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in the state of Connecticut! 

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CTKARAOKE.COM CO-SPONSORS KARAOKE CRUSADE 2003!

What is the KARAOKE CRUSADE? How can YOU be an AMBASSADOR?

Easy.

Well, kind of...

I travel around the state to see what is offered by other hosts in the way of karaoke. I went to someone's show recently (not a site member), and got into a discussion with the host. This man was so uninformed about karaoke, I was amazed that he had the ability to sustain an audience at all (the place was nearly empty with 3 or 4 "regulars"). He had a small catalog of songs (about a thousand tunes), and played a lot of regular music to cover the lack of current songs. Not knowing who I was, he began to tell me that karaoke was a Chinese word for "tone deaf". It's not. It's a JAPANESE word, actually a hybrid word meaning "invisible orchestra". He apparently heard a comedian say that, but didn't get the joke.

What was really sad is that he bragged about how busy he was...he's doing 5 nights a week! He told me that he gets less than 100 dollars a show...I guess that explains it.

What's my point? I've spoken to many restaurant/bar owners who complain that karaoke doesn't work in their club/bar/restaurant. "The singers don't drink anything but water, so we don't make any money", they tell me. I often counter with, "The singers may not drink, but they bring friends who DO." The truth is that the best singers look for venues that are not smoky and seedy looking, karaoke hosts with a good personality and a good catalog (AT LEAST 3000 MIXED SONGS, AS CURRENT AS POSSIBLE...), and food as well as drink is a plus.

Some of the venues we've spoken to want to stop doing karaoke, not understanding that the economy is bad all over and that they need to market themselves more than ever before...still others are on the fence. They're hiring cheaper and cheaper hosts, with no substantial catalogs (and getting what they pay for) because they don't know the difference. This actually KILLS karaoke (I know, I've been doing karaoke well over a dozen years and have been told over the years by club owners how dead karaoke is...until I came in and livened things up with NEW SONGS and a lively attitude. Having shows like Star Search and American Idol on the air make the point as well).

Here's where you come in...the industry needs you!!

We want you to talk up karaoke all over the state, indicate to venue managers that you would support a show at their place if they offered it. You could refer them to our member section for quality hosts, or send them to someone you know who runs a decent karaoke night. You could go to your favorite hosts and ask them to join CTKARAOKE.COM (Psst...we pay commissions to those who successfully refer new members!), Clubs/Bars/Restaurants can join too!

Here's Our Mission...what we feel is needed to grow karaoke in CT-

VENUES (Bars/Restaurants/anywhere that offers or should offer karaoke):

  • Please assume that it is a joint effort between you and your karaoke host that will bring people into your establishment. He or She will bring people in, but if you spend money and advertise (radio or cable access or newspaper...even flyers would help!) or offer irresistable drink specials to get people in the door, that can only help. After that, let your KJ's personality keep them in the building.
  • Contests can be effective, only if it's not a "sing off", don't forget that some of your regulars may not be able to compete and will feel intimidated and not come back. Contests should be done on a additional night (regular karaoke on Tuesday, contest on Thursday, or something like that...this gets people down to rehearse with no pressure on the non-contest night).
  • Please note that it takes approximately six weeks minimum to build a crowd for karaoke. Often, people are used to going elsewhere, and have to create the habit of going to a new show in a new venue. BE PATIENT AND IT WILL PAY OFF.

    • KJs (a.k.a. KARAOKE HOSTS):

  • Don't just be a robot. Talk to your crowd...as they get to know you, they will support you. Some of my regulars travel 45 minutes to see me, because they like my show!
  • Keep your show fresh with NEW songs (We buy new songs every two weeks). A minimum of 3000 songs in your catalog keeps people coming back to sing stuff they see in your catalog, but never thought they'd see at a karaoke show! I often tell my crowd to tell me what songs they'd like to sing...it gives me material to seek out for purchase.
  • Please DO NOT undercut and steal other shows, it shows your unprofessionalism-- and know that you can always negotiate down, but NEVER up. It is my company's policy to NEVER take a show from under some other KJ (one reason why we're often asked to sub a show when a KJ needs a night off from their regular weekly gig). Keep in mind that if someone only wants you because you're cheap, the moment they find someone cheaper, you're out the door.

    • SINGERS:

  • PLEASE don't bang on the microphone...or swing them around (yeah, it looked cool when you saw it in a movie...but that wasn't reality, where the mic could separate and hit someone in the crowd!). Have respect for them...they're not cheap to replace!
  • Put your songs in as soon as possible to guarantee that you will get the chance to sing them. Most of the better KJs put singers in a rotation, so if you wait it may be a while before you get in the rotation.
  • Clap for ALL singers, good and bad, and they'll clap for you.
  • If you're in a bar, bring friends who drink, even if you don't. It helps me prove bar owners wrong:)

    • TO BECOME A KARAOKE CRUSADE AMBASSADOR:

  • E-Mail your name and phone number (and T-Shirt size) to us at luckystar2000@juno.com, along with a list of shows you attend. If you refer a venue or KJ to us, and they sign up as a member, you'll receive a commission and a T-Shirt (one shirt per Ambassador).
  • IN ADDITION: CTKARAOKE.COM may just show up at your venue one night and GIVE AWAY T-SHIRTS! They're in production, and as soon as we get them, we'll be all over the state.

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