.

I suggest there are plenty of those steeped in the classics with extraordinary skills are upset to see the successes of the self taught collecting handsome royalties and paychecks as well while they wait for the phone to ring for a job playing BG music for shoppers in Neiman Marcus.

Anyone who dares perform with anything but live players can be considered a Karaoke act like it by the stated example. A CD is nothing but a recorded sample played back as accompaniment.

No one who posts in an Arranger forum should have anything negative to say about cheating unless you earn your living playing solely a piano with hammers and strings.