Parting words…

It’s past 6am right now. I got home a little while ago after what was an awesome Denny’s breakfast with some of the great people that I’ve met in my time at the Ranch: Jay, Jen, Ryan, Lisa, Celina, Kelli, Karen, Paul, and Rachel. We talked a little about the show and what’s transpired behind the scenes. We watched a Daffy Duck cartoon and listened to Christopher Walken recite the lyrics to Lady GaGa’s Poker Face. I showed off the awesome railroad tie “medal” that Rick D. made for me, and the awesome present that the dynamic duo of Stylin’ Joe and Lisa got for me.

It was also the first time since I’ve known any of them that I wasn’t a karaoke host. I’m officially retired, although it’s hard to say whether it’ll be a Brett Favre type of retirement or a more permanent one. I can’t say that I’ll never host another show, but it’s a relative certainty that my days at the Ranch are pretty much finished. I’m now at the end of a chapter in my life– it’s the last few paragraphs before the page is turned and something new begins. I have a TON of stuff to do between now and my departure next week, but I needed closure with my karaoke family– which is all of you– before I could really get myself ready to go.

Needless to say, my last show didn’t turn out quite the way I envisioned it. I had intended to host the show all the way through, but a new person was to learn the ropes… and she found that this job just wasn’t for her. Of course, it’s better to know that now than to find out after I am gone… but the rotation got screwy, there were lots of pauses and a few mistakes, and we never got into a good flow. I didn’t get the chances I wanted to say a lot of things, so they’re just going to have to be understood through written words here and the collective farewell speech that I made to close the show. I’m disappointed in the way my career ended, and some things that happened after the fact. (Like losing my video camera.)

Ryan posted a Facebook status entry this morning that read that he would miss the show and that it was “the end of an era.” I am extremely touched by those words and by his general support that he’s given me over the years. Many of you were equally touching with some of your own parting words, mentioning things like the first time that I’d gotten you to sing or how fun the shows were or how some of you were going to be moving on from the Ranch once I was gone. It was awe-inspiring to see how many people I touched in some way over the years and that I had some kind of impact on their lives. It means that I accomplished my goal, which was to create and maintain one of the coolest karaoke experiences ever. I see how some people, who were separate before coming to the Ranch, now have forged relationships and friendships that will strengthen and prosper well after I’ve made the drive to Chandler.

I see that I had a hand in creating something unique and special, and that was no small feat.

What happens from here at the Ranch? Well, management has set their karaoke host lineup… at least for now. There will be a gentleman working on Sunday night who apparently has ties to ownership; I didn’t meet him (I don’t think), so I can’t tell you much about him except that Sundays will be his… at least initially. Wednesday nights will belong to Nicole, whom I think will do a great job– especially over time as she adapts to her new surroundings. Nicole and I had a great chat on Wednesday night, and I think that she will dedicate herself to her show and make it great. Thursday nights will belong to Allie, who worked hard to earn them. While she doesn’t have any practical experience, Allie has certain intangibles and a decent work ethic which I think will propel her to at least some success. Of course, this may change… but unless some of you are scouting for me, I’ll likely have no clue what in Rocky Hill is going on at the Ranch.

So… that’s it. The blog here will be dormant for a few days as I begin packing and prepping for the move. I will use this blog to provide updates about my progress across the country, and will try to post a few pictures on Facebook along the way. For now, though, it’s time to turn off the lights and exit the stage one last time.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you– ALL OF YOU– for over 3 years of laughter, love, and friendship, and song. Now… my bed awaits.

One…

It’s hard to believe that tonight is the end. I’ve talked about it, I’ve planned for it, and now… it’s finally here. One last hurrah before I turn off my microphone for the last time. I know that it’s going to be an emotional night; I have a feeling that there is something going on behind the scenes for me that I know nothing about, and it’s remarkable to think that I’ve touched people enough to even remotely deserve something like that. Unlike the last few shows, I’ll be running things for the most part… I will have lots to say, and I’ll be giving me own farewell remarks to each of you publicly as the show goes on. I can’t guarantee that there’s going to be wall-to-wall karaoke tonight, but I hope to recognize all of you who can come out one last time with some memories and words straight from my heart.

