This post is from my original floridakaraoke.com site from back in the early 2000's.
This is where I explain what I think a fair singer rotation is.....no, you don't have to agree with this...
I have been to a LOT of shows over the years years in many states and multiple formats and have I never been a KJ. OK, I limped through hosting a show in the mid-1990's for a friend on vacation before I had this site but I have never been a *real* KJ. That being said, in my opinion, the ONLY fair way to run a rotation is one that removes the KJ from it.....namely, a sign-up list. Before you say YUK, let me explain a bit...
Removing the host from the equation makes for a fairer rotation. Think about it...no questions about "when am I up?" or "how come so and so is up again?" or the famous problem of the host getting their buddies up or for a good tip. The bottom line is that the fairer the rotation, the happier everyone is and the more successful the show.....at least for the singers who are concerned about fairness and are likely to come back.
It's pretty simple. the first person signs their name on a sheet, the second signs up second etc... as soon as you sing you are welcome to put your name back on the list. There is no secret, complicated rotation to keep track of. There are no "first time singer, second time singers" to deal with and nobody can argue with the fairness of the system. What can possibly be fairer than you sing, you put your name back on the list and wait happily while only listening to people who have not sung since your last turn? In this system everyone is a "new" singer every time they put their name on the list. The old concept of a "rotation" goes out the window because you are always at the start of the next rotation...get it? The length of the rotation is always how ever many people are there at the exact time you sign up. If you leave before your turn, you obviously lose your turn. A duet would count as ONE of those participants turns...the one whose turn it was in the rotation at that time.How many times have you been to a show where you have been there all night waiting for your turn and new singers walk in. It's good when new singers come in since that's what makes a successful show. However, too often the host wants to appease the new singers by getting them up sooner (thinking they will come back if they don't have to wait as long) but usually they sing and leave. Check it out next time you are at a show. On top of that, the singers that go to the show and actually stay at the bar and spend money end up sitting there while a string of new singers unfairly go up before them and usually leave without ever seeing the next rotation. Understand what I'm saying here. There is no reason why you should ever hear a *new* singer that has not heard you first!!!!
I will happily sit through 2 hours of singers and enjoy my time as long as nobody sings who has sung since my last turn and as long as nobody who is a "new" singer gets up before I sing again. I repeat the last line from the last paragraph:there is NO reason why you should EVER hear a new singer that has not heard you first!!!! Why should the new singer be worth more than someone who already been there that night and spent money, supporting the show? Doesn't make sense to me...
I know that there are plenty of people out there that would never want this since they are one of the people their favorite hosts cater to but be fair about it. What can possibly better than a system that rewards you for getting there early, staying late and has no loopholes to shortchange people in the order? I really think people are just so programmed that they don't want to try a new way, regardless of the fairness of it. Ultimately people are ego-driven and want to be heard. It's true that singers don't go to karaoke with the primary intention of listening to other people sing...they want to sing! However, I'm sure you see it all the time...the same people who visit a bar, wait to sing once and leave promptly after their turn. It happens all the time and mysteriously the hosts don't learn from this. It seems to me that they would want to please the people who regularly support the establishment (ie: spend $$$) instead of the singers who hop around to visit several bars a night so they can be "seen".
Just my take, but don't knock it till you try it....;)
