Untitled Document

INSIDE SCENE

Chef Emilio, hottest ticket in town pg. 3
Kama Sutra Karaoke pg. 3
Karaoke Tool Box pg. 6
June Is Busting Out All Over pg. 6
Lucky California pg. 6
Scene Calendar pg. 10 & 11 All the world's a stage pg. 14
SDS Photo Night pg. 16 & 17
Cycuan Casino & Resort to Host Talent Quest pg. 18
The Musical Rustlers of Palm Canyon Oasis pg. 20
Views pg. 20 & 21

"The Hottest Ticket in Town!"

It's rare to find a karaoke venue with a Gourmet Chef that also sings
ballads to the Karaoke crowd in Italian. San Giorgio welcomes guests with a wide variety of authentic Italian Cuisine, featuring fabulous pastas, seafoods and specialties from Chef Emilio, such as Rack of Lamb, Veal Valdostano and Osso Bucco.

Our singing chef, Emilio came to this country from Southern Italy, bringing with him the warmth of the people and the gift of great food. Emilio grew up in a small village atop a mountain in the region between Calabria and Basilicata next to the Gulf of Toranto. The village is called San Giorgio Lucano, from the great legend of Saint George and the dragon.

Farms, vineyards and orchards surround San Giorgio Lucano. The air is heady with the scents nature's bounty. It is here that Emilio first discovered his passion with food. The mountainside is dotted with caves that store each family's wine, olives and proscuitto at the perfect temperature for proper aging. These ancient caves are called la "grotte". If Mama Rosa could not find Emilio when he was a child, there was a good chance that he was in the "grotte" drinking wine and eating the cache of fresh fruits and dried meats.

Armed with Old World knowledge of food and herbs Emilio traveled to the USA and began his journey to bring a bit of old Italy to America. Emilio's talents are known from New York's Little Italy, to Pittsburgh, PA and in Northern San Diego County. You may remember Dominic's in Carlsbad, where Emilio was the executive chef and most recently with Trattoria I Trulli in Encinitas. We are now pleased to feature Chef Emilio, not only in our kitchen at San Giorgio, but also in our lounge, singing the Theme from The Godfather in Italian.

Kama Sutra Karaoke
or, Lyrical Lilts of Love
and Lust

by Bud Young

To a great extent, "K" singers carry on a constant love affair with music... sometimes even to extremes.

However, they are not to be castigated for their musical fervor... but rather lauded for their devotion to the romantic intent of their offerings... as burnt as those offerings may be.

Now, allow me to play judge and jury in rating examples which might be considered role models for both success and failure... see if you can guess which is which.

The tantalizing lyrical poetry of a Latin ballad emanating from a woman of vocally regal bearing, or from a man whose voice seduces his audience with a smoky and sexual verbal embrace. Typically, I refer to the likes of Linda Ronstadt and Julio Iglesis. (Total intimacy, por favor-- and a rousing "OLE" for J-LO).

Then turning to a more home-grown product of rhapsodic intrigue, attention is paid to the likes of Faith Hill, who, by any standards, strips a man of his arbitrary denial of the power of woman. Her beauty lies in her almost ethereal image, her flawless delivery of senuous lyrics. and a Circe-like invitation to take her for one's own. Opposite, but complementing her , is a man who has proven himself in the country musical genre by reciting, with melodic ease, song-stories of love, hate, history and derring-do-----Mr. Kenny Rogers. (Not just a case of puppylove here).

Skipping to the most obnoxious segment of the musical spectrum, we must yield to the vocal effrontry of Rap--- music that is wasted by it's association with obscenities and suggestive diatribe fostering and glorifying crime. salacious intertludes, sexual abuse and social revolution. Some pioneer perpetuators of this inciteful innanity are Ice-T and Dr. Dre... among others. After establishing themselves as the Sultans of Slime, theyseek atonement by immersing themselves in moralistic, albeit violent motion pictures in an attempt to modify and justify the destructive affect their rap-crap has had on the young and impressionable minds of a fan base rotting in the aftermath of their blasphemic approach to society as a whole. (A carnal tryst of orgy proportions).

Catapulting into the mecca of nostalgia, there can be no dispute that when comparing Rock and Roll, Heavy Metal and Alternative with the historical melodious impact of the Big Band Era, there can be no argument and no comparison. Both individual vocalists,(Sinatra, Stafford, Washington, Cole, Como, et al), as well as vocal groups, (Lettermen, Modernaires, 4 Freshmen, et al), demonstrated and enforced the international appeal of music based on the human emotion, whether ballad or swing. The names of the bands, (Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, et al), are forever etched into the minds and hearts of the people then as well as the people now. No sound has reverberated nor has been resurrected more in peoples memories as has that experience with the true marriage of music and lyric.. an echo of Eden. (I'm talking serious romance here).

