Karaoke Scene – What's New

Here’s some BIG NEWS! Apps for Karaoke Scene Magazine are now available for your IPhones and IPads. Now you can have all of the features and information in Karaoke Scene Magazine right at your fingertips, wherever you go, 24-7. I already use it on my IPhone and it’s fantastic! The apps are FREE so visit the App Store today and get yours now!

KaraokeFest 2010 is now in the books…what a day! With our new stage location at the L.A. County Fair, the crowds were huge and the singing performances superb making this the biggest and best KaraokeFest ever.

First of all, we would like to thank our major sponsors, Ace Karaoke, Priddis Music and VocoPro for their generous support and enthusiasm for this event. These fine companies make it possible to have this day-long celebration of Karaoke every year for all of us to enjoy. Please show your support for them for all they do for Karaoke.

And then there are our prize sponsors, Ace Karaoke, Priddis Music, VocoPro, Sound Choice, Chartbuster, KaraokeWH.com and MadBoy Audio. The generosity of these companies obviously speaks for itself and they are also certainly deserving of everyone’s support.

82 singers competed in the finals for the Crème de la Kids, Crème de la King and Crème de la Crème Singing Competitions. The overflow crowd enjoyed a huge day of fantastic singing! The children in the Crème de la Kids contest touched everyone’s heart as they performed just about every genre of song from Country to Pop to Show Tunes. The Crème de la King competitors truly honored the memory of Elvis and really lit up the stage with their colorful costumes and exciting renditions of some of the King’s most beloved tunes. And, of course, the Crème de la Creme Finalists scored about a 8.5 on the Richter Scale as they rocked the Plaza de las Americas Stage for nearly 5 hours putting forth sensational, professional quality performances.

Special thanks go to the phenomenally talented Marshall Thomas of KFROG 95.1 FM for a first class job of hosting the Crème de la Crème Finals Competition again this year. We sincerely appreciate his talent and the extra boost he gives the show. Thanks also to our good friend, Manny Pacheco, the best emcee for an important event like this that anyone could ask for. And making his debut at KaraokeFest was the popular host of “What’s Up Orange County,” Scott Stewart, hosting the Crème de la Kids and Crème de la King Final Competition. Thank you, Scott for a job well done!

A special Karaoke Scene thank you goes to Crème de la Kids coordinator, Julie Woodcock (and her husband, Roger) and to Crème de la King Coordinator, Tony Christina (whom we were very pleased to have back this year), for their tireless efforts in making the dream come true for all of their talented contestants.

And HUGE thanks go to every single one of the gracious volunteers who gave so much of their time and energy to make KaraokeFest such a special event for everyone. We are all so appreciative of your efforts.

Don’t forget that, for a limited time, you can purchase your own professionally produced DVD of any or all of the exciting singing competitions at KaraokeFest this year…a perfect memento of all the fabulous performances that made KaraokeFest 2010 such an entertainment extravaganza. The Crème de la Kids and Crème de la King DVDs are only $19.95 each and the Crème de la Crème DVDs are only $29.95, or you can order all 3 for only $59.95 (all prices are +S&H). Order yours today at www.KaraokeScene.com or by calling (714) 826-2212.

Our gratitude also extends to our fabulous Karaoke Stage hosts at KaraokeFest this year, Ace Karaoke, Helen Scheuplein and PR Entertainment. These special people make KaraokeFest so much fun for everybody all day long and we really want them to know how much they are appreciated.

By the way, Manny Pacheco’s book, “Forgotten Hollywood – Forgotten History,” (an amazing study of some of the most important character actors and actresses from Hollywood’s Golden Years and their relationship to American historical events) continues to sell across the country at locations such as Costco, Borders, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com (as well as many other locations). We highly recommend this book to everyone, either for yourself or as a perfect gift for a friend or loved one (Christmas is coming). You can check it all out at www.ForgottenHollywood.com.

Here’s a heads up…we are in the process of having Phill Cross with Cross Web Tech creating a complete “re-do” of our immensely popular website, KaraokeScene.com. We hope to have it completed by soon. We hope you will enjoy all the exciting new features that will be available for you.

That’s it for now. All of us at Karaoke Scene Magazine would like to wish all of you and your families a happy Halloween and a wonderful Thanksgiving!

KaraokeFest 2003 will take place on Sunday, May 25th, Memorial Day weekend, once again aboard the world famous “Queen Mary” in Long Beach. Without a doubt, this will be the biggest and most exciting “Fest” ever with many new features and innovations.

Voting for the “Karaoke Golden Achievement Awards” and “KJ of the Year” competition will take place from February 15th to March 15th and will be done in the same way as last year by region-wide voting both at the local club level and also on-line at www.KaraokeFest.com (only 1 vote per email address and 2 votes per IP address will be allowed.) See page for details.

