This is the end…

I know that I haven’t used this blog much for quite some time, but with recent events that have taken place behind the scenes, I feel the need to let you know what’s happened and where the show is going.

First of all, I am sad to state that the Anything Goes Karaoke format, which I began back in early 2008, is officially dead. This blog has been replaced by another, the e-mail address has changed, and the Facebook group and fan page will soon become dormant. After discussion with Ranch management, the change was requested to represent a “new leaf” for the show, one that I am entering my third year of hosting. It’s unfortunate because I thought that the show really developed its own personality from the time I started the AGK format back in January of 2008. It was at that time, when we first added Wednesday nights to the schedule, that I felt the need to come up with creative ideas to make my show stand out from the others. I began the idea of Theme Nights, which gradually evolved into the monthly contests that I’ve been running, as part of the AGK format. It embraced musical diversity and risktaking singers who wanted to break down the barriers of traditional karaoke nights. I remain proud of what the format accomplished; it attracted some genuinely stellar people (not just singers) and helped to “put me on the map” somewhat in the karaoke landscape.

That being said, with the recent ban on all musical theatre-based karaoke tracks, the show was no longer “Anything Goes”… and I’ve been debating how to resolve that conflict. I do agree with management that a name change is in order as we have changed formats and some of the rules. My sincere hope is that the new format will revitalize the show as it evolves into something a bit different. Perhaps the show will see success, or perhaps it could signal the end of my career. I really don’t know which way it will go.

The new show– at least for now– will be called Karaoke With Pete… or the KWP Show, for short. Boring, I know… but it’s what the Ranch has been using to promote the show on their calendars and website. I don’t mind getting a little publicity by throwing my name out there, anyway. The name may change if I come up with something better, but management seems to like this show name.

The new format will be focusing more on breaking up blocks of certain types of music and will basically mean that singer rotations will be constantly changing. For example, if the next four singers in line all have slow songs up, I may move another singer up in the rotation who is singing something more upbeat or even insert a performance of my own to mix things up a bit. The same goes for too many songs in a row in any genre. The other wrinkle in the new format is that, unfortunately, all musical theatre tracks are being deleted from the karaoke computer database and karaoke books. They won’t be coming back.

What I can tell you about the “Broadway Ban” is this: Management has stated that there have been several customer complaints about these tracks within the past month and that they have linked a decrease in revenue since performances of these tracks have increased in recent weeks. Management does not feel that the Ranch is a proper venue for this type of music, and they believe that it’s driving some regular customers away.

For the record, I don’t personally agree with genre bans of any kind; however, in an employment situation, there are times when you are required to do things that you don’t necessarily agree with. As most of you know, my shows at the Ranch are my primary source of income; I have no fallback plan. I’d rather not be let go and replaced, because I do believe that I can continue to run a great show, despite the new conditions and format. I’ve worked too hard to try and build the show from the diversion that it was when I first took over back in August of 2006. Having said that, I do respect the individual decisions that all of you decide to make regarding attending future shows. I’ve said this in the past, but I’ll reiterate it here: Any and all of you who have attended any of my shows with any kind of frequency are part of the show’s legacy– and part of my karaoke family. That will NEVER change. I know that there are other shows out there; some are closer to you than mine, others have more lenient “rules” than my new show will have. My wish is for all of you to keep singing and stay active in the karaoke community. If I’ve had any part of inspiring you to keep singing, or improving your karaoke performances, or trying new things… then that’s the biggest gift that you could ever give to me.

I will continue to try improving my show-hosting skills. I will be trying to come up with new ways to recognize singers, whether it’s through more contests, new awards, or other things. While the show name, format and song selections may be different… I am still the same KJ that you all have come to know me as. All of you have made me better. You’ve been my singers, my audience, my guinea pigs (at times)… and my friends. I strive to do everything better not only for the future of the show, but also for everyone who is a part of it.

nerdykj@hotmail.com is my new show-related e-mail address. It suits me perfectly. Please feel free to drop me a line at any time should you have any questions, concerns, complaints, or compliments. I’m working on the new Facebook fan page and Facebook group for KWP, so I’ll let you know when it’s up.

http://karaokewithpete.wordpress.com is the new blog page. I’ll be trying to actively use both this time around to keep the word out there, but Facebook will likely be the best way to find out what’s happening. My personal Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/peterskerritt) is also quite active, but covers a lot more than just karaoke.

Thanks to all of you for the support, participation, friendship, and sharing of talent over these past 19 months.