For almost a century, Americans' love affair with all music genre has given birth to a multitude of tastes, and Rap can never come close to equaling our wanton desire for wholesome, inspirational music, and our almost maniacal search for untapped, virginal lyrics. (Now, that's a love affair!!!... even without Kama Sutra.

Karaoke
Tool Box
By Ken Wilson
Croaky Entertainment

Going Digital

In the last issue we looked at CDG creation software and how to make your own karaoke disk. I had hoped to discuss yet another program, MTU Karaoke Studio, in this issue but I am still in the process of evaluating it. So to give them and you a fair shake, I will hold off till next issue.

Instead, we're going to look at digital PC based systems, and what you will need to enter the digital millennium. Let's face it. It is a digital world and sooner or later, the legalities will get worked out so that we can all benefit from the available technology.

Warning! Neither this publication nor this author endorses copyright or trademark infringement. We do not offer legal advice. Opinions expressed are my own, and offered for informational purposes only.

That said, there are many advantages to going digital. You don't have to haul your own disk collection around with you to be ripped off or damaged. No disk skips from scratched disks or floor stomping or thunderous subwoofers. Easily create playlists, change the order of songs at the last minute, shorter wait between singers resulting in more SPH (songs per hour), and even better, the ability to look up songs by title, artist, or disk number just by typing the information into a search box.

This is the first in a series on how to build a digital system.

Planning your system

Windows 98, XP, Mac? This is the most important decision you will have to make when building your system. Mac is undoubtedly a superior system for multimedia applications, but the software you will need is almost entirely designed for Windows. So for the sake of this article, we are going to work on a Windows system.

With Windows 98 SE, you get a fairly stable system, however there are a few drawbacks. Digital systems require a LOT of memory. Windows 98 is generally limited to 512 MB. Some people have managed to configure more, but Windows 98 doesn't know how to use more than 512 MB so anything more than that is wasted.

Windows XP however, can handle all the memory you can throw at it. It is a stable system and uses memory very effectively. It can also accommodate many advanced features we will be discussing in future articles so this is the system we will use.

Laptop, Tower, Desktop, Rack

Laptops have become the road warriors dream. Big bright screens, dvd/cd-rw combo drives, fast processors, fast video cards and big hard drives. There are a few drawbacks though. The power supply is a major component to consider when building your system.
Most laptops have small power supplies, around 250 watts. This can cause slow performance when running WinCDG Pro with your lyrics window spanned to the external TV monitor. Especially if your multi-tasking and running PCDJ or BPM Studio for your background music. Heat is a major factor as well. While laptops generally have a chassis fan, they rely on a large aluminum heat sink with no fan to dissipate the heat. Over time, this will result in burned out processors and memory when used for hours at a time on a regular basis.

Towers make excellent use of internal space, allowing plenty of ventilation, workspace and the ability to add a large power supply. I recommend at least 400 watts, but the bigger the better. The drawback is portability, but you could easily add a handle to the top of the unit.

Desktops, the kind that lay flat and usually have a monitor sitting on top, are becoming hard to find. They don't offer as much internal space as towers, but might be just the ticket for your own needs.

Rack mount units are perfect for the DJ Case. They mount in a 4U or 3U slot depending on your preference, and offer all the benefits of a tower without quite as much internal space to work with. They are generally heavy duty and most have internal shock mechanisms to protect the hard drive.

Processors, Memory & Hard Drives

Prices are dropping rapidly on very fast processors as we get ready for the next big advance in processor technology. 2 GHz processors can be had for under $100 and 512 MB sticks of DDR RAM can be had for under $70. I suggest 1 Gigabyte of memory (2 512MB sticks) and at least a 1.8 GHz processor.

Hard drives are getting bigger and cheaper too. You will have to decide on you own size requirements, but remember, bigger is better. The system will take up around 15 Gigabytes; you need at least a 10 percent cushion of unused space, and enough additional space to handle your digital library plus any new music you buy in the near future.

120 Gigabyte hard drives can be had for around $100, but the big bargain is the 200GB hard drive by Western Digital, when it goes on sale with a rebate. It can be had for as little as $129.00.

Sound & Video

A professional sound card is the absolute best way to go. I suggest a Maya 44 available from PCDJ at http://www.pcdj.com . It is a 4 channel card with superb sound and the ability to play two sound sources simultaneously through its quarter inch outputs. That means you can plug one source into one channel of a mixer, and the other to a second channel, and fade between the two. It sells for around $150.00.

You can also use a high end consumer card like the SoundBlaster Audigy. It just depends on how far you want to go with it.

Video cards are a key component in any multimedia system. A good 64MB or 128MB card is preferred. NVIDIA is an excellent brand that offers a fan cooled card with TV output. This is essential for Karaoke applications. You must be able to activate the 'Extended Desktop' feature to enable the lyrics to be displayed on an external TV monitor. It must have either a composite or s-video output connector.

This type of card also eliminates the need for an RF modulator in most situations, unless you patch into a house TV system.

