AutoKDJ for Clubs, A primer
From AutOKwiki
(written by toqer)
A KDJ is a Karaoke DJ. As they name implies, they play karaoke songs. There is a big difference between a KDJ and a DJ, DJ's are there to fluidly mix music together into one nonstop peice that sets the mood for the venue. A KDJ's on the other hand is there to get folks through as quickly and as efficiently as possible in a fair manner that encourages business at the bar.
There are some simple rules a KDJ must follow to keep customers happy.
- 1. New singers get up first.
New singers are important to get up as close to next as possible, for two reasons. A. It reduces the initial wait time for them. B. After or before a song, they may have a drink, which is encouraging bar business.
- 2. Don't waste time
Sometimes KDJ's will waste time, either by singing themselves (eating up time customers can be singing), trying to switch from KDJ to DJ mode while playing non-karaoke music, or are just slow at changing between songs. A combination of these things can lead to hours lost over the course of a night that a customer could be singing.
- 3. Have an accurate singer rotation system.
A rotation is basically this. A person will generally get to sing around or near the person they previously sang after the last time they sang. The goal of rotation is to give everyone equal stage time. Below is an example.
Yellow Blue
While blue is singing, Green turns in a ticket
Green Yellow
So our rotation would look something like
Yellow Green Blue
Rotation is a scaleable method for maintaining a growing playlist of different artist. If everyone knows the KDJ is following the first two rules, they'll be patient, even if it means having to wait through 10 new singers. Sometimes a rush of new singers can mean longer wait times for a returning singer though. Let's say 20 new people come in and put in requests. Average song is about 3 minutes, so 20 x 3 = 60 minutes. Between waiting on new singers and their current location in the rotation, that wait time can go up to 1 hour 20 minutes sometimes.
- 4. Don't be afraid to break the rules for cash.
If someone flashes a $20 and says, "Put me next", don't argue. It makes them feel big and important, and you got $20 in your pocket. Other singers understand this, and unless they want to be in a bidding war will generally accept it.
- 5 Respect all singers, and enforce respect of them.
It takes a lot of guts for someone to get up and sing in front of a mob of drunk people. Make sure that nobody is stealing their mic, pushing them off the stage, or otherwise interferring with their performace.
An autoKDJ system would not really replace a KDJ at all, it would mostly take care of the more tedious tasks associated with a karaoke show. Ticket entry, rotation, tip bumping, and partial mic handling. If all of these were automated, it would basically reduce a KDJ's functions to being a MC/Referee.
