BigDog's Own Thread

[Sabrina59]

BigDog, I'm interested in knowing how your attitude has changed over the years in the business ... or if it has. What made you to decide to adopt some of the policies that you have? What was your history with karaoke before you started hosting shows? Why did you start hosting shows?

You seem to be very cynical at times, almost coming across as a jerk, yet you watch baby Eagles in the nest! I would actually love to go to one of your shows and see the real you or the performing you.

None of this is meant to offend you in anyway, so please don't take it that way. You just have some very different (to most) ideas and are not shy about stating them, quite adamantly.

It's no secret that you know your worth, I'm just curious about how the whole package came to be.

[Bigdog]

I have always been into music and art.

I have written some music and played guitar and some keyboard. I NEVER thought about going to karaoke, in fact my thought was...Who in the hell would want to do that?

So I ended up going and sang a song. It was fun and I started karaokeing 6-7 nights a week. Before the year ended I decided this was something that I could make money doing. MY WAY.

I went to as many shows as I could find. Checking out the good and bad things from each show. Keeping the good and trashing tha bad. Plus adding my own ideas as to the quality of the equipment and size. I wanted my show to sound and look impressive. All part of my marketing strategy.

Most people would pay good money for this info....

I took out a $20,000 loan to start my business. Nobody in my area was doing a karaoke show at my level as far as equipment. Which put me in a very good position. I could blow away all of the competition with my sound. Still can. 99% of my competition doesn't use sub speakers.

Now I will ask you what you feel is wrong with my attitude?

I am sick and tired of cheap KJs screwing up the reputation of karaoke. My goal was & is to promote quality karaoke. Not just a joke form of entertainment. There are many quality singers out there. I happen to enjoy and appreciate talent of any kind. Even in sports which I dislike. Talent is talent regardless of whether I like the activity.

When you see my set up it is nothing but impressive.

Most KJs on this site and others wouldn't know a quality KJ show if they saw one. People that want to do professional type karaoke using a Fender Passport system... and get paid for it.

I don't have to keep listing all the things that any quality KJ knows is stupid they have seen other KJs do. From cheap equipment to all the rest of their behaviors.

I despise so called KJs that want to hurt the reputation of karaoke. The ones that keep the quality low and the fees that we can charge and deserve low. KJs come at many different levels. Most are in the lowest percentile.

I run a professional show. That includes the deletion of songs that you would not hear on the AM radio. I have seen the bad behavior "anything goes" causes. I guess you haven't? I have seen expensive local night clubs go under from the type of crowds this music attracted. There were guns, drugs and fights in the parking lot night after night. The police were on scene all night long. Now is this the type of business you would want to own? Is this the type of business you want to patronise?

I use many things I have learned from other KJs. I don't "use" much more of the bad things. At one time I had 3 identical systems working 14 nights a week. Gone from divorce not a bad business decision. No local company has as much money invested in their business. Nothing is too good for me. I don't subscribe to the "It's Good Enough For Karaoke" attitude. My business is treated like it's a major corporation. From quality office equipment to my sound equipment. My entire presentation from printed material to sound equipment looks expensive. More Psychology. People feel like they were someplace special.

This is worth more money to continue....

Why shouldn't every KJ be concerned with the safety of the attending crowd? Why shouldn't the KJ worry about the reputation of the bar? Why shouldn't KJs worry more about their own reputation? Why shouldn't KJs worry about people in the crowd that could become offended by some jerks language? Just because it's made and available doesn't mean it should be open to everyone. They make pornos available, why don't you play them during the show? Same type of language and content. It won't offend everyone. Think of the crowd size.

So what actually makes me look like a jerk?

I use psychology in my entire business. From dress to how & where I set up. From my $600 cordless microphones to sub speakers. (The way the setup looks.)

I have a passion level that the majority can't climb to. That involves providing the highest quality professional karaoke as I can. I don't cater to jerks that want to hi-jack my show with their filth. If you thinks it's OK then you do. I think that puts me on a higher level. I won't stoop down to their level, just to have someone in the bar. I can and do make my living on a higher level of KJing. Most of the people that don't understand have no passion, use cheap equipment and put on a lousy show. Not anyone I worry about as far as them being any competition for me. I'm at the top of my game, everyone else is in catch up mode. It's one thing to spout off with nothing to back you. It's another thing to talk about the way it really is. My view and perspective is from the top of the mountain. Not looking up a tailpipe.

