THE PALACE, (address removed) (Host: Karaoke Kool)
Visited on: (a few days ago - day removed)

THE VENUE:
Wow! Double-Wow really! That was my impression when I walked into the relatively luxurious surrounds (as compared to ALL other karaoke venues I have been to in Victoria in recent YEARS) of The Palace. As the name implies, it is PALATIAL (in size and furnishings, facilities, and in the “class” and “quality” of its youngish patrons).

I purposely arrived 45 mins early as I normally do with a new venue (I rang the hosts, and was advised that karaoke will start around 10pm), so that I can take myself on a tour of the place. I was blown away and I am not easily impressed. No track-suits nor sticky carpets here! The Palace has it all. It is a “Destination” in its own right … Enough said. Check it out as a dining + entertainment venue for yourselves.

DINNER-ENTERTAINMENT:
An acoustic Duo was performing when I arrived; good entertainers, good banter with the audience, good harmonies, good selection of songs. They finished at around 9.45pm.

THE KARAOKE:
Karaoke Kool (KK) took over as soon as the Duo left the stage; karaoke started at 10pm. I noticed that KK has a following of at least half a dozen singers at each of their venues that I have visited (not always the same half dozen – but there’s a core of loyals of 2-3 at each of their venues). This is a great back-up to get any show started, as the hosts can rely on this loyal group to kick the night off – which is what happened at The Palace this particular night (so the hosts don’t have to sing the first song or two and get chastised by the karaoke-tragics!).

The karaoke room is The Palace’s “showroom”, so, it is adequately set-up: proper stage, proper lighting, good inhouse sound system, plenty of tables and chairs, leather arm-chairs and leather sofas. Not all the ceiling mounted speakers were turned for the karaoke – those speakers at the back of the room were not, allowing diners and patrons there to converse normally without having to shout at each other – how very thoughtful! Bar prices are comparable to other pub venues; the meals all looked fantastic (will try next visit) and are reasonably priced (as one would expect at an upmarket venue).

The karaoke itself is as expected of a KK gig: good songlist, good sound (** see below), fair rotation (with newies slotted in without much disruption). Could do with more singers, offering a wider variety of styles and songs.
All in all it was a good night out for me!

The Palace has it all to turn it into a great venue. At last, we have a karaoke venue in a better part of town – Camberwell is an established expensive old suburb with its own “snob-value” (but it’s a nice kind of “snobbery”) – hence the well-heeled, properly attired, supportive and respectful patrons (20s-30s). It has an upmarket feel to it, but warm and friendly.

Thoroughly recommended – it’s a venue that one could comfortably bring a date to for a night out (I don’t quite like its hours though – that’s personal - not suitable for me, being from 10pm to 1am on a Thursday night, as I am at work by 6.45am Mon-Fri).

CHINA aka SAMMO aka ERIC

PS: (**) Karaoke is self-entertainment by amateurs and is provided free of charge to them, and to whomever else who wish to be in the audience; hence an “adequate” sound system is all I expect from a karaoke venue – concert-like conditions and sound systems for a karaoke venue are rarities rather than expectations as norms (unless you PAY for them – like in plush KTV-Rooms).

Submitted by CHINA, from CAULFIELD on 23-05-2009

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