Quote:
Originally posted by Dave:
I'd like to write an article for the CruiseReviews homepage about cruise ship karaoke.
Those of you with experience would be a great help if you could give input. Do's and Don'ts. Any personal insights, etc.
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I guess what amazes me the most is on ship after ship...I have experienced the piano bar being empty, the cover band lounge empty, the solo promenade guy playing to empty chairs in the casino and then karaoke is PACKED????
All of the other 3 venues are professional entertainers....and where are the folks...in karaoke.
And not singing...just listening. What is up with that...when there are professionals right next door???
As everyone knows....I cruise to karaoke. I used to sing back up 100 years ago (when Moby Dick was a tadpole) and Carnival karaoke gives me the venue to do what I love in a safe, smokefree environment. And then there are the Legend Shows that are fabulous!!!!
I have many wonderful folks that count as dear friends who are karaoke hosts.
Yes, there are rules.
1. NEVER bring a drink on stage or around the equipment.
2. NEVER sing if you are sick. (common sense...I know...but you would be amazed at the number of people who are just GROSS)
3. DO NOT THUMP THE MICROPHONE. That can damage the sensors in the microphone. Do not swing the microphone...do not jump around so much that you knock the tv monitor over (also happened on the Valor last week)
Funny and entertaining are one thing...STUPID is something no one wants to see.
4. DO NOT SCREAM. Sing as off key as you want to but no one wants to hear screaming.
5. Turn in ONE slip at a time. This helps the karaoke host do a proper rotation. Do not walk up and hand them 5 slips at once. No one wants to hear the same person 5 times in a row.
6. DO NOT COME INTO KARAOKE AT 11:55PM and COMPLAIN THAT YOU DID NOT GET TO SING when it closes at midnight. DO THE MATH!!! Karaoke usually runs about 4 hours. Learn to read a Caper and tell time!!
7. If you have been in karaoke every night and the karaoke host has done a great job ... give them a TIP AND mention their name on the comment card. Trust me...they do not earn enough money for what they have to endure.
8. If you have put in a song request and you hear someone else sing it before you get to. Put your big girl panties on and deal with it.
Do not sing the same song...select something else. Even if you would do a much better job singing that song that the previous singer...that is just rude. Wait and sing it the next night....
FINALLY AND MOST IMPORTANT.....
for years, Carnival has allowed singers to use their own CDGs. HOWEVER, a couple of years ago some morons brought some vulgar, violent, vomit rap on the Paradise and almost ruined the privilege of using your on CDGs for everyone.
Then someone else with the IQ of a squirrel decided it was a smart thing to threaten to sue Carnival because their disk supposedly got scratched.
So here are the rules for using your own CDGs:
1. The karaoke host rules. Some of us (like myself) have permission from Carnival Corporation to use our own arrangements....BUT we still ask the karaoke host nicely.
If they are new ...they may be unsure...so ASK THEM IF it is ok to get approval from the Cruise Director. Do not just go over their heads.
2. IF the karaoke host says yes...there are more 3 more rules.
A. Mainstream songs ONLY If the local radio station won't play it...don't bring it on a ship.
B. NO bootlegged songs. Have the original CDGS to prove that you purchased these songs at the local store OR the receipt if you purchased them online. Carnival has to follow copyright laws just like everyone else. I have a computer program that rips, alters the song into the key that I need it in and them burns it onto a blank CDG. I always have my original with me as proof of purchase.
C. No matter what...YOU are responsible if something happens to your CDG. If the karaoke host decides (in a fit of rage) to eat YOUR disk for dinner....YOU are responsible. Now karaoke hosts have been handling my disks for almost 10 years and they have NEVER put a scratch on them. BUT life happens...so if your disk gets destroyed...TO BAD!!! Your accept responsibility for anything that happens to it.
If you can't agree to all the of the above conditions, you can not use your own music.
If I think of anything else....I will post it!!
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