TO ENTER OR NOT TO ENTER - THAT IS THE QUESTION
by Margaret Williams
MGWilliams@webtv.net

When people ask, "Why do you go out for Karaoke?" the answer usually is "for the fun of singing with a background music track - like with a live band."

When people ask, "Why do you enter Karaoke contests?" The answers could be "for the prizes," "to prove I'm the best," "the competition game," "just for the fun of it," etc.

But people might also ask "Just who are the judges; what is their background, their criteria?"

The opinions of singers and Karaoke hosts are quoted here. One host refrained from answering my query.

"My thoughts are that it's not a contest. Karaoke, I thought, was for the fun and to get all types of people out there, regardless of their age, talent, etc. And once you enter a contest, that takes out all the fun and I have not been to a contest yet, but I bet most of the contestants are people that are already performers. I have heard about contestants bringing their own bands, backup singers, etc. - what's up with that? I know so many others who have more experience than I and would blow me out of the water, so I guess I would not enter a contest. [One of the top hosts] said we should have a special night where people come to his show and use props and do more with their songs. [When my friends] and I did that on 'Wipe Out,' that was fun and it was not much, but we got the crowd going for a bit anyway. Thanks for asking."
- Dancin' Debbie Gore,
Karaoke Enthusiast
*****
"Honestly, I am opposed to the contest. I think it is a farce!! My opinion is very political. The contest only magnifies someone's ego above the 'untalenteds,' not to mention the commerce involved. It really loses the value and the meaning of having FUN! Karaoke was created for the amateurs who are insecure to perform in public and out to have a good time. Joining the contest puts a damper on their self esteem when they lose, knowing that the people who show up have been a professional or have a musical background.

"The few times I attended these contests, no matter which Karaoke host/hostess sponsored itI see unfairness. I don't know who set up the rules on these contests but not only it isn't fair, it is also stupid! But this is me - it is my own personal opinion, no one else's. I guess being exposed to the entertainment industry so long does help to form a negative opinion."
- Fredie Arroyo, Former Professional and Current Karaoke Enthusiast
*****
"I have never been interested in the contest scene. Personally, John and I just enjoy singing and enjoy being with all of the great friends we have made through singing.

"Competition is fine for some people but I think that some contests cause hurt feelings and stress which, in turn, take the joy out of singing and relationships."
- Barbara Zoria,
Former Professional and
Current Karaoke Enthusiast
*****
"I have been in 2 contests and I have watched a number of contests both here and in Las Vegas. I did not enjoy watching the San Diego or Las Vegas contests because they seemed so unfair.They are always late, the rule is you must have entered before a certain time and when the contest was well under way a man entered and signed in and was accepted. Guess who won the contest? In Las Vegas there was a wonderful group of people in the contest that I would have had a terrible time judging. The winner was always the singer/exhibitionist with the loud song, dance routine and break-away clothes.The singer who looked good and had a great voice was forgotten. It seems to me without the flash they just don't remember you.

"In short, I don't enter because I just like to sing. I don't need to put myself through that. I don't go because it generally is a night of music I would never choose to listen to, interrupted by really talented people with wonderful voices who never get the recognition."
- Doreen Johnson,
Wedding Soloist and
Karaoke Enthusiast
*****
"Well, I am not a fan of contests. In all the years we have been doing Karaoke, I have yet to see a contest that is fair. Somebody is always hurt at the end of the evening and the establishment suffers because the 'un-winners' swear they will never come back. ("Un-winners" is the term my sister and I used to use when we went to contests.)

"The fairest way and the only way we ever ran a contest was this. We used request slips instead of a sign-up book. I have never been a fan of the sign-up book, and all the request slips were folded and placed in a hat as each singer came up. We would give away $50.00 every week and at the end of the evening, a member of the audience would draw a name and if that person was still in the room, they won the money. If they had left, we drew another name until someone got the money. That way, the more audience participation, the better time everybody had. There were no hurt feelings at the end of the evening, everybody had the same chance to win, regardless if they could sing or not. We were always filled to room capacity and everybody would give it a shot for the fifty bucks. The establishments loved it and they always came up with the money.

