This week I am putting a toe in the water to return to doing karaoke at Finn's. They have more square footage for our crowd than some smaller venues still limited by the state phase one reopening. Some of you are anxiously awaiting the return of karaoke, others may feel it is too soon. Many want to know what will be different and what protocols will be in place in "the new normal". This has been a CONSTANT subject on my mind since the quarantine. I have read up on the science, studied the CDC protocols and recommendations, and networked with other karaoke hosts in regard to placing protocols upon the return of karaoke. This is the plan I have come up with, based on your questions:
IS IT TOO SOON?: That is up to each individual to decide. Some people are more diligent about social distancing than others. Some folks are more susceptible to illness and germs than others due to situations that may affect them such as having a compromised immune system, pre-existing issues, age, etc..., so one rule will not fit all. Basically, if you are worried or feel it is too soon, you may not be a candidate to return to social public karaoke.
IS IT SAFE...WHAT PRECAUTIONS ARE YOU TAKING?: The venue will be following state protocols at the time, so when phase two arrives, things will open up further. Until then, for phase one, the venues will be adhering to phase one state protocols. SAFETY IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GUARANTEE...YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WELFARE. Do not rely on others to protect you. Based on your individual needs, conduct yourself accordingly. If that means wearing a mask, or carrying hand sanitizer, or visiting the rest room regularly to wash your hands, that is incumbent upon you to do. While the host and the venue take steps to limit infectious contact, it is not guaranteed. The venue will have certainly stepped up cleaning methods, as has the karaoke host, but these are not guarantees. There ARE steps YOU can take to put the odds solidly in your favor.
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO AVOID GERMS AT KARAOKE?: The best way to avoid germs is to really understand, scientifically, how they spread. There are methods that some people recommend that are NOT effective, and in fact, more dangerous than not using them. These include the usage of foam mic covers or other microphone covers. They look like they are doing something, but the science does not agree. Ground zero for potential infection at karaoke will be: In the atomized breath of someone yelling, laughing, sneezing, singing or talking loudly close to you, on the microphone, and on any surfaces that may be holding bodily fluid such as spittle, saliva, mucous, etc... The safest thing for you as a singer to do is to limit your exposure, but even if exposed, take 2 simple steps.
THE COMMON THREAD IN ALL PROTOCOLS is that if you are a singer concerned with germs of any kind, it is INCUMBENT UPON YOU to sanitize your hands or wash with soap and water immediately following your performance, before contacting food, phones, or face.
FIRST: Always just assume the microphone is dirty even if it has just been cleaned, has a cover etc... That is not a deal breaker, but what you NEED TO LEARN TO DO now and forever is to NEVER ALLOW THE MIC TO TOUCH YOUR FACE, LIPS, MOUTH, NOSE, etc... Have no contact with the top of the microphone.
SECOND, always assume at the end of your song that YOUR HANDS ARE DIRTY. Once you return the microphone to the host, IT IS INCUMBENT ON YOU THE SINGER to use a hand sanitizer or otherwise head to the bathroom to wash using soap and water before touching your food, face or phone or other personal belongings. That will effectively handle any germs you have come into contact with. Now keep in mind, these protocols are born of the COVID-19 coronavirus issue, but, germs have been around as long as people, and people have been doing karaoke, and eating, and touching other people, kissing, inhaling air in close proximity...etc...for DECADES. Karaoke did not just suddenly develop germs, it is just the effort of trying to avoid this one particular NEW germ that is causing the panic reactions. GLOVES could be effective if used properly, meaning throwing them away and washing your hands afterward...but in that regard, save the money on gloves and just wash/sanitize your hands anyway. CDC guidelines have been fluid, changing as research reveals more information. There are mixed reports regarding transmittal of COVID-19 from hard surfaces, as well as discussions about when and how masks do or do not work. Do your research and take your actions according to your personal needs.
SHOULD I WEAR A MASK?: Again, a personal decision based on your needs. Singing on a PA system will not work with some to most masks, as the amplified sound would be muffled. If your level of caution requires it, we can try it, but it may be too soon for you personally if that is a deal breaker. (Each Halloween I deal with people singing in costume, and it does not sound good with a masked voice). If you are in the crowd as a spectator, a mask may be prudent if you are at a table or group talking loudly or breathing in each other's space.
CAN I BRING MY OWN FOAM COVER AND PUT IT ON THE MIC?: If you want to yes, but, not only will this not be an effective deterrent to infection, it may also increase your chances by carrying mic germs back to your table via the infected foam you are now putting in your pocket, purse or case. They do not work in this manner, they are designed to stop wind pops, not germs.
WE WENT TO ANOTHER SHOW WHERE THEY GAVE EACH SINGER A LITTLE COVER FOR THE MIC THAT THE SINGER TOOK WITH THEM AFTER EACH SONG: And they make singers feel safe, but they do not work effectively. Your hands are still contacting the mic, even with a cover on it. There is no guarantee that the cover has no germ on it, and certainly, when removed, could have germs on the interior. Even with covers, you would need to wash or sanitize your hands afterward...so, save the money on covers, and simply plan on washing/sanitizing your hands. A false sense of security keeps you from cleaning your hands, and that is the key at karaoke.
CAN I BRING MY OWN MICROPHONE?: Maybe. I may be prepared to accept singers microphones on my cable provided they are XLR connected, NOT 1/4" or any connector other than an XLR. You cannot bring your own wireless mic as it would be too cumbersome to connect and dial in between singers. There are no guarantees your microphone will be compatible with my system either, depending on quality, specifications, and what shape of a pick up pattern the cartridge has, which all affect sound, and feedback, etc...
Here is a link to a blog entry, State of Harryoke. I put this up earlier in May during quarantine and it covers some of this and delves a little deeper.:
STATE OF HARRYOKE BLOG
The takeaway from all of this is...be safe, be responsible for your own safety, be smart, know the enemy and come back and have fun when you are personally ready!!
Hope to see you all soon. State protocols will dictate whether this is a short term return or permanent, but I am hoping for the best.
All the best to you all! THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, AND FRIENDSHIP!
Friday, May 29, 2020
Sunday, May 3, 2020
THE STATE OF HARRYOKE May 2020
Hello everyone! I hope my note finds you all well. I am just checking in, and wanted to say a few things about the state of Harryoke in the face of the new reality. There is a lot to say, so warning, this will be a long essay, but I will attempt to keep topics categorized as best as I can. I do have a ton of things on my mind, but will try to condense the topics most asked about here, in a FAQ type of format.
