We have received many call and emails regarding the SongBurst Singing Competition. Unfortunately, due to many loose ends left by the auction sale of the Orange County Fairgrounds, we are unable to obtain sure dates for the event. So, there will be no Songburst in the immediate future. However, we are exploring different avenues to continue this very popular event and some of the options are really exciting. There will be more in future issues regarding SongBurst so please be patient and know that we are working very hard on this.

This time of year, unfortunately, also brings the flu season. It is important for KJs to do their best to keep their microphones as germ free as possible. It is also important for singers to be considerate and not sing into microphones when they are sick. Please take good care not to spread flu germs to others especially this year when flu shots are so scarce. A little extra effort and some common sense will help to make this much less of a concern.

On the lighter side, Karaoke continues to spread into all segments of our musical culture. There are many new Karaoke related products and services springing up all over the place and Karaoke continues its firm hold on being the number one form of live entertainment in Southern California and many, if not most, of the major markets across the country.

If you are traveling, be sure to check out the Karaoke “scene” in other cities. Experience the local Karaoke customs, what the locals are singing and find out how the local KJs run their shows. You may find Karaoke venues in the area you are traveling to by checking the “Club Directory” section at our popular website, KaraokeScene.com. If you find something you feel would be interesting to the Southern California Karaoke community, please let us know by emailing us at info@KaraokeScene.com. We would love to hear from you.

Turning to another subject, this seems to be a season filled with singing contests. Everywhere you look there’s another one. Contests can be fun and bring new patrons into Karaoke venues. But beware, contests can also be disappointing and in some cases unfair and unscrupulous. Be careful that the contest you enter is being run by reputable people and at a venue with a history of successful competitions. Most of the time, you can check this out by asking around and talking to people who have had experience with events at that venue or run by that particular KJ in the past. If you take some precautionary steps before you enter, you will probably have a great time and end up meeting lots of new friends. By the way, the “mother” of all Karaoke contests, the Crème de la Crème KaraokeFest Singing Competition will be starting in early July so stay tuned…we’ll keep you posted.

That leads us to a potential new wrinkle in the Crème de la Crème KaraokeFest Singing Competition. We have been in talks with a major Canadian Karaoke entity regarding internationalizing the event. The plans are still in the early stages but the possibilities are really exciting. We hope to be able to bring you more news about this very soon.

Our “Singer’s Showcase” continues to explode with talent leading the way to the ever increasing popularity of our world famous website, KaraokeScene.com. Singers are submitting songs of all types, truly something for everyone. There is a whole community of folks out there around the world that participate regularly in the “Singer’s Showcase.” It is a golden opportunity for you to meet new friends online and share your love of music with the Karaoke world. Why not submit one of your songs? You will be very glad you did. Check it out soon and join the fun.

For all you KJs out there, our “KJ Directory” at KaraokeScene.com is the perfect way to promote your business. People from all over check it out to find Karaoke hosts when they need one. This is your chance to advertise your KJ business to the entire Karaoke world. And here’s the best part, you can join now for only $25 for the first year. What a bargain!

And here are some more goodies available at KaraokeScene.com. Our “Discussion Forums” are always humming and jam packed with necessary Karaoke related information as well as a whole host of other interesting things. With a database of over 200,000 titles, our “Song Search” page helps you to find just the Karaoke song or arrangement you’re looking for. It’s a perfect place to start your quest for that hard to find song.

And, finally, I would like to personally thank all of you in the Karaoke community who have been so supportive of this publication and our goal of promoting Karaoke and all of its positive aspects. Your support means a great deal to all of us here at Karaoke Scene.

2009 has certainly been quite a year! Just for starters, our “Male Karaoke Vocalist of the Year” winner from KaraokeFest 2009, Abraham McDonald, went on from there to win “Oprah’s Karaoke Challenge” and took home a check for $250,000 and a recording deal! Wow! Way to go Abraham!

  Some of you may know that the Oprah Team came out from Chicago and spent almost the entire day at KaraokeFest 2009 taping and interviewing the contestants from our singing competitions for possible inclusion in their show. That’s where they found Abraham McDonald…and the rest is history, as they say.