The “Crème de la Crème” competition which will decide the “Male & Female Karaoke Vocalist of the Year” will begin on Thursday, April 3rd at 20 venues throughout Southern California. See page for times, dates and other details.

The exciting “KaraokeFest Expo” will be back, bigger & better than ever with even more vendors of all kinds exhibiting their products and services. If you are interested in reserving a booth at the “KaraokeFest Expo” please contact Denise Barnum at (562) 879-5632. Call now for the best locations!

In addition, your ticket to KaraokeFest 2003 entitles you to free access of the ship. You may stroll her decks, immerse yourself in her rich history, visit the many interesting shops or make plans to come early and enjoy the famous “Queen Mary Brunch” (reservations recommended). Don’t forget there is a first class hotel aboard the “Queen” and KaraokeFest/State Room accommodations are available. You may call the “Queen Mary” direct (after February 15th) at (562) 432-6964 and ask for the special KaraokeFest rates.

Great news! Prices for “KaraokeFest 2003″ will be held to just $7.00 per ticket if purchased before May 20th. That’s right, only $7.00 per ticket. After that date, and at the door, tickets will be $12.00 each. Tickets may be purchased online at www.KaraokeFest.com or by calling (714) 826-2212.

Here’s some big news! The documentary (tentatively titled “Karaoke Dreams”), based on our “Songburst 2002″ event, is scheduled to air on Sunday, March 2nd, on VH1. If this production is well received, a series based on the road to KaraokeFest 2003 could be the result. We are all very excited about what this could mean to Karaoke but, of course, we’ll have to take it one step at a time. Be sure to regularly check the “Songburst 2002″ page on our website www.KaraokeScene.com or by visiting www.SongBurst.com, for all the latest information for this event. And congratulations to Steve Williamson and Elnora Beck, the male & female winners of “Songburst 2002″,and to all of the talented performers who participated in the event.

We are working on an exciting new project, a Karaoke “radio” show (“That’s Karaoke”) which will appear on our website www.KaraokeScene.com or by visiting www.ThatsKaraoke.com. This “streamcast” will be the first in the nation “radio” show solely dedicated to the universal phenomenon of Karaoke. The show promises to be both entertaining and informational, a virtual meeting place for what’s happening in the world of Karaoke. At all times the concept of Karaoke will be treated with respect, however, this show will be laced with humor, satire and fun. Check the “That’s Karaoke” page for the premier show date.

Karaoke Scene’s recent visit to the NAMM Show at the Anaheim Convention Center confirms that Karaoke continues to grow and flourish. We visited many of the leading Karaoke software and hardware company’s exhibits at the show and were more than pleased by what we heard. As the Karaoke world continues to expand, many new and exciting innovations are on the horizon. And, of course, will keep you informed.

There is so much going on…where can we start? How about here? Coming soon…a new major singing competition, authorized and sponsored by Karaoke Scene Magazine which will be filmed as a documentary for possible airing on national television! That seems like a good starting place.

“SONGBURST 2002” will take place starting on October 31st (Halloween) and lasting until November 27th at 11 venues throughout Southern California. This is a big one offering thousands in cash and prizes to the winners. The event will be modeled after the popular and very successful “Crème de la Crème” competition for KaraokeFest. You may qualify at any of the 11 venues and, as always, the contestants are the judges. And the best part is that the film crew from Painless Productions (producer of the documentary) will be on hand at various venues throughout the run of the event. They will be collecting footage from qualifying rounds, semi-finals and of course the finals. Also included will be personal interviews with various contestants as the production crew follows the progress of the event, kind of an American Idol meets Survivor meets Your Big Break. It should be a wonderful opportunity for all and a big boost for Karaoke. (Here’s a little teaser…if this documentary goes well, it may pave the way for a series based on the “Crème de la Crème” competition for KaraokeFest 2003!) For complete information and rules, please check the “SONGBURST 2002″ link on this site.

Speaking of KaraokeFest…congratulations to our “Crème de la Crème” finalists from KaraokeFest 2002, William Jordan and Jenny Eisenhart, for their fabulous performance on the syndicated Mark & Brian radio program! They were sensational…so much so that Mark & Brian have personally asked if our KaraokeFest 2003 “Crème de la Crème” winners could come back and sing on their show next year. We think we could arrange that.

Guess who we found while at the House of Blues in Downtown Disney? It was the former owner of Karaoke Scene Magazine, Dennis Snyder, playing with his Neil Young tribute band, “The Neil Deal.” Man, were they good! Many of you may not know that Dennis is an accomplished guitarist and vocalist and has been involved in playing with bands for more than 3 decades. You can find out where “The Neil Deal” is playing at www.neildeal.com. If you get the chance, go see him…you won’t be disappointed.