It really has been an incredible ride.

I was given the job at the Ranch way back in August of 2006 after management had seen me during tryouts to Connecticut MegaStar and while I would come to shows and practice my songs for the competition. The show host before me was a bit unreliable and didn’t seem to have a lot of energy, so I was given a chance to turn things around. As King George, Denise, and Ryan can tell you… that took awhile. There were shows early on in my Ranch career when there would be 4-5 singers, including myself, and that would be it. I tried to capitalize on my strong finish in the MegaStar competition and knowing a lot of the singers in the event in order to populate shows, but it really didn’t happen consistently.

From then on, the show gradually established an identity and saw its first stars emerge. Things really began to take off in 2008, when I created Theme Nights, Performer of the Night awards, and other contests. We started by giving away t-shirts and trinkets, but then I moved on to medals, certificates, and even cash awards. These things were vital, in my opinion; I think that recognizing your singers with these kinds of things establishes and maintains interest in a show. The monthly contests were big favorites, and we saw some awesome talent in these contests. Kim, Scott, Lisa, Noelle, Denise, Ryan, Paul, Lani, Jenn, and others highlighted these events. While the cash prizes came out of my pocket in many instances, it was worth it to reward stellar talent. In time, Anything Goes Karaoke became a hotbed for top-notch singing talent. Strong singing was prevalent, and I’d always hear about how “Everyone is so good!”, which is a huge compliment. It was totally worth every penny.

As I’ve said before, I ran shows the way that I thought karaoke fans would want them run. There was lots of energy, lots of singing, lots of chances to get recognized for a job well done, and chances to get honest feedback about performances in order to improve for future shows. There are many examples of singers who have improved from the time they sang their first karaoke songs up to now. Average Mark, Paul, Vitamin D, Dawn, and others have made huge strides towards being better vocalists, and seeing theose transformations first-hand has been a tremendous honor and privilege.

Speaking of Vitamin D, he asked me last night if I was ready to move on and how I felt about leaving. I told him that it’s a bittersweet experience… and it truly is. On one hand, a new life experience and adventure lies before me. Moving to a new place– in a completely new location and climate– is always exciting, and the potential new opportunities seem endless and positive. On the other hand, I am leaving a career that I’ve been actively working in for the last 8 years. That’s a long time. What’s more, the people that I’ve met at the Ranch– which consists of many of you reading this right now– have been nothing short of brilliantly amazing. My time at the Ranch is also among the longest tenure that I’ve spent at one job– the other, coincidentally, was my first-ever karaoke hosting job at The Lighthouse in Ludlow, MA, where I remained for 6 years.

I sincerely hope that I have entertained you and brought a few smiles and laughs to you in my time here. The people who will be taking over the Ranch karaoke shows will not be me, nor are they trying to replace me. In talking with Nicole last night, I told her that it’s imperative that she build her own persona and show style. No matter whether it’s Nicole, Allie, Paul, or anyone else that Ranch management may bring in… they control their own destinies and can possibly build even better and more popular shows than I ever did. I know that it may be weird without me around, since I’ve pretty much been a constant for so long… but I have faith that what I have built in karaoke at the Ranch will live in in a different form when I am gone after tonight.

I am one of the lucky people that had a chance to make a difference in something that he enjoys so very much. I’ve come full circle, from being a completely introverted nerd singing Barry Manilow and Neil Diamond songs, to becoming a full-on karaoke addict and going to 6-7 shows a week, to running my first show at a small bar, to running and developing what was truly one of the most unique karaoke experiences around, to finally being an active observer and taking part as just a singer and advisor as I’ve done over the last few shows. I have given all I can give, and feel that I’ve accomplished all that I can realistically accomplish in the “karaoke universe”. After tonight, I’m officially retiring as a karaoke host and setting my sights on other vocations, including writing and probably administrative or computer-related careers. I may attend a show or two sporadically in Arizona, but after what’s basically been 13 years of activity in the karaoke community between singing, competing, and hosting shows… I’m ready to step back.

