The Perils Of Being A Karaoke Judge At Vapor In Saratoga

Last night I was asked to be a judge for one of the great Kevin Richards Karaoke Nites at Vapor in Saratoga Springs. I love the event.  I equally love working with Kevin.  He's a true pro and one of the hardest working men in show business (he assumed that title after the unfortunate death of James Brown).  Being a judge, however, has got to be one of the more painful duties I've ever had to assume here at the radio ranch.

Again, I'm not complaining.  I just worry too much when I'm performing my duties.  Here are some of the dilemmas that always make me cringe with uncertainty when judging.  Here are some scenarios:

The first person of the whole contest goes up there.  She turns out to to have a beautiful voice, uses the stage well, and has a good personality.  Do you give them a very high score right off the bat - or do you hold back because you don't know if that's the best you're going to get for the nite?

Some guy gets up there and rocks the house with a great, energetic attitude like Rascal Flatts.  Another guy stands there as if his boots are glued to the floor, but sings like George Strait - great country voice but more low key.   Who gets the better score?

Next scene -  A drop dead gorgeous "cowgirl" in a pair of  red shorts and a revealing top - bouncing all over the stage (literally).  Not the greatest voice, but tremendous "eye candy" for the male judges.  She is followed by someone much more - I hate to say it - but everyday looking  - but a great  voice.  Hair not combed.  You know the rest.  And not to be sexist here, but it could be two guys as well.  One looks like Kenny Chesney, the other like Little Jimmy Dickens.   You tell me that you're going to give the latter a better over all score than the former, no matter HOW good the latter is?

I could go on here, but I might be digging myself deep into a hole!

I certainly had fun doing this, and I would love to do it again to try to hone my judging skills.   But I guess my

point here is that nobody who shows up at these events should take the results of our judging personally, because it's such a crapshoot and such an inexact science to begin with.  And you shouldn't feel like you are on trial up there.  We're doing the best that we can, but we certainly will never qualify to be a judge on "The Voice" or anything like that.  (However, there are some contestants that I've seen that actually MIGHT qualify with some work - so keep working on it.)

To get more info about the contest, go to Kevin's blog.  And if you were one of the ones to be eliminated and want to leave your comments about our judging ability - equal time here - do so at the bottom of the blog.  Wow- what a can of worms I just opened up.