Whether you like it or not, you’ll most likely end up singing karaoke at some point in your life. Depending on how you go about it, the experience can either be fun and exciting, or a painful memory that you try to forget. Follow these 5 tips to make sure that you have fun during karaoke, and don’t end up cringing every time you pass a karaoke bar.
1. Know Your Talents
This one may seem obvious, but watch a handful of The Voice auditions and you’ll see just how many people aren’t aware of their vocal skill level. If you’re genuinely a talented singer, then please, by all means, belt out “My Heart Will Go On” all night long. But, if your vocals are less than stellar, then maybe avoid songs with long, high notes. Try to stick to songs that are closer to your speaking range, and try not to take yourself too seriously. Even without an amazing voice, you can still have a great time at karaoke.
2. Choose a Familiar Song
This is especially important for people with average voices. If you want your karaoke to be more than awkward, cringe-worthy background noise, then choose a song that everyone is sure to know. When everyone is singing along with you, then nobody has the time to make fun of your voice. Not sure which song you should choose? Pick anything that was topping the charts in the ’90s or early 2000s.
3. The Shorter the Better
Unless you’ve magically stolen Adele’s voice, nobody wants to hear a karaoke number that drags on. After the third or fourth minute of your song, people are going to start being a bit more annoyed and critical, which is exactly how the fun of karaoke gets lost. Not only will it be hard on the audience, but it’ll be awkward for you as you awkwardly sway during a 45-second instrumental. Do yourself and the crowd a favor by not singing all six minutes of Bohemian Rhapsody.
4. Embrace Mediocrity
Karaoke is an opportunity to have fun with friends, not your personal concert. Nobody is expecting you to come out and sound perfect, so don’t bother striving for that unreachable goal. Instead, let yourself have fun on the stage. Don’t be afraid to pick a mediocre song; Celine Dion has a stunning voice, so why would you want to make that comparison with your own? There’s nothing wrong with picking an average, not-so-great, fun song and letting yourself have a good time rather than trying to live up to an impossible, Paul McCartney-esque standard.
5. Stay Coherent
It’s pretty common for karaoke to involve a few drinks, but make sure you’re keeping your wits about you. Few things in life are more awkward than listening to someone slur through the words to your childhood favorites, so do your best not to be that person. A drink or two to get rid of your nerves is great, but save the round of shots until after you’ve gotten off stage.
Karaoke Responsibly
Karaoke gets a bad rep, but it can be a great way to have fun and bond with your friends in a relaxed setting. That said, irresponsible karaoke can easily lead to public embarrassment and long-term ridicule, so do yourself a favor and follow these tips before you hop on stage.