Whether you build it yourself, or have it built for you, a digital system is going to be a must have item in the very near future. Brush up on those computer skills now so you won't get left behind like an old 8 track tape.

In the next issue, I will follow up on the MTU program, and give you part 2 of 'Going Digital'

You can always e-mail me at info@croaky.org

See ya then!

Ken Wilson
Croaky Entertainment
www.croaky.org

"JUNE IS BUSTING OUT ALL OVER"
it's "SUMMERTIME"
by Margaret Williams

And the livin' isn't so easy if we've contracted a nasty spring/summer cold. What a bummer when you've just learned a new Karaoke tune or two and you're chompin' at the mic to try them at your favorite Karaoke "home lounge."

But what are your special remedies? There are the over-the-counter products of course, but do they really work without side effects? We are now experiencing a renaissance of natural healing and home remedies. Then there are the natural herb preparations such as Echinacea, Slippery Elm (lozenges or tea), Throat Coat tea, lemon tea, basil tea or citrus juice. Fenugreek tea can ease a sore throat and laryngitis. Have you heard of gargling with white cabbage juice? Ugh! Personally, I like slices of sweet onion and garlic on rye. Chili peppers and horseradish can bring a tear to your eye, but they also clear your sinuses.

Have you ever tried the ancient art of acupuncture treatment? No matter what the season, the acupuncturist with whom I work treats patients for allergies that, if not treated, often lead to sinus infections. I speak from experience. Three years ago I discarded my allergy prescriptions (as well as over-the-counter remedies), and haven't needed antibiotics for 3 years since I have been using all natural Chinese herbs. In addition, these herbs don't have the drying effects on the throat and nose that synthetic drugs do. Acupuncture is also effective for asthma (our youngest patients being 4 years old), as well as a long list of problems common to us all, no matter what age.

Then there is the remedy my daughter calls Honegar: heat and drink a cup of hot water mixed with 2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar and 2 tbsp. honey. Gargling with equal parts of vinegar and water is helpful, too, just before singing. Don't forget resting in the sun to build up that important vitamin D! (Since some studies suggest that the estrogen-mimicking factor of sunscreen poses some risk, it is probably best simply to exercise moderation in your exposure.) Of course, the concentration of orange juice (vitamin C) with a vodka enhancer works very well. Or if that doesn't work, keep that brandy snifter handy. The bottom line is to avoid spreading those troublesome germs and if you feel congestion coming on, be sure to use a "mic muff." Hopefully KJs have them available.

If you have other suggestions, I'd appreciate your letting us know we can all use any helpful hints to keep us on the road singing in "The Good Old Summertime."

Note change of e-mail address. You can now reach me at: mwfritzy@san.rr.com

LUCKY
CALIFORNIA

BY Suzanne Lanou

Californians are lucky. They get to karaoke in smoke-free bars and restaurants all over the state. Many other states, cities, and counties ban smoking in restaurants. Bars in these places are smoke-free: Tempe, AZ; Guadelupe, AZ; Delaware; Honolulu, HI; most communities in Massachusetts; Helena, MT; Corvallis, OR; Eugene, OR; a number of cities in Texas; Utah (do they have bars?); and West Virginia. Many places also have laws that require separate smoke-free areas that are well-ventilated. (from smokefreeworld.com) If you go to Google.com, you can probably type in "smoke-free karaoke" to find a bar in your area that is smoke-free.

By now everyone knows that smoking is bad for you. And we know that second-hand smoke can make you sick or even kill you. Anyone who's been to a smokey karaoke joint can attest to the unpleasantness of lots of smoke. It can burn your throat, make you cough, and make your eyes water (none of which makes for good singing). Smoking, like alcohol, dries out your throat, which is bad for singing. I once sang in a karaoke bar in Nashville, TN with a very small stage, and the KJ sat on a stool next to the singers. That would have been fine, but the woman chain-smoked during the whole evening! The smokiest place is probably Las Vegas. We visit there often, but I hate how our clothes and hair smell like smoke long after we've left the casinos or bars. I don't know why they even bother having smoke-free rooms since they all smell the same. Of course, the desert air in Vegas isn't great for singing, either.

But I digress.we know the regular diseases and problems associated with smoking: lung cancer, emphysema, bronchitis, heart disease, throat cancer, pregnancy risks, and more. If all that wasn't bad enough (and really, can there be anything worse for a singer than losing their throat or dying?), here is information I found on the Web about smoking and its relation to singing.

"Smoke is very irritating to the vocal folds, and in addition to causing hoarseness, can lead to cancer of the voice box." (from kansasvoicecenter.com)

Many voice teachers' and singers' web sites say that they believe that to be a good singer, you should treat your whole body well, which means no junk food, alcohol, or smoking, and plenty of exercise. (Well, that leaves me out!)

