in their mind it's KARAOKE TIME when ever they see music done on a stage....that's where the worlds mindset is at right now,....
what your doing up there means squat.
It's a freakin drunkfest
sad stat of affairs...

$100. is a good number to overcome my resistance.
What I have happen quite a bit lately is little kids coming up and asking for "dance" songs. They want to do the Nae-Nae while their doting grandparents marvel at their talent.
Again, $100. helps soften the blow.

oh yeah!!

Sometimes people will come up with their phone in hand, with a song or kareoke track cued up wanting you to stop your show so they can have their moment.

How do you deal with that?

My own generic solution is "always compliment them before you push them off the deck."

phone in hand wonder boy: Can you play this song for me so I can sing it to my girl friend? I have it ready to go on my I-phone?"

me: Wow....I know that song.......it's a really great tune. I can see why you want to do it. It will knock the sox off your girl friend. She'll probably drop down on one knee and ask you to marry her before you even finish it. But....look around. The audience is filled with a bunch of stuffed shirts. THEY would never understand that kind of really great music. I'll try and sneak it in for you LATER (after you are so drunk you'll forget about trying to be an America's Got Talent finalist).

I'm not kidding. I go through that whole routine. The trick being.....you have to believe what you're saying yourself or it doesn't work.

Then again....they're so rude and demanding nowadays, they either throw a temper tantrum on the spot, or go crying to the "host" who usually totally destroys the party by allowing it.

I'm almost glad I was a performing musician...in my other life...before the great transformation. No money coming in, but no dramas either.

I politely tell ANYONE that asks for a request (that they provide) that I will not play anything I haven't heard first. The audience is my client, and in my care, and I will not allow the possibility of offending anyone by language or content in a song that's strange to me. I also pride myself on the pacing of an evening ... even when I'm on break - the songs follow a pace that I decide on to keep the flow in the room. It's a science, not emotional. Tell your sonic phoners to come back on Karaoke night.

That's the simplest and best response.

I had (still have) a TC Helicon unit that had a preset (can't remember the name of the preset) that completely destroyed your vocals; made everything completely out of tune. We would turn it on whenever an unwanted 'guest vocalist' popped up on stage. The embarrassment and humiliation was usually enough discourage future 'guest appearances' but on at least several occasions, nearly started a fight when the 'guest' figured out what was going on. We did it once (as a joke) to our own vocalist in the middle of his favorite ballad. He didn't think it was funny and quit the band immediately after the gig. Oh well.

chas

Since the majority of my jobs have been weddings, anniversaries, parties ECT --- When asked if they could sing my answer was always the same: “If you would like to sing I must ask the people who hired me first. If they say it is OK it will be fine with me.”

I would tell the people who hired me that their party was going well ; the people are having a good time – and that I would not like to have someone perform that would change the mood in the room; but if you want them to sing I will tell them that you said it was OK.

When I visited the people who wanted to hire my band I always added this subject in my presentation.

Rarely did I get a Yes, let them sing. I’d go back to the person and tell them that the host said that they would rather that would not sing.

I’m enjoy my life, John C.

PS, Just a thought. This is not to edify myself or brag in any manner but I would like to share what I did when I booked a party for my band.

Playing Rules for parties. The Music Union set them. (That’s about the only thing they did that was good. Ooops, there was one more. Each room had a required number of musicians that must play the job without getting special permission.

Play 45 on and 15 off.
Continuous music – 55 minutes on the hour.
Price per man and double for the leader.

My presentation:
1-Using $125 per man: Three men and a leader $500. Got an OK.
2-If you wish the band could play Continuous; 55 minutes on the hour. This will keep your guests alive and moving.
3-The cocktail hour – the hour proceeding the party; normally in a different smaller room, will set a mood of eating, talking, and laughing before entering the catering hall. Having music at the cocktail hour will set the mood for what you have prepared for them in the main hall.
$125.00 four hours
50.00 Continuous music
65.00 Cocktail hour (Two men)
$240.00 for the two men who also played the cocktail hour
$175.00 for the other two men.
The charge for overtime was $65.00 per man.

Hmmmmm, I'm doing it again -- us old guys just love telling our stories. (smile)

John C.




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in todays world better watch what you say to drunks you could end up shot in the parking lot just over Karaoke

I just tell them my contract is just for me to play the management do not want any people other then contracted pros that works if not NO works as well.