Why do they call you "Cinnamon"?

"Because I'm spicy. Actually, the name came from, of all places, Mission: Impossible. One of the spies was named Cinnamon and it caught my attention and so I named myself Cinnamon. Then everybody goes, "That sounds like a stripper," so then I met this guy whose last name was Blaine and I put Blaine on the end of it. Even though they still say it sounds like a stripper, at least it sticks and people holler when they hear it and they remember it."

What songs do you get the most requests for?

"It really depends on the night. If it's a younger crowd, it's more of the rock stuff, like Bon Jovi. All the screaming stuff. For the older crowd, it's more Frank Sinatra, the classics."

If you could ban one song from your karaoke nights, what would it be?

"'I Will Survive.' I hate that song."

But it's a favorite of women and gay men everywhere!

"They freakin' love it! They love it."

Do you believe in humiliating the customers?

"Oh, totally. Totally. That's what karaoke's all about. They humiliate themselves! I think a lot of people don't understand that karaoke is all about people who really can't sing and who just enjoy music and enjoy expressing themselves in that way. I think a lot of times people get so bent on 'Oh, I can't sing!' It's not about people who can sing. It's about people who enjoy expressing themselves through music."

What is proper karaoke attire?

"You know what? I really don't care if you come in a T-shirt and jeans, if you come in a decent shirt and pair of slacks--just don't stink, you know? Wash your hair, brush your teeth, take a bath, put on deodorant."

It kind of stinks up the mic after a while, doesn't it?

"Totally! And no spitting on the mic. We don't want your germs. But just, you know, be clean."

Interview by Jason Josephes