Singing can cause swelling in the vocal cords, which can affect your pitch (from womanrock.com)

"Smoking is bad for the body and terrible for the voice. Smokers are very highly at risk for various types of cancer, among which throat cancer is one of the most significant." (from perfect-voice.com)
And here is a large part of a lengthy but informative article from "Ask the Throat Doctor" from the music magazine, La Scene Musicale: "Smoking kills both smokers and their voices. Countless scientific reports have established the causal connection between tobacco smoking and cancer of the mouth, throat, lungs, and esophagus. The relative risk of developing cancer of the larynx is doubled in those who smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day. Alcohol and tobacco appear to act synergistically to elevate this risk still further.In the tissues of the respiratory tract, cigarette smoke provokes effects similar to those of inflammation: redness, swelling, increased mucus production, and thickening of the surface lining or mucosa. Both the smoke particles and the heat of the inhaled fumes appear to damage the mucosa. Interestingly, unfiltered marijuana smoke causes even greater irritation to the throat and trachea than does tobacco smoke.
A laryngologist can recognize smokers just by the typical appearance of their nose and throat: nicotine staining of the nasal hairs, dry throat, dry swollen vocal cords, and tenacious secretions. Singers who smoke have a harsh breathy voice and a loss of clarity in their upper range. Women who smoke may suffer from polyps on their vocal cords and severe degeneration, polyps which have the appearance of big balloon blisters. Persons with chronic smoking-related inflammation often develop leukoplakia, or white patches on the lining of the throat, a known precursor of cancer.
Smoking also reduces normal breathing capacity. The decrease in air flow due to bronchial constriction impairs vocal performance, and such organic changes to the respiratory tract cannot be overcome by heroic singing technique alone! Smokers cannot expect to produce a clear ringing pianissimo that will reach the far corners of a hall. Obviously, very few singers of the classical repertoire choose to smoke. Some rock and pop singers do use smoking to create a characteristic vocal quality that fits this repertoire. Some women find that deepening their normal vocal range is well suited to a blues or soul sound. The cost of this choice is high, however. Emphysema, bronchitis, recurrent throat infection, and sometimes cancer have brought numerous singing careers to an early and disquieting end.
The damage to vocal cords may not completely heal even after the smoking has ceased. Mild swelling may take six to nine months to resolve and the more significant inflammatory lesions may require surgery. Smoking is a major cause of refractory vocal nodules, since constant irritation in the throat prevents them from healing. Even with surgery there is no guarantee of recovering a desirable singing voice.
Singers who perform in smoke-filled clubs may also suffer some of the same effects. When it is not possible to avoid such situations, non-smoking performers should compensate for them by increasing their water intake and going out for fresh air between sets. " (scena.org)
Some people smoke to relax; personally I prefer a couple of drinks. Drinking in moderation is not necessarily bad for you (and in fact is good for your heart), although it does dry your voice out.
As mentioned above, if you want to speak or sing lower, smoking can make your voice lower. But at what price? Is it worth your health and your life to sound a little more like Barry White or (if you're a woman) Karen Carpenter? Do you want to still be able to sing in 20 or 30 years (and do you want to have a voicebox?)?
Let me just state that I'm not an anti-smoking fanatic. I think laws that prevent you from smoking outside, in most cases, go to far. Smoking should only be banned from areas where your smoking may damage someone else's health. This is America and you should have the right to damage your own body all you want. The question is, if you're a singer, do you want to?

All the world's a stage
By Craig Wilson, USA TODAY April 24th 2003 Page 4D

OKLAHOMA CITY - The Don Quixote Club is a smoke-filled bar in a mostly abandoned strip mall here on the seedier side of town. Although festive Christmas lights are strung across the ceiling, it's about as far from the bright lights of Broadway and Hollywood as you can get and still be in the USA.
Shows like Survivor tap into Americans' love of watching people get eliminated.

