VICTORIANS TAKE OVER : SAMMO'S RIGHT OF REPLY (4)
RESPONSES TO SUSAN - PETER D's WIFE

KARAOKE-SYMPOSIUM
What you are suggesting is more of a karaoke-symposium than an expo/fun karaoke night - where everyone stops, and listens to
speakers upon speakers, and then break-up into discussions, certainly not what I anticipated for Sunday 11 Dec 2005.

That night, in my mind, is merely me providing a platform for people to mingle and do their own thing regarding discusing everything
karaoke and exchanging ideas, like one would do, mingle and socialise in a party-environment.

Everyone there is an adult capable of looking after himself / herself, and starting and joining in a conversation. Everyone is a business operator. Everyone is his / her own spruiker and PR machine. To me, it was up to everyone to do their thing and mingle and chat.

I did mention at the start and on more than one occasion subsequently, for each person to do a self introduction before they sing (name, their business name, where their shows / venues are at, etc.) and I invited all to leave business cards and other PR paraphernalia at the front counter, for whoever's interested to pick up. I also suggested that if people leave their details, I will create a joint-flyer advertising everyone's businesses for cross-promotion and cross-referral.

But Susan, a symposium is an excellent idea - maybe you want to organise one - a BBQ is a sensational idea (being a flat dweller,
amongst apartment and flat dwelling friends, I cannot remember when I last been to a BBQ!!) - just set a date and an agenda - I for one will be there with bells on - and then you will have the discussions and exchanges you observed that were so lacking on Sunday 11 Dec 2005 at the MALAYA.

For this I apologise, for not perhaps giving name-tags for people, and for not physically bringing people from table to table to do the
introductions, as some may be shy meeting other people for the first time with self-introductions. I apologise for not being the catalyst
or conversation-starter on Sunday night.

JUST ANOTHER KARAOKE NIGHT
Well, well, well. The key topic for criticism here thus far is the SOUND at MALAYA ... and if 'just another karaoke night' wasn't on people's mind that night, I dunno what else was!! So much so that that the real purpose for that night is lost on some attendees - who
are more keen to perform, then mingle and socialise.

Another thing too - I had song requests to last way past closing time:
Teresa (8 requests in, and sang 4)
Tony (2 in for 2)
Heather (2 in for 2)
Another lady in Teresa's group (2 for 2)
Rooster (3 in for 2)
Dr John (3 in for 3)
Vaughn (2 in for 1)
Rob ?? (1 in for 1)
Adam (2 in for 2)
Aidy (1 in for 1)
PeterM's family (7 in for 7)
Ros (2 in for 2)
PeterD and Daniel (4 in for 4)
Harry/Stanley/Malcolm (15 in for 8)

I think the attendees voted with the requests they put in as to what sort of night they were anticipating - Another Karaoke Night - Total
requests received 54 (over 3 hours of back-to-back songs) with 41songs sung.

Maybe we shouldn't have had the meal, which took 1 1/2 - 2 hours to serve out the 8 courses. For this oversight, I sincerely apologise
for offering an 8-course meal for the night.

Maybe I should have limited one song to each person, and than have each person spend that other 3-6 minutes having something to say about the industry, share an idea, etc. Also for this yet another failure on my part for the night, I sincerly apologise for allowing
people to sing to their heart's content on the night.

SUSAN - YOUR PRODUCTS
Yes, I for one greatly appreciate your effort and costs in ringing your equipment for the show-and-tell and maybe sell something that
night.

Everyone's aware of what you have there. You were free to mingle and introduce yourself / yourselves to all present, and ask them if they wanted to test-drive your equipment ? everyone had free reins to do that too, i.e. come to you as they please that night.

Those who were genuinely interested came up and inspected, and talked to your husband about them, and Harry and Stanley got your biz card.

I cannot make people interested in your products. Peter could have picked songs from your computer and showcased its capabilities, and sang from there, as it was hooked up to the system. I mentioned your products at every opportunity, at the start of the night, and during the night. I gave Peter the chance to showcase the cordless mics which he declined (but thanks to Teresa, she did), and I pointed out the Video Jukebox and Computer Equipment displayed on either side of the stage for all to come and have a look-see and play.

RESTAURANT TABLE-SETTING
MALAYA is NOT an auditorium, nor is it a concert hall. For those who have not noticed, MALAYA is a RESTAURANT, with food and drinks being served all night long.

As for table-stting in a restaurant like MALAYA, where it is rectangular in shape, with the kitchen and bar at one end, and with the 'dancefloor' and karaoke 'stage' at the otehr end, and where groups of 10-12 were the order for the night, the middle and front
are ALWAYS left empty, with tables set for 10-16 people on either side - to serve as walkways for the efficient delivery of meals and
drinks (for waiting staff to walk in a straight line, and not having to meander in between aisles of tables), also for people to stand and
chat, and for a bit of dancing room.

I make no apology for MALAYA's table setting, it has been perfected over 12 years of restaurant business there.

SINCERELY
SAMMO aka ERIC

Submitted by SAMMO aka ERIC on 13-12-2005

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