HOW ARE YOU DOING?: I am doing great compared to some. I have been biding my time, doing stuff around the house and largely trying to stay safe, healthy and sane. I have been trying to stay active by walking, biking and using the exercise station at the park. Been organizing the office and house, and using online auctions and sell sites to sell off some excess stuff.
I used to joke about alternative jobs, and would always say "...if there ever came a day when karaoke was either illegal, outlawed or prohibited, I would...". That seemed like an outrageous enough scenario that would never occur. These days, I am not so sure. Mentally it weighs on me that what I have built up over so many years has stopped, virtually overnight, and while I am cautiously optimistic things will normalize one day, I also worry about the new reality, and how it will affect people and their social habits.
I have always planned for a rainy day, and am currently living under my umbrella. Many who do what I do for a living are in a similar pinch, and as an industry, we are networking ideas to prepare for the new realities of the future. Hopefully the new normal will allow me to pick up where I left off. If not, I will be open to Plan B's if you have one to offer.
WHEN ARE YOU COMING BACK TO WORK TO DO HARRYOKE SHOWS?: My last show was on Monday, 3.16.2020 and was show #5670 since May of 1999. I am just short of my service anniversary which will see me finish my 21st year of Harryoke shows, and start of year 22! My start back date is very ambiguous, and will be based on state guidelines and regulations, as well as some common sense. Although closures have been loosened in phase one of the state reopening, the guidelines are not loose enough to effectively allow karaoke and the crowds that result at karaoke shows.
My weekly return will be based on when crowds can come back safely and when it makes financial sense for the venues that hire me to have me back to attract crowds for them as best as I can. Ultimately, THAT is my job description. It could be some time down the road before social distancing measures make sense to those who hire me. Stay tuned.
WHY NOT DO ONLINE KARAOKE?: Lots of reasons...largely and most importantly is that, while I understand the outlet of online "karaoke", I do not feel it is the same as what I offer as traditional karaoke. I personally think the karaoke experience is more than singing...it is the crowd, the live interaction with an audience, the applause and laughter and reaction...and even more importantly, it is the human interaction off stage. It is the conversation and joking, the clink of glasses and sharing of a drink, or a hug. It is the interaction and listening to each others life experience and offering a compassionate ear or shoulder. It is meeting new people...or meeting old friends. It is the silliness happening off stage, as much as the singing and performance on stage.
While I can post videos of singers, or of myself singing, I cannot recreate the experience of true karaoke, virtually, and have had little desire to try. The variables of meet up times, poor connections, inferior sound or video connection, and the fact that video karaoke is SO visual, while real karaoke does not rely as heavily on the visual element. There is also the issue of the sound on a stage, compared to singing into a phone or computer. It does not compare. While I miss those interactions with the public, I do not think a virtual karaoke environment fills the void well enough.
There is also the realistic matter of how one would replace their income doing it. For someone like me who relies on karaoke performance to make a living, it would be difficult to create a virtual presence online and figure out a way to, or to justify monetizing it. If there came a day when I was FORCED to do that, I would consider it...but I am more optimistic some level of normal is coming back. I enjoy standing in front of a crowd and winging it...and cannot bring myself to sing into my phone or sing into the computer. It just feels unnatural, and acoustically foreign to a live stage. I have toyed with the idea of doing a live mini concert for fun and live streaming it, and that would be closer to reality if I had my sound system set up...but, that is performance, more than karaoke.
I think how I feel about karaoke is best expressed in how I run my live shows, and by those who attend them, who need that outlet on my stage, and that outlet cant easily be replaced virtually online. It can substitute, but it fills a different void. I am thankful to FaceBook for keeping us all in touch, despite not being able to meet or sing in person in public.
HOW WILL HARRYOKE BE DIFFERENT WHEN YOU RETURN?: That is the million dollar question. Much will depend on what the state guidelines are, and if and how it makes sense to comply with them, if possible. I will say this...and I offer this candidly and with full honesty: There is a discussion among karaoke hosts about what to do to protect ourselves and our singers upon our return. MUCH of what is suggested is an illusion. Things we can do to MAKE IT LOOK like it is safe, but in reality, it is an illusion. There are suggested hygiene steps that, not only are ineffective, but could actually increase transmission of germs.
SO HOW WILL HARRYOKE SHOWS BE DIFFERENT? I am hoping they won't be. There will be steps I can take in regard to microphone cleanliness that I can be more diligent about. That will be the biggest thing. There is no way to do karaoke in a mask. Spit guards...hands free microphones...foam covers...fabric mic condoms...plastic mic covers...UV or ultrasonic sanitizers...all ineffective voodoo as helpful as just wishing. They LOOK like you are doing something...but they are not. That is just being honest, folks.
WILL IT BE SAFE TO DO KARAOKE IN THE NEW REALITY?: That is entirely up to YOU. There are steps YOU can take to protect yourselves, over and above what I can do, and effectively, regardless of what I do on stage, there are steps you all can take off stage that will be far more effective. The key is...that YOU understand how germs are transmitted, that you determine your tolerance for exposure to germs (based on health history, age, level of compromise of your immune system, etc...).
SO FIRST...if you are concerned about germs, understand how they transmit and take the appropriate steps based on YOUR personal tolerance. For some folks it wont make sense to come out in public...for others it will.
THE MOST IMPORTANT SUGGESTION I CAN MAKE FOR EVERYONE IS FOR EACH OF YOU TO TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OWN HEALTH AND HYGIENE AND NOT RELY ON OTHERS TO DO IT FOR YOU! That is the MOST important thing I can say before continuing. If you are simply an audience member, the rules will be different than those for singers, who have a greater exposure. I would say the greatest topic in regard to exposure to germs at karaoke, aside from human contact, is MICROPHONE CONTACT. There is no magic wand to wave to guarantee safety, and anyone who claims their mics are safe or sanitary is lying. You must always assume, correctly or incorrectly, that the microphone is NOT SANITARY, and handle yourself, and the microphone, accordingly. This is not new news...it has always been this way, and people have been singing karaoke and carelessly using no hygiene protocols for years! We are all just hyper aware now in the face of COVID-19. Karaoke will be just as safe now as it was before...and actually more safe in the face of heightened protocols and awareness. Your reaction should be commensurate with your tolerance.
IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT GERMS, you can safely survive exposure to germs on a microphone or elsewhere on stage by following some protocols. Most importantly are the following:
1) do not touch the top of the mic...the wind screen, and especially, do not touch the mic to your lips, mouth or face in any way. Keep the mic about 3 inches away, minimum.
2) only touch the body of the microphone, and after touching the microphone, do not put your hand on your face, mouth, nose or eyes until you wash or sanitize.
3) immediately following your performance, sanitize your hands...ideally with soap and water in the bathroom, or in a pinch, with an alcohol based hand sanitizer...do this IMMEDIATELY after leaving the stage before returning to your table, or touching your food or drink or phone.
4) do not stand in close proximity to the host or other singers while they are talking or singing to prevent any droplets from falling on you or into your breathing space.
If you follow THOSE simple guidelines alone, you will be exponentially safer. The microphone and stage area are not the only places germs will be an issue in public...but we are talking about being safe at karaoke. There will be common sense things to think about, such as touching doorknobs, common publicly touched areas like jukeboxes, ATM's, menus, and more. BUT for the topic of this discussion, I am keeping it to my responsibility in regard to germ transmission and karaoke.
I am hoping to have plenty of aerosol spray disinfectant available before my return, and will do my best to stay on top of that, as well as trying to rotate mics during the show, and also by trying to identify singers who potentially may be sick or showing symptoms that cause concern, and either limiting their presence on stage or being sure to properly disinfect afterwards.
BUT EVEN IF I DID NOT DO THAT...and I will...BUT IF I DIDN'T...the recommended protocols above will still largely protect you if you implement them...not just against COVID-19, but common colds or any transmitted germ related malady.
There is some discussion about singers bringing their own foam covers or other covers. If you feel better about that, you are more than welcome to do it. The science however is NOT on your side. Bringing a porous item up and placing it on a microphone, you are just transmitting any potential germs to it, then carrying it back to your table or purse or pocket. Scientifically, handling the non porous mic as described above, and then washing your hands would be far more effective, but I will allow singers to do it if they like.
There is discussion about singers bringing their own microphones. There COULD be some merit to that, and it is something I am willing to adapt to if necessary. It is still not a guarantee, and there would be issues with the varying specs of different mics and how they would sound, or how their pickup patterns would affect feedback, etc...but I would be willing to adapt to trying that. I am currently 100% cordless. I would not allow people to bring their own cordless as that would be a nightmare for hooking up, etc...but I may have a cord with an XLR connector available if requested and let people try to use their own XLR connected mic on a cord.
THAT IS ALL FOR NOW...that is a lot to unpack, but it is part of what has been on my mind, and the most frequently asked questions from folks contacting me. If you have any questions, comment or concerns, reach out to me and I will be happy to hear them and address them. Looking forward to seeing everyone on the other side of all of this. I hope you all are faring well. ALL THE BEST TO YOU...and thank you for your years of friendship and support.
HOW ARE YOU DOING?: I am doing great compared to some. I have been biding my time, doing stuff around the house and largely trying to stay safe, healthy and sane. I have been trying to stay active by walking, biking and using the exercise station at the park. Been organizing the office and house, and using online auctions and sell sites to sell off some excess stuff.
I used to joke about alternative jobs, and would always say "...if there ever came a day when karaoke was either illegal, outlawed or prohibited, I would...". That seemed like an outrageous enough scenario that would never occur. These days, I am not so sure. Mentally it weighs on me that what I have built up over so many years has stopped, virtually overnight, and while I am cautiously optimistic things will normalize one day, I also worry about the new reality, and how it will affect people and their social habits.
I have always planned for a rainy day, and am currently living under my umbrella. Many who do what I do for a living are in a similar pinch, and as an industry, we are networking ideas to prepare for the new realities of the future. Hopefully the new normal will allow me to pick up where I left off. If not, I will be open to Plan B's if you have one to offer.
WHEN ARE YOU COMING BACK TO WORK TO DO HARRYOKE SHOWS?: My last show was on Monday, 3.16.2020 and was show #5670 since May of 1999. I am just short of my service anniversary which will see me finish my 21st year of Harryoke shows, and start of year 22! My start back date is very ambiguous, and will be based on state guidelines and regulations, as well as some common sense. Although closures have been loosened in phase one of the state reopening, the guidelines are not loose enough to effectively allow karaoke and the crowds that result at karaoke shows.
My weekly return will be based on when crowds can come back safely and when it makes financial sense for the venues that hire me to have me back to attract crowds for them as best as I can. Ultimately, THAT is my job description. It could be some time down the road before social distancing measures make sense to those who hire me. Stay tuned.
WHY NOT DO ONLINE KARAOKE?: Lots of reasons...largely and most importantly is that, while I understand the outlet of online "karaoke", I do not feel it is the same as what I offer as traditional karaoke. I personally think the karaoke experience is more than singing...it is the crowd, the live interaction with an audience, the applause and laughter and reaction...and even more importantly, it is the human interaction off stage. It is the conversation and joking, the clink of glasses and sharing of a drink, or a hug. It is the interaction and listening to each others life experience and offering a compassionate ear or shoulder. It is meeting new people...or meeting old friends. It is the silliness happening off stage, as much as the singing and performance on stage.
While I can post videos of singers, or of myself singing, I cannot recreate the experience of true karaoke, virtually, and have had little desire to try. The variables of meet up times, poor connections, inferior sound or video connection, and the fact that video karaoke is SO visual, while real karaoke does not rely as heavily on the visual element. There is also the issue of the sound on a stage, compared to singing into a phone or computer. It does not compare. While I miss those interactions with the public, I do not think a virtual karaoke environment fills the void well enough.
There is also the realistic matter of how one would replace their income doing it. For someone like me who relies on karaoke performance to make a living, it would be difficult to create a virtual presence online and figure out a way to, or to justify monetizing it. If there came a day when I was FORCED to do that, I would consider it...but I am more optimistic some level of normal is coming back. I enjoy standing in front of a crowd and winging it...and cannot bring myself to sing into my phone or sing into the computer. It just feels unnatural, and acoustically foreign to a live stage. I have toyed with the idea of doing a live mini concert for fun and live streaming it, and that would be closer to reality if I had my sound system set up...but, that is performance, more than karaoke.