  Karaoke Scene would like to express our thanks to the “Oprah Winfrey Show” for their positive portrayal of Karaoke on national television. They have done a great deal for the Karaoke community as they showed Karaoke as it really is, not just a bunch of drunks with a microphone, but real people with real talent, reaching out with something wonderful to offer. We would also like to thank Oprah’s staff for their courtesy and professionalism. They are really a class organization.

  The Karaoke industry continues to move in new directions with new hardware and software choices popping up all the time. And Karaoke, as an entertainment medium, continues to flourish. Karaoke remains the number one form of live entertainment in Southern California with hundreds of venues from Ventura County to the Mexican border. And Karaoke Scene Magazine is available in all of them to be enjoyed by everyone.

  Our “Singer’s Showcase” at www.KaraokeScene.com continues to be a huge favorite with singers all around the world. If you haven’t checked it out yet, you should because you have really been missing a great time. It’s like an online Karaoke party.

  And for all you KJs out there, the “KJ Directory” at www.KaraokeScene.com is the perfect way to make sure the whole Karaoke world knows about you and your Karaoke shows. It is the ideal way to let everyone know who you are, where you are and what you can offer in the way of services. And it’s inexpensive, too, only $25 for a whole year!

  Don’t forget, you can see your own photos in Karaoke Scene Magazine. We are still accepting photos from all over the Karaoke community for publication in future issues. We appreciate all the folks who have sent us their photos and hope to hear from more of you in the future. Here are just a few suggestions:

Your photos should be about singing.
Please make sure your photos are sharp and clear.
Please be sure your photos are in a digital format (jpeg files); no prints.

  Please send your photos by email to photos@KaraokeScene.com or, if you have a lot of them, you may put them on a CD and mail them to:

Karaoke Scene
PO Box 2633
Cypress, CA 90630

  We look forward to receiving them.

  Our staff is very busy working on the upcoming SongBurst ‘10 Singing Competition, the winter’s biggest singing contest. SongBurst will again offer both an adult (18 and older) and junior (17 and younger) contest. There will be thousands in cash and prizes as well as a terrific time for all, individuals and families alike. Exact dates were not available at press time due to the potential sale of the Orange County Fairgrounds by the State of California who owns the property. We are awaiting word from the Orange County Market Place as to the progress of the situation. There is even a chance that Songburst ’10 will take place at a different venue, depending on how the situation develops. You can check out all the latest information regarding SongBurst ’10 at www.KaraokeScene.com as soon as it is available and, of course, our next issue will provide the complete details.

  Congratulations!!! Three time KJ of the Year winner for Orange County, Donna Thomas has once again raised a phenomenal amount of money (exact amount not available at press time) for the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles during her annual gala fundraiser at the TomKat Lounge in Buena Park. Karaoke Scene salutes Donna Thomas and all of the many folks who unselfishly give so much of their time and money to help these children who need it so much.

  Finally, at this special time of year, it is good for all of us to reflect on the many blessings we receive but take for granted. Try to do a kindness to someone who may need a little boost. Take a step back and maybe let another person have their way about something. Try giving the gifts of “love and kindness, warm hearts and an outstretched hand of tolerance” this holiday season. Do this, and it will surely come back to you many times over.

  All of us at Karaoke Scene Magazine wish you the happiest of holidays and a prosperous, song-filled New Year!

KaraokeFest 2009 has come to a close…but what a party it was! This was, by far, the biggest and best “Fest” ever with the finals for 3 major singing competitions and 5 Karaoke stages going all day and night. And did they go! Most of the stages had well over an hour rotation for most of the day!

First of all, we would like to thank our sponsors, VocoPro and Ace Karaoke for their generous support and enthusiasm for this event. They make it possible to have this day-long celebration of Karaoke every year for all of us to enjoy. Please support these fine companies for all they do for Karaoke.

This year’s KaraokeFest was all the more special because the Oprah Winfrey Show sent a crew to this year’s KaraokeFest to shoot video of the event and some of the singers for an upcoming show Oprah is doing about Karaoke. Gospel music superstar BeBe Winans was Oprah’s “man on the ground” at KaraokeFest, interviewing Karaoke singers throughout the day, not only on the Main Stage, but at the open singing stages located around the Fairgrounds as well. It made for an extra-exciting day for everyone. Our deepest thanks go to the Oprah Winfrey Show and their staff for all their efforts as we look forward to watching the program (possibly airing sometime in November although no exact air date was available at press time).