I won't apologise for my high level of success. Learn from my experience or not, I don't care. But many so called KJs are nothing but wannabes that play music as a low paying hobby. And their hobby has affected the amount of money I can charge becasue they work so cheap. This is my full time business. I eat, drink and sleep karaoke. Most of the complainers haven't worked as many jobs as I have. And they never will. Most have never witnessed good karaoke. I am a minority in any area of the country.

The norm is crap karaoke. It's all around me. Nobody around here is at my level. It's not my fault. I won't settle for my name being associated with crap. Others don't care about it. That is plain to see. You have it all around you as do many others.

Top quality KJs are a minority. Always have been.

I'm not saying I'm the most popular KJ around. There are many likable KJs. I put my money on my sound system and my professionality.

If you can find a better KJ, book 'em. I can only work so many jobs. If you're lucky, I'm your KJ.

I also place a lot of the blame on stupid bar owners that get baffled by these KJs.

What other info do you want for free?...

[Bigdog]

If I can't do it right, I would rather not do it at all. Too many just want to do it.

I hate incompetence. Most Karaoke business' are nothing but incompetence dressed as a KJ.

[Bigdog]

Unlike most, I take my appearance (job) in the bar as a big responsibilty. The type of behavior in that bar during my time there is greatly affected by the type of music being played. It's not the bar owners responsibility. It's mine. So I use whatever means I have to maintain the safety of everyone there. It's his responsibilty to eject troublemakers. It's my responsibility to make sure they don't come in or don't want to stay.

Taken to the extreme..If I was a PUNK KJ with the entire costume and music...what would the crowd be like? PUNK and if you were not PUNK they would want to beat you up.

If I played only country music and had a completely country crowd and you walked in all Punked out, they would beat you up.

If you play all the anything goes music you are getting an anything goes crowd. The chances of trouble just went up. I don't know by what percentage but it's higher than if you don't play it.

Certain music does things to people's attitude and demeanor. If you play all love songs what happens? What is the mood like? Is everyone looking for a fight? No...They are looking for the door. The music is in control of the crowd. If you play all disco music...more people will be dancing. The music is controlling the crowd.

It's not rocket science. Music controls the crowd PERIOD. It's called reading the crowd. If they start leaving because of a string of slow love songs what do you do? Sing a fast song and hope more people do. Why??? To keep the crowd there. You are not telling them on the microphone to sit down or get up and dance or it's boring. The music is.

I hate incompetence, that means KJs that make it look bad for the ones that are doing it right.

Am I saying that only my way is right? No...

I'm saying there are too many that don't have a clue about KJing. Just owning some equipment and music doesn't automatically make you a KJ.

How many people do you know that say "Let's go down to So & So's Bar, the KJ really sucks or the band sucks or the DJ sucks?" Or let's go here tonight there could be a fight. Or a bunch of people acting like jerks.

I'm not saying there has never been a fight at my shows. There has been. A$$holes are everywhere. But I am trying to minumize them at my shows. That I take personally as my responsibility. I don't want anyone attending my show to be hurt or in any kind of danger because of the music/musical content I allowed to be sung. You know that there is some real wacked out content in some songs. Gang activity, drug use, prostitution, degrading of women, and gun volence. Not acceptable for me and my business.

[Bigdog]

This is the biggest secret I don't want my competition to get.

It's the best thing I have ever learned from another KJ. And it's the jerk I have been talking about earlier.

No bar owner or regular customer has ever said I need more crap music.

[Sabrina59]

Actually I wasn't asking about your business secrets, but more how you came to be the you that I am getting to know on this forum and how you may have evolved over the years.

I didn't say there was anything wrong with your attitude. I was just questioning if your attitude had changed since your first day as a KJ. I will admit though, that you can sometimes be a bit overbearing.

Neither did I say that you look like a jerk; I said that you almost come across as a jerk. Subtle difference, I know, but still a difference. But again it would go back to the "tone" of your posts. When I first starting coming to this forum I used to shake my head when reading your posts, but after being here a while I know that it is just your confidence and passion speaking. Although I was shocked to see you state: "Am I saying that only my way is right? No... " Are you sure you're okay?

I'm actually quite hesistant to admit this to you, but the more you pound it into my head about the "crap" songs the more I am beginning to see things your way. I have not seen the music cause any problems at any of the venues I have been to, but I do recall many times asking my grown children to turn the rap crap off when I was around. I guess I have to admit that, unless I am in a really good mood, some of the music does get my dander up. And this is coming from a relatively mellow almost 50-year-old woman!