Anything Goes Karaoke News and Notes (April 25th – April 30th)

This week’s entry is a little late, on account of the fact that I celebrated my birthday this week and have been extremely busy. I’d like to again thank everyone who came to celebrate with me this past Wednesday night. It was awesome to see so many familiar faces in the AGK family, reuniting and taking time to help me ring in my 37th year. Especially considering the string of lousy events leading up to my birthday, it was incredible to be able to put a pause on all that and be in the presence of some truly amazing people. Rumor has it that Tammy, the bar manager’s fiancee, has belated birthday plans for me during tomorrow (Sunday) night’s show, but we’ll see about that.

As far as the special event front goes, things are pretty quiet. We do have a cross-promotion with the Cadillac Ranch for Thursday, May 21st, as Cory from Hartford’s Country 92.5 FM will be co-hosting the show with me that night as we look to raise money to fight Leukemia. Details are still coming in to me, as the organization of the event has been done largely behind the scenes… but when I know, I will let you know. Aside from that event, we’re still planning our monthly AGK contest. Look for that to happen sometime during the last week of May, or sometime around then. Also, don’t forget that Memorial Day weekend is coming up pretty quickly… and that means a very busy show is on tap for Sunday night, May 24th.

Here’s the AGK schedule for the next 7 days:

• Saturday, April 25th: I’m back in Agawam, MA tonight to run a karaoke show and dance party at Headquarters Bar & Grill in Agawam, MA. The show starts at 9pm. Although the karaoke selection at Headquarters isn’t as big as the one at the Cadillac Ranch, there are fewer singers and thus more chances to sing your heart out. These shows are fluid, based on the crowd. If we have singers, then it’s more karaoke-based. If not, I tend to spin more Top 40 and dance music instead. If you like to sing, I encourage you to stop down tonight and check it out. The show goes through 1:30am, so even if you’re working late, drop by after work and say hello!
• Sunday, April 26th: The Sunday night AGK show at the Cadillac Ranch is always an unpredictable one. Some nights, we’re loaded with singers… and other nights, we’re a small group that likes to play around with some new material and see what happens. It’s a great way to put the finishing touches on your weekend, and the nice weather will help to make it a fun drive to Southington– no matter where you’re coming from. Plus… this Sunday night, we’ll have the Yankees and Red Sox playing on the big screen for you to keep an eye on! (Weather permitting in Boston, of course.)
• Tuesday, April 28th: Qualifying continues at Pazzo’s in Springfield for the $10,000 Western Mass Karaoke Idol contest. It’s an interesting venue; since it’s a classy restaurant, many singers take the opportunity to get dressed up for the occasion as they try to impress the crowd. While the $10 entry fee may see high, it does guarantee you two songs to sing at the bare minimum and I’ve seen virtually all of the worthy contestants earn spots to the next round of competition already. It’s worth taking a chance on… so why not give it a whirl? Best of all, the show closes down by 12:30am, leaving time for you to get back home and grab some sleep before tackling work or whatever else the next day brings.
• Wednesday, April 29th: AGK resumes at the Cadillac Ranch with the Wednesday night show. Wednesdays are great nights for new singers to come down and sample the 18,000+ songs that the computer has to offer. Wednesdays are also great nights for veteran singers to get plenty of time on stage and practice those special songs that they’ve been working on for future contests or to maybe discover new songs to try. Get over the weekly hump by singing your heart out with us!
• Thursday, April 30th: It’s the last show of the month! Thursday nights are the busiest karaoke nights of the week at the Cadillac Ranch… so whether you like to sing or if you just want to hang out and be seen, Thursday night is the night to do it.

That’s the rundown of shows this week. Don’t forget to check out the Twitter feed for some show observations and quick announcements and, if you’ve got a Facebook account, be sure to join our Anything Goes Karaoke group!

Enjoy the rest of the weekend– and the rest of April, for that matter– and I’ll be seeing you on stage!

AGK News and Notes (Week of April 15th-21st)

Whew.

I don’t know about you, but I’m still recovering after the Anything Goes Karaoke Judge & Jury Contest that took place on Easter night. Jay, the contest winner, blew the audience away with his rendition of Unchained Melody and displayed some smooth performance style and techniques. He had competition from the likes of Yvonne, Noelle, Tim, and Lisa… but held on in the scoring despite late charges from his competitors to win. Jay has been extremely close to claiming victory a few times, and now has had his chance to be in the winner’s circle.

I want to thank all of you who took the time to come out to the Ranch last Sunday– despite the holiday– and those of you who competed. We had 14 contestants– one shy of the AGK record– and we all saw a little bit of everything. Great singers, interesting performances, and even a song ejection were highlights of the event. I was extremely proud of so many of you… contests like this one can be grueling and challenging for your patience, but everyone was extremely understanding and that helped things go off without a hitch. For many of the AGK regulars who were in attendance, all of you showed why our core group of singers is the most talented group in Southern New England. I am extremely thankful and fortunate to have so many great singers (and people) that pick my humble little show to attend.