But that hasn't deterred 24 people who braved a thunder-and-lightning storm to sign in, take a number and wait patiently for their chance at stardom.
Tonight is the first round of Talent Quest 2003, a national karaoke competition. The winners in four categories here go on to regionals, whose winners then head to nationals in Laughlin, Nev., in September. Waiting for them there is $3,500, a trophy and a jacket.
It's a poor man's American Idol.
It's Survivor without the sand or the millions of TV viewers.
It's The Bachelor without the pretty faces.
What it is is one more affirmation that all America wants to be on stage, wants to be a star, wants to impress judges who have the power to eliminate them in the first round, and often do.
Americans have long loved watching people be eliminated. The Gong Show, Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour, Star Search and Queen for a Day all thrived because someone was willing to get up there and be voted off. Even the premise of Miss America is to line them up and eliminate them until only one is standing.
Tonight's premise is "have voice, will sing." Whether the voice is any good is another matter entirely.
"Everyone deep down wants to be an entertainer," says Tim Brown of Singers Choice Karaoke, the local sponsor of the evening's competition, which is attracting more and more competitors. "It all has to do with American Idol. They're willing to put themselves out there. And, yes, some singers who are real bad think they're real good."
It doesn't take five hours to prove Brown correct, but it does take that long to work through all competitors. Winners aren't announced until close to 1 a.m.
But throughout the evening, each competitor puts on a good face, if not a cowboy hat, steps onto the stage outlined with tiny white lights and gives it his best shot.
"I've always thought I could do better than that," says Ben Clouse, 41, of suburban Moore, referring to what he has heard at karaoke competitions. "Everything's a learning experience. I'm going to give it my all, and if I get eliminated, hopefully I can do better next time."
Which is what he'll have to do. Clouse does not even make the runner-up category tonight.
Why does he do it, and why do people show up to watch him?
"There's a whole generation of us who grew up with sanitized entertainment," says Robert Thompson, director of the Center for the Study of Popular Television at Syracuse University. "In vaudeville, you used to be able to boo people off the stage, give them the hook. So Simon (Cowell, the nasty American Idol judge) becomes the guy who tosses the tomato for all of us.
"But in our culture, even more than money, we want fame," he says. "We want slobbering attention ... and that's what these shows give us, and that's what karaoke gives us."
It also gives the audience a chance to watch someone get booted off the stage.
"Inside everyone there's a little bit of a need to see you're not so bad, or more normal or just a bit better than the next guy," says Chicago psychologist Kate Wachs about people's fascination with watching other people be eliminated. "It all plays into the insecurities we all have about ourselves. It's very primitive."
Confidence on display
Most of this evening's contestants arrive with the "Why not me?" attitude.
"I think I have a pretty good voice, but I haven't won anything yet," says Shannon Rutledge, 28, a petite blond payroll manager who won first place in the country female category tonight. "You never know what someone's looking for. I sing in the car and I sing in the shower. I'll sing just about anywhere."
She acknowledges that she has witnessed what she calls "emotional upsets" during such competitions, but "you can't let it get you down or you won't go anywhere."
Shoha Kirti Parekh, last year's Miss Delaware in the Miss America pageant, wasn't at Talent Quest but knows all too well about the "emotional upsets." She was eliminated early on in Atlantic City.
"I worked so hard all summer, preparing for the competition," says Parekh, 24, a documentary filmmaker. "I was there to win, to be Miss America, so of course I was disappointed when I didn't even make the top 15."
So would she do it again?
"Definitely. I can handle situations now that I could never handle before."
Kathy Brady, the mistress of ceremonies, warns contestants at the start of the evening that not everyone can be a winner.
"The comments you'll receive (from the judges) are not intended to put you down," she says. "It's to help you get better. So don't go get your feelings hurt."
James Tharp, 33, a truck driver, does not.
After belting out his version of the Eagles' Witchy Woman, he talks about his need to get up and perform before people.
"Being eliminated don't bother me," he says. "It can go any which way. We've been lucky, and we've been out on the first round."
Tonight he wins third place in the country male category and second place in pop male.
Bill Keller, producer and founder of Talent Quest, says the number of competitors nationwide has tripled since he started the competition three years ago. He, too, thanks American Idol.
"We had about 25,000 the first year, and I'd say we'll end up with about 80,000 competitors this year," Keller says.
He sees karaoke's image of drunks taking the stage in roadside bars changing, saying there are thousands of "closet singers" out there now who compete without ever entering a bar (some of the contests are at shopping malls), another trend helping spark karaoke's growth.
(Keller also says that if by chance you can't make it to the finals by talent - or you think you've gotten a raw deal along the way - you can pay your way to Nevada and get on stage. The organizers offer a $275 travel package that comes complete with food coupons.)
Rude awakenings
Sometimes these amateur singers hit pay dirt, only to quickly realize that the entertainment world can be a cruel place, even if the waitresses who call everyone "honey" sing along as they serve up the drinks.
Scott Eisenhower, 34, who works for the local telephone company, says he won a $10,000 karaoke contest in Tulsa not long ago, only to find out later it was a scam.
"We didn't win jack," he says.
But that doesn't discourage him from coming back to perform again tonight.
"I'd rather sing than do anything else on Earth," he confesses. "If I'm driving my telephone truck, I'm singing."
Curtis Kennedy, 30, who rebuilds trailer homes, moves around stage and even dances with the microphone pole come his turn late in the evening. "The crowd was getting a little sleepy, so I thought I'd stir things up."
It doesn't work; he is eliminated almost immediately. The evening's three judges - a country/western dance instructor, a local contractor and a choreographer - always have the final word.
"I applaud all of them for bravery. You need large cojones to get up there," says judge Travis Foote, a local contractor, as the votes are tallied in the bar's kitchen. "Some we're glad they come back. And some we wish they'd get the message."
As judge Rod Pugh politely points out: "There are some voice qualities that need to be worked on."

