09/12/08

Don't go there

by Jesse5050

I'm reading the reviews of this bar and I would discourage anyone from going there. I have been a "regular " for a few years. In regular I mean, when I walk in, the bartender is making my favorite drink before I get to the bar. I am addicted to playing the trivia games and they supply the console to take to your table. Unfortunatley they have some ringers in there like "BRG" or "DAVID" who are MENSA members and I have no chance of winning unless they get interrupted during a session to sing. I'm a none smoker and they strictly enforce the no smoking rule, but provide tables and chairs right outside to hang out and smoke. So I actually leave the place not smelling like an ashtray. As I said, I am a regular, the KJ knows my name, and I tip, but I can expect that I will be waiting my turn to sing again as they don't play favorites. Just 4 nights ago a patron offered Rob the KJ about 8 bucks to sing the last song of the night.. I was up to sing and I heard Rob telling the guy that he wouldn't accept any amount of money to bump a singer. So with the exception of putting in new singers early in the rotation, its about as fair as can be. Technically, and I speak from 25 yrs of playing in live bands, the acoustics could be better, the monitor on stage is sometimes turned off or too low, the words of a few songs don't work real well and they use some of the worst versions of songs possible, for example, they have some version of Bon Jovi Bed of Roses that is just horrible, when I know at one time they had the Sound Choice Version. But overall, on a good night, when the sound is right, the crowd is hopping, it all comes together. However, I hate crowds, I don't even go on Friday and Saturday, so I really really discourage people from going there.. because I like the quick rotation of singers and the lack of crowds..

• Pros: Smoke Free, Friendly staff, good atmosphere
• Cons: sound volume, monitor volume sometimes not right, bad versions of good songs

03/15/08

Great Fun! Don't bother tipping the VJ

by austinforlife

Went in there for some fun the other night and had a complete blast! Wait staff was very friendly, the door guy was hilarious and the bathrooms were very clean.

I would have to say though that tipping the VJ should be done as a courtesy, with no expectations. I put enough tips in his jar to equal what he had combined at that point, and got no special considersations. I too saw the same people (girls) up on stage constantly. My thought- he was hitting on them so they got special treatment.

If you understand that you might get in two or three songs on a busy night (10:30 to close), you will be fine.

Other than that- absolute blast.

• Pros: Great place for friends, couples and just to hang out and meet people
• Cons: VJ playing favorites

08/21/07

Definitely NOT "Austin's premier karaoke place"

by megaman1977

I've been singing karaoke for about 12 years now and I had high expectations about this place when I went. Too bad those expecations diminished once I got up to sing. First, the DJ told me that 2 of the songs I picked "didnt work", and the one I did end up singing, had all the words scrambled up on the screen. Luckily I've sang that song enough times to where I knew the words, but even through all of that the crowd still didnt clap. Everyone there just seemed like they were only clapping for their little "inner circle". I noticed that quite a bit. The DJ also didnt seem interested in getting more people to clap.

Strange enough, the best karaoke place I've been to here is at Wherehouse Saloon down on Ben White on a Saturday night. A POOL HALL that only does karaoke twice a week. Much better song selection, better audio quality, better DJs, and the crowd is MUCH better.

• Pros: Location, game room, karaoke all the time
• Cons: The DJ, poor song selection, sound quality, the crowd

12/26/06

Common Interest

by zambia

The Common Interest does has it's ++'s as a Karaoke Bar. But beware of the of there "proclaimed fairness" when it comes to fair rotation between your sings. Their DJ Shawn will stack the singers - not on fair rotation - but as his liking!!! As there "Betty Boop" look-a-like manager ?knowing? stares into the distance.

• Pros: Great Place to Go!!

This strip mall bar is for serious karaoke people who just want their one moment in the spotlight.

by Contributor

In Short
Located in a small shopping center just south of 183, this bar draws and older and, for the most part, pretty talented crowd. The interior, designed to focus all eyes on the person singing, features a bar stationed against the far wall and dim lighting. The crowd has a reputation for being supportive, so your rendition of "I Am Woman" will probably draw some applause no matter how badly you butcher it.

02/11/06

The New Improved Common Interest

by evadelttil

Being an old timer at the C.I. I was curious if they would even open after the fire because it was almost a year and they still had yet to open. But when I walked back in the first time I could not believe my eyes. It's nothing like the old seedy little dive of old, it has finally stepped into this decade with style. A++ guys looking good in 06'

• Pros: outdoor smoking area
• Cons: no smoking inside