The only problem with editing my song book is that one of my favorite ditty's is The Rodeo Song. As you are probably aware it does drop the F-bomb a few times. I also like a few other's with questionable lyrics. Guilty!

We have one bar in town that allows only country songs. I don't mind country, I grew up on it, but I also enjoy the oldies. This place wouldn't even allow oldies, unless they were old country of course. I understand wanting to keep the rap crap and head-banging music out, but by not allowing oldies they lost two customers who would have been regulars as it is only a couple of miles from home. So, while editing a bit might be good for business, too much is not.

The bar we do go to on a regular basis has one person who always does the head-banging, yelling, screaming crap. A lot of the folks like it. I usually go out to smoke as soon as his turn comes up. What makes it even more ridiculous is that he is a 54-year-old man doing this.

Anyway, thank you for satisfying my curiosity and not being offended. Although I am still interested in knowing if you have had the same thoughts, as far as music content, from day one.

[Bigdog]

I'm not offended. I love you...

I actually listened to Rap music in 1969-70. The group was called the LAST POETS. Every other word was the F Bomb and other forms of it. It was actually very funny, because of the stories they told. Very insightful and eye opening. I can't stomach most of the rap today.

I had an awakening experience one night to the real power of music.

I was playing a bar that was connected to a bowling alley. It's not in the sticks but it's a little out there. I used to live a few miles from there. Anyway the crowd was really wound up, like crawling on the ceiling. I was expecting things to blow up at any minute. Keep in mind that this is before most of the heavy swearing songs started to come out. Like 10-12 years ago. So I figured I needed to do something to slow the pace down some. I decided to sing a slow song.

To my AMAZEMENT 6 couples started slow dancing right in front of me. The entire mood of the crowd INSTANTLY mellowed.....It took me completely by surprise. I NEVER expected that to happen. They actually loved it. And I regained some control. In 3 minutes the crowd was mine all mine.

Just imagine if you found out you could control the weather. In an instant. That's how I felt with my new discovery.

That was my awakening moment. I clearly remember it as if it happened today. I found out exactly how powerful music was and how I could control everything in a blink of an eye.

From that time on I developed my atitude towards how I would be in control of my show. Not the singers, but me. So when I say I control my show, I mean it. I can change the course of the evening at any given moment. Just by changing the tempo of the music.

Think about what I just said. Change the course of the entire evening with a song. That song can be a bad choice and start a riot, or it can be a good choice and soothe the savage beast. Remember that saying???

MUSIC SOOTHES THE SAVAGE BEAST

MUSIC....Not talking, not yelling, not jumping up and down. MUSIC

Music can also incite people. Look at Charles Manson...I know you are going to say but he and his troupe were on dope. So are half the bar crowds today. Dope or drunk. That makes them savage beasts. Now add the wrong music to the mix.

Once I found the key....I used it to my full advantage to, if you will control the crowd. Been doing it every show since then. I have it down to a science.

If it's not in the book to sing, it can't sway them off course. I am the conductor of the entire show. Nobody can hi-jack my show. I'm the Federal Marshall in the cock-pit. The plane lands where I say it will everytime.

I don't think that makes me cocky or a jerk.

I don't beat around the bush. I'm totally honest and to the point. I speak with passion that others don't have. I have seen and used everything that works and doesn't. I'm open to learn new things.

I evaluate my competitions downfalls. I know every stupid bar owner mistake. Every KJ mistake.

I see people (KJs) that say karaoke is dieing. Yes because there are many KJs that are contributing to that death. Playing dance sets does that exactly.

It's an excuse to say I can't do karaoke very good and my crowds won't stay because they are not entertained. Why not?? Who is in charge of the entertainment? The non singers? NO... Are you hired to do the non-singers or karaoke? Are you a KJ or a DJ? Do you go see a DJ and ask him to do a karaoke song for you? While everyone else is there to dance?

I don't cater to anyone but the singers. But I make sure the non-singers are entertained and happy. I control the show. KJ/DJs are not in control. Their crowd is. They let non-singers hi-jack the karaoke night that you were hired to supply.

Yes karaoke is dieing and KJ/DJs are killing it a little with each and every show. You have the power, but you don't know what you are doing and how to use it. You don't have the passion or committment to do a pure karaoke show night after night. I'll NEVER sell out to the non-singers to keep a job.

