|
 Our
online database has been updated as of September
1. 2005
 3
libraries at a glance (the holy trinity)
Library
#42 by Artist
Library
#42 by Title
Library
#9¾ by Artist
Library
#9¾ by Title
Library
#33.3 by Artist
Library
#33.3 by Title
French
songs
Guide
to understanding our song codes
Children's
songs
We've
just reprinted the Library #42 Songbooks:
Now Library #42 consists of 2 books:
1.
Songs by Artist and by Title [download
Artist pdf] [download
Title pdf]
2. Songs by Genre and New Additions [download
Genre pdf]
We
add new songs to all our libraries regularly.
Keep up to date via our forum:
 New
to Library #42
New
to Library #9¾
New
to Library #33.3
Find
Your Favorite Library:
Library
#42 in
use at:
LookOut, O'Brien's,
Swizzles &
Brig Pub
Library
#9¾in
use at: Swizzles,
VIP,
Royal
Britannia, Brig &
Biddy
Mulligan's
Library
#33.3 in
use at: Swizzles
easy
popup & print:
[weekly calendar] [monthly
calendar]
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|
What's The Deal With...
|
...The
Rotation?
We pride ourselves on running a fair show. Fair
fun for all! You'd be amazed at how many times we've
been offered huge cash bribes to bump someone up
or how many excuses people have presented for wanting
to sing next. These requests are usually backed
up with "aw c'mon! No one will notice".
But we know, people might forget where they parked
their car, but they never forget where they are
in the rotation.
It's
important to us that we strike a balance between
rewarding dedicated 'early birds' and getting new
singers involved in the fun as quickly as possible.
So
how do we determine a rotation?
The first request slip handed to the host establishes
the start of the rotation. Once the show has started
we build the rotation in the order of slips received.
We strive for a rotation for approximately 60-90
minutes - usually 12-18 singers and then go around
again. It's not uncommon to have several people
already in line in the first few minutes of the
show, so get your slip in early. Each singer gets
a labeled slot in our rotation tray. We will keep
your spot in the rotation for one full cycle. If
your turn has come and gone before you give us your
second request you will be added to the end of the
current rotation, or the next [new singer] spot.
Possible
rotation scenarios:
Quiet start:
We leave two spaces between each to filter in new
singers in the next rotation. So then, if we run
8 singers in order and go back to the beginning,
singers #9 and 10 will be filtered into this 2nd
rotation (alternating one old with two new singers)
like this:
Rotation #1 singer1 [space] singer2 [space] singer3
[space] …singer 8
Rotation #2 singer1 [singer9] [singer10] singer2
[singer11] [singer12] …
Busy start:
We start with the first slip received, and proceed
through the next and the next and… People
who turn in a song slip within the first hour of
the show are in the first rotation. It may take
up to two hours to get through them all but we will.
We then come around to old-new-old-new-old…
Challenges
for Hosts:
One
Singer - Multiple Names
Sometimes singers use stage names or funny names
as a joke. While we appreciate playfulness, we become
concerned when someone purposely changes their name
to try to sneak in an extra turn.
It
has occasionally caused a great deal of grumbling
when "John" gets up to sing and then and
a few songs later, we call "Jon" and the
same guy comes up for a 2nd turn. We try very hard
not to let this happen.
One
Name - Multiple Singers
Just as John, Jon, Johnny, John Boy, Wonder John,
JMan and Johnny Z, could all be the same guy, we
could get 2 slips for "John" and think
they're one guy only to find out that another guy
named John had been waiting all night for his turn
that never came. You have no idea how bad we feel
when this happens.
You
can help by putting your last name or initial on
your song slip. We've actually had as many as 5
"Chantals" singing in one room… just
imagine the "'Johns" & "Toms"
& "Bobs" oh my!
Karaoke
Gangs, Gangs of Gangs & Duets
We try, as fairly as possible, to manage people
in groups and duets so each person appears only
once during a rotation. Otherwise we hear "hey!
that person has been up twice and I haven't had
a turn to sing yet!".
The
Invasion of the Microphone Snatchers
Occasionally an uninvited singer, moved by some
force greater than their ability to reason, decides
to join in. If this happens during your turn, rest
assured, we won't activate the extra mics unless
it is very clear to us that it is fine with you.
Q
& A
Q:
Will I miss my turn if I'm out having a smoke, in
the washroom or simply don't hear my name called?
A: No. We'll call your name at least 3 different
times:
1st call - we move on to the next singer then come
back to you again.
2nd call - We keep the rotation moving and skip
you again.
