In case you don't know...

Sign up here: http://www.elfster.com/exchange/view/9523024/5389a4/

#KSSFive - FAQ - How does the draw work? When does it happen?

Hi, everyone!

If you haven't already, please go to our Elfster gift exchange and RSVP to join our Karaoke Secret Santa this year: http://www.elfster.com/exchange/view/9523024/5389a4/

There's only a few hours left, actually, as we've been pimping it out on Facebook, Twitter, and Elfster. We're happy to see new faces and some KSS vets already committing to it!

There's been a question floating around -

"How does the draw work?"

The answer is simple: Elfster will automatically do the draw for us and match participants together secretly. You'll get an email saying "You've been paired up!" (that was last year's email) or some variation with a link to the page where you can see your match. Remember: it's a *secret* santa. ;-)

Another question could be:

"When *exactly* does the draw happen?"

This could be asked to know when you get the draw (since you're so excited to get started, of course!) or when is the absolutely last second you can sign up (stragglers, you lot!).

Well,  I've asked this question of Elfster before, as I didn't know which time zone Elfster would be following, and here is the answer (from the now-retired help system; that is, I have no link to the forum page so you can see it for yourself - :-P)

"Our servers are on the west coast, so the deadline is 11:59 pacific time. Then, the exchange is put into a queue with any other exchanges set to draw on that day, and drawn. So, there is not one exact minute when a certain group can count on the names being pulled. It should not take more than a few hours after that. Thanks" (Credit: Shannon Wilk)

So, there you have it! If you have any more questions, please ask via the gift exchange on Elfster, or message Karaoke Secret via Elfster or karaokesecret@gmail.com.

Thanks!

Joe R.
Karaoke Secret

 

KSS2012 Awards ... Continued! - Best Ensemble Performance

Pam took advantage of multiple KSS participants (and KSS friend) being in the same city and performed an "A Thousand Years" duet with Bec on vocals, Oliver on piano, and Joe on guitar.

Hope you enjoyed the KSS "Awards" and KSS2012!







...Get ready...




#KSSFive

KSS2012 Awards ... Continued! - Best Performance of a Song Covered by One Direction (...Among Others)

KSS Veteran Jen from Hobart, Tasmania, Australia does a wonderful rendition of the classic, "Forever Young", for fellow vet Ann from Bristol, UK.

Check Jen's vid out!

KSS2012 Awards ... Continued! - Best Showstopper Performance

KSS Veteran Mikael from Utah, USA, performs "Someone Else's Story" from Chess, which is Tom's (from London) favourite musical!

Check her out!

KSS2012 Awards ... Continued! - Best Performance in a Hula Skirt

Tom from London turns in a fun performance of "Mele Kalikimaka", including a great hula dance during the instrumental break, for Ken in the U.S.

Check it out!

KSS2012 "Awards"... Continued! - Best Performance in a Classroom Setting

KSS Veteran Ann turns in another gem with her "Battle of Who Could Care Less" by Ben Folds Five for Pam!

Check it out!

KSS2012 "Awards"....Continued! - Best Performance of an Elvis Song

Ken tackles Elvis's Blue Christmas with his ukelele for Jen Y. For that, he earns the Best Performance of an Elvis Song "award". Check it!

KSS2012 "Awards"....Continued! - Best Sneaky Performance Before Your Match Arrives Home

Sara drew her good friend and roommate, Xan, for KSS2012. For that and her efforts in this video, she receives the "Best Sneaky Performance Before Your Match Arrives Home" award. Watch her sing "The Suffering" by Coheed and Cambria:

KSS2012 "Awards"....Continued! - Best Accented Performance

Charles receives the "Best Accented Performance Award" for his brilliant turn as Lumiére from Beauty & the Beast for Sara! "Be our guest" (*elbows* Get it?) and check it out!

KSS2012 "Awards"....Continued! - Best Rap Performance

It's been over four months, but I feel the KSS participants who followed through deserve their shout-outs! So, here are the KSS2012 "Awards"...continued...

KSS Vet Bec gets an award for "Best Rap Performance" for her skills on the bridge in Pink's "F**kin' Perfect". Check it out!

KSS2012 "Awards" - Visual Masterpiece

The award for Visual Masterpiece goes to Amy for Mim Ukes, performing her version of "Connection" by Elastica with lights out and Christmas lights on, wrapped around her as she rocked out. Some insider info: I do believe Amy rewrote the lyrics to have a Christmas theme. I swear I hear "Karaoke Secret Santa" somewhere in there...

[Note: first Vimeo upload, too; check it!]


Karaoke Secret Santa from Amy Nicholson on Vimeo.

KSS2012 "Awards" - Best Challenging Wishlist Conquerer

This one goes out to Noelia for working with "hair metal" and "rap" to come out with a KSS video. She performs "Here I Go Again" by Whitesnake.



[Note: Karaoke Secret supports flexible wishlists, but also encourages taking on challenging ones. ;-)]

KSS2012 "Awards" - Best Public Performance

[Note: In no way is this me tooting my own horn, but you'll soon find out that these "awards" are not exclusionary.]

The "award" for Best Public Performance goes to Joe R.'s video for Sian, performing "Best of You" by the Foo Fighters at the Canberra Irish Club. Was this the first public performance video for KSS?

KSS2012 "Awards" - First-to-Post!

This goes out to the videos who were submitted first.

"First-to-Post, Public" goes to Mim Ukes for her video for Joe, featuring a Ukelele performance of "Falling Slowly" from Once:



The "First-to-Post, Private" goes to Xan for her video for Noelia, a newcomer and her best friend from grade school (apparently!). She performed "Chariot" by Gavin DeGraw:



Check it out and send them some love!

KSS2012 Roundup

Hey, guys!

Quick roundup before I officially start posting videos.

First, I would like to thank you all who participated for contributing some wonderful videos. Everyone was really trying to deliver by Christmas on their secret elf's time, which is great and very thoughtful.

We had a few newcomers who stepped up to the plate, as well, and a special shoutout goes out to them: Noelia, Jen Y and Amy!

I will be posting the videos in a somewhat different manner than previous years. At first, it won't be flashy, but I think it's important to officially share them amongst the KSS group.

That being said, Karaoke Secret Santa 2012 is not quite complete, yet, as we did not meet our 100% participation goal this year. But, we do have 2 videos coming up, so watch out for those.

Thank you all and hope to see you next year (maybe sooner than you think)!

Happy New Year!!!

Sincerely,
Joe R.
aka Karaoke Secret