Sycuan Casino & Resort to Host 2003

Talent Quest National Singing and

Performance Southern California Regional Finals

The 2003 TALENT QUEST National Karaoke Singing Contest Regionals will be held at the Sycuan Casino & Resort, 5469 Casino Way, El Cajon, CA 92019. Sycuan's Showcase Theatre is truly state-of-the-art. It has three elevators rising from the stage, a full compliment of lighting, a dynamic surround sound system with professional videography
availability. The 450 seats are all theatre type seating and there is not a bad seat in the house. For the performers, a full professional dressing room area with
complimentary beverages will be
provided. Imagine that you will be performing on the same stage that has hosted likes of The Doobie Brothers, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, Terri Clark and Tony Orlando along with many other stars. Press releases will be going out soon to local television and radio networks inviting them to cover this event. At this time, we have gotten verbal commitments from some well-known celebrities both locally and nationally to judge this event. Ones that have confirmed are Marko the 2001 Talent Quest National Male winner, Movie producers Joseph Medawar (Sleep Walker) and Stephen F. Owens (of an upcoming television series) to be release soon, and two Stars of that series coming out this fall, Alison Heruth-Waterbury and Timothy P. Cavanaugh. The net portion of the ticket sales will go to benefit local high school music departments. Because of this, we are anticipating a large attendance. This event has been split into a two-day event. The Southern California Country Regional Finalists will perform on Sunday, August 10, 2003, and the Open category (Rock, pop, R&B, Easy Listening) will be held on Sunday, August 17, 2003. Each show will begin at 1:00PM with contestants checking in at 12:00 Noon. Tickets for this event will be $15.00 and for those holding a Sycuan Club Card, the cost will be only $13.00 per show. Tickets will be available on or about June 30th at the Sycuan Gift Shop or by calling 619-445-6002, extension 1139 or by contacting us at 619-300-4348 or 619-669-6437. You have until the end of June 2003 to qualify for the Southern California Regionals. Cheers and Beers, 8043 Winter Gardens, El Cajon, El Cajon Grand Cocktails, 437 E, Main St., El Cajon, CA 92021, Mira Mesa Bowl, 11942 Rancho Bernardo Rd., #G, San Diego, CA 92128, The Greek Sombrero 12891 Hwy 94 Spring Valley Ca 91978 and the Treehouse Sports and Steak Grill, 2830 Tapo St., Semi Valley, CA 93063 are still holding qualifying rounds for this event. Remember, time is getting short! For those who cannot attend the qualifying rounds, there are limited spots open to compete at the Regionals for a fee of $50.00. You must contact us as soon as possible if you wish to participate using this method. A reminder to contestants that you will be scored 20 points for vocal ability, 10 points for stage presence and 10 points for appearance.
If you wish to use your own disc(s), only original CDG disc(s) will be accepted. The winners in each category as well as the "audience choice" both sponored by Steeple Distributions will go on to the Nationals to be held at Ramada Express Hotel and Casino, Laughlin, Nevada on September 15 - 20, 2003. 12 Winners at the Nationals will share prize money of $20,000. With Sycuan Casino and Resort supporting this event it should prove to be an exciting show.

For additional information and rules, log on to www.justsingitkaraoke.com

Louie Castellanos,
Southern California Coordinator
Or call 619-300-4348

All the world's a stage
By Craig Wilson, USA TODAY April 24th 2003 Page 4D

The Musical Rustlers of Palm Canyon Oasis
C. Hawks

Why I had to pick that day to go up the canyon to check on the baby palms is beyond me. It was the middle of July and the creek had slowed to a trickle under the fierce stare of the desert sun. It really wasn't any of my business if the little sprouts were doing okay or not. The rangers had it all well in hand. But, there I was, trudging up the rocky desert trail and managing to stumble over every loose stone in my path. My clothes were sticking to me, my feet were already sore in my hiking boots, the water bottle I was carrying was slapping my side and only about half full. All the while I was mentally kicking myself that I shouldn't have started out so late in the day. This was no time to be taking out into the desert canyon and still hoping to make it back before nightfall, unless I grumbled to myself, I was actually hoping to have some kind of heatstroke.

Trying to avoid the constant stream of sightseers, I purposefully took the original trail towards the oasis. I knew, using the older trail, I could move faster until it merged with the newer path. I needed time on my side. I jumped over the man made steps that had been cut into the granite and lava boulders and ran through the soft sand that covered the straight stretches. Soon I arrived at the bridge spanning the small overflow creek. This was the intersection of the two trails. Here, I had to slow down and deal with the ever present stream of hikers and tourists. As I politely worked my way around them I was keenly aware that most of them were coming towards me, going away from the oasis. That's the direction I should be going, I thought, but stoically continued plodding along behind a couple of senior citizens.

As soon as I could, I took off on a side trail down the dry wash and cut about an eighth of a mile off my route as I hopped back on the trail up past the sandy, winding ribbon that wriggled between the boulders. I could see the palm grove by now and I started to jog until I got to the treacherous steps that led up and over a large boulder. These steps, also man made, "S" curved back on themselves and if you weren't careful you could end up about 8ft down with a large portion of your skin torn off. I jumped from one part of the curve to the other and scrambled down the other side of the boulder. Now I could finally see the water and the creek bed leading to the oasis.