I thank all of you for making my efforts worthwhile. Without all of you, I never would have been pushed to do new things. I could’ve just coasted and mindlessly hosted shows, but you drove me. You expected more from me, and challenged me to do more. When I pressed the right buttons, you responded. When I gave performance advice, you took it and acted upon it. You showered praise and approval when I was right, you offered honest feedback and advice when I was wrong, and you understood a lot of the trials and tribulations that came with the territory of being a karaoke host. As much as I gave in terms of time, travel, and resources… you all gave back in support, love, friendship, and understanding. I’ve done no more for you than any of you have done for me at some point since I’ve known you. May the bonds that have been forged between us never be broken, irregardless of the distance between us or where our separate lives may take us.

One show left. 290 minutes to share past memories and make new ones. I hope to see you in a few short hours.

Two…

It’s pretty interesting that last night’s show was one of the slowest we’ve had in a while. It worked out well, since Allie and Paul were taking turns running the show and I was keeping an eye and ear on their progress. In all honesty, I’m not certain that fading into the shadows like I have over the last few shows is the way that I want my career to end, but I understand the importance of having a stable of trained people to keep karaoke going once I’m “retired”. I’m fully expecting that Wednesday night’s show will be more of the same, working with Nicole, Allie, and possibly Paul… but I am not sure how I’m going to want to run things on Thursday night.

The good news is that I feel that I’m feeling pretty good about Nicole, Allie, and Paul. Nicole has a strong personality, Paul is strong with the karaoke equipment, and Allie is pretty much balanced. There are going to be some rough spots, I’m sure, when I’m gone and they’re on their own… but, with time, I think that each has a chance to be a real star and foster a similar environment for singers that I have in my limited tenure. Please be patient with the new hosts in the meantime; it’s a new strategy to have a different host for each show, and Allie and Paul have no previous show-hosting experience. Give ‘em a few weeks and you’ll likely be surprised with how things are.

There were more signs last night as to the finality of the situation. Veronica, a Sunday night mainstay, was very nice and seemed sad to see me go. There were a few others who voiced their appreciation for the show and that I would be missed. It’s really sinking in now that there are just two shows left. I’m starting to realize that there are people that I won’t see again for a long time– if ever.

I think back to Sunday night memories.

I remember the various people who have frequented Sunday nights over the past three years. Ryan and Denise, Kurt and Kelly, The Hottie Patrol, and Dan-O spring to mind at first. I remember the Giants/Patriots Super Bowl when we had no singers. I remember how busy we would get during certain holiday weekends. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Rudy and Leeann on alternating Sundays, and both of them are awesome. I can say that Sunday nights were always the toughest nights to predict in terms of turnout. Many people were partied out by Sunday and had jobs or school to report to early Monday mornings… so we always seemed to have a rotating crew of singers. I’ve also considered Sundays as my personal Fridays. After all, I’ve had Mondays and Tuesdays off before returning to the Ranch on Wednesdays for the most part… so it makes sense. Although Sundays nights were never the huge nights that Thursdays generally have been, I’ve always thought that Sunday shows were a great way to wrap up my week, by hanging out and singing with some of the most awesome people that I’ve ever met.

As I sit here typing this at nearly 6:30am, I admit that I’m taken aback by how the show has been received by many of you. I’ve never perceived myself to be anyone special, so it’s amazing to see the reactions and hear the kind words that so many of you have had for me. I’ve been extremely fortunate in that I’ve been able to say that I’ve worked a job that I truly love for the last 3+ years of my life… but meeting and being with so many of you has made that time all the more special. I know that these last two shows are going to be the most difficult that I’ve ever had to work as emotions will run high and I’ll have memories flooding back to me. That being said, these final two shows will bring closure to what’s been an incredible personal experience… and one that I will never forget.

For now, though, time to rest my voice (and the rest of me). I’ll see you Wednesday night.

 

Three…

So… we’re down to the last three shows. Tonight is my last Sunday night.

This is going to be a difficult week. Aside from all of the personal preparation that I’ve been doing to get ready for the move, I’ve begun the farewell process with some familiar things. One of the video game stores that I’ve regularly frequented get the news on Friday and the manager commented that I would be missed and that I was a pleasure to have around. While that may seem insignificant to some, it made me realize that I just might have more influence on and with other people than I realize.

