FAQ: Residencies

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! Let us know as soon as you arrive and we’ll plan for a little something special for them, time permitting. We can’t bump you or them up the list, though– we want everyone to have a good time!

We hear you! Here are some insider tips and tricks to maximize your time with us:
Get here early! Most of our residencies start at a slow time of the night. The earlier you get here, the more you can sing!
Put in your next song as soon as you’re done singing. It’s first-come, first-served– even for regulars– so get that next one in right away!
It’s fine to change your mind. It’s okay to put your name in even if you’re not 100% sure of the song you want to sing. Just be sure you talk to us about changing your song at least two singers before your turn so we can make sure it’s ready to go for you.
Let us know you’re coming! We’re happy to reserve tables at our residencies for regulars, and we’ll even save spots in the rotation if you check in ahead of time.

We really don’t! Honestly, our owner and host Eamon even loves Nickelback, so if you want to sing it, we want to hear it! And if we don’t have the song, we’ll try to get it– and if we can’t get it, it’s because it doesn’t exist or there’s some legal issue involved.

Just one time, we swear! We sometimes move new singers up a few spots to get them in the mix; after that it’s first-come first-served as always. And in the last hour of our shows, we don’t bump people up. Period.

Sorry, we don’t do that. No offense to those karaoke hosts who do, but that’s not our thing.

Seriously, we’ve had to turn down tips as high as $200. It’s one reason why our regulars trust us and keep coming back to our shows.
But here’s what we can do for you at certain venues: an extra hour. It depends on the night, the venue, and the staff’s availability, but in some cases we can run long to accommodate you and anyone else already in the song queue. Pricing starts at $150 and requires payment in advance, so be prepared!

We promise we’re as sad about it as you are! We want everyone to sing as many songs as they can, but our venues do have a hard cut-off. Our hosts always read off the names of upcoming singers for the last hour of our shows, so if you want to squeeze in a song at the last minute, please listen to the host, watch the screen for your name, and above all please stay in the room! If you’re not there when we call your name we’ll have to bump your name down so others who are ready to sing can get their chance.
Even if we can’t get to your particular song, you’ll still have a chance to sing at the end of the night! Our hosts always close the night with a group song that everyone can sing along to. Don’t be shy– join us!

Yeah. We struggle with this one. It’s problematic, and absolutely antiquated, but for a huge number of folks Rocky Horror Picture Show was their first introduction to any non-hetero identity and we’re uncomfortable erasing that. And so it remains in the catalog. Don’t be surprised if your KJ has something to say about it on the mic, though! (And as always we’re open to your thoughts.)

This is Chicago. We don’t sing R.Kelly in Chicago.