Now that you are practicing and you have identified some areas to work on, how is your pitch?  If you are a fan of “American Idol” as I am, then you have no doubt heard the judges proclaim that a performance was “pitchy”.  What do they mean by that?  What they are trying to say is that … read more
  

Well the qualifying has begun.  I stopped in at Michael’s Sports Bar in Huntington Beach to see how it was going.  I mean to tell you, we have some good singers this year. 

Looks like everyone is having fun – so much so I almost entered myself.  But I promised I wouldn’t this year.  Having been a finalist four years in a row is enough for me.  I think I’ll leave it to the new talent.  Time for me to just watch.

If you have ever wanted to enter a serious singing contest, now is the time.  Karaoke Fest 2008 is a pretty big deal.  Winners get thousands in cash and prizes, get to go on radio shows, and a lot more.  So practice up on your Karaoke At Home , check the website KaraokeScene.com and click on “Crème De La Crème”, find a venue that is close to you and go SING OUT LOUD.  Good Luck.
 

There’s a “new” kind of website these days - one that “FORCES” M0NEY into your pocket! The days are now over where you were left with just “chance” on your side when it came to making M0NEY on the Internet.

 A brand new “technology” has been developed that makes websites pay you by “F0RCE!” Short of putting a gun to people’s heads and making them take their money out of their wallets and pay you without choice, this new technology might as well be the exact same thing.

This breakthrough was developed by a New York Virtual Marketing Firm, and is taking the Web by storm!

Already some pretty famous names are taking note of this new “M0NEY making invention” that “forces” M0NEY out of the Internet directly into your bank account! A spokesperson for the NYC firm boasted proudly: “Imagine the Worldwide-Web as an ocean of M0NEY … our new technology merely makes a way for YOU to be able to dig a big trench from that ‘cash-sea’ directly into your backyard!”

And that’s obviously a pretty amazing feat to say the very least! People get a webpage that’s NOT ordinary by any means!

The webpage “captures” a huge segment of the daily visitors it receives and winds up upselling them repeatedly with a predictable conversion each and every time! Plus, the webpage has a “built-in” device that allows it to generate “free traffic” without end! So considering the fact that you get free traffic, along with a predictable and steady stream of sales conversions, you get a guaranteed source of endless income!

Additionally, the webpage you get already contains a PROVEN digital product that no online marketer can live without, and one that is delivered where all your orders are filled automatically by another firm on behalf of you, the webpage owner! (*And all at no costs!) Not only that, but the webpage contains a video that makes further an irresistible offer so that people must surrender their contact information, and which also becomes a VAST double-optin list! This list is maintained by yet another separate online firm on your behalf, and that has the HIGHEST track record for getting over 98% deliverability for follow-up emailings (the same that convert another 378% more sales for you!)

So in a nutshell you get:

o An amazing website!
o A website that converts sales automatically!
o A website that puts “forced” money directly into your pocket!
o A website that’s run by another firm for you (at N0 charge!)
o A website that continues to promote for you over & over!
o A website that grows & cultivates a proven list!
o A website that functions automatically (so you never run it!)
o And a website that you get Free H0STING for!

So as you can easily see you get the whole “Sha-Bang!”

Here are just a few examples of the successes people are having using this “Forced Money” breakthrough system:

—> “Lisa C.” Got $44,047 In Just 97 Days
—> “Jay R.” Got $102,033 In Just 32 Days
—> “Cal W.” Got $317,951