I also received a farewell e-mail from Dan-O, which was very touching and means a lot to me. He was grateful to me for what I believe has always been just doing my job. He’s been working a crazy schedule, so he usually only came down on a “lunch” break from work, which lasted about 30 minutes. Understanding this, I did what I could to squeeze him in for a song before he had to go. Why? Because I wanted him to take part in the show and to feel like he belonged… because he does.

Everyone who has come to shows, whether it’s now or if it was years ago, has belonged and helped to make my experience what it’s been. King George, Denise, and Ryan were there at the start as I struggled to find an identity and then watched as the show finally became something. The Hottie Patrol was a group of friends who sang both together and individually, so I wanted to do something to make them feel as special as I thought they were. I have some fun with Average Mark and Vitamin D, but they take it all in stride and shows are better with them there. When Jenn, Lani, Denise C., and Katie were coming consistently on Wednesdays, I bought the music they wanted to sing because their presence made those nights fun and I wanted to give back. (Before the infamous ban, of course.) Even Andy D. has a role to play, as much grief as he may get.

There are lots of things that I’m going to miss about not being a karaoke host anymore. There are even more things that I am going to miss about not working at the Ranch anymore. It’s been routine, like clockwork, for over three years. I’ve hosted somewhere around 450 shows at the ranch in that time, and many of those have been accompanied by hour-long commutes… some through nasty weather and others when I’ve been overly tired or not feeling 100%. After Thursday, it all ends. I go to concentrating squarely on packing and beginning the next chapter of my life, a chapter that hasn’t even been drafted. It’ll be weird not making the drive, not singing, not seeing all of you, and not being “the guy” that’s I’ve been for so long.

I’m extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to get to know so many of you. You see me maybe once or twice a week, but you make me feel like a best friend or family member. You’ve helped me celebrate birthdays. You’ve been there when my life was upside down. You’ve covered for me when I’ve been sick. You’ve given advice and shown passion for karaoke that I’ve rarely seen. You’ve allowed me to be a friend or confidant. You’ve made me feel more special than any one person has a right to feel.

What really matters to me is that many of you have indicated to me how special my shows have been. For some of you, my show was the place where you lost your karaoke virginity. Some others travel many miles to sing and visit with me. Many of you have day jobs or classes that you struggle to the next morning after coming to one of my shows. More than a few of you have told me how much fun you’ve had and that my shows are unlike almost any shows that you’ve been to before. If I’ve had any kind of influence or or role in your life, then that’s a gift that I never can truly reciprocate. To know that a regular ol’ nerd like me can have influence on anyone or make anyone happy is just incredible.

There are too many specific people to mention in a blog entry. I wish there was a giant yearbook with pictures of everyone who’s been to my shows that I could have and write a little something about each of you. Maybe, on Thursday, before each of you sings, I’ll say a little something about what you’ve meant to me and offer my thanks. Maybe I’ll start doing that tonight. I don’t know.

What I would like to ask is that, if you know that you’re coming to a show this week before I’m gone, can you please let me know which one you’re thinking about attending? I’d really like to know when I’m going to get to see many of you, and I’d like to give each of you a little time on the side to say my goodbyes and thank you for being not only a part of the show– but also a part of my life. You don’t have to do this, of course, if it will make you feel uncomfortable or weird… but I hope that you will.

That’s all I have for now. I may be working with some possible new hosts tonight. Nicole, who will be running the Wednesday night show, may stop down… plus show regular Paul may be working for a bit and possibly Allie, who did a great job on Thursday night. One thing is for sure, though: I will be there, and I’ll be happy to see any and all of you who decide to drop down and say hello.

Have a great Sunday!

Six…

Wow. I am completely spent.

I am pretty sure that last night’s karaoke show was one of the busiest that I’ve ever hosted. We had lots of singers and I’m pretty sure that almost everyone had a good time. There was certainly a little bit of everything, and I guess that’s not a bad thing. I will say that, as I write this just before 5:30am, Rudy and Sam are probably still at the Ranch cleaning up. It was awesome to be a part of something like that. Thanks to all of you who came and made it such a legendary night.

