Visiting London area

[Phil]

Hello to all.
I will be arriving at Heathrow this weekend. I am 69 years old and feel like 35. I like and sing old Country Western. (Eddy Arnold, Marty Robbins, George Jones, Hank Williams Sr., George Strait,
Moe Bandy, Vern Gosdin, Jimmy Reeves, etc)

I don't know anything at all about local practices. Over in the "States", most public venues are in bars. we go in and fill out a slip and give it to the KJ with our name and selection on it. He will usually place it in the proper order of rotation.

Most Karaoke starts about 9:00pm. This time varies from place to place. I go to a place out in Phoenix that starts every Saturday at 6 pm and runs until 10 pm. there are a lot of old people like me.

Many places in the US are getting computerized, as well as my self. I run MTU "Hoster". when I travel, I take some cd's with my music CDG track copied to them. This way I don't scratch up my originals. Some people running laptops can't "rip" them. My program will rip them into a temp file that erases as soon as they finish playing.

Some KJ's over here won't play carry in CDG's unless they are the originals, but most KJ's do play them if possible.

All the venues I have been to over here are without charge except for your bar drinks. I usually tip the KJ a few bucks when I leave. I KJ part time and I know the work involved to go out and set up. As a part timer, I always refer bar owners to other people I know unless they are all booked up. I don't want to compete with them as they are all my friends and several of them depend on this for their sole income.

Can anyone tell me the practices and normal procedures in the UK. I have never been to UK before and I am all excited.

I am coming over with my Daughter and her 12 year old son (my Grandson). While here, we want to visit some WW2 places like the Battle of Britain memorial over near Dover and the museum up at Duxford.

It would take a lifetime to see a lot of the neat stuff in England. I want to see it in 9 days and sing too.

I would appreciate the names of some pubs that have "laid back" karaoke with some older singers like myself... post here or email me          sisson@consolidated.net

Thanks,

Phil     in Illinois
   50 miles up from St. Louis, 250 miles south of Chicago on U.S. Route 66
I am kind of into flying so we want to take in some aviation places.

[KrazyKat Admin]

Hi Phil,
Apologies for taking so long to respond, by now you have no doubt already found a host of info on Karaoke places here in the UK. There are quite a few bars and venues listed in the venue section that you can try out!

Karaoke in the UK is pretty similar to the US, we have Karaoke rooms that are available for private hire as well as karaoke in bars, pubs, restaurants and dedicated karaoke venues.  Most bars/pubs are free admittance, just pay for your drinks, the KJ's are freelance and paid an agreed fee by the bar owner. In most cases the fee is set by the KJ but some bars have their own equipment and pay a KJ to operate it so no need to tip although am sure is appreciated, as would offering to buy them a drink!

If you are into flying, there are several private airfields dotted around the UK, a good one in Stapleford, Essex used to have the occassional karaoke night for staff and clients in their private bar. There are also many pubs who have regular or occassional karaoke nights ... some only advertise via boards or posters outside the pub, other more regular nights can be found listed on karaoke sites and gig guides.  KJ's with their own websites also like to advertise where they are playing.

Whether the KJ will play your disks will depend entirely on the individual. If they are ripped disks, there will be some that will refuse because of concerns about the possibility of viruses or unknown content ... which would not be so much of a concern when using the original legitimate disks.  Even though you own the originals, technically it is not legal to rip / copy the content for publlic use ... carrying a copy of the receipts would prove ownership, but if an official wanted to get picky they can be confiscated and you could be fined or prosecuted.

Hope you both had a great time here!
KrazyKat

 

[D.Looft]

I will be visiting London March 19-21 and am looking for some good places to run.  I am a collegiate athlete in the U.S. and am looking to keep my training up while visiting.  Any suggestions on exciting and safe places to run let me know.

Thanks

[KrazyKat Admin]

Am not a runner but there are lots of good parks in London that folk use - I can recommend Forty Hall in Enfield which is in Greater London or Hyde Park in Central London. Both are large and you can run on the grass or using the footpaths. Avoid bridle paths which are usually covered in bark as horse riders use these regularly. There are also plenty of sports centres with tracks although these may require a fee for use.

Hope this helps and you have a great time in the UK 

[wrAlty]

Hey fellow Ducatisti

Im visiting Milford OH next week. Arriving Sat 5th Dec in the pm, heading home to Oz the following Friday.

Im just wondering what the weather will be like and what is there to do around there?

Its summer here, 40centigrade most days 105F so expecting a shock with the cold.

Any good places to hang out on the Sunday? or go to on Saturday night?

Marty