The new job Saturday night guy just asked me today if I DJ and KJ. I told him NO. If it means they decide not to hire me because of that...Oh well.

I AM A KJ....PERIOD. My time is not divided trying to keep up with DJ music.

Karaoke takes up all of my time. It's the business I started and the only one I run. I have no desire to do a wedding or private party that requires me to DJ/KJ ever again. If you want to hire a real KJ, I'm your guy.

I'm not a wannabe KJ that DJs or vice versa. If you can show me a more successful KJ, lead me to them. I'll see if I can learn something.

I don't have any worries about all of my competition learning me secrets or even knowing every piece of equipment I use. Because they don't have my passion level. All my info and no drive doesn't mean a thing. Knowing every piece of equipment won't help them, because they don't want to spend the money. "I want to be a KJ as cheap as possible."

Show me one person that takes out a loan for $20,000...17 years ago...What was it worth then? 2 new cars???? That's my driving force and my confidence in my abilities to be a success.

Cocky ???? NO...Jerk...NO....Know what I'm talking about from years of doing it???? YES.. Call me confident in my continued ability to run a professional pure karaoke show, night after night. An idiot couldn't make up all this detail.

[Bigdog]

An all country karaoke night isn't the end of the world.

But I want you to think about the real reason a bar owner might want to do an all oldie or all country show?????

You tell me what you think the reason is???? I'll give you a hint.

We have been talking about it this entire topic.

I'm gearing up to do exactly that. I did an all oldie karaoke show a few years ago. It went over very well.

I wrote the answer backwards.

.cisum htiw dworc sih gnillortnoc si eH

Do you want to control some drunk cowboys in a fist fight or hopped up gun toting gangbangers?

[Sabrina59]

Awww ... you wuv me?!?! You ARE human afterall.

There are a few, very few, rap songs that I like; Gangsta's Paradise, I Like Big Butts, I Hate Rap, and the Jed Clampet rap song (can't remember the name). That's about it.

We have a lot of places locally that have their own equipment and just hire KJ's to run the show. That is actually the case at our regular hang-out. Luckily the "head" KJ cares about quality and just recently was able to upgrade his speakers, mics and amp. Now he is trying to get the owner to go digital.

I guess I'm fortunate in that I haven't been to a show with a real bad KJ. The very first KJ I frequented was great. She cared about her equipment and singers. Unfortunately she had a major attitude change when she bought the bar. Her equipment is still great, but I know she is not running legal copies. She bought a lap-top with about 100,000 songs on it, and paid $4,000 for it. She still has her old system thinking that will keep her from trouble.

The son of a couple that we know has a show but I refuse to frequent his place. One night he was at our spot bitching about how bad most karaoke singers are, himself excluded of course. With that kind of attitude why would I go to his show?

I had one KJ let a regular sing a song that I had put in. In fact, she came in after us and he placed her just before me in the rotation doing "my" song. We collected our discs while the regular was singing and left and have not/will not go back.

Some KJ's just make stupid mistakes. They might be minor to them, but I think serious karaoke enthusiasts are pretty unforgiving; at least I know I am. Do me wrong and I won't be back. I used to attend the first KJ's show five nights a week, at different venues. She irritated me with her rotation and I stopped going. There are plenty other places to go.

Do you really think karaoke is dieing? It still seems to be very popular here. I have yet to go to a show where it is a mix of karaoke and dance tunes. I know of only one venue in the area that mixes the show like that, and, for that reason, I will not go there. I do not go out to listen to a DJ, I go out to sing.

Now, I will admit that I play vocal versions of karaoke songs at the beginning of our show if I don't have any singers signed up yet. But once my show starts, it's all karaoke. That is why people are there.

"To my AMAZEMENT 6 couples started slow dancing right in front of me. The entire mood of the crowd INSTANTLY mellowed.....It took me completely by surprise. I NEVER expected that to happen. They actually loved it. And I regained some control. In 3 minutes the crowd was mine all mine." Tell me honestly ... you LOVED the power, didn't you! I can see where you might be a tad, just a tad, on the controlling side.

Are you sure you're not just a wee bit cocky? You can be confident and know what you're talking about and still be just a wee little bit cocky.

[Bigdog]

Is it cocky to know you're the best????


I have pi$$ed some people off in my time. Some of them deserved it.

Too many karaoke singers think that karaoke should be done to suit them and their idea of how a show should be run.

