Karaoke night. It is an activity that makes us all shudder, either in excitement or fear. Whatever your feelings are about the night ahead, here are some tips to help you navigate an evening out to the karaoke bar.
1. Timing is everything
You don't want to be hanging around after midnight for that one guy in your group who put his name on the list right after the rush to finally get called. Wait for the first 30-45 minutes for a couple of reasons. The crowd will be warmed up, and without fail somebody will have already bombed, hopefully lightening the tension in the room a bit.
2. Manage your expectations
You aren't going to get discovered by a talent scout for "The Voice." No viral videos or second glances from the cute guy/girl across the bar are likely to transpire from your rendition of "Firework" by Katy Perry. Your goal should be simply to have a good time, and laugh along with your friends as you all are reminded why you haven't quit your day jobs.
3. Drink (responsibly)
Your first stop upon entering the bar (assuming you are of age) is not the DJ to get on the list. Your first stop should be for a little liquid courage to help take the edge off. I am NOT advocating that you get slobbering drunk so that you are the only one who doesn't remember your performance. However, a drink or two will help you swallow the butterflies in your throat and gain a little confidence to take the stage.
4. Pick a song everybody knows
A very underrated aspect of karaoke is playing to the crowd. It won't matter if you belt out a perfect rendition of an obscure song if the audience can't follow along. Plus, if you pick a crowd-pleaser, they are more likely to sing along, drowning out any mistakes you may make along the way. You can even turn your mic towards the crowd, saving you the embarrassment of a forgotten lyric or tune.
5. Know the lyrics
There are plenty of distractions in a karaoke bar, and a lot can go long from the moment you take a step on that stage. One thing you CAN control, however, is knowing your song. Pick something you know well, have listened to hundreds of times and have probably sung in your car alone. Even worse than missing a tune is standing up there in silence as you lose your place on the screen. Avoid this by knowing your song, which will also enable you to interact more with the audience as you perform.
6. Know your wheelhouse
If you can't hit a note that appears in the chorus of your song, don't sing it. You have probably sung enough in your shower or car that you know your wheelhouse, do not forget that line that you normally don't sing when your favorite song comes on. That will come back to bite you when you don't have the lead singer to bail you out.
7. Do a duet (if you have to)
Although it is kind of a cop-out, if you absolutely refuse to entertain the idea of singing alone in front of a couple of dozen people, do a duet with a friend. This can be a good way to gain a little confidence onstage if you are there for the first time. You can play off each other a bit, making the experience a little less intimidating and more fun.
8. Smile!
No one will fault you for looking like you are having a good time up there. You may be nervous on the inside, but project a little confidence and smile. If you look nervous, people will be nervous for you, creating a spiral of awkwardness that will derail your performance. So remember to project that you're having fun, hopefully because you genuinely are!
9. Move!
This isn't a poetry reading. Keep yourself loose onstage by grooving a little to the beat. It tells the crowd that you're comfortable up there and distracts them from the note you just squeaked out. If the song you're doing has a dance, learn it beforehand and you'll get the crowd going whether you can sing or not. I can neither sing nor dance, but a quick YouTube tutorial was all I needed to bust out a mediocre "Carlton" dance as I performed Tom Jones' "It's Not Unusual" at my last karaoke night experience. Don't stand in one place and rely on your vocals to carry the performance.
10. Don't take yourself too seriously
Not to knock those who show up to karaoke night alone with a set list and their iPod to rehearse, but you don't want to be that guy. Those weren't examples by the way, I've seen both with my own eyes in my brief karaoke experience. The last thing you want to be seen as is the person who takes this too seriously. You will not hit every note the way you want to, and you may miss a word or two of the chorus. Don't worry about it, you're there to have fun.
11. Destroy all evidence
You don't want this night coming back to bite you. Snapchats are acceptable, but full videos of anyone's performance should be deleted if they are even taken in the first place. If it isn't embarrassing the day after, it will be months or even years down the road if it reaches the world wide web.
Got any additional karaoke tips? Tweet them to @ZacBellman_WNY for a free retweet.
