Ten Things To Do RIGHT When You Karaoke

Ten Things To Do RIGHT When You Karaoke

Reprinted from http://karaoke-addicts.editme.com

1. Show appreciation to ALL singers, after all, they are your future audience! You will get it back from most of them.

2. Understand the KJ’s rules of conduct. Some do not allow certain lyrics to be sung.

3. Always choose songs that are five minutes or less. After four minutes, people lose interest. If I hear 10 minutes of American Pie, I will need to kill myself. Its a borefest.

4. Tip the KJ to show appreciation AFTER you have done your last song. Any sooner it looks like a bribe to move up the list.

5. Buy at least one drink every two hours. Minimum of two per visit to pay for the KJ’s show. Of course, it can be a “non-alcoholic” variety. The KJ is hired to bring money to the bar. It really is not meant to be a “free ride” for singers.

6. Always drive safe, under .04 for a factor of safety. Find a designated driver or call a cab if you overindulge with alcohol. It could cost you BIGTIME if you are caught. I was stopped, but found to be under the .08. Even though I did not have to go to the police station, it scared the HELL out of me. I think everyone should experience what I experienced that night at least once in their lifetime.

7. Always treat bartenders, waitstaff and KJs with the same respect they give you. Assuming they deserve it.

8. Please wait your turn, do not complain too soon. Have some understanding. Sometimes a KJ will need to “bump” in a new singer or two in order for the new singer(s) to come back to the establishment. Important to the KJ’s gig.

9. Try to understand when you are scheduled to be up. Don’t leave the room/area around your turn to perform. It causes delays and drives the KJ CRAZY!

10. Like we all learned in nursery school, play well in the “sandbox” with others, have tolerance if any of the above are violated, after all, we were all karaoke newbies at one time.

 

Ten Things NOT To Do When You Karaoke

1. Never go up to the stage while a singer is doing their thing and join in, unless asked directly to do so. Sometimes a singer waits for two hours to get their four minutes of fame, don’t ruin it for them.

2. Never heckle a singer. Remember they will be your audience when you go up. If you don’t sing, it is a real chicken-shit thing to do to another person. You never know how that person will react to your heckling. Don’t do it. Do the opposite, always applaud, cheer or tell them they did well.

3. Never put your hand over the head of the mic. It causes feedback that is shocking to the audience’s eardrums and drives the KJ crazy.

4. Thou shall not overindulge in booze. You will suddenly have the urge to do Whitney or Mariah and think your voice sounds equally good. Trust me. It won’t.

5. Song Choice Dos and Don’ts: Keep the ten-minute ballads for your shower at home. Even the best songs get old after four minutes. Choose songs that do not have long instrumental breaks. It is awkward to stand up in front of the audience with nothing to do during those ‘no vocal’ moments. Unless you are Steve Perry, choose songs that are in your range. Pick crowd-pleasers. When you do pick songs that people will recognize, you will have a lot of support even if you miss a few (or a lot) of notes, and it’s a lot more fun when you have the crowd on your side.

6. Don’t give up in the middle of a song. Truthfully, I would like to have run sometimes. Your mood, song choice, overall sound, audience numbness, or you just plain suck, can make you run off of the stage. Don’t. Give the mic to someone close, dance or make a joke of it. Don’t run.

7. Never drop or swing the mic by it’s cord. The KJ Host will be very upset that you took their $100+ mic and dented or ruined it. For most KJs, that is about a nights’ wage.

8. Don’t bring the house down with your mood-de-jour. No one wants depressing music because you just broke up with your partner, even if it is the best skilled rendition possible.

9. Boozy hurrah songs with eight of your buddies “I Got Friends In Low Places” is really no fun. At best, this yelling is only enjoyed by your drunk friends up there.

10. Do not tip the KJ until after you sing your LAST song. It appears to be a “climb the list faster” bribe by your fellow singers who witness your “gift.” May cause tension.