The excitement for KaraokeFest 2010 is spreading all over Southern California. By popular demand, his year’s “Fest” will again take place at the L.A. County Fair in Pomona on Sunday, September 12th.

First of all, Karaoke Scene would like to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to our major sponsors, Ace Karaoke and Priddis Music Resource Co. KaraokeFest would not be possible without the generous support of these fine companies so please show them your support. A big thank you to our prize sponsors as well, Ace Karaoke, Priddis Music Resource Co., Sound Choice and KaraokeWH.com featuring All Star Karaoke.

The Crème de la Kids Singing Competition Finals will start the excitement at 12 noon. Julie Woodcock is the “Kids” contest coordinator. She and her staff have done a remarkable job of looking after the youngsters and providing them with this opportunity to show off their talents…and there are some extraordinarily talented kids competing this year. This show should really be a WOW! (There are still some additional opportunities to qualify for the Crème de la Kids Finals. Please see page 16 for dates and times.)

At 2:30pm (please note time change from last year), the extremely popular Crème de la King Singing Competition Finals takes center stage. We are devoted Elvis fans here at Karaoke Scene and always look forward to this one with great anticipation. This year we welcome back Tony Christina as the coordinator of this fabulous event. We are very happy to have him back on board. The qualifying rounds for this contest will begin on August 11th at Dimples in Burbank and continue through August 27th at the Starting Gate in Los Alamitos with 5 more great venues in between. (Please note that the Starting Gate date and time has been changed.) Also, one of the “King” venues did not appear in the last issue…Roadhouse Route 66 will host their Crème de la King qualifying round on Tuesday, August 17 with sign ups from 8-9:30pm. For more details please turn to page 15.

Be sure to check out the KJ of the Year Award nominees listed on page 14. These are talented individuals that have been voted the best by the Southern California Karaoke community at large from 6 areas of Southern California, from Ventura to San Diego. The winners will be announced and the awards presented at KaraokeFest by radio and television personality (and KJ extraordinaire), Manny Pacheco. However, each of these nominees is already a winner just by having been selected from the huge number of KJs in Southern California Karaoke as a nominee. The KJ of the Year Awards will be presented at 7pm. It is very important that the nominees be present at the event to receive their awards. And remember, the KJ of the Year Awards are the very best way for the Karaoke community to express their appreciation to these special people for all they do to make their shows exceptional. So please be on hand to show your support for the talented people who make such a positive impact on your Karaoke experience.

The Crème de la Crème Singing Competition continues to rock at the 25 venues across Southern California. It looks like it’s going to be another sensational show at KaraokeFest when the 50 finalists (25 male and 25 female) will compete for thousands in cash and prizes and the coveted title of Male & Female Karaoke Singers of the Year (not to mention being flown to Salt Lake City for their very own recording session at the new “Home & Castle” recording facility, courtesy of the fine folks at Priddis Music). We are so pleased to welcome back popular Southern California radio personality, Marshall Thomas, as the host of the Crème de la Crème Finals Competition this year. He stepped in at the last minute last year and did such a terrific job that we couldn’t wait to invite him back. The Crème de la Crème finals will begin at 5pm (please note time change from last year).

As most of you know, our Male Karaoke Vocalist of the Year for 2009, Abraham McDonald, was scouted by the Oprah Show team at KaraokeFest 2009 and went on to win $250,000 at Oprah’s Karaoke Challenge. We are very proud of Abraham and wish him the best in his new singing/recording career. Who knows what may happen this year?

EVERYBODY SINGS! Don’t forget, in addition to the main show, there will be multiple Karaoke stages located throughout the Fairgrounds where everybody can sing all day long and into the night. Last year a whole bunch of folks made it a point to sing at each and every stage at least once. We wonder how many of you will be able to do that this year?

Then there’s the Karaoke Expo featuring Karaoke and music industry related vendors who will be there to exhibit and/or sell their latest products. Visiting the Expo is always a great experience. The Expo will be located in very close proximity to the main stage where our show will be taking place. Be sure to make it a point to visit the Karaoke Expo.

All you need to enjoy all of the special events and activities of KaraokeFest 2010 is a ticket to the L.A. County Fair which can be purchased at many retail store locations throughout Southern California. You can also go to www.LACountyFair.com and purchase your tickets there. The tickets are very inexpensive and will be your passport to a thrilling day of the Fair, singing, deep fried everything and tons of fabulous fun!