I’m guessing that this trend will generally continue for the last six shows. I’m not sure what Sunday will bring, but next Wednesday is Stephanie’s birthday celebration (which I’m really looking forward to since I don’t get to see her much) and then next Thursday is likely to see another large crowd. I know that, at least for some of you who have been show regulars for quite some time, these large crowds are a pretty odd thing. We’ve usually been able to get singers up 4-5 times a night, and now we’re down to 2-3 times maximum. I know that this can be frustrating for some of you, since you may be a karaoke singing machine (like someone else I know… me) and it can be trying to have to wait an hour or more between songs. I really appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding, though; there have been few complaints (and maybe a little more in the way of “When am I up?”, which is OK) and things have generally run pretty smoothly.

That’s about all that I have the energy to type tonight– errr… this morning. I hope that you all have a great weekend, in spite of the predicted wet weather, and I hope to see at least some of you on Sunday night. If you know that you’re going to make it down… or, at least are pretty sure of it, then feel free to drop me a line (nerdykj@hotmail.com) with your songs.

Now then, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to fall into bed. Possibly still wearing what I wore last night because I’m too pooped to change. We’ll see.

(Oh, by the way, is anyone considering wearing a costume either next Wednesday or Thursday night? If so, I may shop around for one myself…but if not, so much the better. I wear my costume year-round anyway. BOO!)

Nine… Eight… Seven…

Good morning, everyone!

It’s been a busy time for me, and I unfortunately have not been able to keep up with the blog entries as I intended. Between starting applications for apartments in Arizona, working weddings, and staying busy thanks to some awesome turnout at recent shows… I’ve been lacking for spare time.

It’s been great to see attendance ticking upwards for shows lately. Thursday nights– thanks in no small part to Annmarie and the group she’s pulled together– have been our busiest nights in a long time, and even our Sunday and Wednesday night shows have been steadier than they’ve been in recent months. I do want to thank not only all of our new visitors and singers for making the Ranch jump and jive recently, but I also want to thank my regular singers and participants for being so patient and flexible as we experience a busy period. We really have a strong nucleus of regular talent, like Lisa, Annmarie, Paul & Rachel, King George, Dawn, and others… and when you add new blood to the mix, it usually makes for exciting shows.

I received some information on Wednesday night regarding the future of karaoke at the Ranch once I have moved on. As expected, karaoke will continue– at least initially– on all three nights, as usual. In an interesting move by management, there will be three different karaoke hosts… one for each night’s show. I know that a young lady named Michelle will be handling the Wednesday night shows, beginning on November 11th. I’m not certain who the other two hosts will be (yet), but will pass on any information I get once it becomes known.

Personally, I believe the move has advantages and disadvantages. The big advantage is that each of the three nights will likely have its own feel, based on how each host runs her (or his) own show. It’s possible that the new hosts may also have established followings, which may help to further grow the show’s talent pool. The disadvantage is that there’s going to be some inconsistency in how each show is run and a general uncomfortability factor for regulars in the short term as everyone adapts. Dan (Vitamin D) pointed out that many of the pet names that I’ve come up with for show regulars (like King George, Vitamin D, Stylin’ Joe, Average Mark, etc.) will likely be gone, especially since I’m tending to doubt that I’ll be working with any of the new hosts before I leave. The important thing to remember is that, even though I will be gone, the music library will still be the same– including the music that I’d purchased for those of you who’d asked for it. I do need to type up a supplemental list of what I’ve added so that all of you can see it… I’ll try to do that next weekend.

I would ask you to give the new hosts a chance and see how things go. I’m deeply touched and flattered that many of you have cited me as a reason that you keep coming to the Ranch for karaoke. I know that there are other shows out there– some with better equipment and others with more music– but I’d like to think that I’ve had a hand in forging some lasting friendshios or strong acquaintances over the past three years. It’s almost been like an extended family, at least to me. I hope that I’ll hear from many of you via e-mail or Facebook regarding how the shows are going and keep me in the loop.