3rd call - by this time, if you haven't answered
we have to assume you've left and you slip is removed.
This is one of those times where a quick goodbye
to the host would be very helpful
As
already outlined, we will keep your spot in the
rotation for one full cycle. If your turn has come
and gone before you give us your second request
you will be added to the end of the current rotation,
or the next [new singer] spot.
Q:
Should I hand in One or Many Requests?
A: You may submit multiple song slips
at a time. All your requests simply go into
your slot. As your turns come up you will get to
sing your song choices in the order you submitted
them. (or in the order your host wants you to sing
them if you have given that permission)
At
the end of your evening remember to let your host
know you are leaving. This is a great help to them
in planning and managing the rotation and gives
them the opportunity to return your song slips to
you so you can save them in your palvelope.
Q:
I have to leave soon. Can I bump my turn up?
A: No. You are not the only one who
has a reason for wanting to sing sooner. We treat
EVERYONE special. This means no one will get bumped
in order to advance someone out of turn.
We've heard I need to go next because:
-"my
agent is here to hear me sing and can't stay long"
-"my mother/sister/brother/father/cousin/best
friend is visiting from Argentina/out of town/States/France
and his/her/their plane/train/ride is leaving soon!"
-"it's
my sister/brother/mother/fther/best friend's birthday/wedding/divorce
and needs to sing next".
"I know your boss /the owner /God, and you'll
lose your job/ /never work in this town again/ burn
in hell, if you don't let me/my girlfriend/boyfriend/cousin/mother/dealer
sing next/ soon/again".
Q:
If I paid you $20, $50, $100 would you put me up
next?
A: No. We are already paid to run
a fair show for all the patrons of a venue. The
exception would be if you paid for the public show
to extend another 1/2 hr or hour with permission
of the venue and the host. Then, we could garantee
you another turn to sing before the end of he night,
but still cannot bump you up to "next".
next
month: what's the deal
with...our song
numbering system?
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SINGER TIPS
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"Singing
With a Cold"
(Better yet, how to avoid one in the first place)
by Mark Baxter
Winter
and show biz don't mix.
Biting
winds and piles of snow keep potential audiences
at home and make things difficult for load-ins.
Then there’s the additional burden of protecting
your voice while everyone around is coughing and
sneezing. As a singer, you can’t afford to
succumb to the average two colds a year. Even if
you’re a trooper and refuse to cancel, your
instrument will be compromised and susceptible to
harm. Not to panic, injury to the vocal folds is
reversible, but taking time off to recover will
put the brakes on your band’s momentum. Prevention
is the answer. The good news is, for every cold-forming
scenario, there is a counter measure. The bad news
is, by the time the first symptoms show, it’s
too late.
The
germs which cause colds are always around. Constantly
washing your hands and avoiding contact with others
is not enough. The best defense is to keep your
immune system strong by eating right (fruits and
vegies), hydrating (two liters of water per day),
sleeping (around six hours), and exercising for
better circulation. Staying warm is also an important
factor. In frigid conditions, your body works hard
to retain heat. Dressing in layers, with a hat,
water-proof boots and a scarf allows your body to
focus energy on fighting off incoming infections.
Use your brains. Wait until you stop sweating before
going outside after rehearsal, and, leave a coat
stage-side if a club requires a load-out directly
after the set.
The
winter holidays are a notorious time for coming
down with something. Heavier foods and less physical
activity increases the amount of toxins in our system.
After a while, our bodies will clean house by producing
mucus. So, find a way to stay physically active
between Thanksgiving and Christmas -- and watch
that third piece of pie. However, an abrupt change
in lifestyle can also bring on a similar cleanse
reaction. People who quit smoking cold-turkey or
dramatically change their diet can expect cold-like
symptoms to follow. I don’t want to discourage
anyone from becoming healthier, merely suggesting
a gradual change if you’ve decided to clean
up as a New Year’s resolution.
Stress,
of all the causes of illness, is number one. Juggling
work or school with rehearsals and gigs, eating
on the run with zero sleep, disrupts metabolism
and forces the body to run on adrenaline. Anxiety
saps vitamins, dehydrates, and leaves you vulnerable
to whatever is around. That’s why colds always
arrive right as your preparing for the big recording
or showcase. Yes, you should be well rehearsed,
but there comes a point where the push becomes counter-productive.
Rest, like hydration, is an inseparable component
of vocal ability. It’s important to remember
that stress is 100 percent internal, and is always
reduced by saying the word, -no.- So, for your voice’s
sake, open up your schedule -- and chill.
