LETTERS: KARAOKE IS THRIVING

To the editor:

I am writing in response to Marc Powers' Oct. 25 column, "Karaoke is dead and other observations." Mr. Powers' comments about the condition of karaoke in the Cape Girardeau area were unwarranted and untrue. Anyone who would "cheerfully" report that karaoke "appears to be in its death throes" hasn't adequately researched Cape Girardeau night life, and I was surprised to find such an inaccurate statement in your newspaper.

As the owner of TNT Traveling Karaoke Shows in Cape Girardeau, I am very certain of the current popularity of karaoke, not only in the Cape area, but all over the United States. Karaoke has been a favorite form of entertainment on the east and west coasts for about eight years. It was introduced to this area four years ago, and if the coastal areas are an accurate indicator, we probably have from four to five good years left to enjoy karaoke in this area. Many people absolutely love karaoke. They can dance and sing along with the karaoke music just as they can with a band. But they can also sing on the microphone and cheer (or laugh) for their friends who sing. So in many ways karaoke is more fun than a band. It is a much more interactive form of entertainment.

I can assure Mr. Powers that karaoke is alive and well in this area and will be for quite a while. Karaoke night can still be found in this area "with the house almost always packed with happy, drunken ... crooners" every night of the week. TNT Traveling Karaoke Shows can be seen at Jeremiah's every Sunday, Sonny's Owl's Head in Marble Hill every Tuesday, the Alibi Club on Wednesdays, Muddy Waters on Fridays. On Saturdays, TNT travels to bars in Ste. Genevieve, Perryville, Sikeston and New Madrid to do shows. And there are also other karaoke companies in the area that do additional shows. In fact, over the past few months, TNT Traveling Karaoke Shows has been so overbooked that I had to buy a second karaoke system to keep up with the demand. Mr. Powers' assertion that karaoke "isn't as widespread and a large turnout is the exception rather than the rule" is simply not true, and I personally invite him to attend our Friday night show at the Clubhouse where there is usually standing room only every single week.

Mr. Powers' comments were not only untrue, but also damaging to my business and other karaoke businesses, since bar owners who have not yet tried karaoke and who are not aware of how it can benefit their businesses might have read his article and now be unwilling to try it. Mr. Powers' article was a very prominent piece in the paper, being at the top of the second page, and was certainly read by potential karaoke customers. I'm sure that it is not the goal of your newspaper to harm local businesses. I hope that you and Mr. Powers are scrupulous enough to correct the untruths in his column and undo any damage it might have cause my business and the other karaoke businesses in this area.

CHRISTINA MICHELLE PEASE, Owner

TNT Traveling Karaoke Shows

Cape Girardeau