First of all....it's my show. I have an agenda and it's the way I want the flow of the show to go. The reason I was hired. The reason I keep my jobs.

Many singers think the KJ, should never sing ever.

That's their opinion. Where did that rule ever originate? Who says I can not or should not sing on my equipment at my job.

I have a list of at least 13 reasons that a KJ might or should sing during the course of the night.

#1. It's my show.
#2. I like to sing as much as every other singer.
#3. Singing makes me happy. If I can't sing at my show, there is something very wrong.
#4. I sing to CONTROL the entire crowd. (It's part of my job and the way I keep my jobs.)
#5. I am not usually singing to show off. I'm singing songs that I feel will best benefit the crowd and the bars income.
#6. I do not sing more than any other singer. Once per rotation.
#7. I know about 600 songs and I sing them very well. I can entertain a crowd all night.
#8. The singers are keeping themselves "entertained" by the songs they like and want to sing. Their song selection 99% of the time is for their benefit, and to show off their singing talent, not entertaining to the crowd.
#9. Their song selection is usually "BORING" the rest of the crowd. My job is to correct that situation.
#10 I normally don't get to sing the songs I want to sing. They are usually songs to keep the non-singers happy. Non-singers usually out number the singers by 2-3-4 to one. The biggest part of the crowd. (MONEY SPENDERS)

There will always be some jerk in the crowd that is not happy about how I run my show. They are never happy about the way any KJ runs the show. They are just cronic complainers. I don't need them around.

What singers don't understand is....The bar needs to make money. They make that money from heads in the bars. It's my job to keep as many heads at the bar for as long as I can. MOST karaoke singers sing songs that don't add to that agenda. THey are selfish in their reasoning as to why the KJ shouldn't sing.

NO other KJ plays karaoke music non-stop all night long without interruption from filler music or dance music or microphone yacking. You can not sing more songs at any other show.

Now why are you bytching about me doing my job which is to keep the entire crowd entertained to the point that they want to stay and have fun. Karaoke is my job. That includes singing from time to time. Karaoke=singing

Any singer that doesn't understand my entire job responsibilty needs to know it's not just about kissing their a$$. I'm kissing 100 a night.

#11. If the flow of the rotation is like I want it to be, then I can skip myself.
#12. I keep myself in the rotation if it's really small. Most singers only sing 4-5 songs. If they sing those sing too fast, then what? Who will sing? So my spot in the rotation spreads that time out some.
#13. If I lose my job because of lack of a crowd, then they have no place to sing. My singing helps to insure my job security.

This isn't my entire list I can't remember them all right now.

Does any of this make sense?

[KnoxvilleKaraoke]

I hate to jump into your conversation but I agree with you BD for the most part. I have been doing shows for 10 years and I always say I am there for Karaoke the dance club is down the street. I use music to control the crowd's mood and have for years. Just something I picked up from working in bars and clubs over the last 20 years. (Not always as a KJ I was a bouncer,bartender,bar back, or bar owner all at one time or another) I play dance music a filler music between singers but very seldom at any other time. My current gig is a prime example of what you have been talking about being a KJ. The previous KJ played dance music 1/2 the time and he sang most of the rest of the time. Other people very seldom got to sing. I worked at another bar across the street which was 1/2 the size but had twice the crowd. Last summer I took a few months off to rest and get married. The first of this year the bar I am at now called me and asked if I would do their show their old guy was no longer there. My first night I was told by a regular that it was not a karaoke bar and I would have a hard time getting people to sing. This past Saturday night I had 40+ singers. That done in 2 months due to actually letting people sing. So your suggestions do work. As far as music selection, I am a little more lenient. However, I do not allow the more "Adult" language songs until after 11:00 PM when my older crowd members have gone home and the younger crowd has moved in.

[Sabrina59]

I can certainly understand controlling the crowd through music. I just don't see how having oldies is going to create a "negative" crowd. Almost everyone likes the oldies. It amazes me how many young people, not yet 18, come in and sing the oldies at our show. I think this guy just wanted a country meat-market, and that's fine. Just don't expect a mellow crowd. I grew up around cowboys (yes, I'm a redneck ... still love me?) and in my younger days was witness to many a redneck fight. As you stated, usually they aren't hopped up on drugs and typically don't use weapons. By the way ... the karaoke lasted less than a year.

I have never been to a show where the KJ didn't sing. I'll take myself out of the rotation if it gets too big, or hubby and I will take turns. Since we both do the show we would take up two spots in the rotation. This is fine until the rotation gets long.