Even if you wind up forgoing the Ranch, I hope that you’ll remain active in the karaoke world. Many of you have a gift, and it’s a waste if you don’t share that gift with others. We’re a different breed, and that’s not a bad thing. We love to sing, we love to hear other talented people sing, we love to cheer and show our support. I’ve been attending karaoke shows for 13 years now, and I hope to stay at least somewhat active in my new locale in Arizona. While I’m pretty sure that I won’t be hosting shows anymore, I do hope to find a spot or two where I can belt out a few and surprise a few people.

That’s where I’ll end this entry this morning. No, I haven’t gotten around to actual goodbyes yet. There are a lot of them to write, and I’m going to try not to forget anyone when I start them. I can tell you that my excitement for the next chapter in my life is tempered somewhat by knowing all that I’m leaving behind. As the show numbers continue to count down, it’s going to get a little tougher each time… and November 5th is going to be an incredible night filled with emotions, laughter, tears, and lots of singing to bring what’s been the best job I’ve ever had to a close.

I hope to see many of you tonight. Feel free to comment on this entry, drop me a Facebook message, or e-mail me (nerdykj@hotmail.com) if you’re planning on attending tonight’s show… you can even send a few song requests my way and I’ll fill out the index cards for you at the Ranch so that you can be in line and able to sing. I’d recommend no more than 4  songs per person, though… at least to start with… until we see how busy it’ll be.

I’ll try to bang out another entry Sunday night. Until then…

Ten…

For the next three weeks, I’m going to use this blog to look back on what’s been a fantastic ride of over 450 karaoke shows during the past 3+ years at the Cadillac Ranch. You’re going to get ten final entries from me before I say good night for the last time as a karaoke host– at least for awhile.

My success as a karaoke host has been in large part because of the people that I’ve met who have made my shows what they are. From the beginning (King George, Denise, Ryan) to the middle (The Hottie Patrol, Stephanie, Scott, Noelle, Paul, Kelli, and others), to the most recent group (Lisa, Sue, Audrey, Annmarie and her group, and many others)… it’s always been about you. I wanted to run a show that karaoke fans could come to and feel like they belong. I’ve known what it’s like to go to shows where the karaoke host wasn’t into it or ran a pretty unremarkable show. I know that my shows are unlike most others out there because most of the regular singers are super-talented and it was akin to running a mini-concert of sorts. There have been shows where there wasn’t a mediocre performance during the whole night; it was one awesome singer after another, and line dancers and other observers always took notice of that.

I know that I’ve always had a tendency to be a bit of a microphone hog… but most of you have always been accomodating and understanding when it came to that. My theory behind that has been two-fold; first, I love to sing and feel like I can add to the talent pool by keeping myself in the rotation… plus keeping a good pool of singers out there attracts more talent and keeps observers interested. Unfortunately, this was a sticking point with management at times… but I refused to back down from my stance on this. I know that there have been– and still are, on occasion– busy nights when I probably should keep myself out of the rotation, but I will admit that the allure of singing to a packed house is awfully difficult to ignore. I know that many of you feel the same way; singing in front of a decent crowd really gets the juices flowing and hearing their applause and seeing their eyes glued to you is an incredible feeling. I have tried to maintain fair singer rotations through it all, and I hope that it’s felt that way to you. If not, I do apologize.

The last few months have been a personal challenge for me when it comes to hosting shows at the Ranch. It’s been tough to do my job with all of the stipulations, restrictions, and expectations put on me. I know how much it disappointed many of you when the infamous “Broadway Ban” went into effect. I know that it bothered many of you when I was asked to monitor singer rotations based on how much you bought at the bar. I know that many of you dislike it when the flow of the show is interrupted by management requests. I’ve been fighting an uphill battle on this stuff for far too long, and, quite simply, it became too much to bear. The loyalty, hard work, time, and money that I’d put into making the show so great was ignored and I was made to force changes that I didn’t approve of. I had been thinking about making a move for a few months before, but finally decided to act for a change, rather than just think.

These aren’t the only reasons for my departure. Even if I wasn’t moving to Arizona, the time was rapidly approaching for me to pursue a new career. As much as I love hosting shows, it was a financially taxing job to have. Driving 300+ miles a week was taking a toll on my car (which I dub the Fail Whale), plus sinking money into gas and maintenance, index cards and pens, batteries (at times), contests, and other stuff made the job a labor of love. During wedding season (which lasts about 6 months), it was OK– but during the late fall and winter, I also had to compete with Mother Nature and possible show cancellations… plus unfortunate timing of holidays, which cancel shows at times.