Regarding last week’s announcements, I can tell you that the response has been noticeable. We’ve had solid turnouts and bar results come in over the last couple of shows, and that’s a great start. It’s still too soon to say whether we’ll be able to avert these proposed new rules or not, but I do think that everyone understands where I was coming from and where we’re at. Last Wednesday and Thursday were probably two of the toughest days of my career in this business so far… a career that’s spanned over 7 years. I absolutely hate having to be that guy, you know? In spite of that, I think that we’ve made a strong showing over these past two shows, and I hope that we’ll be able to continue the trend as we’ve now hit the halfway point of the month.

Here’s a rundown of this week’s AGK events:

• Wednesday, April 15th: Yvonne is celebrating her birthday at the Ranch tonight. Will she get the birthday chair treatment? Also… I snagged a few more personal songs from The Karaoke Channel that I’ll be debuting tonight.
• Thursday, April 16th: Thursday nights at the Ranch have been the busiest AGK shows recently, highlighted by appearances by Michelle, Corey, Anna, and company plus some of our regulars making visits and, of course, some occasional new blood. This Thursday’s show won’t likely be as busy as last Thursday was, meaning that repeat singers will see more time on stage.
• Saturday, April 18th: Anything Goes Karaoke returns to Headquarters Bar & Grill in Agawam, MA for a 9pm show. I will be working a private party beforehand, but would love to see some familiar faces later in the evening. Saturday shows are also great for socializing and dancing, as well as karaoke… as I spin some of the most popular dance tunes (according to iTunes, anyway).
• Sunday, April 19th: This is the first show of what I like to call Pete Week. My own personal countdown to birthday number 37 begins in earnest as we wind down another weekend at the Ranch. Things could get a little crazy. Not too crazy– yet– but maybe a little bit.
• Tuesday, April 21st: Your chance to qualify for a spot at a possible $10,000 comes on Tuesday nights, courtesy of Pazzo’s Ristorante. Registration is at 9pm, then the contest starts at 10pm. $10 entry fee, 2 songs per contestant, judging based solely on Crowd Reaction for this qualifying round. We moved three people through last Tuesday… could you be next? It’s a relatively low-key location… come check it out!

That’s what’s going on this week. Of course, next week kicks off with my birthday! Yay! I know… the reason why anyone turning 37 years old would be as excited as I am about a birthday is probably hard to explain. I’ve always been a big birthday guy. It’s your day, you know? Of course, not everyone can celebrate with you on your day, so you expand the event through maybe a weekend… but me? It’s an entire week!

Ahem.

Sorry to get off track there.

Anyway, I hope to see many of you this week at a show or two (or three or more?). See you on stage!

The Last Minute: AGK Judge & Jury Contest is TONIGHT!

Happy Easter!

As I write this at around 2:30am, we’re about 19 hours away from what I’m hoping will be another $100 contest. The plan is to hold the Judge & Jury Contest– an event that will require talent, ability, and some help from the crowd in order for one lucky singer to claim victory. While the contest will be fun, it’s also the most serious contest that I’ll have run since the local finals at Mingles Lounge for Western Mass Karaoke Idol last year… an event that took a ton of effort to coordinate and judge. Singers will be judged on their vocal ability and performance ability, but the big wrinkle in this event is that crowd response and reaction is going to count more considerably than it has in contests past. The contest is slated to begin at 9:30pm.

Here is how the official scoring will break down:

• Vocal Ability (40%): As with last month’s AGK Gauntlet, this category is weighed highest. Singers will be scored from 1-10 in this category, and that number will be multiplied by 4. This score (and scores in all categories, for that matter) starts at 10 and is reduced based on errors in pitch, timing, rhythm, and volume. Pitch is based on how close to the required notes that you sound; if you’re sharp or flat, you’ll be penalized. Timing and rhythm have to do with when you sing; for example, are your entrances on time? Are your vocals rushing ahead of or lagging behind the music track? Volume is an added component in this category for this contest; for singers, it basically means that you need to exercise microphone control or end up being penalized. If you’re aiming for a high note that’s going to be loud (most are), then pull the microphone away from your mouth so that you don’t blow out multiple eardrums of those patrons sitting barside. If you’re singing low, or singing softly (basically for ballads), bring the microphone very close to your mouth.
• Performance Ability (30%): Performance ability measure a singer’s ability to perform a song, rather than just sing it. Are the singer’s eyes on the crowd or on the judges, or is the singer staring at the words? Is the singer taking advantage of the wireless microphone and bringing the performance to the crowd? Is the singer demonstrating any emotion or concerted effort, or is the song basically just being sung? These subjective questions are taken into account by judges. Low scores in this category are all but guaranteed if a singer stares at the words or has to repeatedly look at the screens for considerable amounts of time. If you pick songs that you know the words to already, you’re likely going to have an advantage here… but don’t forget to perform based on the song you choose! Slower songs need emotion and charisma by the singer to get the crowd to stop and take notice. Faster songs can sometimes call for some movement on-stage or perhaps taking the performance off stage and to the jury– the Ranch crowd who will be helping to determine your fate.
• Jury Verdict / Crowd Reaction (30%): As if this score didn’t already have a considerable effect on overall scores already (as Denise’s co-victory in last month’s contest proved), the stakes just got higher. This score in now tripled, which means that the loudest reactions from the crowd will earn you 30 of a possible 100 overall points instead of just 10. Singers who don’t elicit loud crowd responses can find themselves at a considerable disadvantage– especially if the other scores are close. You can sway the jury (the Ranch crowd) by grabbing their attention and pumping them up; the jury can be loud for everyone if they want… there’s no limit to who they can root for! If you don’t make the effort to sway them, or if you don’t stack the jury by bringing supporters of your own, it’s possible that a stellar performance could end up just shy of winning it all.

