There’s no doubt karaoke is a bar entertainment mainstay, and sorry to those who don’t like it, since the early 90’s it has grown in popularity and is obviously not going away, ever. What is it about karaoke that people like so much? We asked Robert Bedrossian, founder of Kara-O-King (http://www.kara-o-king.com), a large karaoke outfit in Miami, FL, his take on the karaoke scene. “Well.. I think the thing about karaoke is that it allows someone to test reality and see that they can be the rockstar. Karaoke means a lot of different things to many people. Most people picture a person who on occasion finds themselves the perfect level of drunk to go up and sing, but there is actually a plethora of karaoke types. You have those, but there is actually a loose knit karaoke scene in just about every city in the world. Those people who for whatever reason find it necessary to go out and do karaoke 3 or 4 times a week. There’s even been studies done on therapeutic uses for karaoke, it’s often been part of leadership training and can help those with social anxiety. For a few it’s a vehicle to stardom, since the inception of shows like American Idol, The Voice, Nashville Stars and the like, karaoke has morphed into something else. Nowadays someone can sing their way onto a bigger stage.”
Since handing the reigns of Kara-O-King to a partner and moving here to Portland, Mr. Bedrossian has been busy bringing his particular style of karaoke to the PDX. Currently hosting 3 nights at Pyzano’s Karaoke Lounge (http://www.pyzanosloungeandgrill.com/) in Aloha and one at Shonna’s (https://plus.google.com/101803729080163298955/about?gl=us&hl=en) in Hillsboro, he explains what it is that makes his shows fun. “ First off I like to say that I put the care in karaoke, that is I go hard and take it serious. There’s a big difference between a KJ who presses buttons and one who turns knobs. Attention to detail, nice equipment and a wide music knowledge in the right hands can make a regular night of karaoke into a full on spectacle. My system incorporates advances in technology to seamlessly mix karaoke and DJ together to maintain a constant fluidity I like to call “casino mentality”.
Patrons are never given a second of dead air to think about leaving, they are engrossed in the show and almost entranced. At least that’s what I’m aiming for..” When he began Kara-O-King in 1998, it was an easy way to make some money in college at Michigan State University, but after graduating and taking this hobby to Chicago, Detroit and then Miami, something changed.
"KAROAKE CONTEST
SEASON IS OPEN"
KARA-O-KING