Gday Tricia,

This subject seems to come round over and over and there are many views about it. One has to understand that there is a natural bias against the so-called 'comp chasers' on this website and it comes out over and over. My views are that once a competition offers prize money and a person enters it then the venue has opened up a professional competition and they should be after the best to show off their talents at the venue and everyone who enters who can win the money is a professional of sorts. Accordingly, the venue itself should try and run that competition in as professional way as possible. That is the way sport defines amateurs and professionals.

Why should the regulars be upset by others entering the competition? Is it some kind of right that because they are ABLE to go to the same venue week after week that they should be automatically 'paid' for it? What constitutes a regular anyway? They live near the venue? What if a person can only make every 5th week at a venue because of other commitments? Should they be looked at as comp chasers? Who gives the right for a regular to be more important than a first time person or someone who has few visits?

The good singers and performers that turn up for competitions provide a new level of entertainment for the venue patrons and many times I have had people want those good enterainers back at their venues. Funnily enough, it is often the same people that complain about comp chasers that 'know' about these comp chasers because they are also in all the same competitions. They are just not winning them. Are they complaining to try and get rid of the better competition?? If someone can win a competition then good for them. Why is there such a negative perception on someone that is good?

The only way that karaoke can really be looked at more seriously among the music industry is to showcase those who attend. If we continue to make those who are good singers feel like they are not part of the karaoke community then we will continue to be looked at as a place for those who get drunk and get up and 'have a go'. There are many more well established and good singers who are not professional who like to get up and sing at karaoke and also those who use it to gain more confidence and skill to use in their gigs later on in life. Karaoke is sposed to be for everyone! Not just those who can't sing!

A competition is just that ... a chance for the best to prove they are the best. Why not applaud that person or persons. In respect to karaoke competitions ... there have been competitions open to pros and amateurs that showcase great entertainment. How great for an amateur to see how the professionals do it and maybe even beat the professionals. Overall though, for that competition, the patrons get to see some great singing and performance! The regulars still get to sing don't they so it is no different to any other week for them, except they also get some great free entertinament of good performances. The regulars only alienate themselves if they take the view that they somehow deserve something for being able to go to the same venue week after week, when they could just as easily see these comps as great entertainment for them, which some regulars do and they look forward to seeing the 'comp chaser' at the final!

Imagine such sporting contests as the Stawell Gift saying that only those living at Stawell and attending hte race meets there week after week could enter. Would it be Australia's premier sprint race if it were so? Once money is put forward it will attract people for a different reason. That is the purpose of a comp as well. To attract new singers and showcase the venue facilities. If a good person is performing when those new patrons come in first time they are more likely to attend the venue again.

Feeling like Johnny B with this long post
Submitted by Ray on 04-09-2007

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