"I think the spirit of Karaoke has diminished a little. It is supposed to be fun and entertaining for everybody in the room. When a contest takes place, it's no longer fun. If somebody wants to run a contest, they should never do it at an establishment and risk the outcomes as I mentioned above. The bar suffers. I have yet to see a fair contest. I was at a contest a few years ago and supposedly the Karaoke Host was using an applause meter. He would hold it up in the air as the audience applauded. It turned out it was a light meter and the host's girlfriend won the contest and the $100.00 to boot!

"So, as I said, I am not a fan of Karaoke contests. I do, however, like the idea of a Showcase. I think genuine talent should be displayed. I am hoping to have Showcases at our club.

"I hope I have answered some of the questions. I realize that in life somebody has to win and somebody has to lose. What a shame. I always look at everybody as a winner. Even the people who lose are still the real winners because they participated in life and all it has to offer.

"In closing, I would say no to contests and yes to just having a fun Karaoke night. That is what our club is going to be about. Just have fun."
- Alison Hannah,
Former Karaoke Hostess,
Current Enthusiast, and
Soon-to-be Proprietor
*****
"I've never believed in contests (they might breed contempt). But only to encourage people to get up and sing, not as if in a talent contest, and only to have fun."
- Rocky Baldino, Former Karaoke Host
*****
The Welk Resort is a unique type of Karaoke venue. It is a friendly, relaxed setting geared to vacationers, as well as local clientele. We want everyone to feel comfortable enough to sing. I always emphasize the fun aspect of singing for all, not just the accomplished vocalist. Therefore, I feel a contest would generate an exclusionary atmosphere, when our goal is to encourage every potential singer.
- Holly Dimas, Karaoke Hostess
*****
"I feel contests are a good medium for the professional or the Karaoke singer. People may perform to be recognized by a talent scout, leading to a professional career. So whether a professional or a hopeful Karaoke singer, the ultimate goal for contestants is the same: to be discovered, and may the best win."
- Pete Pattynama, Karaoke Host
*****
"Contests probably appeal most to a very small subgroup: those who happen to win! I say 'happen to' because I don't see how judging can be anything but arbitrary, when there's generally such a wide variety of singers. A country singer may have a perfect twang, but how do you rate that against a tight high vibrato? Lately there's been a trend toward 'playing to the judges' and mingling with the audience, but as an audience member, I personally don't appreciate this old-style Vegas approach. And as a performer already having fallen off a set of stairs once (not a pretty sight), I'd prefer to remain on stage and not be judged negatively for it!

"And then there's the issue of politics. When I was hosting Karaoke in MN, I was acquainted with a talented blues singer who admitted to 'playing the circuit.' She'd travel to every contest she could, determine who the judges were in advance, then give them a whole sob story about how she was living in her car with two kids (actually somewhat true) and just needed a break. In most cases, this proved to be an effective ploy ­ combined with her skills, it made her a definite shoe-in. But obviously, it tainted the contest! Then there are the regulars who feel that perfect attendance at a club ought to earn them special preference. And there are the proprietors who do indeed want to reward their regulars, or select winners that represent their ideal clientele. In other words, if you enter a contest and either win or lose, it probably has very little to do with your actual performance!

"On the positive side, contests can be an incentive to excel, or to overcome fear of performing. Participating in piano competitions as a child, I was totally consumed by stage fright. Fifteen years of Karaoke has virtually cured me, and I attribute my six contest wins to the fact that I didn't "compete" - I just tried to do my best and have fun, as I would on any other night. The prize wasn't the object, but the icing on the cake if I happened to get lucky!

"The beauty of Karaoke is that it allows 'real people' to entertain each other, hopefully in a non-competitive spirit. According to New Age writer Paul Williams, 'It is time to destroy the myth of the artist. We are all artists. We need to become better art appreciators.' When Karaoke contests become political farces full of greedy egotists, I say skip them. But if they're a means to compete against one's own best performance and exercise fairness and good sportsmanship, then show me the money! The object, in any case, is just to keep on singing."
- Wendy Zaske,
Former Karaoke Hostess and
Current Enthusiast
*****
As for me, I answer the question with questions: Who does the Karaoke contest benefit? Is a Karaoke contest a struggle to show superiority, or is it for the supreme enjoyment of singing? What do you think?

Send to Magaret Williams
San Diego Scene
P.O. Box 23987
San Diego, CA 92193