At SXSW I finally got to me the irrepressible Jeff Croft and Scott Phelps, creators of Barstar, the Foursquare of karaoke. If you haven’t tried it, you have to go sign up for the beta right RIGHT NOW! It’s a brilliant app that lets you share what you’re singing and where. Like Foursquare, it makes going out into the world and doing stuff a competitive social sport. I mean, I just love that you get pointage on what you sing because it does matter! I don’t know their secret algorithm for pointage but I do know you get more points for performing across genres. Anyway, I love Barstar and the Barstar peeps!
Anyway, their friend Woo made a video of highlights from SXSWi including footage of the legendary RVIP Lounge, Kestrin and Jonathan’s awesome NIng sponsored RV with KARAOKE INSIDE. OMFGZZZZZZ.
From the video I’m pretty convinced that Scott is a sweet transvestite from Transylvania. I wish they had more footage of Jeff doing “I’m on a boat” from Cogaoke. That boy knows how to tear up the mic. Can’t wait till next year guys!
Karaoke at SXSWi 2010 from on Vimeo.
March 21st, 2010 - 1:48 pm
omg so great meeting you guys! haha awesome, thank god someone got it all on video!
March 21st, 2010 - 9:46 pm
Was awesome meeting you, too, Raina! You rock!
As for the BarStar pointage algorithm: I can’t reveal the exact details, but you’ll get more points if:
1. You sing a wide variety of songs and genres (one-hit wonders won’t fare well).
2. You sing in front of a wide variety of people (the more BarStar users that are also checked into the venue you’re singing at, the better).
3. People to rate your performances, and your score well on the ratings.
4. You sing at a wide variety of venues.
5. You rate and comment on other people’s performances!
And yeah, that was Scott and Jon doing On A Boat, and it killed!
Let’s not wait ’till next year. Let’s make sure we’re in LA or you’re in SEA sometime soon.