I think how I feel about karaoke is best expressed in how I run my live shows, and by those who attend them, who need that outlet on my stage, and that outlet cant easily be replaced virtually online. It can substitute, but it fills a different void. I am thankful to FaceBook for keeping us all in touch, despite not being able to meet or sing in person in public.
HOW WILL HARRYOKE BE DIFFERENT WHEN YOU RETURN?: That is the million dollar question. Much will depend on what the state guidelines are, and if and how it makes sense to comply with them, if possible. I will say this...and I offer this candidly and with full honesty: There is a discussion among karaoke hosts about what to do to protect ourselves and our singers upon our return. MUCH of what is suggested is an illusion. Things we can do to MAKE IT LOOK like it is safe, but in reality, it is an illusion. There are suggested hygiene steps that, not only are ineffective, but could actually increase transmission of germs.
SO HOW WILL HARRYOKE SHOWS BE DIFFERENT? I am hoping they won't be. There will be steps I can take in regard to microphone cleanliness that I can be more diligent about. That will be the biggest thing. There is no way to do karaoke in a mask. Spit guards...hands free microphones...foam covers...fabric mic condoms...plastic mic covers...UV or ultrasonic sanitizers...all ineffective voodoo as helpful as just wishing. They LOOK like you are doing something...but they are not. That is just being honest, folks.
WILL IT BE SAFE TO DO KARAOKE IN THE NEW REALITY?: That is entirely up to YOU. There are steps YOU can take to protect yourselves, over and above what I can do, and effectively, regardless of what I do on stage, there are steps you all can take off stage that will be far more effective. The key is...that YOU understand how germs are transmitted, that you determine your tolerance for exposure to germs (based on health history, age, level of compromise of your immune system, etc...).
SO FIRST...if you are concerned about germs, understand how they transmit and take the appropriate steps based on YOUR personal tolerance. For some folks it wont make sense to come out in public...for others it will.
THE MOST IMPORTANT SUGGESTION I CAN MAKE FOR EVERYONE IS FOR EACH OF YOU TO TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OWN HEALTH AND HYGIENE AND NOT RELY ON OTHERS TO DO IT FOR YOU! That is the MOST important thing I can say before continuing. If you are simply an audience member, the rules will be different than those for singers, who have a greater exposure. I would say the greatest topic in regard to exposure to germs at karaoke, aside from human contact, is MICROPHONE CONTACT. There is no magic wand to wave to guarantee safety, and anyone who claims their mics are safe or sanitary is lying. You must always assume, correctly or incorrectly, that the microphone is NOT SANITARY, and handle yourself, and the microphone, accordingly. This is not new news...it has always been this way, and people have been singing karaoke and carelessly using no hygiene protocols for years! We are all just hyper aware now in the face of COVID-19. Karaoke will be just as safe now as it was before...and actually more safe in the face of heightened protocols and awareness. Your reaction should be commensurate with your tolerance.
IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT GERMS, you can safely survive exposure to germs on a microphone or elsewhere on stage by following some protocols. Most importantly are the following:
1) do not touch the top of the mic...the wind screen, and especially, do not touch the mic to your lips, mouth or face in any way. Keep the mic about 3 inches away, minimum.
2) only touch the body of the microphone, and after touching the microphone, do not put your hand on your face, mouth, nose or eyes until you wash or sanitize.
3) immediately following your performance, sanitize your hands...ideally with soap and water in the bathroom, or in a pinch, with an alcohol based hand sanitizer...do this IMMEDIATELY after leaving the stage before returning to your table, or touching your food or drink or phone.
4) do not stand in close proximity to the host or other singers while they are talking or singing to prevent any droplets from falling on you or into your breathing space.
If you follow THOSE simple guidelines alone, you will be exponentially safer. The microphone and stage area are not the only places germs will be an issue in public...but we are talking about being safe at karaoke. There will be common sense things to think about, such as touching doorknobs, common publicly touched areas like jukeboxes, ATM's, menus, and more. BUT for the topic of this discussion, I am keeping it to my responsibility in regard to germ transmission and karaoke.
I am hoping to have plenty of aerosol spray disinfectant available before my return, and will do my best to stay on top of that, as well as trying to rotate mics during the show, and also by trying to identify singers who potentially may be sick or showing symptoms that cause concern, and either limiting their presence on stage or being sure to properly disinfect afterwards.
BUT EVEN IF I DID NOT DO THAT...and I will...BUT IF I DIDN'T...the recommended protocols above will still largely protect you if you implement them...not just against COVID-19, but common colds or any transmitted germ related malady.
There is some discussion about singers bringing their own foam covers or other covers. If you feel better about that, you are more than welcome to do it. The science however is NOT on your side. Bringing a porous item up and placing it on a microphone, you are just transmitting any potential germs to it, then carrying it back to your table or purse or pocket. Scientifically, handling the non porous mic as described above, and then washing your hands would be far more effective, but I will allow singers to do it if they like.
There is discussion about singers bringing their own microphones. There COULD be some merit to that, and it is something I am willing to adapt to if necessary. It is still not a guarantee, and there would be issues with the varying specs of different mics and how they would sound, or how their pickup patterns would affect feedback, etc...but I would be willing to adapt to trying that. I am currently 100% cordless. I would not allow people to bring their own cordless as that would be a nightmare for hooking up, etc...but I may have a cord with an XLR connector available if requested and let people try to use their own XLR connected mic on a cord.
THAT IS ALL FOR NOW...that is a lot to unpack, but it is part of what has been on my mind, and the most frequently asked questions from folks contacting me. If you have any questions, comment or concerns, reach out to me and I will be happy to hear them and address them. Looking forward to seeing everyone on the other side of all of this. I hope you all are faring well. ALL THE BEST TO YOU...and thank you for your years of friendship and support.
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Revisiting Karaoke vs Musicians - We are more alike than different
Revisiting the old cliche that karaoke kills business for musicians. A musician friend of mine posted on FB complaining about not being able to charge his worth, and his rallying cry is to blame karaoke and jam nights...as if on the day all the open mic and karaoke shows stop, the unemployed and underpaid musicians can get to work, LOL. Not possible. Anyway, I composed a lengthy and well thought out reply and don't know how many people would see it, so I thought I would post it here to share with you who may commiserate or have the same argument at times. This goes out to all my friends who are musicians, or karaoke hosts, or just interested in the business dynamic...