Please remember that this contest will happen only if we’re able to fill all ten contestant slots. We may allow a couple of more entries over the 10 if there’s interest (12 total), but that’s not going to be made official until the contest start time. I don’t know how many of you are actually planning on competing; I know that I’ve heard rumblings from a few of you, but I’m hoping that we’re going to have enough singers to fill all of the spots. $100 will make a nice Easter prize for someone, but we need enough contestants and support to make it happen. Also, if we can continue to show support for these contests, we can maybe give away $100 a month! We have to show Ranch management that their investment is worth it… so I’m basically pleading with you to try and come out tonight if you can and support the cause.

In other news:

• If you haven’t seen it yet, Anything Goes Karaoke has its own channel on YouTube! There are only two performances up there so far, but I’ll be working to increase that number in the coming weeks. Unfortunately, the sound isn’t great– thanks to the upload compression that occurs when uploading to YouTube– but you can still see our singers and get a taste of what they sound like. If you want to have your performance caught on camera, let me know prior to the performance and I’ll try to capture it for you– I’ll even e-mail it to you if you like! (File sizes are usually between 30-40 megabytes, so broadband e-mail connections are recommended.)
• For those of you looking for another contest to enter, Western Mass Karaoke Idol has returned for 2009. The entry fee this time around is $10, and two songs are required. Here’s a list of the qualifying nights and locations. As I’ve mentioned previously, I’m going to be covering some shows at Pazzo’s in Springfield for at least the next two Tuesday nights (April 14th and April 21st), and those are both qualifying nights. Those of you who came up to Mingles last year may be disappointed to hear that, unlike my judging last year, crowd reaction and applause is the only factor in determining who moves on at all qualifiers this year. So… even though I’m running the show, I have no say in who qualifies each week. Pazzo’s actually has its own entertainment director (and a great guy, at that) who handles the contest logistics.
• Don’t forget about The Karaoke Channel store. This site has downloads of both MP3 (karaoke music only with no lyrics) and WMV (Windows Media video files with music and lyrics) up for sale, covering over 9,000 songs. MP3 files are only $1 each, while WMV video files are $1.50 each. If you go to the site and see songs that you know we don’t have and would like to have them, you can send a list of them to me via e-mail (anythinggoeskaraoke@hotmail.com) and I can submit them to Ranch management for possible purchase. I can’t promise that the Ranch will spring for them, but I may, depending on the situation and my financial ability.

OK… that’s it from here. I hope to see many of you tonight. I’ll be dressed up for the contest, so don’t be alarmed at the shirt and tie, OK? Maybe I’ll take them off after the contest… if I don’t scare anyone in the process. *grin*

Have a happy Easter Sunday!

Clearing the air…

First off, thank you to everyone who took the time to read yesterday’s blog entry. It’s been rare for me to have to post something so important and it’s been difficult for me to be able to find a way to explain what’s going on behind the scenes with Ranch management. Unfortunately, things like this aren’t able to be addressed during a show; it has to be discussed in a manner like a blog, or within a social network, or even individually from person to person. This is an extraordinarily awkward thing for me to have to deal with because I am close to many of my regular singers. All of them continued to come back to my shows because a relationship was built. I may have stronger ties to some singers more than others, but I honestly care about my entire group of regulars… and I do believe that all of them know that.