Big Bob and Phil of Penguin Karaoke inform the “Scene” that their Karaoke Cruise is filling up and that the Anaheim Angels baseball team has booked space aboard the ship. You may get the chance to see and meet many of the present Angels plus many Angel heroes from past years during the cruise. It should make for a most memorable trip. Don’t forget, space is limited…so to make your reservations now, please call (800) 600-4548. See you aboard!

Well, summer’s nearly over and fall looks very exciting for Karaoke. More and more venues are popping up all over the place and sales of home Karaoke systems are on the increase as the popularity of Karaoke continues to surge. Karaoke Scene Magazine is consistently contacted by, and has been quoted in, major newspapers across the country that are doing major pieces on the Karaoke phenomenon. We think it’s all pretty terrific.

We are proud to announce that the Karaoke Fest 2002 winners for “Male & Female Vocalist of the Year,” William Jordan and Jenny Eisenhardt, will be singing on the popular Mark & Brian syndicated radio show on KLOS, 95.5FM. The tentative air date is set for Wednesday, August 14th at about 8:00 in the morning. Our warmest congratulations to William and Jenny as we wish them the best of luck on their performances!

There are several new and innovative events coming up including “The Original Music Experience” tour presented by Pilsner Urquell, an imported premium Czech beer. This is a statewide, fun event where all you have to do is just show up where the traveling studio stops and record your favorite song. You get a free CD copy of your performance just for participating. When the event ends (probably in October) the most outstanding performance will be judged by a panel of eminently qualified individuals and the winner have their photo in Karaoke Scene Magazine, a portion of their performance will be streamed onto our website and be awarded $1,000. But this is not just about the prize…it is about having a great time singing Karaoke, visiting new venues, and making new friends. This event will be held at approximately 100 locations throughout California. Check the special page on this site for a location near you.

Penguin Karaoke is presenting the first annual “All Karaoke Cruise” which takes place from January 17 – 20, 2003. “Big” Bob Malthouse & Phil Farmer, owners of Penguin Karaoke will be shepherding the event along with Manny Pacheco & Laurie Masters and Art & Lori Johnson. This vocal voyage will take place aboard the Carnival fun ship “Ecstasy” and if I know these folks, this cruise should be a riot. You won’t want to be left ashore…so for Karaoke Cruise information please call (800) 600-4548. Bon Voyage!

Karaoke Scene Magazine has been in talks with a production company for a major cable TV channel regarding the filming of a documentary chronicling the “road” to Karaoke Fest 2003. A film production crew will follow the path of contestants through the qualifying rounds and semi finals at venues throughout Southern California all the way to the finals at Karaoke Fest 2003. We will keep you informed on the progress of this project.

Finally, this August we observe the 25th anniversary of the passing of the biggest entertainment phenomenon of all time, Elvis Presley. There has never been anyone quite like him and probably will never be. He stands alone as the undisputed “King of Rock & Roll” and the most universally recognizable personality ever. His generosity is legendary, his appeal universal. His spirit lives on through his music and his memory…and his contribution to Karaoke is unparalleled. There are far more “Elvis” selections in Karaoke libraries across the United States and around the world than any other single artist with even more on the horizon. Karaoke Scene salutes “The King,” his music, and his memory.

Congratulations and our warmest thanks to all the wonderful people who made KaraokeFest 2002 such a special and successful event. Karaoke absolutely deserves a day like that… and we have even bigger plans for next year!

There are so many folks to thank that this page could easily be completely filled with just their names. So let me say, from the bottom of our hearts here at Karaoke Scene Magazine, we offer our most sincere thanks and gratitude to all of the very dedicated and talented people who worked so hard, both behind the scenes and on stage, to make this a truly special event. Thanks also to all of the folks who attended KaraokeFest 2002… breaking all past attendance records! After all, this event is for you.

An additional tip of the Karaoke Scene hat goes to all of the vendors at the Karaoke Expo portion of the show. It was gratifying to receive such strong support from fine companies like Gold Sponsors, Voco Pro and Audio 2000′s, and from Bronze Sponsors, Priddis, Music Maestro, Sound Choice, Top Tunes, Ace Karaoke and KZLA Radio. Thanks also to our non-Karaoke related vendors. You were all terrific!

And the winners are… the winners are actually all of the nominees, contestants and participants in each of the various categories and competitions. The Golden Achievement nominees were chosen by the Karaoke community, who cast literally thousands of votes, to be worthy of recognition. The Crème de la Crème Finalists were selected by their peers at a series of qualifying and semi-final rounds from 23 venues located across 5 counties throughout Southern California. Each and every one of you is a winner deserving of our respect and applause. We salute you!