88 singers competed in the finals for the Crème de la Kids, Crème de la King and Crème de la Crème Singing Competitions. The big show started at noon and didn’t finish until around 11:30pm resulting in a huge day of fantastic singing! The children in the Crème de la Kids contest were really terrific as they melted everyone’s heart with their performances. The Crème de la King competitors revived the memory of Elvis in a huge way and really lit up the stage with their colorful costumes and exciting renditions of some of the King’s most beloved tunes. And, of course, the Crème de la Creme Finalists rocked the foundation of the Fairgrounds for over 4 hours with world class singing and sensational performances.

Due to a set of unfortunate circumstances, Shawn Parr was unable to attend KaraokeFest this year. He was called away at the last minute to take over the announcing duties at this year’s Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon from recently departed Ed McMahon. From all accounts, Shawn did a tremendous job. Special thanks go to the phenomenally talented Marshall Thomas of KFROG 95.1 FM for stepping in at the last minute to host the Crème de la Crème Finals Competition. We sincerely appreciate all that he did for KaraokeFest this year. Thanks also to our good friend, Manny Pacheco, the best emcee for an important event like this that anyone could ask for. And making her debut at KaraokeFest was well known radio personality, Barbara Brooks, hosting the Crème de la Kids and Crème de la King Final Competition. Thank you, Barbara!

A tip of the Karaoke Scene hat goes to Crème de la Kids coordinator, Tony DeFazio and to Crème de la King Coordinator, Julie Woodcock, for their tireless efforts in making the dream come true for all of their contestants. And many thanks to every single one of the gracious volunteers who gave so much of their time and energy to make KaraokeFest special for everyone.

We would like to acknowledge all of our Karaoke Expo Exhibitors, Ace Karaoke, SingIt.TV (Ethermedia, Inc.), YourVideoke.com and Manny Pacheco. We, and the Karaoke community, sincerely appreciate your participation at KaraokeFest 2009 and we hope to see you all again next year.

And then there are our prize sponsors, VocoPro, Ace Karaoke, Chartbuster, MGM/Lakeshore Entertainment and Manny Pacheco. Their generosity speaks for itself and these companies are certainly deserving of everyone’s support.

Don’t forget that, for a limited time, you can purchase your own professionally produced DVD of any or all of the exciting singing competitions at KaraokeFest this year…a perfect memento of all the fabulous performances that made KaraokeFest 2009 such an entertainment extravaganza. The Crème de la Kids and Crème de la King DVDs are only $19.95 each and the Crème de la Crème DVDs are only $29.95, or you can order all 3 for only $59.95 (all prices are +S&H). Order yours today at www.KaraokeScene.com or by calling (714) 826-2212.

Thanks also to our fabulous Karaoke Stage hosts at KaraokeFest this year, Ace Karaoke, Blue Collar Karaoke, Helen Scheuplein, PR Entertainment and Surfbum Karaoke. These talented people make KaraokeFest fun for everybody all day long and we want them to know how much they are appreciated.

Speaking of Manny Pacheco, some of may not know that he has written a book, “Forgotten Hollywood – Forgotten History,” an amazing study of some of the most important character actors and actresses from Hollywood’s Golden Years and their relationship to American historical events. We highly recommend this book to everyone, either for yourself or as a perfect gift for a friend or loved one (Christmas is coming). For those of you who are interested in buying a copy of this fabulous new book, please go to www.forgottenhollywood.com to order yours today.

Now that this year’s KaraokeFest is in the books, we are already getting calls asking about the next big Karaoke event in Southern California. Of course, that would be SongBurst 2010 at the Orange County Market Place starting in February. There will be both an adult and a junior competition with thousands in cash and prizes! SongBurst has really taken off over the past couple of years to become the premier winter Karaoke event in Southern California. You won’t want to miss this one. All of the details can be found in the next issue of Karaoke Scene Magazine or at www.KaraokeScene.com.

All of us at Karaoke Scene Magazine would like to wish all of you and your families a Happy Halloween and Happy Thanksgiving!