I think that, in the aftermath of what was announced yesterday, it’s necessary to clarify a few things:

• No one person or incident is responsible for what is transpiring. It’s a reaction to a variety of incidents and trends that have been going on that management has picked up on. It was heartwarming for me to have several singers come up to me at last night’s show and discuss things with me, but it’s not one specific person or occurrence or trend.
• The new rules are not yet in effect. In discussing (and pleading my case) to management, I was able to argue to delay implementing the new rules until May. If management sees better results across the board– better revenue, less rude behavior, better attendance, and so on– then we may see a further or even infinite delay of starting the new rules. Last night’s show was certainly an awesome start, and management took the time to tell me so.
• Consistency is the name of the game. Noelle’s reaction to the potential rules changes really emphasizes my beliefs. It’s not expected that you accumulate a $50 bar tab every time you come in. If you did that for every show– as much as I would be thrilled (and a little shocked)– it would become ridiculously expensive in a hurry. However, even if you earmark $5 per show to spend on a drink to nurse throughout the night, it’s still perceived as being infinitely better than spending nothing at all. One regular was rewarded for his consistency one night when he was asked if he wanted anything and responded that he was tapped for that night; the bartender asked him to sing a song for her and she responded by getting him a beer. She did it because he consistently buys at least one thing every time he comes to a show. This is an exceptional case, to be sure, but it shows bartenders do pay attention to you and your buying trends.
• Everyone will still get a chance to sing. Irregardless of spending, each singer is generally guaranteed at least one chance to sing per night. I do my best to accomodate everyone… so, even if you work late and don’t arrive until after midnight, I try hard to make sure you get your song in. This will not change, even if the new rules are implemented. Some of you mentioned concern about not getting to sing, but that’s not what would be affected here. It would be the frequency of songs that some people get to sing, depending on rotation depth (how many singers are waiting) and whether any of those singers are of the “free ride” variety.

As I mentioned before, I do have some ideas to try and drum up interest. Although there was initially a lukewarm response to the idea of entry fees for monthly contests, I think that there’s some merit to them. While the fee would be nominal ($5 max), it helps to offset the bottom line of running the show and the event and also helps to lessen the blow of paying out $100 every month (if that’s what we decide to do). Keep in mind that this is only an idea and no decision has been made on entry fees yet.

Also, I am strongly considering putting together a monthly calendar of events. Some nights will be basic karaoke nights, but others would be special. Blacklist Nights, Mystery Song Nights, Decades Nights (with some even having cash prizes), Formal Nights, and more would be spread out on random days throughout each month. I want to give you more reasons and maybe even a focus to come on certain nights. If there’s an ’80s Night, you might want to make special plans to come out because you’re a big fan. Maybe you want to try your luck on Mystery Song Night and see if you pick the song that I’m thinking of in order to win a free drink. Special events would separate AGK from the rest of the karaoke shows out there, in my opinion… I just have to plan them and get them going. That’s (unfortunately) a lot of work for one (soon to be older) stocky bald man to handle by himself.

I hope this helps to clear the air a little bit. It’s not all doom and gloom in AGK Land. I am hoping that, thanks to last night’s big turnout, I was able to attract some more people for Sunday night’s contest. I am pretty confident that my job– and all three weekly shows– are at least temporarily secure. I may also be taking over a show closer to home here in Massachusetts at Pazzo’s Ristorante, right next to the Basketball Hall of Fame, at 9pm on Tuesday nights pretty soon (I’m definitely there for the next two Tuesday nights). I still have some gigs coming at Headquarters Bar & Grill in Agawam, including one this Saturday night at 9pm.

And… did I mention that my birthday is coming up? I did? Damn.

Thanks again to all of you for your support, your understanding, and your participation both at my shows and here within the blogosphere. Now, I’m resting up for the next 36 hours or so. I’m beat.

See you this weekend!

AGK News and Notes (Week of April 8th-12th)

Hello there, everyone! I have good news and not-so-good news:

The not-so-good news is that there are some significant changes in the works for future AGK shows at the Ranch, starting in May. Singer rotations are going to begin to be monitored by management and bar staff as it’s been pointed out that some singers are getting a “free ride”, meaning that they are not spending money during their trips to the Ranch on a consistent basis, while other singers who are spending money aren’t getting equal time on the stage. I have been more than happy to run shows that are open to anyone and everyone– regardless of ability, reputation, or how much you spend. I completely understand that times are tough for everyone right now; I’m struggling right along with you. Neither Ranch management nor myself expects anyone to spend a ton of money every time they visit. Sometimes bills come due, or unforeseen expenses arise, or other circumstances come up. The bartenders know who’s buying at least one drink or food item almost every time in and they also know who has not been spending any money at all.

Unfortunately, there have been instances where “free ride” singer behavior has led to this upcoming policy change. Slamming mugs, openly complaining about not being able to afford drinks or about not singing enough, disrespectful behavior to bar staff, and other examples were recently brought to Ranch management during a recent meeting with waitstaff and bartenders and I was informed after last night’s show that changes were to be expected.