"I have a ton I could say, but will keep it as brief as I can...and I preface this post by saying first, that I am a friend of *****, and I have infinite respect for him and his craft, feel his pain, and lastly, that I am a karaoke host. I am not here to defend bar owners or karaoke, but rather to offer a scenario where ***** as a performer, and myself as a karaoke provider have more in common than you would think.
Firstly, for every musician attempting to make a living doing their thing, there is a hobbyist or amateur, or hell, a really great performer, who does not understand the market, and their worth, and make themselves available at a very low rate, watering down the future market for full time working entertainers. A guy who can perform, and has a day job making $12 an hour, sees a value in doing his thing for exposure and beer and a little cash, and $100 for 3-4 hours will be more than he makes at his day job, so he feels like he is winning, to the chagrin of folks like ***** and myself.
Second, I take no offense to *****'s cry of f**** karaoke. I respect that. I understand that...but that being said, I have to make the case that the people who support karaoke are not the people who support local musicians. While there is a cross section of people who do both, for the most part, if you remove all of the karaoke hosts and replaced them with fantastic musicians, the audience demographic would change accordingly. Karaoke and live music are different dynamics...karaoke being more attendee driven, and driven by attendee ego, as opposed to live entertainers. When I started karaoke full time 21 years ago, I used to hear how we were killing live entertainment. After 21 years in the field, I just do not see it. Personally, I work well in bars along side bands, working venues and nights where live entertainment does not make sense, or have an appeal.
Thirdly...karaoke people (such as myself) are in the same boat, feeling the same emotions. For every full time karaoke host doing it right, running legal, paying taxes, using a full professional PA system...there are others who are showing up with inferior gear, illegally sourced content, sub par sound and working for a living doing that, usually off book and tax free...reducing the pool of singers, and working really cheaply, which makes it hard for a pro host to charge a fair living wage...and we go back to the example of the day worker making $12 an hour...and doing karaoke for $100 and beer...which hurts the karaoke host trying to charge more, and the musician.
Fourthly...the venues. There are a couple of scenarios... a vital venue with a good clientele, good product and service, that hires entertainment as an amenity and does not rely on the entertainer to bring in a base to survive, and the venue that is struggling, cant justify a few dead nights a week and brings in entertainers who can put asses in the seats. They justify our worth by calculating how much they will make with NO entertainment, and how much $$ the entertainer puts in the kitty, and after the end, and paying the entertainer, do the break even or lose...or profit? Are we as entertainment providers being hired as an amenity to serve the venue, or as a draw, to bring customers with us? Therein lies a rub. Lately it is more of the latter, and when negotiating with venues for a fair price, they want to justify our cost with a return to the register, and if we cannot do that, they either let us go, or replace us with a cheaper solution, or no entertainment at all. Rare is the venue owner who is a patron of the arts and hires musicians at full price just to help support the musician, the norm is an expectation of ROI.
These truths hold for musicians, and karaoke hosts. Rare is the venue that has the same musician as a house act for years on end. A karaoke host can pull that off if they attract a diverse pool of spending clientele.
So while karaoke and jam nights appear to be the enemy, the issue runs deeper than that, in different directions, and at the discretion of the people who hire us, and what their expectations are. There are places I have worked at that considered me and my service a valuable asset, and others the hated what I did but seemed to put up with it because of the register ring. Then you find that sweet spot where you are respected, paid fairly and appreciated. Musicians, and karaoke hosts, have issues finding that sweet spot.
I am not the cheapest guy in town. Like you, there is a number that I wont leave my house for. There are others who consider themselves my peers or competition that will leave home for half of my bottom number. You can only tell them to consider their value, and step up their game and rate...but you cant make em. I know of working musicians who will work cheaper than me as well. It is not always a financial thing when karaoke dominates a venue...and as stated earlier, a venue that is doing well with karaoke long term would not get the same reaction if karaoke nights became local music nights, with a house musician. It is just a different concept. It is like saying steak houses cant make it because there are too many McDonalds. Different concepts. But, f**** McDonalds anyway...just because.
I wish ***** all the love and luck in the world...and any musician working as hard with as much skill. But, karaoke is not always the enemy. Sometimes, it just is what it is, based on the community, the demographics, and who is willing to come out of their house and support a venue, and what gets them there. Love to the venue owners who hire us, whatever their impetus...whether it be to milk our followers, or to just have us represent them with no regard to return on investment.
My .02."
"I have a ton I could say, but will keep it as brief as I can...and I preface this post by saying first, that I am a friend of *****, and I have infinite respect for him and his craft, feel his pain, and lastly, that I am a karaoke host. I am not here to defend bar owners or karaoke, but rather to offer a scenario where ***** as a performer, and myself as a karaoke provider have more in common than you would think.
Firstly, for every musician attempting to make a living doing their thing, there is a hobbyist or amateur, or hell, a really great performer, who does not understand the market, and their worth, and make themselves available at a very low rate, watering down the future market for full time working entertainers. A guy who can perform, and has a day job making $12 an hour, sees a value in doing his thing for exposure and beer and a little cash, and $100 for 3-4 hours will be more than he makes at his day job, so he feels like he is winning, to the chagrin of folks like ***** and myself.
Second, I take no offense to *****'s cry of f**** karaoke. I respect that. I understand that...but that being said, I have to make the case that the people who support karaoke are not the people who support local musicians. While there is a cross section of people who do both, for the most part, if you remove all of the karaoke hosts and replaced them with fantastic musicians, the audience demographic would change accordingly. Karaoke and live music are different dynamics...karaoke being more attendee driven, and driven by attendee ego, as opposed to live entertainers. When I started karaoke full time 21 years ago, I used to hear how we were killing live entertainment. After 21 years in the field, I just do not see it. Personally, I work well in bars along side bands, working venues and nights where live entertainment does not make sense, or have an appeal.
Thirdly...karaoke people (such as myself) are in the same boat, feeling the same emotions. For every full time karaoke host doing it right, running legal, paying taxes, using a full professional PA system...there are others who are showing up with inferior gear, illegally sourced content, sub par sound and working for a living doing that, usually off book and tax free...reducing the pool of singers, and working really cheaply, which makes it hard for a pro host to charge a fair living wage...and we go back to the example of the day worker making $12 an hour...and doing karaoke for $100 and beer...which hurts the karaoke host trying to charge more, and the musician.