In Just 17 Days Without wasting another moment of your time, why not go to the new site that shows you how you can get this site for yourself (if you’d like) for next to nothing? …

~~~> forcemoney.hop.clickbank.net/

*But I must warn you that they are only giving away a very limited number of these “forced money” websites that forcibly pour money into your pocket! - So please [for your sake] HURRY!

A few weeks ago I spotted what might be a new Karoake Bar for me to visit.  I saw a sign for the bar along side of the freeway that said to take the next exit, which I did.  I drove to the venue and as I got close enough to see the information and message board sign, it did say that they had Karaoke. I’m always looking for new places to sing and love going to them for the first time.  But this was the middle of the day so I did not stop.  I simply logged it in my memory banks with the intent to visit it soon and drove home.  About two weeks later I remembered my discovery and decided to give them a call.  They confirmed that they have Karaoke there and in fact have it every night of the week.  Encouraged, I knew I wanted to try to get there soon, but also knew that this night would not possible as I already had other plans.  About another week later I mentioned the new place to some friends and was hoping to encourage everyone to try it out.  But, alas, I was unable to get any takers.  Next week I tried again to encourage some friends to make a night of it but again could not get any interest.  

For some reason, the idea of competing in a major contest is foreign to some people.  They would no sooner enter a singing competition than go play on the freeway.  And that can be born out of a lot of different reasons.  Probably the biggest reason is the Fear Factor.  Some people are just afraid to get up a sing in front of a lot of people.  Others will get up and sing karaoke at their favorite club but are afraid to do it for a competition because they are afraid of what others might think - the ebarrasment factor.  And then there are those who won’t do it because they think they aren’t good enough to compete.  Well I am one of those that believes that no matter what your current skill level, you can get better and you can learn to compete.  You can learn to compete whether your road block is Fear or Skill level. 

To tell yourself that you are not “very competitive” or you are “not good enough” is often just an excuse to let Fear win out.  Sometimes you have to (to use the phase made famous by Nike) – Just Do It.  By that I mean for some people it is time for them to face their fears and overcome them so they can grow as a person.  Helen Keller once said, “You must walk directly toward that which you fear most, for it is your guiding light to your greatest joy”.  Only by stepping out of your comfort zone and doing something you had fear about doing will you ever be able to realize what your true potential is.

If you watched American Idol this year and heard any of the comments made by the contestants after their performances, the one thing that I heard more than any other thing was that when they decided to go out there and just have fun with it, that is when they really excelled.  Over and over again I heard this as it seemed to be a common thread they all had. 

Of course to go out there and just have fun with it is not the whole story.  What makes it possible for them to do that is all of the hard work they put in to it before they got there.  It is the hard work and Practice that gave them the confidence to go out there and “just have fun with it”.  Believe me, if they had not put forward the hard work before hand, they wouldn’t be having fun with it.

The act of performing should be a generous gift of yourself.  If you are more concerned about how you are sounding or looking, you are just showing off and looking for approval.  But when you are up there with confidence in what you have to offer, and you are willing to share that with the audience, then you can perform and give the audience what they are looking for, and that is to experience some of your emotion and passion.  It is when that exchange of energy between the performer and audience happens that you truly entertain them.

I mentioned above the “exchange of energy” that must happen for true entertainment.  The optimal word there is “exchange”.  At first you might have thought that I was referring only to that which you are giving the audience.  But do not underestimate the return of that energy from the audience to the performer.  There lies perhaps the biggest secret of competition.  That return to a performer can be so powerful and thrilling that instantly you become larger, better, and greater than before.  It is the realization of the response coming back that will take you to new heights.  And that phenomenon is the reason that many performers will take that risk in the first place.  I speak from experience when I say that is much like the synergy of energy and excitement you would get if bungee jumping off a bridge.  And to never take that risk is to never have that experience. 

So Karaoke Fest 2008 is coming up and is not too late to start preparing yourself to go out there and take that chance.  Now is the time to start practicing your Karaoke At Home , or in the car or wherever you can.  Give your self the confidence you need to dare to SING OUT LOUD and become a star.

It has been officially announced, qualifying rounds for Karaoke Fest 2008 Crème De La Crème Singing Competition begin Monday, July 7.  That’s the Monday following the 4^th of July Weekend.  First up are Starting Gate in Los Alamitos and The San Franciscan in Torrance. 

