Hey everybody...
Just to clarify from previous posts the origins of the term, & subsequently the group 'The Karaoke Mafia'...

It's a name I coined about five years back soon after I lost my 'karaoke virginity' @ Chatswood RSL...thankfully Garry & Di were very gentle with me, & instead of possibly sobbing gently in the corner in a foetal position after breaking-in my vocal hymen, some of the regulars there approached me & congratulated me on my singing (which I would not say was all that great I believe given that it was my first time), of which I was very grateful. After they invited me to sit with them they asked me about my karaoke experience, which up to that point had been nil. They then proceeded to invite me to join them around the numerous haunts around Sydney to partake of this new found karaoke lifestyle, so I chose take them up on this offer & soon found myself trawling from venue to venue with this core group of new found troubadours...

BTW, these original people were Jimmy (el barto), Crom, Nana Jon, Lally, Angelo & Jenny Fitz....

Now as I joined my newly acquired friends on their rounds it soon became apparent that I was in pretty esteemed company karaoke-wise as this group was quite formidable in competitve karaoke, with all of them having won or consistently making the finals in the (to me) surprising number of 'karaoke for cash' offerings around town. This started to rub off on me, & I soon found myself competing alongside & against them, but always maintaining a cameraderie that seems particularly unique to karaoke...

Now this is where the term 'Karaoke Mafia' was coined...

As our little group proceeded to trawl from one end of town to the other, it soon became apparent that one would bump into all the same people, whether you were in Penrith, Dee Why, Campbelltown or even the Blue Mountains!!! This was especially evident with regards to competitions, & one night outside the Willoughby Hotel I quipped that doing the rounds of Sydney karaoke, especially the competition circuit, was akin to being in the Mafia (given that at the time 'The Sopranos' was quite popular); that is in that no matter where you went, or how far you tried to escape some of the familiar faces, you would still bump into them..thus being like the oft quoted Mafia movie line...'Just when I thought i was out...they pull ya back in'...

Now often time people around us would cotton on to the name I had started referring to us by, & thus associated themselves w/ it...now these other people have come & gone but essentially its just a term that refers to a close bunch of friends who wander around going to karaoke together, & at times winning a bit of moolah in the process...and as mentioned earlier this is pretty much the people that befriended me that first night, & who to this day I continue to be close with & continue our mercenary singing ways with.

No...there was no competing group by that name, & yes, I did have some issues largely related to non-karaoke matters with people that hung around our periphery, but all in all that same bunch of friends is still intact, & as of last night were enjoying ourselves profusely @ The Edinburgh Castle Hotel.

Now I used to be regular here, & met David very early on in my karaoke wanderings, plus have made numerous friends that appear here quite regularly & that have my undying loyalty & respect, such as Garry & Di from Rising Star, Rob Deal from Everything Entertainment, Michael O. from The Menzies Hotel, Laura from Laura's Karaoke & so on, but have hesitated from logging on due the what often goes on here in the forums such as petty quarrels, flaming, anonymous sniping, the pushing of self serving agendas as well the rants from the self deluded as to their own singing & hosting ability - which often doesn't come across when you meet these people personally but that previously mentioned anonymity emboldens them to do so here. But then I again, there is also plenty of good information & valid comment - so such is the nature of of a public forum. I've just chosen what any punter or singer @ karaoke should do when they don't like the show or venue...vote w/ their feet. =)

So the Facebook group is essentially a bunch of friends who are giving an opinion of karaoke venues & proceedings especially around Sydney - & as it is a bunch of friends it is a closed group but is open for anyone to read. Just remember that it is my or our opinion, & it is up to you to take it or leave it. As what we've all seen with Australian/American Idol voting, democracy is not always the best policy - I prefer to run a easygoing feudal serfdom instead. =P

Lotsa love everyone, & peace out!!!
Max
Submitted by Maxdaddy on 13-04-2008

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