It’s not exactly positive news, but it could have been a lot worse. The idea of cover charges was brought up, as was the idea of trimming shows or even eliminating karaoke altogether. I’m thankful that I still have a job. I can understand management’s point of view. If people who come to my shows don’t spend much (if any) money, then how can the Ranch afford to pay me… or pay for contests… or bother with considering paying for improvements like new books and new songs?

Hopefully, trends will change and we can show that this policy change isn’t needed– or we can at least make it a temporary change– if we can boost attendance and sales numbers for the remainder of April. If you can afford to spend some money by having some food and/or a drink or two, that would be a huge help. If money’s tight, then I understand… but we need to be on the same page regarding how to act. It likely goes without saying, but just blend in; don’t be rude to the bar staff, try not to complain about not being able to afford drinks or about your place in the rotation, and exercise some patience while waiting for your next turn.

Now for the good news, although it comes with a caveat:

The $100 April AGK Contest– Judge and Jury– is almost upon us!

We’re just 3 days away from the contest, sponsored by the Cadillac Ranch. If you missed the announcement regarding the rules of the contest, please be sure to read this blog entry. I’ll be taking signups as soon as the show begins at 8pm; I’ll need (on a blank index card) your name, the word CONTEST, and four songs. The first two songs will be your main two songs, and the others will be backups, in case there are technical problems or in case someone else has claimed the song(s) before you. There are no stipulations for song types… just that you pick your very best as the scoring will be very strict this time around. Only the first 10 contestant entries will be accepted, so I highly recommend arriving early to fill out your index card and turn it in.

Now… here’s the caveat: Unfortunately, there has not been a large turnout at most shows since the contest was first announced, and there hasn’t really been much of a response from those who I have mentioned the event to. As Ranch management is uncertain as to the viability of giving away another $100, they have stipulated that we must have a full roster of 10 contestants by 9:30pm in order for the contest to take place. If we do not have the 10 singers needed by then, the contest will be cancelled.

It may seem like an unfair thing to do, but again, this is money being put up by the Ranch and not myself. My advice to those of you out there who are interested in competing on Sunday is to network over the next few days with friends and other potential singers to ensure that we’re going to have the turnout needed to get this contest going. Perhaps you can convince a few supporters to take a chance on singing in the contest, just in case there are open slots.

OK… the sun’s coming up, which means I need to get some rest. I hope that we can kick things into high gear starting with tonight’s show. Thursdays have been our strongest shows lately, so tonight’s the night to come on down and perform in front of a decent crowd while prepping for Sunday’s contest… plus my big 37th birthday celebration is in less than 2 weeks now!

See you on stage!

AGK April $100 Contest: Judge and Jury

There’s good news and bad news on the AGK front today.

The bad news is that I’ve not had a lot of time to update the blog lately, and I apologize for that. The show has been in a bit of flux lately, and I’m not really certain how many people actually look at this blog. Since my spare time is limited, I haven’t been sure that updating the blog has been a worthwhile venture. That being said, I’m going to use the blog to let you know about upcoming events and show announcements, rather than post show recaps and such. I think that it’s a better tool to inform everyone overall. If I get enough feedback from people saying that I should bring back the show recaps, and if the blog registers enough hits to make it worth doing… then I’ll resume posting recaps and contest result summaries.

Now, then… on to the good news!

We’re giving away another $100 this month! Thanks to your strong turnout in the final night of the AGK Gauntlet competition (which, by the way, finished in a tie between Alecia and Denise who split the $100), Ranch management has decided to put up another $100 for an April contest. The kicker is that the contest will take place on Easter Sunday night, April 12th. I’ll be plugging this contest a lot, starting with tonight’s show. The format of the contest will be one that we’ve done before. It’s not going to be the Gender Bender event that I had planned; instead, it’s going to be similar to what we did back in January. Song choices will be completely at each contestant’s discretion; however, the judging for the event will be rather technical and I will be giving feedback to singers (much like American Idol, but without a British accent or a ditzy and washed-up former dancer and singer on the judging panel) after their performances. I will be announcing the full details at tonight’s AGK show, including scoring criteria.

The big caveat to this contest is that Ranch management is expecting a decent turnout for this event. I realize that it’s a Sunday night, and I realize that it’s a holiday (for some people, at least)… but the event is taking place after most of the family time and meals have been wrapped up. It might even be possible to convince some family members to come out to the Ranch and lend you support. Scoring for this event will see a change in the weight of the Crowd Reaction score, so bringing people with you in order to make some loud noise and cheers will be even more important this time. One of the things that propelled Denise to her first-place tie in the Gauntlet event was the fact that she had a group of people cheering loudly for her; in fact, one of the secondary judges that I worked with for the event noted that the loud volume of Denise’s cheering section left a lasting impression on her. Loud crowds alone won’t win you the $100, as vocals and performance ability will still be weighed more heavily; however, Song Difficulty is now being worked into the Overall Opinion score meaning that the Crowd Reaction score will be worth double from now on. It could very well make all the difference if the vocal and performance scores are as close as they were in the Gauntlet event.

