Karaoke Forums

We're in the process of revising our professionalism standards for SC licensees. These are the standards we use to determine whether a potential licensee will be a good steward of our brand and whether existing licensees are meeting those standards (and if not, what sorts of training and oversight might be needed to help them improve and meet our standards). It has been some time since we last looked at this question, so we thought it would be a good idea to see if any changes were needed.

I also thought this might make an interesting discussion topic, so I'm putting it to all of you, with the knowledge that virtually all of you are professionals. I'd appreciate some input on the basic question:

What makes a karaoke host a "professional"?

Obviously, to some extent, merely being paid to host karaoke shows makes someone a professional karaoke host. What I'm looking for is a deeper answer, specifically to the question about what are the hallmarks of a good/great/excellent karaoke host versus a fair/poor/terrible host?

I'm looking for input in the following areas:

(1) Catalog (although, since these are SC licensees, catalog is not as much of an issue)
(2) Equipment
(3) Professional skills
(4) Personality
(5) Personal conduct
(6) Other areas I might not have considered

I would prefer that this thread not be used as a platform for anti-SC rhetoric, as this is not specifically about SC, but about karaoke professionals generally. Thanks in advance for your help, input, and ideas.

In reality a kj can be 'professional' without needing to have good quality equipment, great library, personality, etc. Anyone can be a professional (I know many) and not be good at their craft - i've even seen some very pro run shows with what i'd consider inferior equipment and less than 1000 song library (carefully selected top karaoke songs).
I think what you want to really determine is what makes a kj stand out/shine over other kj's.

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While good sounding professional equipment and a great song library is important, it means nothing if the KJ has the personality of a flea. I believe the main reason people keep coming back has to do with the KJ. If they like you and like what you do, you've won them over.

People skills and personality are at the top of the list. I will always make every attempt to make everyone feel welcome and treat everyone fairly. I will motivate people, mingle with the crowd, and make it fun for everyone. I want everyone to have a good time. If you accomplish that, you have a regular customer who will tell others about you.

There is a difference between a "name caller" and a "host". Speak to your audience, joke with them, call them by their name, get them involved. Not everyone does this but it's important for success.

You can always learn how to use equipment but you cannot "learn" people skills and you cannot change your personality. You are who you are. You either have it or you don't. I can't tell you how many shows I've gone to where the host should not be working in the karaoke industry.

So, there is my view. Personality and people skills should be the #1 requirement.

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Electro-Voice Evolve 50... Taking Sound To The Next Level.

Basically what makes the difference is if the host truly loves his job, that is something that can't be taught it has to be felt.

I don't know if I can define what professional is, but I can just tell you what I want as a singer.

Fair rotation
Decent sound
Enough songs I like to sing
Friendly personality
Attentiveness to the settings
Keeps the show moving
Encourages the audience to applaud

Amazing how many KJs, especially hired hands will keep leaving the bar to smoke, set and forget the sound and generally act bored till it's their turn to sing.

I think what qualifies a KJ as a professional is their longevity in the business, their ability to acquire and maintain regular work, and their desire to remain in the business.

As any reader of this forum can see, there are vast differences of opinion on how to run a show, and those who run inferior shows will vigorously defend their shoddy practices from their high-horses because they still have a gig and people are still showing up to sing. In the end, if they're still in business that's what counts.

I have never heard of anyone who attended an atrociously low-grade karaoke show complain that the KJ made the track brand look bad. "That KJ sucks! I'll never sing a Sunfly song again!"

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KNOW THYSELF

I believe that a more in-depth look at a point that "earthling" was touching on is in the offing: Doing things like "revising standards", "training", and "oversight" skirt dangerously close to franchisee activities, which I have seen no evidence in this forum to suggest that the licensees have a franchisee/franchiser relationship. My knowledge on this on this subject is admittedly limited, but I do understand that there are distinct differences in such relationships that come with certain qualifications for each, and there are certain lines in each area that shouldn't be crossed...

I disagree with the opinion that "merely being paid" qualifies someone as being a professional. Someone could pay me to fix their toilet but that doesn't make me a professional plumber. I could get paid to sweep the bar floor but that does not make me a professional janitor.

I'm not sure if I ever truly qualified as being a professional. Sure I ran shows a few times a week. I have more equipment than most "professional" KJs will ever own. I probably know more about how equipment works together than all the professional KJs in town combined. I have a decent library of my own. It's not great by any means but it certainly got very few complaints. I wrote my own hosting program that I still use almost every day and is now on version 2. A lot of people loved coming to my shows and I still get people asking where they can visit me for shows.

But was I ever really a professional? It was a hobby for me. Buying equipment and keeping up on things is some sort of strange hobby. I even buy equipment now and all I do is host home parties and weddings. All that said I still have my full time day job that truly is my profession.

I think there is a lot of gray when it comes to defining what is a professional for your needs and, really, it is whatever line you choose to draw in the sand.

Actually the line in the sand is determined by the I.R.S. If your gross earnings on your hobby are under a certain amount then the government as far as tax purposes consider you a Hobbyist. If your gross earnings are over the line then you have to file your taxes as a business. If you are in business then I would suggest that you are a professional, regardless of how poorly or how well you run that business. The market place will determine if you stay in business or not. Many hack hosts stay in business for years, while more competent hosts fail, go figure?