There are twenty five (25) total venues this year covering a geographical range larger than ever before.  The venues are as far south as San Diego and go all the way up to Oxnard near Santa Barbara.  With the price of gas these days, I doubt that very many people will visiting all 25 venues.  In fact there are three (3) locations in San Diego County this year and they include; Carriage House in San Diego; Beach Club, Oceanside; and Poway Fun Bowl, in Poway.  All three of these are new to the Fest this year. 

There several new venues this year.  You can always expect to see many of the usual suspects such as Don Jose’s in Huntington Beach, Lake Elsinore and Montclair; Mr. B’s, Los Alamitos; The Royal Room, Bellflower; Tom Kat Lounge, Buena Park; and the first two mentioned above.  However, it looks like most of the venues are new this year.  In fact, 15 of the 25 venues look to be new this year.  Those would include the three in San Diego County mentioned above; Q Club, Oxnard; Bottoms Up, Bellflower, Gem City Grill, Monrovia; and Boscoe’s Sports Grill, in Lake Forest; just to name a few.  

I am glad to see there are a few more in the Inland Empire this year.  We actually have 6 out here this year.  Some of these include Toro Sushi and Grill in Ontario; DJ’s Lounge, Ontario; Stinger’s, San Bernardino; and Goodfellas in Rancho Cucamonga.  These represent the newcomers this year in the Inland Empire. 

I am also happy to see Martini Blues in Huntington Beach returning to the line up.  I never really liked their sound equipment that much but the atmosphere is great, and they have a great stage too.  Plus, you can never get tired of those amazing martinis they serve there.  Who knows, maybe they have a better sound by now too.

With all of these new venues in the line up, this year’s competition should be better than ever with lot of new talent.  I have always loved this contest as it showcases the best that Karaoke has to offer.  And to be a finalist and get to sing on the big stage in front of thousands of people is an experience you never forget.  I know, being a four time finalist myself.  So if you haven’t started already, it’s time to practice your Karaoke At Home, so you will be at your best when you get out there and SING OUT LOUD.   Check out the entire list of venues at KaraokeScene.com and click on “Crème De La Crème “

Voting for the Karaoke Golden Achievement Awards for 2008 has begun.  Voting will go from now to July 15, 2008.  This is where you can honor your favorite Karaoke establishments, KJs, restaurants and support them with a possible award at the Karaoke Fest 2008.  Of course this is primarily for Southern California, but then So Cal is pretty much the Karaoke Capital of the World, in my opinion.  I say that because I have sung all over the United States, and it seems that there is no where else that can hold a candle to us here in Southern California when it comes to the number of karaoke venues, number of singers, quality of the show, and I could go on.  That is not to say that I don’t thoroughly enjoy myself when I do go out of town, because I do, but sometimes it’s hard to find good karaoke in other areas.     

This year you will be able to vote for your favorite Karaoke venue in six (6) different counties.  Well, actually five, but LA County is broken up into north and south – so six.  You can vote for Best Food, Best Service, Best Stage Presentation, Best KJ (again, in 6 counties), Best Sound, Best Karaoke Library, and Best Rotation.    This is your chance to give back to all those who make it fun out there every night and make it possible for you to shine. 

So log into the Karaoke Fest 2008 Golden Achievement Awards and cast your vote.  And if you know of another area of the country with better Karaoke, leave a comment and let me know, because I would like to (know).  And check out www.karaokeathome.com .      

So where else can you learn about Karaoke other than www.karaokeathome.com.  One site that has been getting world wide recognition is Karaoke Scene (www.karaokescene.com).  I know it is world wide because they have forum contributors from all over the world, including Great Britain, Germany, Australia and Canada just to name a few.  It has become popular because of the interactive nature of several of the pages. 

Starting with the Karaoke Scene forum, there are topics such as the Events Calendar which is a calendar style page that lists one time events or contests.  You can post your special karaoke events on the calendar for all to see, so long as it is happening only once and not recurring (such as a KJ posting a weekly show). 

Other topics include one for general Karaoke Discussion, one for Technical Questions, one for KJs only, one called The Lounge for off Karaoke topics, various polls where you can cast your vote on a particular subject such as “Funniest Song” or your “Favorite Venue” and many other topics.

There is the Singers Showcase where you can post recordings of yourself singing your favorite songs.  You can actually upload a recording of you singing a song and everyone logging in then can hear it and even give comments on it.  Do not fear though, I don’t think I have ever seen a negative comment (“Simon”s are not encouraged).  Another great page on the site is the Club Directory, where you can find Karaoke bars and venues near you, all over the world.  You can even submit a venue for listing there so others can find it. List your used equipment and music in the Classified Ads section.  Listen to the “That’s Karaoke” StreamCast radio show starring Manny Pacheco and Peter Parker.  Have fun perusing the Karaoke Scene website which the online compliment to the printed magazine of the same name (which you can subscribe to online).  It’s hard to believe that all this (and more) is available at just one website.  The bottom line is you will get all the latest information on Karaoke all in one location.  Then come back to Karaoke At Home.com .    