Fourthly...the venues. There are a couple of scenarios... a vital venue with a good clientele, good product and service, that hires entertainment as an amenity and does not rely on the entertainer to bring in a base to survive, and the venue that is struggling, cant justify a few dead nights a week and brings in entertainers who can put asses in the seats. They justify our worth by calculating how much they will make with NO entertainment, and how much $$ the entertainer puts in the kitty, and after the end, and paying the entertainer, do the break even or lose...or profit? Are we as entertainment providers being hired as an amenity to serve the venue, or as a draw, to bring customers with us? Therein lies a rub. Lately it is more of the latter, and when negotiating with venues for a fair price, they want to justify our cost with a return to the register, and if we cannot do that, they either let us go, or replace us with a cheaper solution, or no entertainment at all. Rare is the venue owner who is a patron of the arts and hires musicians at full price just to help support the musician, the norm is an expectation of ROI.
These truths hold for musicians, and karaoke hosts. Rare is the venue that has the same musician as a house act for years on end. A karaoke host can pull that off if they attract a diverse pool of spending clientele.
So while karaoke and jam nights appear to be the enemy, the issue runs deeper than that, in different directions, and at the discretion of the people who hire us, and what their expectations are. There are places I have worked at that considered me and my service a valuable asset, and others the hated what I did but seemed to put up with it because of the register ring. Then you find that sweet spot where you are respected, paid fairly and appreciated. Musicians, and karaoke hosts, have issues finding that sweet spot.
I am not the cheapest guy in town. Like you, there is a number that I wont leave my house for. There are others who consider themselves my peers or competition that will leave home for half of my bottom number. You can only tell them to consider their value, and step up their game and rate...but you cant make em. I know of working musicians who will work cheaper than me as well. It is not always a financial thing when karaoke dominates a venue...and as stated earlier, a venue that is doing well with karaoke long term would not get the same reaction if karaoke nights became local music nights, with a house musician. It is just a different concept. It is like saying steak houses cant make it because there are too many McDonalds. Different concepts. But, f**** McDonalds anyway...just because.
I wish ***** all the love and luck in the world...and any musician working as hard with as much skill. But, karaoke is not always the enemy. Sometimes, it just is what it is, based on the community, the demographics, and who is willing to come out of their house and support a venue, and what gets them there. Love to the venue owners who hire us, whatever their impetus...whether it be to milk our followers, or to just have us represent them with no regard to return on investment.
My .02."
Sunday, December 2, 2018
2018 IGUIDB Walkabout - North Beach Street / San Juan Area
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| 2018 Walkabout area, showing Manatee Island, the Broadway jut, and more detail about areas described in the blog below. |
Each year, members of our Facebook group "I Grew Up In Daytona Beach" meet on the Saturday after Thanksgiving to take a walk. The purpose of the walk is not necessarily a docent led tour of the town, but to get out of our cars and walk through an area of town that you might THINK you know, but to see it as a pedestrian and take in the details of things you would not see driving past. We take note of the changes, how things used to be, and what will be in the future, and share stories along the way.
THIS BLOG is an accompanying text covering what we saw, and posting historic info and pictures of what may have been there before. This is a great read for those who went on the walk or those who missed it entirely but want to know more about the history of the area.
This year we explored the North Beach street area, loosely bordered by Michigan St to the north, the intercoastal to the east, Bay St to the south and Ridgewood to the west. This was one of the shorter walkabouts we have done, but it was dense in content. Our timing was really good, because in another year, there will be many changes. Much of what we saw on our walk will either be improved, or removed. The new Brown and Brown complex coming will anchor the north end and create more change to follow by other property owners. There will also be changes at the County Admin bldg currently closed due to mold issues following the storm damage from hurricanes. A new complex should be built on that site and the old one razed as well.
Enjoy these pictures from our walk, along with some associated history. My information is correct as far as I know, but I do not guarantee that my info is 100% historically accurate. I am not a professional historian, I simply play one on the internet.
CHAPTER 1: History
CHAPTER 2: Start - Rogers Info
CHAPTER 3: Manatee Island
CHAPTER 4: NJ Center / Broadway Bridge
CHAPTER 5: Bay / Canal / Post Office / Sears
CHAPTER 6: San Juan Area at Beach St
CHAPTER 7: Palmetto to Bay to Ridgewood
CHAPTER 8: San Juan area Neighborhood
CHAPTER ONE: HISTORY
The Daytona area for the most part was settled in the 1800's after Spanish land grants put real estate in the hands of speculators. These founding families generally divided their parcels up for development, and worked to create an infrastructure which still largely shapes the development of the area to this day. There were no bridges from the mainland to the beach side, so each area became its own community. Eventually, with progress, the communities joined forces and incorporated as the city we know today. Back in the 1800's, up to the early 1900's, the North Beach Street area was largely residential, with most of the commercial ventures a little further south to Orange avenue and south of there. The commercial development crept north, eventually taking over the homes and basic wilderness that was there up to that point.
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| Adding land mass following dredging |
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| Tract showing land in the Fairview area to north |
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| Tract showing the Fairview and riverfront corridors and who had the land platted |
Beach Street has pretty much always been in the same location, BUT, the park as we know it did not exist. Along Beach Street for the most part was a simple shore. In later years a seawall was built along Beach Street. As dredging in the intercoastal occurred, the spoils were placed by the shore, extending the land into the park areas we know now, including City Island. Much land area along the coast was created in a similar fashion.
As development happened, residences were built nearby and the town grew from east to west. In the early days of the city, most of the residents lived in the quaint neighborhoods between downtown and Ridgewood avenue, and points just west of there. Many of the grand homes along the Ridgewood corridor are gone, making way for the the wider highway, progress, and the businesses that have taken their place. Some of the simpler homes fell victim to abuse over the years, and to neighborhoods that became blighted, and no longer exist. There are still PLENTY of really great historic homes and buildings in all manner of condition in the area if you look around closely.
In the early 1900s, there was even rail/trolley service serving the downtown area.