And the winner is Karaoke itself… as we showcase Karaoke and its supporters in a positive, honest and meaningful way. We love Karaoke and all the good things it has come to represent. KaraokeFest is our chance to show it off to the rest of the world the way it should be shown. Not as some weird, gimmicky fad, but rather as the people’s music where, through singing, talent is discovered and developed, new and lasting relationships are forged, self confidence is enhanced and happiness and fun are the order of the day. An entertainment umbrella under which individuals from various and diverse walks of life come together to share their love of music as they sing to, and for, each other. Karaoke is unique. Anyone can do it. There is no other form of entertainment like it. Karaoke is here to stay and deserves its special day. We are honored to be able to provide it.

Please check out www.karaokefest.com for all of the final results and lots of additional photos. Also available for viewing online is a video clip of KNBC, Channel 4 News coverage of KaraokeFest 2002. Just click on the KNBC icon and enjoy (for Mac use option-click).

Plans are already on the drawing board for KaraokeFest 2003 and several meetings have already taken place for advance planning of what is shaping up to be an even more spectacular “Fest”. We have begun negotiations with some major media entities for extended coverage of KaraokeFest 2003 and its participants from the Golden Achievement Award nomination process, through the Crème de la Crème Singing Competition, to the actual event itself (more to follow on this in future issues). Due to the success of KaraokeFest 2002, we have also been approached by some prominent national product representatives wishing to be involved in sponsorship positions of next year’s event. All in all, it looks pretty exciting. So stay tuned… we will keep you informed every step of the way.

Well, it’s KaraokeFest time again and what an event this one’s going to be! Our staff has been tirelessly working to put together a truly outstanding party for the Karaoke community. On Sunday, May 25th (Memorial Day weekend), the fabulous Queen Mary in Long Beach will once host this fantastic “celebration of Karaoke” in grand style offering all kinds of fun for all members of the family.

The Karaoke Expo promises to be bigger and better than ever with vendors of all kinds showing off their wares. Major Karaoke manufacturers will be there to display and demonstrate the latest and greatest in Karaoke hardware & software. VocoPro and Audio 2000s will be there as will Top Tunes, Sound Choice, Priddis and Music Maestro, just to name a few. Top Karaoke retailers such as Ace Karaoke and MTV Karaoke will also be on hand so you can purchase new Karaoke products of all kinds. And, of course, there will be many other vendors with unique and exciting products for you see and experience.

This year there will be two outdoor charity stages so everyone should have their chance to sing their favorite song with the Queen Mary as their backdrop for any sized donation to the Salvation Army. Martini Blues and Star Light Karaoke will each sponsor a stage and they’ll be rockin’ and rollin’ all day and into the night so we can all sing our hearts out.

The “Golden Achievement Awards” will be presented on the main stage to the individuals and venues chosen by the Karaoke community to be honored for their contributions to Karaoke. These awards are so important because they reward excellence in these respective fields of endeavor. Karaoke needs a way to recognize these extraordinary individuals and venues and we are proud to provide the “Golden Achievement Awards” for that purpose.

The prestigious Crème de la Crème singing competition will again take center stage as the top male and female Karaoke vocalists in Southern California compete for thousands in cash and prizes and the coveted title of “Male & Female Karaoke Vocalist of the Year.” See page 4 for the complete list of venues at which you can qualify. For complete contest information go to www.KaraokeFest.com and click on the Crème de la Crème link. And don’t forget, popular radio personalities Mark and Brian have again invited our top male and female winners to appear and sing on their syndicated radio show (heard locally, Monday through Friday, 6am-10am, on KLOS 95.5fm). This is truly a great opportunity to sing for a huge audience.

We have added multiple big screen TVs to the second level so that many more people can enjoy the show in comfort without any overcrowding. There will be many more surprises and exciting things happening at this year’s “Fest” so make your plans now to attend. Don’t forget, KaraokeFest 2003 explodes on Sunday, May 25th. That’s Memorial Day weekend, and with Monday being a holiday; we can party into the night without having to worry about getting up for work the next day.

Karaoke Scene has arranged for special rates for outside staterooms aboard the Queen Mary for those who wish to stay over on either Saturday or Sunday night (May 24th & 25th). For your special rate please call the Queen Mary Hotel at (562) 432-6964 and mention KaraokeFest for your special stateroom rate. We are trying to arrange for there to be Karaoke in one of the lounges aboard the ship on the Saturday night before “Fest” and there are several Karaoke venues in beautifully redeveloped downtown Long Beach for those who want to party there.

And here’s the best part. In an effort to make the KaraokeFest experience affordable to all, ticket prices are only $7.00 each if purchased or ordered before May 20th ($12.00 after May 20th and at the door). That’s less than a movie or a halfway decent fast food meal. You may order your tickets by credit card online at www.KaraokeFest.com or you may order by phone at (714) 826-2212. No one will be admitted without a ticket so ORDER YOURS NOW!