I’ve also been hosting shows for over eight years now. That’s a long time. I felt that the time was right to make wholesale changes in my life and to literally wipe the slate clean by starting over again in a completely different locale where everything will be new– the people, the places, the job opportunities, and more. It also doesn’t hurt that my destination almost never gets snow. I’ve come to hate snow over the years; I’m thinking that I have some sort of Seasonal Affective Disorder. Whenever it snows or gets cold, my mood sours dramatically. I know that the weather will be downright hot at times where I’m going, but I’ll take hot over cold any day. That’s probably just me.

I have a lot more to get out, but I still have nine more entries planned… and it’s 5am. I do hope that I get to see all of you at some point before my final appearance, which will be November 5th. Irregardless of whether you’re a current show regular, whether you’ve found a new singing spot, or whether other things in life have moved you past karaoke or the Ranch, I’d really like at least one last chance to connect with all of you. Each one of you who has ever attended a show that I’ve hosted has helped to make me the show host that I’ve become, and my time at the Ranch really helped me to mature and grow into the role.

I am at the Ranch tonight, and Thursday nights have been trending busier and busier as of late. If you’re planning on coming out to sing, I would advise trying to arrive early in order to get your songs in and get a spot in the rotation. While the number of songs that you’ll get to sing may be somewhat limited, you’ll likely have a large audience just waiting for you to impress them. I do want to send a shout to Annmarie and her CTsingles group for making Thursday nights so stellar the last few weeks– it’s been a lot of fun, and I hope to keep seeing you right up until the last show on the 5th.

That’s it from here for now. Have a great Thursday, no matter what you’re doing… and KEEP WARM! Brrrr.

All good things…

“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” – Closing Time, Semisonic (1998)

For those of you who did not hear, I made it official that I will be stepping down as karaoke host at the Cadillac Ranch in a few weeks. It’s been a great three-year run, and has been the best job that I’ve ever had. This decision is the culmination of many weeks of consideration and discussion… but, in the end, I feel as though this move is necessary for me due to several factors.

First, as many of you know, I’m commuting 300 miles per week all told. Thankfully, gas prices have been more forgiving than they were last year… but it’s still about $50 in gas per week, which is nearly 20% of my income. I’ve been fortunate that my car has withstood tens of thousands of miles so far, but with 2 1/2 years still left on the car loan, I need to cutting back my driving on a car that’s rapidly nearing 90,000 miles already.

Second, I can’t really make a steady living on this job. It’s been my livelihood for a long time now, but I honestly cannot survive another winter filled with weather uncertainties, show cancellations, and less money. There are no benefits like health care, there are no raises, and there’s no advancement. There’s no denying that working at the Ranch has been fulfilling on a personal level, as I’ve met so many wonderful people and heard so much awesome talent– but, to be painfully direct, it doesn’t pay the bills and I can no longer afford to be financially complacent. It’s been great running contests, but these cost money– as do pens, index cards, and fulfilling song requests. These things, along with transportation expenses, have added up more than I thought.

Thirdly, the Ranch is in need of a new show host to revitalize the venue and bring in some new people. When we went to our new format due to rules changes brought down by management, I was hoping that I’d be able to continue to draw new people and make karaoke nights profitable for the bar in spite of these changes. Unfortunately, attendance has been way down recently and I really don’t have any more that I can do myself to right the ship. I’ve tried advertising, funding contests, downloading music for those who request it, and more… but my energy is spent.

I realize that my decision has come as a shock to many of you. I know that I’ve been a fixture at the Ranch for a long time. I am not certain what the future will be in terms of karaoke at the Ranch. My gut instinct is that management will find a new host to replace me, and I hope that I am able to have some input on that process and will be able to work with the new host to train him or her. I’m hopeful that management will allow me to finish out my time until November, although that’s not a guarantee. I’m also hopeful that the show will go on at the Ranch after I am gone.