Suddenly, I heard something in the fronds of the palm trees. I also noticed that I was totally alone. Well, maybe not quite, since a faint rustling came from the bushes near me. There it was again, that flutter in the fronds overhead. Across the creek in front of me there was a quick chirp from a cricket. The sun was slowly sneaking down the hillside and the oasis was coming alive!

Yikes! I thought, this is not the time to be here, not when all the nocturnal creatures come down to the watering hole. You could end up being a main course and later, a midnight snack!

As I ran towards the rock ledge that affords entrance to the oasis, I could swear I heard . . . music. Tinkling chimes and clear musical notes accompanied by percussive whirrings, clicks and claps.

Quickly I ducked under the ledge and walked over to the tourist benches that had been made by cutting up old, dead palm trunks. No one was there. However, I still heard the music. There were clear bells, soaring melodies and a rhythmic accompaniment urging them on. I clambered up the small rise of rocks and boulders until I could see the waterfall.

Well, I thought, here is part of the percussion section. But where is that beautiful melody coming from? I stepped over the barriers protecting the seedling project, and made my way around, checking to see how the new startings were doing. Only a couple had been trampled by errant feet, the rest were healthy and burgeoning. I felt a rush of wings just barely flick my head as I straightened up from my inspection of the last little palm plant. I turned my head to follow the breeze they made and saw the most stunning, bright blue, black crested, blue jay land on a boulder about 10ft away from me. It opened its beak and the beautiful, clear melody that I had heard earlier came cascading out.

That's NOT the normal sound a blue jay makes, I thought. The enchantment had begun. It was as if a magic wand had been suddenly waved over us all. Gradually, I noticed the tinkling bells were the trickles of water dripping from the plants growing on the rock under and alongside the waterfall. Now the rest of the percussion section could be heard in the rustling of the palm fronds, the regular grating of the crickets and the swishing in the underbrush of the occasional lizard. I even heard a faint maraca of a rattlesnake in the background, very faint and, lucky for me, very distant.

The rest of the accompaniment was now washing over me in waves. The harmony of the mud wrens chirping in semi-unison, the desert finches calling in response to the blue jay's lead, creating a secondary melody all its own. If I strained my ears, I could even hear the whistles of the ground squirrels warning the other occupants of the area to stay away from their door as they sang karaoke in the background.

There was no need to hurry now. My senses had been robbed from me. I had been captured and hog-tied just as surely as if I had been a steer caught up short by an old-time rustler's noose. All I could do was to sit there on my granite boulder and listen.

The symphony I heard that day will never be put out on CD, it will never turn up on A&E as a video concert and it will, for darn sure, never be on the Billboard top ten list. It was a one of a kind, personal treasure that only I was privileged to hear. I sat there, captured, through the entire performance.

As the last note was played I suddenly realized that the sun was disappearing behind the mountain ridge and, if I didn't want to be spending the night in the cave just inside the tourist area, I had better be on my way down the path. I had to jog a good bit of the way back to the campground. Thank goodness that most of the way back was a slight downward grade. I was also thankful that I had taken my flashlight with me as I saw the stars beginning to twinkle over that same ridge where the sun had gone down. I crossed the last rocky wash, picking my way within the torch's tiny circle of light, before I could reach the asphalt surface of parking lot. All the way back to my campsite I was still hearing echoes of that canyon symphony in my ears.

LOL
Carolyn Hawks
www.hawkshousemusic.com http://hawkshousemusic.com
Invest your time in knowledge . . . it never runs out.

A note from the K.J. Publisher in San Diego:

The "undisclosed-recipients email from Kstarmag@aol.com has been circulating around the net and e-mailed to K.J.s and club owners in San Diego. The reference of K.J. publisher must be pointed at me, since I am the only K.J. publisher in San Diego.

I love karaoke and have been a K.J. for many years. I got started back in 1986 up in Big Bear.

Since then I have been doing karaoke in San Diego. I have made many karaoke friends and many K.J. friends. In response to K-stars allegation of my taking jobs away from other K.J.s, I have only had a few shows. These shows did not exist until I created them. I was the first K.J. at the Four Points Hotel which lasted ten years, and at the Red Lion and the now running show at the Ramada Plaza Hotel. I now have a show at the San Giorgio Luchio in Vista. Rich Martin created this show when the place was called Donato's. Rich retired (again) and left the show to me. Fellow karaoke host, Pete Pattynama at Quails Inn heard that he Quails was adding more karaoke nights. He trusted me enough to invite me to do the weekends there. His show is still running on Sundays and Mondays. I have been referred other shows by other K.J.s who could not do the show themselves. I have not taken a job from any K.J. or solicited a show from another K.J..
It is poor tactics for K-star to try to disparage my reputation with their allegations.

