Why So Little Karaoke?

[bucsat1]

My wife and I have been on several cruises over the years and will be going on Explorer of the Seas 3/27/05. On every cruise, there has been some opportunity to listen to and participate in karaoke. The few times karaoke has been offered, the venue has always been packed out. Why then do the cruise lines not offer it more if it is as popular as it seems to be? When it is done, it generally lasts just a couple of hours, and many people don't get to perform. Any thoughts?

[LoriLinay]

Sorry, I don't have an answer for you. But I do agree. The venue is always so busy, you'd think they'd add a few more sessions.

 

Last cruise there was one woman that really hogged the opportunity though. She was "okay", but not someone I'd say "WOW, she's GREAT" about. There were a lot of people around us that didn't get the chance to sing because obviously the CD really liked her. He called her up nearly every other song.

I can still see her. She was an older woman that wore a denim jumper, and keds. Funny the stuff that sticks in your mind! Maybe it was his mom.

[superjerryw]

It may be a profitability issue. More bingo sessions mean more revenue. More Karaoke means less people sitting at the bars drinking and less people in the casino gambling.

[Ericknow32]

on the monarch of the seas there is karaoke every night. i dont participate and havent looked for it on other ships but the monarch had it and it was a late into the night kinda thing.

[bucsat1]

Superjerryw,

 

I thought of the profitability issue, but I've also ordered many a cocktail while attending karaoke. If they have it in a venue that can be served by cocktail attendants, that shouldn't be a problem.

[Schplinky]

I don't have an answer to your question but thought you might be amused to know of the difference that Cruise Vacation for Dummies used to assert between Carnival and RCI. They said that if Carnival was the wet t-shirt contest of the seas, then RCI was the karaoke club. Sort of paints a picture of the different crowds, I thought, as we researched our first cruise.

[Max Circus]

Is the karaoke still handled as a "contest"? When we cruised NOS 11/03, they had karaoke about three nights - about 90 minutes each time. They were all "auditions" for performers to be in the karaoke finals to be held later that week. My SIL and I had wished it was more informal - they didn't let you sing more than once. With the popularity of it, I wish they would have one bar setup for it each night.

[Ericknow32]

Is the karaoke still handled as a "contest"? When we cruised NOS 11/03, they had karaoke about three nights - about 90 minutes each time. They were all "auditions" for performers to be in the karaoke finals to be held later that week. My SIL and I had wished it was more informal - they didn't let you sing more than once. With the popularity of it, I wish they would have one bar setup for it each night.

monarch of the seas has karaoke every night in jade and it is not a contest.

[Max Circus]

monarch of the seas has karaoke every night in jade and it is not a contest.

 

Thanks Ericknow32!! Hopefully JOS is the same. If so this will really make our cruise!! Now I just hope my fellow passengers feel the same way as I warble through a Tom Jones or Elvis song. :D

[Max Circus]

Maybe too many of the "contestants" shared my off-key musical talents? :o:eek::D Or perhaps that should be read "off-key musical non-talent? Just a thought (she says as she slinks off the stage to boos and laughter....) ;)

 

I doubt it - and if they did boo or laugh they should have been thrown out!! No one has a right to make comments about anyone's karaoke perfomance unless they are willing to take the microphone themselves. That's part of the karaoke credo and etiquette that I know.

[MonaCK]

We found that we enjoyed the piano bars much much more than the karaoke sessions. Usually if there is a good piano player there, he or she will let you sing a couple of songs to give his own voice a rest. :)

[Max Circus]

In fact, I am firmly convinced that the reason my shower is so clean is that even mold and mildew cannot survive the experience. :D

 

LOL - And to think I've been depending on harsh chemicals and elbow grease all these years!! Boy, was I wrong.

[blackpool belle]

You can go to a karaoke bar in one's home town any night of the week. When I go on a cruise I want to do/hear/see other things. Don't get me wrong, I would enjoy listening to it for 1 night but it's alright in small doses. To each their own I suppose.

[dc-snoopy]

You'd think they'd get the idea. Last month on the Jewel, two of the more popular evening entertainments were the piano bar in the Schooner where people were singing along with the pianist as he sang many of his popular numbers and the Karaoke in the Safari club. And for those who question the profit margin, the bar in the Safari club was doing a far amount of business during Karaoke. There were many who just came to watch and listen and were drinking while listening, and there were some folks singing who probably only would sing with a little "fortification".

 

Karaoke was offered three times during the week. The first two were just one hour of regular Karaoke. The last was "Karaoke Idol" where they had a competition. By about 10 minutes into the hour, they had enough competitors that they couldn't take any more. Some of us who got there late (15 minutes late) couldn't get in to the singing because it was full. After the Karaoke, they had a band that set up to play and about half of the crowd filed out. You'd think they'd figure part out that the Karaoke was more popular than the band. I put on my comment card that they should either have more sessions or longer sessions because there were *ALWAYS* plenty of audience members and they always turned singers away at the end. Kind of seems like its popular, huh? Just adding it for one hour every night or two hours every other night doesn't seem that hard to arrange, now, does it?