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| North Beach Street |
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| 1915 - Info about the history of the trolleys, from the Edwards Collection |
CHAPTER TWO: STARTING POINT: Rogers House and Rogers Family Info
There is a house currently in the park at 355 N Beach St that was the former home to David D. Rogers, one of the founders of the area. It was later home to his daughter, Josie, who was not only the first female doctor in the area, but also the first female mayor of Daytona in 1922. She was only the second female mayor in the entire state at that point.
The home was built on the riverfront around 1878 by her father, land surveyor David Dunham Rogers, the house doubled as Josie Rogers' medical office where she treated both black and white patients in the early 1900s.
Josie Rogers was a physician at the Halifax District Hospital, known today as the Halifax Medical Center, and was named chief of staff in 1947. She became Daytona Beach's first and only female mayor in 1922.
As a woman doctor and as a woman politician, she was a very important historical figure from this area. Unmarried and without children, Rogers died in 1975 when she was 98 years old.
Josie standing alongside the families Maxwell, on the Riverfront, 1909
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| 1909 |
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| Rogers House in background |
Here is a pic of another Rogers family members home downtown, at the corner of Beach and Magnolia.
Many know this by other names, but the official name for the island is Manatee Island. It is currently set up as a city owned park. The Rogers house on the mainland greets you, and then a pedestrian bridge over the intercoastal takes you to the island, where the amenities include playgrounds, pavilions for get togethers, bathroom facilities, docks and a huge open air amphitheater that would be fantastic for music or theatrical events. Most residents of the area have never been to this part of town unless they attended an event there such as the annual Oyster Festival. While this had become a haven for the homeless, that issue seems to have been resolved with strict enforcement by the local police, and locking the gates after hours. (google MANATEE ISLAND DAYTONA to see articles about issues on the island...) While we were there, we saw ZERO issues of concern on the island. It was actually very nice taking in the views along the shore, and admiring the updated amenities. Only negatives were the damaged docks that remained in disrepair since the hurricanes, and the fact that the lovely amphitheater sits there unused, largely ignored by the residents who don't know about it. That is a shame!
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| 1961 Manatee Island aerial |
CHAPTER 4: NEWS JOURNAL CENTER (and the death of the Davidson owned News-Journal) :
The News Journal Center is situated just south of the Rogers home at 221 N Beach Street. It is operated by Daytona State College, and has no affiliation with the News Journal, other than naming rights.
(From Wikipedia) In January 2003, the News-Journal offered to pay $13 million for naming rights to a new performing arts center in Daytona Beach being built as a new home for the Seaside Music Theater, founded by News-Journal CEO Tippen Davidson. Cox Enterprises filed suit against the News-Journal Corp. (NJC) in U.S. Federal Court, alleging they "acted irresponsibly in spending corporate funds". Cox alleged that the Davidson family spent the newspaper's money without consulting with them.
Court documents reveal that in the five-year period prior to the filing of Cox's complaint, at least 58 employees of Davidson's arts and entertainment ventures were on the News-Journal Corp. payroll, unbeknownst to NJC's sole minority shareholder. Despite the fact that these employees did no work for NJC, the corporation provided them with full salaries and benefits, at a cost to the company of at least $5.7 million. The trial court found that tens of millions of dollars were diverted to Davidson family projects to "indulge [the Davidsons'] personal interests in the arts".
After failing to have the suit dismissed, the News-Journal Corp. decided to exercise its option to buy out the minority shares. In 2006, the federal court set a valuation of $129.2 million on Cox's interest in the paper. Newspaper management announced in April 2008 that the newspaper would be sold in order to satisfy the judgment. On April 17, 2009, the News-Journal announced its intention to declare bankruptcy, but the judge overseeing the case rejected that option. The board of directors was subsequently removed and the company was placed under court control, with James Hopson serving as the court-appointed manager.
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| Rear view of center, from river |
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| the southern entrance with naming rights by the speedway |
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| The land jutting out into the intercoastal that was the old Broadway Bridge ramp. New ISB in background |
The NJ Center sits just north of the land that was the landing for the original Broadway Bridge. The Broadway Bridge was the first concrete bridge in the area, and and ran from Broadway on the beach side, to dead end at Beach Street in front of the current Post Office area. In later years, the ramp was realigned several times, with the landing remaining at the park, but with access ramps to align the roads with other west bound roads. In the early days, you dead ended at Beach and had to turn on Beach to access other roads. Along the access ramps were extra parking spaces for downtown employees and shoppers. After the ramps were added, you could either veer left to Volusia Av, or right to Second Av (Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd today). When the new modern ISB bridge was constructed, all the ramp area was converted back to park space.
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| 1925 Concrete Bridge, Before Post Office |
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| 1950s alignment |
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| 1961 |
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| 1974 Second Ave Ramp from bridge, with parking |
Our next leg of the walk took us across Beach Street at Bay. Back at the turn of the century, this was still a very dense area. There was a canal that ran from the intercoastal at Bay, called the Spanish Canal. It flowed west thru the city. Remnants of it are still visible on maps today, and it was part of the variable that shaped development around it. The Spanish Canal was a bit of an attraction, appearing on Post Cards along with the bridge on Beach Street that passed over the canal.
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| 1899 Spanish Canal at Beach and Bay |
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| Beach at Bay 1911 |
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| 1926 Aerial of the area, showing canal and other detail |
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| More modern bridge over the canal |
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| old Spanish Canal bridge |
Heading back north, the historic post office sits. It was constructed in the 30's. At that time, the area was still dense with homes and hotels/boarding houses. The site of the post office was previously a meeting place (casino...not gambling) which can be seen in the 1925 pic posted of the Broadway bridge ramp, above. Here are some rare shots of the Post Office under construction.
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| The grave of the second "Brownie" located in the alley next to the north wall of the post office. The "real" Brownie who passed in 1955 is buried at Orange and Beach in the park, but this second Brownie that passed in 1970, less known, rests here. |
Beyond the post office, to the north, is the huge bank building, currently sitting vacant. Before the bank was there, it was home to a hotel, with residences behind it. In later years, the bank bought the homes behind it for parking space.
This is the structure that sat where the current bank bldg is at 3rd and Beach SW
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| The Austin, SW corner of 3rd and Beach |
Hobbs Home behind it
3rd Av and Beach
Some have wondered out loud why the County does not use the bank building for a new admin facility, but, there is no telling what is going on in the walls of that bldg either, and it just may be more cost effective to build a new one.