I mentioned in a previous blog, “contest”.  Karaoke contests are becoming more and more popular around the country, especially with the popularity of shows on TV like American Idol, and Don’t Forget The Lyrics!  In fact, I was recently asked to be a judge for a some local contests that had a “Idol” like format, where a panel of three judges would offer comments and score the performer.  Many people are starting to see what they do for fun, as a possible way to make a little extra cash.  Even if they don’t do it for the money, they are doing it because they believe that they have what it takes to compete.

But if you’re going to enter a contest, now you are going to have to take an honest look at what you are doing.  And you really need to consider practicing.  I know, nobody likes to practice; well not that much.  Although, I sort of enjoy practicing my singing.  But now is the time to start putting a little more effort in to your performing.  You need to start practicing some of the fundamentals.  Because the only way you are going to achieve any consistent, predictable results in any activity, is to reinforce those fundamental skills and strive to make them more of an automatic reflex.  Now I’m not saying that this needs to take over your life, but start to set aside some time to practice your karaoke at home , or in the car while you’re driving. 

I also said that you need to take an “honest” look at yourself and what you are doing.  The reason I say that is that you need to see and hear yourself as the judges are going to see you.  In fact, now would probably be a good time to record a song or two so you can hear how you sound to every one else.  And if you have a video camera at home, you might even want to video yourself performing your song.  Short of that, many karaoke bars and venues are starting to offer Video Karaoke at their shows, where they will record your performance for you.  The only problem with a video recording is that it usually doesn’t give you a very good audio reproduction.  In this case you should also try to get a separate, higher quality audio recording of your song, either with your home karaoke system or in a professional recording studio.  Either way you will be able to get a truer representation of how you actually sound.

By getting a recording of yourself you can now hear and/or see some things that may need some work.  Be critical of yourself so you can identify those things that are detracting from your performance.  Identify these things and understand them, because numerous hours practicing bad habits, will only reinforce those bad habits.  And by entering a contest you saying that you are now wanting to step up and out of mediocre-ville.  Try to downplay the bad and encourage the good.  By practicing you can isolate specific muscle behaviors to make them more reflexive.  Strive to be perfect in your repetitions of form and function and you will be inspired by the results.  It is very much like target practice.  The more times you take that shot, more times it will hit the bull’s-eye.

You can find Part 2 of this article at www.karaokeathome.com where you can also learn more about Home Karaoke and practicing your Karaoke At Home.

You’ve been sitting at your table, sipping a glass of liquid courage, and waiting patiently.  Singer after singer has gone up there and done a fine job.  Then, finally, the KJ is on the microphone and you hear your name.  Now is the time.   

As you stand up and start to walk to the stage, you try to remember what song you put down.  Oh yeah, now you remember, how could you forget.  But are you ready?  Do you really know the song, or are you going to stumble through it?  Now you start to get a little nervous.  You’re not usually nervous.  But you’re going up there anyway.  Why, because tonight is the night you decided to enter your first contest.  Tonight it counts.  Tonight it means something.  So if you’re going up there as a contestant in a contest, now is not the time to be second guessing yourself.  On the other hand, if you have been practicing and rehearsing your song then you would have confidence.  And confidence is what helps to calm the nerves.  

In some ways nerves are a good thing.  It’s what keeps you on your toes, keeps you focused.  But being overly nervous can show and actually detract from your performance.  So what is best?  Nervous or not nervous?  Actually, it’s usually best to be a little nervous because as I said before, it will put in a state of hyper consciousness and probably get you to do your best job.   

As the music starts you look out at the crowd that is now staring right at you.  They’re staring at you because they genuinely want to hear what you have to offer.  And this is one thing that is somewhat unique about contests, you usually get just about everyone’s attention.  As the music ends and the crowd goes wild, you smile and realize that it feels good.  It feels good because you know you did a really good job.  There wasn’t need to be so nervous, because you had confidence.  You had confidence in knowing that you know your song frontwards and backwards, because you practiced your karaoke at home.  And it shows.  You may not win, but you know that you put your best foot forward and you now have a reason to be proud.  So stand up and Sing Out Loud.  

Learn more about doing your karaoke at home by visiting www.karaokeathome.com .