Time for me to find a pair of bell bottoms, get out my sandals, buy a vest with leather fringes, get some love beads and find that old peace symbol necklace! Why is that, you may ask??
I have been invited to host karaoke at a 60's and 70's party!! Far freakin' out! I will be grooving out at this happening place on Sept 13. Sorry... it's a private party, or I would be asking more people to make the scene.
That following Friday, I will be singing at Trinity Village, assisted living center. I have sung there before and have gotten such a warm reception that it's well worth it to take half a vacation day from work.
In the mean time, I have been soliciting the patrons at Bootleggers for songs that I need to add to my collection. In the past month, I have purchased nearly 700 songs, which brings my total up to 4,510 songs as of this morning. See the latest songbook at John the Revelator.
I hope everyone has an enjoyable and restful Labor Day.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Sunday, August 17, 2008
off to my third gig at Bootleggers
I have now had two gigs at Bootleggers Milwaukee bar and grill. I continue to be pumped about the place. Aside from having a bit of a wardrobe malfunction, we had quite a few excellent singers.
I was surprised to hear that the song "Vehicle" (Ides of March, 1970) is still popular, as well it should be. The song was done proud by "Beer Lover". The crowd loved it. Marcellus was another crowd pleaser. It is not my usual, but I could see that people wanted to hear another from him, so he sang two in a row.
Normally, when three people step up on stage, this is a good sign that you are about to hear karaoke with a lower case "k". People just having fun. Don't get me wrong, that's a good thing. Karaoke is all about having fun. So, when I got a slip from Anthony, Travis and Rob, my expectation were not set real high. But! All three of these guys can sing! The first week and this last week as well. Welcome!
There are a few people on the staff at Bootleggers who also have wonderful voices. The week before, Ben (the Monday night manager) had asked if I had any Gavin DeGraw. Last week I brought in "I don't want to be". Ben was studying to be an opera major. I'm glad he decided to use his voice for more popular singing!!
I am so glad to have Bethany the cocktail waitress sing! Rashida, you rock. Joanne, Kari and Abby... I love old time rock and roll, too! Liam the Kiwi visited us all the way from New Zealand!
Cristal has sung both nights that I have hosted. One person came up to me while she was singing "SHE'S AWESOME!" I would have to agree.
After my first night at Bootleggers, I added 252 songs. After the second night, I added 194. Hopefully the last four CDs will show up in the mail on Monday so that I can quickly load them on my laptop for the show.
If there are any songs you would like to see added to my book, email me: Revelator.Karaoke@gmail.com. I will do my best to bring them in.
I was surprised to hear that the song "Vehicle" (Ides of March, 1970) is still popular, as well it should be. The song was done proud by "Beer Lover". The crowd loved it. Marcellus was another crowd pleaser. It is not my usual, but I could see that people wanted to hear another from him, so he sang two in a row.
Normally, when three people step up on stage, this is a good sign that you are about to hear karaoke with a lower case "k". People just having fun. Don't get me wrong, that's a good thing. Karaoke is all about having fun. So, when I got a slip from Anthony, Travis and Rob, my expectation were not set real high. But! All three of these guys can sing! The first week and this last week as well. Welcome!
There are a few people on the staff at Bootleggers who also have wonderful voices. The week before, Ben (the Monday night manager) had asked if I had any Gavin DeGraw. Last week I brought in "I don't want to be". Ben was studying to be an opera major. I'm glad he decided to use his voice for more popular singing!!
I am so glad to have Bethany the cocktail waitress sing! Rashida, you rock. Joanne, Kari and Abby... I love old time rock and roll, too! Liam the Kiwi visited us all the way from New Zealand!
Cristal has sung both nights that I have hosted. One person came up to me while she was singing "SHE'S AWESOME!" I would have to agree.
After my first night at Bootleggers, I added 252 songs. After the second night, I added 194. Hopefully the last four CDs will show up in the mail on Monday so that I can quickly load them on my laptop for the show.
If there are any songs you would like to see added to my book, email me: Revelator.Karaoke@gmail.com. I will do my best to bring them in.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Gig at Bootleggers
Monday afternoon I got an email. The regular karaoke DJ at Bootleggers had broken his ankle, and they needed a karaoke DJ to fill in. That night.
I will be honest. Doing a regular gig in a bar was not part of my original business plan. I didn't relish the idea of dealing with cigarette smoke. I didn't relish the idea of packing up heavy gear at 2:00 AM. And, to continue being honest, I have been in some seedy hole-in-the-wall bars looking for that ultimate karaoke experience. I didn't relish the idea of hosting karaoke to twelve drunk guys and a dog.
But, they said that I could use their sound system. I wouldn't have to schelp around my amp and a bunch of heavy speakers. But still I worried that maybe their amp was ... well ... something not all that spectacular.
So, it was with some trepidation that I agreed to help them out this last Monday night.
I could not have been more wrong. I was totally way wronger. First, the place is huge, brand new, and just has a good feel to it. With the ventilation and high ceiling, I did not notice smoke. The "little Monday night crowd" was a few more than 12. Last Monday night, there were 300 people. I could not believe it. A Monday night?!?!
Did I say I had some concerns ahead of time that their sound system would be lousy?!?? OMG. I was wrong on that as well. I have never had that much horsepower at my fingertips. The space shuttle astronauts never had that much horsepower. What I thought was the stage was actually the box for one of the subwoofers.
The patrons were another pleasant surprise. All upscale, good attitudes, positive vibes. They were there to have fun. And, get this, most of them could sing! I had a blast.
I came home and bought 25 CDs of pop hits.
I am now the regular Monday night karaoke DJ at Bootleggers Bar and Grill, 1025 N. Old World Third Street, Milwaukee!!
I will be honest. Doing a regular gig in a bar was not part of my original business plan. I didn't relish the idea of dealing with cigarette smoke. I didn't relish the idea of packing up heavy gear at 2:00 AM. And, to continue being honest, I have been in some seedy hole-in-the-wall bars looking for that ultimate karaoke experience. I didn't relish the idea of hosting karaoke to twelve drunk guys and a dog.
But, they said that I could use their sound system. I wouldn't have to schelp around my amp and a bunch of heavy speakers. But still I worried that maybe their amp was ... well ... something not all that spectacular.
So, it was with some trepidation that I agreed to help them out this last Monday night.
I could not have been more wrong. I was totally way wronger. First, the place is huge, brand new, and just has a good feel to it. With the ventilation and high ceiling, I did not notice smoke. The "little Monday night crowd" was a few more than 12. Last Monday night, there were 300 people. I could not believe it. A Monday night?!?!
Did I say I had some concerns ahead of time that their sound system would be lousy?!?? OMG. I was wrong on that as well. I have never had that much horsepower at my fingertips. The space shuttle astronauts never had that much horsepower. What I thought was the stage was actually the box for one of the subwoofers.
The patrons were another pleasant surprise. All upscale, good attitudes, positive vibes. They were there to have fun. And, get this, most of them could sing! I had a blast.
I came home and bought 25 CDs of pop hits.
I am now the regular Monday night karaoke DJ at Bootleggers Bar and Grill, 1025 N. Old World Third Street, Milwaukee!!
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