Rock the mic at karaoke

MAKE sure you know how to rock the mic at your next karaoke adventure.

Karaoke is a fun way to kick back, relax and get the party started and has become quite popular of late. It is up to you to make sure you have a good time, without ruining it for anyone else.

Don’t be rude:

Not everyone can sing like Christina Aguilera or Adam Levine, but that doesn’t mean you get to heckle them. Karaoke is about giving it your best, even if you can’t carry a tune. It is all in the name of fun and if you are sitting in the crowd throwing insults, you ruin the atmosphere for everyone.

Sing what you know:

If you don’t know all the words to a song, it is probably best not to choose it. Pick something you feel confident with because this will show in your performance.

Allow other people a chance to sing:

Don’t put your name down so many times that other people don’t get a chance. You will quickly lose the crowd’s admiration and then you will be singing your heart out to a bunch of blank stares.

Commit:

If you are going to sing, then really sing. Move around, do a dance if you feel it, just make sure you give it your all. You will win the audience over and you will all have a great time.

Keep it short:

Anything over five minutes and you might lose the crowd. Even if you can carry a tune, no-one is there to hear you sing all night long. If you are going to pick something lengthy, do so as a duet, or a group as this livens things up.

An up-tempo song is usually best:

Slow, sad melodies tend to bore audience members, unless you have the voice of a star. Choose something fun and fast and you will almost always succeed.

Don’t hold the mic too far away:

Keep it close enough that people can hear your voice, but not so close that you risk eating it.

Don’t sing drunk:

While you might think you are rocking it, you could be making a fool of yourself. Alcohol also impairs the vocal chords and reduces your ability to sing at your best.

Applaud loudly:

If someone is brave enough to take to the stage, applaud them. Even if they can’t carry a tune, it takes a lot of courage to get up there, so reward them for their bravery.

Decide what you are singing before you get on stage:

Go up and sing, don’t get there and have the DJ search through his catalogue for a song. Make use of on hand catalogues, or write it down. No-one wants to see you standing on stage, chatting to the DJ.