Karaoke Box Lovers: A New Place true to Japanese Tradition!

Folks, you know how I've been at a few karaoke boxes to get proper equipment. Well, I've been in touch with someone who is looking to open a karaoke box in the Japanese tradition with PROPER equipment: Key Changers, Food by computer screen, the full works. So those karaoke box owners too cheap to get key changers or get decent food, competition is coming. I won't say who but I'll supporting with great enthusiasm anyone who wants to do it RIGHT (like in Japan/China/Korea) instead of just cheap (what can I get away with).

This venue is still in the planning stages and I've been asked for advice on in which I'm giving free but I'm also looking to any and all fans to help me out with something: Software solutions for karaoke boxes. I've done some preliminary research and have 1 or 2 software packages that will server for a client/server situation for boxes but I would LOVE to know all the pre-built karaoke solutions out there for purchase, regardless of country of origin. So if anyone out there is willing to give a hand, I share the glory with all contributors. I'll continue to do my own research to help support what I believe will be the FIRST karaoke box in Toronto 100% true to Japanese tradition with real facilities. My time is also limited as I'm the middle of a project but when summer is over I'll have more time.

Upon reflection it is not only possibly but relative easy (at least compared to other major projects) to create a Linux based karaoke box system using core parts of the install base like the setup in Ubuntu (any MPEG compatible player with Python or Java scripting), to create a client/server based system. Many Linux MPEG compatible players can be scripted to link to a central interface and generic database but before I do so I want to be sure I wouldn't recreate the wheel. I've found 2 software solutions made for MS windows but I'm not convinced they are the best software packages for the job. So ANY help the karaoke community can give will be rewarded with a first rate karaoke box. Man am I excited about this. Thanks to all in advance. - Jonah A. Libster