As it stands now I’m planning to host my last show on Sunday, November 8th. I’m still working on some things behind the scenes to ensure that I’m situated after that date, plus it’s also synonymous with the end of wedding season and I’ll be able to devote myself full-time to a new career.

Having said all this, I have unfortunately decided to cancel any and all remaining contests. I’m going to need all of the money that I can muster as wedding season winds down and really cannot afford to fund any more events. I know that this will disappoint many of you, and I do apologize… but I hope that you understand that, given the situation, I must do this. If you really wish to have contests between now and November, please let me know; I can try to go to management and push for them, but they’ll have to front the money for prizes. I’ll still be giving out KWP Medals while I still have them, so if you really want one, you’ll really have to earn it now!

I have more to say about the last three years, but now is not quite the time for goodbyes. Instead, I hope to get a chance to see all of you at some point as my end date draws near. We hopefully still have 28 shows left, which is quite a few. I certainly won’t be taking them forgranted, and as the leaves begin to change and fall, I’ll start talking more and more about how amazing this opportunity has been and about what my future may hold.

For now, though, it’s off to bed. I thank all of you on Facebook who took the time to react to my announcement, and I hope that at least many of you understand a bit more how I arrived at this decision. I could not have made it this far without all of you, and I hope that we’ll be able to spend a few shows singing our hearts out and closing out this incredibly rewarding chapter of my life.

Another week begins!

For some of you, today may mark the middle of the week… but for me, today is my Monday. That’s not a bad thing, though, as it also means that the KWP show  is back after a two-day hiatus and I’m looking forward to getting back to the Ranch and doing what I do best. Hopefully we’ll see a few more singers tonight than we had on Sunday night, which hasn’t been too much of a concern for Hump Night shows. As always, we’ll be getting started somewhere around 8pm.

Although it may seem early to mention this, it’s worth at least noting that Labor Day weekend is rapidly approaching– and then means the customary heads-up for a potentially very busy night on Sunday, September 6th. It doesn’t happen all the time, but the general rule of thumb is that, when a holiday falls on a Monday, the preceding Sunday night’s show tends to be impressively busy. Granted, it’s nowhere near as busy as we’ll see on the Wednesday before Turkey Day (which is insane), but it’s worth mentioning nonetheless because that means that a bit of advance planning is always a good idea. The best advice that I usually give is to pick your two best songs (maybe three) and be ready to impress as the crowd is usually big enough and attentive enough to make it a pretty energetic night to sing. The other thing about that night is that I’ll be rolling out the KWP Text Group… so you can get me your karaoke song choices via cell phone, thus creating (or maintaining) a slot for you to sing.

As of right now, there are no spot contests planned for this week… although that can always change. Keep checking back here; now that I have blogging capability via my Blackberry, I may post more while on the go. In short: STAY TUNED.

That’s it for now. I hope to see many of you soon, if not tonight. Take care!

It’s the weekend… for me!

Thanks to everyone who came out to KWP shows this past week! While attendance was a bit down in geenral, we had a super-busy night on Thursday and had some long-lost visitors stop in on Sunday. All in all, while I’m sure management could’ve asked for more people, I was pretty happy with how things turned out.

I’m laying low for the most part over the next day or two as I’m pretty much wiped out after another busy week. I’ll still be available via e-mail and via text message (for those of you who have my number already). I did upgrade my cell phone to a Blackberry over the weekend, and am still learning the ins and outs… but I’m getting the hang of it and will be ready for the big KWP Text Group rollout in two weeks. In the meantime, I’m planning on taking it easy and resting my voice; I really let it all hang out late Sunday night (as Lisa F. can attest to) and I’m in desperate need of recovery time.

Don’t forget: Please consider your choice of a date for the KWP Duets Event! As with the last contest, we’re going to need a minimum number of entrants to get this thing off of the ground, so I’d like to make it as accessible to everyone as I possibly can. I’ll go with the majority, once I get enough of a response. It should be a fun time… but we need contestants before we can have a contest!

That’s all for me. I hope you all have a good Monday and Tuesday– or, at least, as good as you can have. I inadvertently left my backup flash drive at the Ranch on Sunday night, so I won’t be able to fulfill any more requests until Thursday at the earliest; however, please keep the requests coming!

Now I’m done. *grin*