P.S. I just looked over what the determination of whether you are running a business or if it is considered a hobby. If you make a profit 3 years out of a 5 year period then you are considered a business not a hobby. You have to file as a business for tax purposes. If you are in business then I would say you are a professional, seems simple to me.

When it comes to "Professional" now we're talkin' my specialty.

1) Havin a good SC library of songs in all genres is a must. Just because you're in a country bar, doesn't mean someone may want to sing a rock n roll song.
2) Equipment in top working order is a "must" so replace those old taped up cables with brand new ones, clean your equipment, Microphones / grills replaced in a timely fashion and cleaned on a regular basis.
3) Personality is what makes my KJ one of the best in the world. Positive & energetic/Interaction is a must. Comunication with your audience is a must.
4)BE ON TIME. If your show starts at 9pm then don't start your show anytime after. That is not professional to keep your singers waiting.
5) prepare yourself for singer requests, Adjust volumes appropriately for ALL of your singers and don't cater to just favorite singers.
6) If you're gonna be a professional KJ then learn to sing at your best and prepare yourself for "Duet" requests.
7) if the Karaoke software has a singer history... USE it! As interacting with your returning singers.
keep your library of songs updated on a regular basis.

There is much more but... I believe many of us will get the "Jist of it"

This is what I do:

1) Be there early and start on time
2) Be organized with song books and song slips available when customers first show up
3) Dress appropriately and act professional
4) Mingle with guests before and during show and make a connection
5) Remember their names
6) Keep the show moving and encourage them to be prepared to sing
7) Pay very close attention to each singer, especially in the first 15 seconds
8.) Be willing to help a struggling singer get on key or in synch
9) Make all announcements clear and brief
10) Learn to read your singers and know how to interact with them on stage
11) Provide the singer with an exceptional singing environment on stage
12) Make sure that you can hear clearly what the singer is singing (not muddy)
13) Get email addresses or some sort of contact info to keep in touch with them
14) Take photos and personally send them to new guests
15) Always be willing to listen to a guest's criticism
16) Personally thank everyone for coming to your show
17) Learn to identify trouble makers and act quickly to squelch them
18) Have fun and look like you are having fun
19) Encourage the audience to get involved when appropriate
20) Offer a free drink to change a slow song to a fast dance song
21) Don't sing in every rotation unless needed
22) Speak clearly and loudly when calling singers up
23) Singers must have their song turned in before stepping foot on stage
24) Allow song changes anytime before stepping foot on stage, but not after
25) Be willing to do a "restart" when needed
26) Be fair and consistent with all aspects of your show

Notice I said nothing about equipment or music because they are givens

Anyone who gets paid to do karaoke is a professional karaoke host. At least by definition

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C Mc
KJ, FL

I disagree with this. Having a SC Library is NOT a MUST. I have been to Chip's shows, and he runs an excellent show without the use of SC. And, there are other KJs out there who do so as well.

Now, if you modify that one statement to
Havin a good library of songs in all genres is a must. Just because you're in a country bar, doesn't mean someone may want to sing a rock n roll song.
then I can agree with you 100%.

"At least by definition" is a necessary clarification. We have all seen many hosts that get paid that are far from professional.... anyway by my standards.

It's like pornography, I know it when I see it.

My opinion is that a true professional makes everything he does look easy. Although there can be some tech glitches, being able to get past those things and keep the show running smoothly is critical. Transitioning from bumper music to singer, being comfortable in front of the crowd, etc.

And don't think your regulars don't notice what you do. Whenever I have a sub for my trivia shows, I hear it the next week, they didn't do this like you, they didn't do that like you. I think it's the same with karaoke, the customers come to expect a certain level of entertainment and miss it when it's not there.

Professionals should have had at least 'some' kind of formal training directly related to their profession, either from a school or another 'professional'.

I'd bet that brings the number of people meeting the qualification standard down to about 10%.

"I went to college" doesn't count, unless it was for something that somehow directly relates to the profession.

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DJ Don

Unfortunately there is no certification or training program as far as DJ or KJ's are concerned. Most of the experience gained by a host is from the school of hard knocks. If you are lucky you can find a local mentor, or you can find a legit host that is expanding his business and needs help. It is hard going when you first start out, you can pick up some good pointers on forums like this one from the old pros.

Let's keep in mind Jim was asking based on how they can define professional. A show could easily end up being within their final criteria and it not be a "professional" (by our standards) show at all. They can't use IRS criteria or even business profit criteria. I am guessing they could ask for annual revenue earned but my point is that still might not be the best indicator. Number of shows a week? Number of systems? I think that is the kind of stuff he is looking for.

As anticipated, the response to this query is wide and varied. It is also relative to each independent businessperson's opinion and experience. This is the way it SHOULD be in this type of environment. I do find it strange that there is more HOW responses to this questions, and no one really asking WHY it is being asked. Again, this is a tool licensor attempting to dictate to a craftsman how to use the tool. That kind of positioning is akin to franchise activities.

I challenge everyone to come up with any examples of a licensed product that goes to this extent to control its use, short of being a franchiser...

Seems to me that I and a few other members here have some Certifications from American DJ!
we all did jumped in and did the certifications around the same time!

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It's all good!