Good host, bad host

By Melissa Reed

I thought about all the many shows I have gone to, and frequent, and one thing that stands out in my mind is the host’s personality. I have been to many shows that I would never go back to based on the host that was there. There is no room for rude, obnoxious or self-consumed hosts. It doesn’t matter if you have been in this business for five, ten or 20 years or if you are brand new for that matter. If you have been hosting for any length of time, then why have you not figured out yet that being conceited is not a good idea?

I have to make mention of several shows here because they have stood out as possibly “the worst” shows I have ever been to.

I went to a show recently where upon arriving I sat down in the front of the room. There was dance music playing and I had to ask if there was karaoke or not. The music continued to play for quite some time. The actions of the host at this point were completely offensive and rude. The karaoke host proceeded to pick up his tip jar show it to me, shake it upside down, point at it and return it to the top of his gear. What was that? Well, I took it as a tip-to-sing kind of gesture. No matter, it was rude.

During my time here he played over a half hour of dance music and had claimed at one point that it would be the last song, but then sang along to three more songs while drinking his beers and dancing with the girls on the dance floor. At this point, I looked around the room and thought maybe people were just not singing. So I went and asked a couple different people if they had songs in and they all said yes. In fact, they were all very upset over the fact that the karaoke host was playing all the dance music and obviously not hosting a karaoke show. Each person I spoke with mentioned they had been waiting for quite some time to sing, but the host had just been dancing around with the girls and having a good time, so maybe he figured everyone else was too.

We waited for an hour and other singers had left not wanting to wait anymore. Finally our song was called up as we were walking out. We started walking back up to sing, and the host came over the mic with, “Hey, it’s not like I didn’t drive 60 miles to get here, so you can tip”.

WHAT?! He seriously just said that?! And this after the kind of sideshow he was running. The nerve. Unless you are strictly working for tips, then you don’t beg for them, and not even then! You don’t announce for people to tip you! Making an announcement to tip the bar staff is one thing, but making anyone feel obligated to tip you is just unacceptable. I didn’t think he was all that in the first place, but then to bury yourself with the obvious dance-party antics, and the tip announcements and flagging your tip jar at people. I was so disappointed in the host’s behavior, I would never refer people to that show or any of his.

I’d also like to make mention of the hosts that take bribes to let people sing. This goes hand in hand with obligated tipping. First of all, that just goes to show what kind of a person you are. If you’re going to make it that obvious that people need to tip you to sing in the rotation, or if they tip will be bumped up in the rotation, you should not be hosting. This is about fun, not about who is a better tipper. A singer says, “But I want to sing again.” “Well, okay give me 20 bucks and I will let you.” Even though the singer just sang three songs ago in a 15-person rotation. WHAT?! Are you kidding me?

Karaoke hosts, if you decide that you want to build a reputation on taking bribes, and being a complete jerk, then be my guest, because people will eventually quit coming to your shows to be disrespected and mistreated.

The second kind of host is the one who never pays attention. I know that you’ve all experienced this person. Hosts, please don’t walk away after you hit play. At least pretend to try and tune each of the singers in or adjust volumes. There is nothing worse than finding yourself at the karaoke bar that sounds like everyone is singing through a can of worms, or you can’t even hear the singer over the music.

And the host that thinks they are karaoke gods. All I can say to this one is that your behavior is ridiculous. Eventually people get sick of the “I’m the best” attitude. Once it was cute to see you dancing around, flirting with everyone, but when it becomes obvious that you are trying to play the better-than-thou role, it’s not cute anymore. Maybe you should open your show with I’m Too Sexy, and you can close it with the last verse, “I’m too sexy for this show!”

The best hosts I’ve seen are part of a team, working with each other to help the patrons find songs, talk to people about what they would like to have in the books or what they would like to see done with the show. No, not everyone needs to be a team because they can multitask and actually focus on the singers. Some hosts can run their show without distractions. I think the bigger venues should have at least two people to run the show - someone to hang out with people and help them and the other managing the sound system.

I love going to a show where I am greeted at my table, making me feel welcome. No one likes going to a show for the first time and feeling like the outsider. Great personalities help too. Just be friendly and courteous and never assume that everyone has done karaoke before and knows how it all works. Many have not, and don’t know how to fill out slips and turn them in, or understand mic etiquette. So please take the time to let people know, before coming off as a grumpy host that doesn’t want to be there.

Remember, singers and patrons like the hosts that are fun, happy, pleasant and helpful. Attitude will make up for everything else as long as you are friendly and honest and don’t play games with people.

I would love to hear about the kind of experiences you have had, what kind of hosts you prefer and the ones you don’t. I know there are many opinions of what makes a good host, and things that people just don’t want to put up with. A follow up will be sent out next month and I would like to include your stories and experiences. Contact Melissa Reed at starlighte@hotmail.com or 360-421-7463.