If you’re interested in participating in the contest, please bear in mind that there will be no advance sign-ups. I will explain the registration process when the show starts at 8pm, and will accept the first 10 contestants only. Duets are allowed, although if a duet act wins, the prize is still $100 and not $100 each. Also, this contest is about being your best. Judges will be listening intently for issues with pitch, rhythm, timing, and they will be watching how you perform. It’s Easter, so I would assume that you’ll all look nice; appearance is part of the Performance score. Also, think about not only which song is your strongest… but also which song will impress the judges—myself included. As with the last contest, there will be no favorites in this event. $100 is a considerable prize, especially for a one-night contest.

If we can pull off another successful contest, there’s a good possibility that we’ll have more of these in the coming months, giving you more chances to win a decent payout. The future of these contests depends on you, however. These contests are not only fun, but they’re also tokens of appreciation from the Ranch and myself for supporting AGK. I want to keep doing them; heck, I’d love to be able to run two per month! It took a year of running these event on my own to get to this point, and it’s because of the attendance of many of you who are reading this blog (all 10 of you) that I managed to convince the Ranch to support these contests.

So… start getting excited! Think about your songs and how you’re going to blow everyone away. I know that I’m psyched to run another contest!

In the meantime, I hope to see many of you this week! I’ll be at the Ranch tonight at 8pm.

AGK Randomness…

As the hours tick by towards Wednesday night’s Anything Goes Karaoke Gauntlet grand finale, it occurred to me that I hadn’t written anything here in a while and I had a few spare minutes this afternoon… so here are a few random things off the top of my head:

I think that I might have expected a little too much in terms of interest for this month’s contest. It’s been a blast to run so far, and we’re certainly in for an exciting finish– but I don’t know that it’s helped attendance enough to justify running a major contest like this again anytime soon. I’m certainly glad that we had 10 (really 11) finalists that were not only extremely talented, but also were willing to commit to a lengthy event like this one. I know that we had a few drops due to illness, but that’s going to happen this time of year. All of the Gauntlet finalists have been awesome all around, and I’m going to be happy to award the $100 to the winner. As for the future of other Gauntlet-type events, we’ll have to see what Ranch management says in our feedback session in the days to come. I’ll keep you posted.

In general, attendance is declining at AGK shows, unfortunately. I understand why it’s happening, and the reasons are generally positive ones. I don’t think it’s so much money-related as it is lifestyle-related, and this happens in the business. People meet other people or become engaged in other social activities. Sometimes the “bar scene” becomes too dramatic or volatile for people and they need a change. There are work commitments, family commitments, and other factors, too. The thing that I wish to let everyone know is that the AGK door is always open. It’s impossible (and unfair) to expect people to come to every show, every week. I’m thankful for the opportunity to see you when time and money allow for it. If you’re able to come by once a week, once every other week, once a month, or even just during vacations– I’m always glad to see each and every one of you.

My hope is that word can spread about the AGK show so that friends, co-workers, relatives, or even acquaintances might drop by on occasion, as well. This builds the overall attendance, hopefully bringing in more bar receipts and keeping the AGK show alive and kicking. Keeping in mind that most karaoke shows tend to dissolve within 12-18 months, I can’t tell you how happy and honored I am that I’m nearing my three-year anniversary at the Ranch. My lengthy tenure is because of support from all of you, no matter how many shows you’ve been to. Without you either singing or just hanging out, the bar is empty and there’s no reason for me to continue making the hour-long drive or for the Ranch to continue having me back.

So… thank you all for the support and participation in AGK. The show is what it is because of all of you.

Before I go, I have a couple of upcoming dates for you to keep in mind:

• April’s theme night has been changed from Thursday, April 23rd back to Sunday night, April 19th. I will be announcing the theme at the end of the AGK Gauntlet competition. If you have suggestions, I’ll accept them either via blog comment, via Facebook, via MySpace, or via e-mail (anythinggoeskaraoke@hotmail.com) until 10pm Wednesday night, March 25th. It’ll be a $25 event.
• My birthday is April 22nd, which is a Wednesday night– and a night that I will be running AGK. It would be awesome if you could drop by and make it a night to remember for me. It’s not going to be a big deal or anything, but it would mean a lot to me to have a super turnout that night.

Oh, and lastly, my time at Headquarters in Agawam is at an end as wedding season has begun again and my Saturdays will be dedicated to assisting for what I hope to be plenty of happy nuptials in 2009. My thanks to all of you who made the trip to Headquarters to support me during my brief (and rather inconsistent) time there.