[bucsat1]

Hey DC,

 

I couldn't agree more. I am seeing some people voice their dislike of karaoke and that is their prerogative, but one cannot deny its popularity. I dare say there are many more people inhabiting a karaoke venue than that of the piano bar, though each has its place and its fans. After all, doesn't one of the most enduring business paradigms have something to do with giving the people what they want?

[island lady]

I don't go to many of those, but on my last cruise the DH and I walked in to check it out. There were a pile of teenagers that were quite obviously tone deaf, screaching in the microphone. Yikes...I think my ears were ringing for days!

:eek:

 

So my question: What happens in those things when someone is really..really awful? Does everyone just politely sit and squirm?

 

On any other times, it is probably quite hilarious and perhaps some real untapped talent out there. I hope I am able to check one out on my next cruise.

 

Cheers!

[harry0]

Karioke is always a highlight of our cruise. It is not the"Proffesional Karioke singers" we like(we can always go to the shows). We enjoy the guy singing to his wife so off key you can barely tell what song it is, or the people who think they can sing but can't. I cant sing and i know it, but I will belt out a few. It is always tough trying not to crack up at singers when they totally kill asong, but thats the fun of it. I am all for Karioke every night, and also for a kids Karioke seperate from the adults.

Harry

[1corona4u]

Maybe they can't afford to keep replacing all the broken glass.....;)

 

Karaoke is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me....:D

 

 

If getting up in a room full of strangers, and making an a$$ out of yourself is "fun", and "popular", then I guess I'll just be boring, and un-popular, LOL.....and from what I have seen, there a lot of people who do fit the above sentence.....they just don't know it, LOL.

Sorry, just my opinion and experience with it.

[bpear1600]

I don't go to many of those, but on my last cruise the DH and I walked in to check it out. There were a pile of teenagers that were quite obviously tone deaf, screaching in the microphone. Yikes...I think my ears were ringing for days!

:eek:

 

So my question: What happens in those things when someone is really..really awful? Does everyone just politely sit and squirm?

 

On any other times, it is probably quite hilarious and perhaps some real untapped talent out there. I hope I am able to check one out on my next cruise.

 

Cheers!

 

I watched the Karakoke Idol finalists on TV in the stateroom while getting dressed. If they were the best of the lot I don't see how anybody could sit through that crap.

 

They weren't only talentless they were so tacky it was laughable. Sorry, folks. I calls 'em as I sees 'em.:eek:

[medolee]

It may be a profitability issue. More bingo sessions mean more revenue. More Karaoke means less people sitting at the bars drinking and less people in the casino gambling.

 

That's what my answer would be---gotta make rom for the BINGO!

[medolee]

Superjerryw,

 

I thought of the profitability issue, but I've also ordered many a cocktail while attending karaoke. If they have it in a venue that can be served by cocktail attendants, that shouldn't be a problem.

 

 

But BINGO is like 25$. and lasts less than 1 hour--you'd have to drink 6 or 7 drinks in that same time frame to try to match bingo revenue...........

 

PLUS--- BINGO takes 2-3 staff members, where Karoke would require more staff to properly serve the customer. It is all in the $$$$

[PhoenixCruiser]

But BINGO is like 25$. and lasts less than 1 hour--you'd have to drink 6 or 7 drinks in that same time frame to try to match bingo revenue...........

 

PLUS--- BINGO takes 2-3 staff members, where Karoke would require more staff to properly serve the customer. It is all in the $$$$

 

Now it's $35. However it's not held in the evening, so I don't think that's the issue :confused: :confused:

 

Who knows <<shrugs shoulders>>

 

###

[N.FL Cruisers]

We went on the Mariner in February and they had the Karaoke Idol show. We really enjoyed it. There was a girl who was a contestant and claimed she never sang before but won the contest. She acted all shy for about 2 minutes and then started singing and dancing like she had done it her entire life. I have a hard time believing that she never sang before. So if you’re out there on these boards "Mariner girl", get in the music industry because you were great!

 

[MonaCK]

The rules of Karaoke are -- you applaud for 2 reasons.

 

1. Because the singer is really really really good.

2. Because the singer is DONE.

 

Karaoke is what it is. There are so many choices on a cruise ship, that there are other things to do if a person does not like doing it on a particular night...

 

...and the reason that my hubby and I like the piano bar better is BECAUSE it's not as crowded...

[BobandBrenda]

We went on the Explorer and they had a small selection and 1/2 were in foreign language. It was closed to sign up in about 5 minutes. Audience filled. They should have a Karaoke Lounge on the Promenade that is going from the time the 1st dinner ends until theres no more people everynight. That way people can stop in when ever wanted. Then they should have a large variety of music for all. People would spend cash on drinks at the Lounge.

What do you think?

 

We need Better Karaoke, Better Karaoke, Better Karaoke

Come on, say it with me!!!!

 

Brenda and Bob