I
know it’s seems uncool to worry about health,
but ask anyone who has toured for a length of time
-- getting sick on the road sucks. It is not inevitable
that you will catch a cold every winter. Hold firm
to a belief that you will not get sick. If it's
too late for this season, then for next. Adopting
healthy habits now will pay off in spades in the
future when you’re in demand. There is no remedy
as effective as prevention. I’m sure your mother
already told you most of these things, but that
was so you wouldn’t miss school. I’m telling
you so you won’t miss a gig. Big difference.
Okay,
now let’s pretend that, despite your best efforts,
you’ve come down with a nasty, aching, head
clogging cold three days before an important gig.
Is there anything you can do besides crack open
a bottle of Jack Daniel’s? The answer is yes,
but they aren’t nearly as much fun. To minimize
the effect a cold has on the voice you’ve got
to act quickly. Keep in mind that congestion, mucus,
is what your body produces to flush out toxins.
Over-the-counter medications (anti-histamines) dry
up congestion but prohibit the necessary house cleaning.
They also dry mucous membranes, like your vocal
folds, which will cause you to lose your voice.
So, reach for the decongestants as an absolute last
resort. However, it is better to experiment with
medications at rehearsals, rather then waiting until
gig day. You should always know the effect something
will have on your voice before you use it under
the spotlights.
If
you have time, instead of squashing the symptoms,
help speed up the cleanse. Flood yourself with water
and real juices to thin the congestion, lubricate
your folds and flush your body. The juice should
be freshly squeezed in order to get the most benefit.
The best types during a cold are Orange (vitamin
C), Celery (retains fluids), Cucumber & Cranberry
(cleans acid deposits) and Carrot (vitamin A). If
you’re not into juices, take supplements. The
water-based vitamins like C and B complex are the
first to be depleted when you’re fighting a
cold. Unfortunately, a Mountain-Dew slushy has no
vitamins, but does give a great brain freeze.
An
important benefit of hydrating is that it may keep
a cold from reaching your lungs. Throat clearing
and coughing, which normally accompanies a cold,
is very irritating to the vocal folds. The delicate
membranes in and around the larynx become swollen
and rigid, which is why your voice gets so deep
and restricted. Inhaling steam will help loosen
congestion in the lungs as well as soothe the vocal
folds. Be careful when inhaling steam, you can burn
your lips and nasal passages. Gargling with warm
salt water will also help draw phlegm away from
your larynx. (If the salt is collecting at the bottom
of the glass, you’ve put in too much.) This
is a good routine to get into daily, to clean and
increase circulation of the mouth and throat. Teas,
honey, or any other coating therapy may soothe soar
muscles but will not heal the vocal folds. To reduce
the swelling and get singing again, you’ve
got to vocalize (warm up).
Low
volume, barely audible, humming is a great way to
start. Let your larynx choose the pitches. It’s
better to stay with one single note (whichever is
most comfortable) than to push or force the range.
Allow plenty of time for your voice to loosen. Rushing
the warm-up when you have a cold will greatly reduce
the longevity of your voice and make conditions
worse the next day. I once did a ten hour warm-up
for a forty minute set. Refer to the warm up routine
in lesson three, but remember, it’s not what
you’re singing to warm up, it’s how.
Sleep
as much as you can during the days leading up to
your performance, even if that means skipping rehearsals.
But, on gig day, don’t hibernate. Get up, take
a long hot shower and do some light stretching and
exercising to get your blood circulating. Mentally
prepare for the long day ahead. Yes, it would be
much easier to numb yourself with a bottle of Jack,
but your condition the next morning will be twice
as bad. The bottom line is, if you want a career
as a performer, you’re going to have to learn
to sing with a cold. Might as well start now.
Mark
Baxter is a vocal therapist who offers private
and video lessons. To contact him, call: (800)659-6002.
Visit his website at: www.voicelesson.com
(reprinted
with the kind permission of Mark
Baxter)
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l
PAW
PARTY! 
BIDDY
MULLIGANS,
303 Bank St. 
BRIG
PUB
(Kanata)
THE
LOOKOUT,
41 York St.
(Market) 
O'BRIEN'S,
1145 Heron Rd.
absolutely
rocks every Thursday with our Hound 9pm-1am.
SWIZZLES,
246 Queen St.
VILLAGE
INN PUB,
313 Bank St.
Pet
the 
Bay
with the 
Tickle
Pony
Paw Pals support our singers by coming
out to 2 or more venues to enjoy the
show.
Our