Crossing 3rd Ave to the County Administration Bldg, which is the old Sears location to many, though not the first Sears in Daytona. There were a couple of other locations, including one on Beach a few doors south. Before Sears on that corner, there was the Prince George:
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| Prince George, 1910 Beach and 3rd |
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| Prince George from Intercoastal, showing seawall |
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| Sears 1925 more south |
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| Sears 1955 1955   |
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| YMCA in the Sears Parking Lot |
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| Sears 1965 expansion plans, showing YMCA and other structure |
Change is coming to the Sears bldg as well, as it is sick and abandoned due to mold issues caused by hurricane damage. There is a proposal to build a new complex just NW of the current building and then demolish the old structure.
This plan has not been finalized, but with the progress at the Brown complex it will not take long to see a change coming soon.
CHAPTER 6: THE SAN JUAN AREA
San Juan refers to the name of a street that cut through the area just north of Second Avenue (MMBethune). A remnant of the street exists running east from LaRoches on Ridgewood to Wisconsin Av. The remaining section to Beach Street will no longer be there as it will fall on the new Brown and Brown property. Brown purchased all of the old abandoned car lot properties that sat from Mary McLeod Bethune, to the First Ave area, bordered by Wisconsin and Beach St. All of the land where the car lots were has been razed, cleared and fenced already. Brown has been aquiring the residences on the perimeter as well, and there are track hoes on site currently demolishing those houses in preparation for the new complex coming.
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| 1961 |
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| 1934 |
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| Roof collapsed after storm in 1936 |
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| Schmidts Villa, 2nd and Beach NW |
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| Massey, long term tenant of Beach and 2nd NW |
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| San Juan Motors at Beach and Second |
That area of San Juan and Beach was home to many of the area car dealers over the years, including Ray Hunt Ford, Sunrise Olds/Toyota and all of the Lloyd lines since the 1930, including Buick, Cadillac, Opel and others. As the car lots started moving west, most of the dealers followed. Lloyd was the last hold out. The car lot properties sat derelict for some time after that, leaving a blight downtown that was the point of much controversy over the years.
Just west of Beach Street on MMB, since 1898 has been the Lyndhurst.
CHAPTER 7 PALMETTO TO BAY TO RIDGEWOOD
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| Villas between MMB and Wisconsin, surely to be demolished |
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| Votran transportation hub downtown |
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| Office buildings between Palmetto and Ridgewood |
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| Back of the old Sears/county complex from Palmetto |
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| First Baptist location, missing Methodist church... |
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| earlier in 2018, demolishing the mosaic |
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| Bay St 1900 |
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| The old MHS campus from Bay to 3rd |
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| Bay at Beach St |
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| Late 1800s, The shore at Bay St, eastern mouth of Spanish Canal |
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| Bay St |
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| Hoene Park, NW Corner of Ridgewood and Bay St |
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| Mainland High, circa 1918 |
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| Existing house on Bay behind old Gulf, believed possible moved to this location from there. |
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| 2017 SE Corner Bay and Ridgewood before demolition |
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| The SE corner of Bay and Ridgewood, cleared recently |
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| NE corner of Bay and Ridgewood, the old Gulf Station. |
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| The old Gulf station in the 80s or 90s selling custom cars |
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| Bay and Ridgewood looking north from the east corner, showing Gulf and IBEW bldg. |
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| Haine Manor at 140 N Ridgewood, just south of Bay on west side where bank is now, demolished in 63 |
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| 1963 Demo of the Haine making way for the new Bank |
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| 1921, the OAKS on the NE corner of Bay and Ridgewood, where Morrisons went, now Family Dollar. |
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| The front of the old IBEW bldg, which used to house Channel 2, Streeps, and other businesses. Currently owned by the DB Housing Authority. |
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| This is the St Ives Inn, which sat where the IBEW bldg is now. |
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| Old gas station/garage at 2nd and Ridgewood...(MMB) |
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| NE Corner of Ridgewood and Second, 1900 (where gas station is now) |
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| San Juan at Ridgewood |
CHAPTER 8: THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN SAN JUAN AREA
The houses east of Ridgewood and west of Wisconsin are surviving, and to some extent still being used as family housing. The homes on Wisconsin and just west of that are marked for demolition, but many examples here are doing great, and will likely rise in value. This is a prime area for possible gentrification if progress continues downtown, and area housing becomes in demand as amenities increase in the downtown area to serve the new workers, and new residents of the area. Our walk took us EAST on San Juan to Wisconsin, along Wisconsin bordering the Brown construction, to First AV, then back west to Ridgewood, then east to Mulally (formerly known as Cypress St). Back in the old days Cypress connected thru, but after the roads were realigned, Cypress connected to Fairview, and was all renamed George Engram. This leg of Cypress was named Mulally after Fr. Mulally of St. Pauls Church. We then walked Mulally to Daytona Street, and took Daytona north to Michigan, and Michigan east back to N Beach St.
San Juan (the homes with V marked on them are VACANT and likely scheduled for demolition:
Along Wisconsin (all being demolished as you read this):
FIRST AVE
Mulally St... (formerly Cypress)
DAYTONA STREET
MICHIGAN
NORTH BEACH
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| 1962 N Beach at Michigan |
CONCLUSION:
Thanks for reading along, and thanks to those who chose to walk along this year. If you have any questions, corrections, or comments, just let me know. I am sure I have much more info I could add, and pics to add, but this is probably pretty comprehensive for now. I just really wanted to document a bit about this area before all the changes happen in the next year, and hopefully enlighten some of you about things from the past you may not have known. We do this every day at the Facebook group. I will post a link below to the group, and come join if you like. There are thousands of pics in the archives of the group, and the original first group. Thanks to those of you who share my love of local history, and follow along at the group, and HUGE thanks to those who participate, and contribute content and research to the group. We could not exist without YOU. Look thru those shoeboxes and dresser drawers, and pull out those pics of historic significance! If you ever need any assistance with that, let me know.
THE FACEBOOK GROUP IGUIDB
Photo Album at IGUIDB, with member comments and additions
- Harry Smith, admin/I Grew Up In Daytona Facebook Page
My contact info is at my business website: www.harryoke.com
Harryoke Web Site
EMAIL ME
Click HERE to view the 2017 Walkabout Blog - Town of Seabreeze
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