Now, back to relaxing and recharging my batteries for Wednesday night. Don’t forget, finalists– bring friends! It could be the difference between winning $100 or just missing out. (And, if you do bring friends, tell ‘em to get loud for you after you sing, hm?)

AGK Gauntlet Summary: Week 1

Last night kicked off the competition phase of the Anything Goes Karaoke Gauntlet contest.

Although we lost a few finalists to illness (Kim, Rachel, Joe), there was plenty of talent at the Ranch as the first round of singing took place. Each finalist sang two songs and was graded in 5 different categories; a couple of these criteria (Vocal and Performance) are weighted more strongly, but it’s the intangible categories (Crowd Reaction, Song Difficulty, Pete’s Perspective) that could make all of the difference.

In fact, looking at the standings after last night, three points separate 1st place from 5th place. That’s right… three points. There are ties for first (171 points) and third place (169 points) right now, and the fifth place score is 168 points.  Leaving names out, here are the standings:

• T1. 171 points
• T1. 171 points
• T3. 169 points
• T3. 169 points
• 5. 168 points
• 6. 163 points
• 7. 156 points
• 8. 148 points

It’s going to be a close race next week. A couple of finalists have songs that they’ll be performing without words on-screen, which may help them focus more on performing instead of word-watching. All finalists have been encouraged to bring supporters to pump up their Crowd Reaction scores; one singer in particular last night managed two perfect scores in this field which helped propel his overall standing into the first-place tie. As you can see, every point is going to be important next week, so I encourage those of you who aren’t singing to come on down and cheer your favorite finalist on to a nice $100 prize.

Before I go, I’d like to remind everyone that tonight’s AGK show is gonna be HUGE. It’s the last night that Jagermeister will be in the house with us as SpikeTV will crown their Toughest Cowboy as the series ends its run. $3 Jager shots and $4 Jager Bombs will kick off at 10pm as the Jager Girls will be sending off the Toughest Cowboy with some more cool– and free– schwag. I’ve been hearing rumblings that at least a few people are making plans to stop down, so I’m hoping for a busy night. I’d love for you to be a part of it!

That’s all for now. I’ll see you soon!

AGK Gauntlet: First Five In!

The first night of qualifying for the Anything Goes Karaoke Gauntlet contest is in the books, and there weren’t many surprises. Four of the five finalists are AGK regulars, while one relative newcomer made a strong case for belonging in the conversation as a definite contender for the top prize. Here are your first five qualifiers:

1. Denise: Denise came out strong, right out of the gate. It’s no secret that Denise is not only extremely talented– but she also has competitive fire that drives her to give 110% for all of the contests that she’s been in. She will be a force to be reckoned with during the Gauntlet.
2. Jay: Showcasing his versatility, Jay is another strong contender. Many singers have their niche– but Jay is capable of singing almost any kind of song… from country to rock to ballads to even spinning a rap or two. Is the Gauntlet where Jay breaks through and wins?
3. Rachel: Rachel is usually a Thursday night AGK attendee, so maybe it was fate that brought her in last night to sing…. but sing she did, and her voice easily earned her a qualifying spot for the Gauntlet. Country is definitely one of Rachel’s strengths… but can she be versatile?
4. Ryan: Along with Denise, Ryan has a long history with AGK. He’s a veteran of our contests, having tasted victory in the past. Now it’s time to see if Ryan’s impressive repertoire and musical ability can propel him to his biggest contest win to date.
5. King George: Anyone who’s been to an AGK show on Wednesday or Thursday nights knows who this man is. He is the Original AGK Cowboy… but he’s also sung Madonna. Can his fans motivate him to a victory? We’ll see… but we know it’ll be entertaining.

With five spots down, and many to expected qualifiers, that leaves the final five slots wide open as the first five can watch their potential competition while they map out their run of the Gauntlet. Remember… there’s no cost to enter– only a commitment to be at the finals and compete should you earn a spot. There could be $100 in it for you, and you can have fun singing and hanging out with friends while you show off your talent! Plus, if this contest is successful, we can run more like it in the future. It’s all dependent on you.

Turning to tonight’s AGK show… while there’s no contest or qualifying to speak of… we do have the Jager Girls making another appearance tonight, in support of SpikeTV’s Toughest Cowboy event. They’ll be arriving at 10pm– and to mark their arrival, we’ll again be selling $3 Jager shots! The Jager Girls will also have plenty of freebies to give away, too… so I hope that you’ll come on out and hang with us. Thursday nights continue to be AGK’s busiest nights… so if you’re looking to ring in your weekend right, the Cadillac Ranch is the place to be and to be seen, sung, and heard!

Anything Goes Karaoke starts at 8pm, and I hope to see you there!