The Karaoke Scene staff looks forward to seeing all of you at KaraokeFest this year on Sunday, September 12th. Gates open at 10am and the “Fair” is open till 10pm.

One more thing…please don’t forget the incredibly popular “Karaoke Scene DE.” This is the electronic version of our publication that is available to everyone, everywhere, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The “DE” is filled with all of the exciting features, articles and information available in the print edition, plus many new surprises. You can access the Karaoke Scene DE at www.KaraokeScene.com or you can subscribe and have it sent directly to your email address where you can read it any time you wish. And here’s the best part…IT’S FREE! That’s right, no charge! If you wish to subscribe, all you have to do is go to www.KaraokeScene.com and click on the “Order Magazine” link and your own edition of Karaoke Scene DE will be sent directly to your email address every time we publish.

See you all at “Fest!”

KaraokeFest, the event that changed the face of Karaoke, is coming on Sunday, September 12^th at the fabulous L.A. County Fair in Pomona. This year’s event promises to be the best ever with all of the exciting events that have made KaraokeFest famous as well as some new wrinkles that are sure to please. All of the exciting details for KaraokeFest 2010 will be available at KaraokeScene.com and in our coming June/July issue.

 As KaraokeFest 2010 approaches, we are nearing the time for the “Oscars” of Karaoke, the “KJ of the Year Awards.” These awards are so important because they provide a way to honor the KJs whose special contributions deserve to be recognized. These awards are actually rewards for those hardworking special people that rise above the norm and make a significant, positive difference to Southern California Karaoke. Whether it is great song selection, outstanding sound system, fairest rotation, entertaining personality or just overall a provider of a most special Karaoke experience, the “extras” provided by the nominees in their prospective areas make Karaoke better for all of us. So please be sure to vote for your favorite KJ…they deserve it.

 Please bear in mind that the more votes that are cast, the more representative the results. You may vote online at KaraokeScene.com. The voting begins on May 15^th and lasts until June 30^th. In the interest of fairness, only one vote per email address and two votes per IP address will be accepted. Again, the “KJ of the Year Awards” depend on YOU, the Karaoke community, to participate and let those KJs who are worthy know that you appreciate their efforts. They are there for you; you should be there for them!

 Soon after the “KJ of the Year” voting ends, the mother of all Karaoke singing contests will begin. On July 5^th, the prestigious “Crème de la Crème” singing competition will “kick off” with singers from all over Southern California (and beyond) competing for thousands in cash and prizes and the coveted title of “Male & Female Karaoke Vocalist of the Year” plus all that goes with it. As many of you know, our Male Karaoke Vocalist of the Year winner last year went on to win $250,000 at Oprah’s Karaoke Challenge on national television.

 Also starting in July will be the Crème de la Kids junior singing competition for those 17 years old and younger. And in August the colorful and exciting Crème de la King competition for all Elvis impersonators.

 Don’t miss your chance to compete and become a singing star! All of the details for all contests will be available at KaraokeScene.com and in our coming June/July issue.

 We are currently in the process of selecting the venues for our 3 KaraokeFest 2010 singing competitions, the Crème de la Crème, the Crème de la Kids and the fabulous Crème de la King. If you would like your venue to be considered, please contact Karaoke Scene at the number or email address listed below before May 1^st.

 KaraokeFest 2010 Expo will again offer a golden opportunity for Karaoke related businesses to exhibit and sell their products. The “Expo” area will be located adjacent to where our main show will be held and totally accessible to the tens of thousands in attendance. There will be an estimated 100,000+ people at the L.A. County Fair that day so exhibitors are sure to receive maximum exposure.

Major sponsorship positions for KaraokeFest 2010 are also available to qualified companies.

 For sponsorship information, contest venue information or to reserve your “Expo” booth, please call (714) 826-2212 or email us at info@KaraokeScene.com. Space and time are limited so be sure to contact us now!

A word of caution, singing contests are exciting and can be a lot of fun but please beware. Make sure the contest you enter is run by reputable people and in a reputable venue. We hear the horror stories about those contests where winners never receive their prizes or they are not run in a fair and honest manner. It is a shame that this is an issue but sometimes it is. Please be careful.

 Don’t forget to subscribe now to the new “Digital Edition” of Karaoke Scene Magazine. The “DE” offers everything that appears in our print edition and much more. And it is always available to you online 24-7. Go to www.KaraokeSceneMagazine.com to subscribe now. And best of all, it’s FREE!

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.