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I am a brand new performer like Keebo so perhaps it is my lack of experiemce but what is wrong with the audience, or even one particular person, singing along with the performer? I love it when it happens.



depends on the venue. If you're being well paid, the person who paid you expects a top-notch performance. Once you turn the mic over to a stranger, you're in unknown territory... it might go well.. but probably not. A good friend who is also a musician once observed "if a stranger approaches you at a gig asking if he can sit in, the likelihood that you'll be pleased with the outcome is approximately the same likelihood as eating something you found in a toilet and being pleased with the flavor"

However in an informal party setting where the person who hired you wants to get the guests involved, it might be highly desirable. But there is always the chance that a drunk will swing the mic around by the cord until something breaks, and when that happens, they never offer to reimburse you, they just say "sorry" and walk away. Don't ask how I know this.



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Throwing the word Karaoke around almost sounds like a form of musical snobbery.



Tony,

I agree completely... to me, music is music.. and the vast majority of patrons don't seem to mind whether their entertainment takes the form of a live band or karaoke or a DJ. But the people who perform all seem to be biased in favor of their own brand of performance. You may as well get used to the snobbery, because it shows no sign of going away any time soon. Just pick a niche , pursue it wholeheartedly and hear all criticism with the understanding that the person is only expressing one person's opinion. A thousand other people may have the opinion that what you're doing is great. In your mind play to the more encouraging group.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ey71h8ep047758h/AAC12jNM0Hz9Q8zsh5iDeqNHa?dl=0