I've always thought about songs that the crowd wants to hear when I sing; even before we had our own show. But I do agree that most folks come in and sing the songs they want with no regard for what the crowd enjoys. How many places will Etta James, Frank Sinatra and the like go over well with the crowd? And a slow song will usually not be well received either.

I am very fortunate in that I have two different venues to sing at. The bar is all about up-beat popular songs to make that crowd happy. But at our show, I can sing some of the older and slower stuff and it still goes over well. It's also a great place to practice new songs. It is a small venue and we are more like family there.

So ... what do you consider microphone yacking? The most I have heard is the "welcome" to the show and mentioning what nights karaoke is available and who the KJ's are for the other shows. Personally I don't have a problem with this.

It seems as though the shows in your part of the country are very different from the shows we have out here.

By the way, per Merriam Webster, the definition of cocky is "boldly or brashly self-confident". Sound like anyone you know?

[Bigdog]

When I first started I went with the Poineer Laser discs because of the videos. Another Psychological move. We are the children of TV. Even the nonsingers can watch the videos and get involved.

A Pioneer Laser machine takes about 1 1/2 -2 minutes to stop, eject, reload & play. Me being me.... the thought of only using one $1200 player sucked .....I started day one with two. One loading, one playing. Nonstop music. No Filler, ever. Another bit of my advantage over other KJs.

I replaced a KJ that only had one player and during the downtime he yacked it up like a radio DJ. It got very boring...very fast. That's almost an hours worth of talking, every show not singing.

My next singer always has the microphone in hand when the last song ends and they are ready to sing as soon as I announce the last singers name and the clapping dies down. I don't trample their moment of fame.

And I get singers that complain because I sing a song.. ..They will never sing more at any other show. Take out a loan and do what I do or at least try to do it and we'll see how much you HAVE to sing or dance set during your show. I have many more unemployed competitors that couldn't hack it.

[Sabrina59]

I went to one show that had videos running behind the lyrics; I didn't care for it. I found it to be distracting. It's probably a matter of what one is used to.

I think you can achieve the same thing, no down time, by having at least a two-disc deck or going digital. That's one of the reasons we went digital. Even though I had the next disc out to pop in the deck it still took too long (in my opinion).

Our show is very casual and has a family atmosphere. We have four cordless mics so I let three of our regular tables each have one. I have a banner that shows the rotation so everyone knows when they are singing. As soon as the applause had ended for one person, the next one is ready to go at a push of a button. It is so much nicer and you are correct, a person gets to sing more during the night.

The bar I go to has a CAVS unit and a three-disc deck. The KJ always has the next song cued up. There is no waiting at his shows either.

I get very irritated with people who have to finish their drink, or order, or ???, before they amble on up to the mic. That just shows their rudeness, in my opinion. By not being ready when it is your turn, you are taking singing time away from me ... and I can be very selfish!

Some of your stories are incredible. There must be some pretty bad KJ's and singers where you are from. As I've said before, I haven't seen even half of what you have mentioned.

[Bigdog]

That could be the reason people think I'm a jerk. I know most KJs don't know half of what I'm talking about because they can't comprehend where I fall in the KJ food chain. They have never seen a real PA system used for karaoke. 95% think these so called karaoke systems advertised on most of these web sites is what you use and it's good enough for karaoke. They also must think I sit around making up karaoke stories to amuse people. I don't have to make up anything. My stories are always the truth.

Just like tonight...a guy that has a KJ brother told me I am much better and know how to mix better than any other KJ. He gave ma a $40 tip. He's good for at least $20 everytime I see him.

As far as singers go...My motto is...Sing whatever song you want to sing, I'll entertain the crowd.

As far as one player KJs go.....this is 2009....quit being cheap. Cavemen are long gone.

As far as the lasers ...Pioneer spared no expense on their music or the video productions. Musically there are very few that I won't play. No company ever gets every song right. That is why having many companies gives us an option to find the best musical version to play.

I play the best musical version period. The company that did it doesn't matter. The closest to the radio version is what always matters to me.

I used to use 2 cordless microphones until about 3-4-years ago. Now I use 3 (That's $2000 worth counting my announcing microphone) and that is plenty. If there is a duet going on, the next singer can still have a microphone in hand. More that 3 for a group sing starts sounding like noise. Group singers start to get rowdy and act goofy. It's the safety in numbers thing. I can act like a jerk coz I'm surrounded by other people.