K-star's self proclaimed lack of success is not my fault. I believe K-star's last publication was in November of 2002. Clubs like CLUB IGUANA formerly The Driftwood in Santee and the Manhattan in Chula Vista are wondering what happened to paid for ads still not yet published more than six months later. Did K-star even advertise their own not so grand finals for the "Entertainer Of The Year?" Many contestants
didn't even know when or where to go. That's one of the reasons many weren't there.

K-star also spreads the blame further. To quote K-star, "During the 10 years of publishing the magazine, I've (K-star) had to struggle at times to make ends meet which has caused unwanted delays in printing having to wait to sell enough advertising space before being able to print just to break even at times. I have tried to promote karaoke related events in each community to supplement income at times of low advertising revenues and sometimes even those have failed to meet the cost of producing them...not to mention the physical and emotional exhaustion created producing those events." K-star goes on to say, "During the years I've had to overcome poor economies, wars, trade center bombings, and a karaoke TV show designed to supplement low income from the magazine that practically bankrupt me after fellow contributors to the show quit or didn't fulfill their end of the bargain. The stress endured from making the business work has even been a major contributing factor in not being able to develop any of my romantic relationships into a 50 year wedding anniversary, which is what I want most in life - so, this business has affected me both personally and professionally. All said, many factors have hurt the reputation of the magazine giving it not much more weight during hard times than those KJ publisher's magazines."

No K-star, I'm not the reason you have to resort to another fund raising idea. If I buy a subscription to your karaoke club and the club has the right to take away the discounts at anytime, what have I paid for?

Johnny Stewart Publisher, San Diego Scene Karaoke.

For a copy of this email from K-star please go to
www.sandiegoscene.com
/sympathyandsubscriptions

San Diego scene has received numerous emails from our
supporters regarding this email from K-star. Thank you. Some we could not print due to legal content.

Dear Mr. Courtney,
a response to K-stars email

I guess you could say I'm a Karaoke consumer. Since moving to San Diego four years ago, I've acquired roughly $3500 worth of Karaoke related electronic equipment and a library of over 3300 tracks. I sing at clubs a minimum of twice a week and practice at home several hours more. I've been known to attend vocal seminars/classes and, two years ago, I joined fellow enthusiasts for a week-long "Karaoke Cruise" in the Caribbean. I'm someone your advertisers want to know.

YOUR advertisers will never know me. Here's why. Your publication has nothing in it for me to read, learn, become informed of, amused or stimulated by.....it's
virtually all advertising. When was the last time you curled up on your sofa and spent a peaceful, enjoyable evening reading the Yellow Pages or the junk mail from your mail box? In my opinion, your publication is Karaoke Junk Mail.

In your e-mail of June 9 to "Undisclosed Recipients" you state (and I am directly quoting) "It's all in the distribution, not the cost". Allow me to paraphrase..."throw enough garbage at the wall and some of it's bound to stick". (I cleaned that phrase up for publication purposes). You're publication is everywhere (when it's in print), but WHO CARES? Not this Karaoke consumer and I'm a pretty fair example of the market your advertisers want to reach. It's not all in the distribution, Mr. Courtney. It's not purely a "numbers game". That's the business strategy employed by junk-mailers. I believe the key element is meaningful distribution to your targeted marketplace. Your publication isn't meaningful to me and I'm your market. You obviously just don't get it.

Who am I (besides your market) to say such things to you? What qualifies me to critique your
business strategies? Well, during the last recession in the late 1980's, early 90's (culminating with the first Iraq War) I owned and operated a successful business in rural Minnesota, a family vacation resort. Yes, during those recessionary times, when people weren't travelling, weren't spending money nor taking vacations (much like today); my resort's revenues increased 20-30% per year (and I still have the tax returns to prove it). How did I do it? I'll tell you how I didn't do it. I didn't take cheap shots or bad-mouth my competitors. I needed them. They stimulated consumer interest/participation in my industry and my area as a whole...it's an accepted and proven business axiom. I didn't whine about my costs, my love life, the stress or the pressure. I didn't scape-goat my shortcomings onto "fellow contributors"/partners. I didn't offer bogus promotions to my customers, either. I just rolled up my sleeves and went to work each day.

Allow me to once again, quote you directly from your June 9 e-mail. "I'll be sending a letter to every karaoke venue in San Diego and Las Vegas encouraging them to offer discounts or other offers to our (Club Karaoke) members and check off on an agreement, which they can cancel or change at anytime......" So, in your own words, Karaoke consumers are to pay you for membership discounts and/or benefits which may be cancelled or changed at anytime.

One last thing I didn't do in operating my business. I never insulted the intelligence of my customers.

Not very respectfully,

Jacqueline Christian
Accountant
Former Owner, Shady Grove Resort, Perham, MN
Karaoke Enthusiast and Consumer

PS: Please note which publication I do read, thoroughly enjoy,
provides me with meaningful,
topical information plus a forum for my thoughts and opinions. My
letter to you is (hopefully)
published in it.