Singing Karaoke & Entertaining Your Friends (10 Things Everyone Should Know Before Getting On Stage!)

Imagine yourself... In front of a crowd of a few friends and a bunch of strangers... On a stage... All eyes on you... and you're belting out a song and receive a standing ovation... ahhh... That could be you! How you ask? Well, it all starts with your song!

Pick one you love!

Find a song that you love. The one you crank up on your car stereo and sing along with as you're driving down the highway. Now take that song (and others like it) and make a CD! That is the trick that all experienced karaoker's use!

The thing is, it doesn't really matter who sang the song in the first place. Learn it enough to make it yours! Add that oomph where you need to, ad-lib even!

Eventually, you will end up with a whole CD full of songs you know and love. I've got 4 or 5 of them now filled up with my favorite songs from Etta James, Hole, Joan Jett, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, etc.. the list goes on and on.

I'll sing "boy" songs, "girlie" songs, duets (Love Shack is always a crowd-pleaser) but it all starts with that magical CD in my car stereo cranked up as loud as I can get it.

The next thing to learn to do is work your crowd. Singing a sexy song? Play the part! Are you rocking out? Then work it!

When you first start out, you may be nervous in front of all of those people but this is your chance to shine!

Sometimes, it helps to pick a "silly song" when you are first up there... Something that you don't have to actually sing very well - think punk rock - but you can put on a show. Let's be real - we're not stars but we can act like it!

Want to gain confidence on the stage? Dress up! I don't mean get a tuxedo or a ball gown but put on an outfit that makes you feel confident! When dressing for a karaoke night, I make sure I put on my favorite outfit.

Another thing you can do is add "props". This may sound cheesy but a good hat or a cool pair of shades can go a long way into making you feel confident and entertaining the crowd. Singing country? Add a cowboy hat or some fun chaps. How about some blues? Don an old fedora! One of my favorite things is seeing a friend of mine put on a pair of those disguise glasses with the big nose and moustache and him singing the "Humpty Dance".

Consider singing a few songs with friends. Of course, a good duet it always nice but a whole group of girls singing "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" is a blast. Have even more fun with it - get a bunch of guys on stage to sing "Ice, Ice Baby" or "Its Raining Men".

Karaoke is meant to be fun - not serious! So, have FUN with it already!

More than likely, you have choices when it comes to where you go to sing karaoke. Try a few places out, using the same song selections. You will find that you sound completely different at different places!

Different karaoke hosts (known as KJs) will run different sound set-ups. Some just cue up the song and let it rip, not bothering to make any adjustments to the sound quality while others do their very best to adjust the volume and effects to help you sound your very best.

A good sound person can make a mediocre singer sound pretty dang good! A bad sound person can make a great singer sound awful though.

As an experienced karaoke singer, I have sang in pretty much every place they have karaoke here and there are a few places I just won't go back to. I sounded awful!

Sometimes, people tend to want a little "liquid courage" before they get on the stage. That's all well and good to have a drink or two before you get up there. However, try not to over do it.

One or two drinks can help you relax and loosen up but too many drinks and you will look ridiculous. Stay sober enough to know what you are doing and to maintain control of yourself.

Be sure to have a designated driver too!

Pay attention to other people singing. If you like what they are singing, write it down, download it when you get home and make another CD with that song on it.

Observe how they work the crowd. Some people may not sing very well but they have a stage persona that gets people up and clapping and dancing.

Believe it or not, karaoke is not about how well you sing but how much fun you have up there! Notice how the ones who don't mind "messing up" but who have fun with it get the biggest applause.

Don't take it too seriously. After all, its not life or death. Its not brain surgery or rocket science. Its karaoke. No matter how bad you screw up, no one will care the next day. Have fun, entertain yourself and your friends. Come back the next time and do it again!

We all like a few songs that are a bit on the obscure side. You know what I mean, that song that you just love but no one has really heard of. Well... Let's don't sing that one...

What you want to do is pick songs that most people will have already heard. The ones we all have sang along with on the radio. If you want to be unique, try something a little retro but something that everyone knows.

Here is a list of "old standards":
crowd pleasers everyone knows & loves

• Sweet Home Alabama Lynyrd Skynyrd


• Rockstar Nickelback


• Me & Bobby McGee Janis Joplin


• You Oughta Know Alanis Morrissette


• Give Me One Reason Tracy Chapman


• Plush Stone Temple Pilots


• Suck My Kiss Red Hot Chili Peppers


• Lets Get It On Marvin Gaye


• Hotel California Eagles


• Friends In Low Places Garth Brooks


• Should I Stay or Should I Go The Clash


• Wild Thing The Troggs

Here's a short list of popular duet songs that are relatively easy to sing:

• Picture Kid Rock & Sheryl Crow


• I Got You Babe Sonny & Cher


• Love Shack B-52's


• Summer Nights Grease Soundtrack


• Leather & Lace Don Henley & Stevie Nicks


• Don't Go Breaking My Heart Elton John & Kiki Dee

Once again, remember we are not building an atomic bomb here. This is not life and death. Have FUN!

Once you've sang a few times and have gathered a little confidence, try something a little different... See if you can really sing. You may surprise yourself!

Here's a few for you to try on for size:

• At Last Etta James


• I Just Wanna Make Love To You Etta James or Foghat


• Hey Jude Beatles


• Crocodile Rock Elton John


• Patience Guns & Roses


• Mustang Sally Wilson Pickett


• Sober Tool


• Just A Girl No Doubt


• Possum Kingdom The Toadies


• Wonderful Tonight Eric Clapton

You may find that you actually dohave a voice! Don't be afraid to try something new but be sure to try that new one out when you are already relaxed and comfortable. Even the most experienced and professional singer can't sing well when they are nervous and choked up.

Believe it or not, some people actually take singing lessons to sing better karaoke! Its a great feeling to have the whole crowd on their feet dancing and applauding for you.

Consider someone local but also, there are a lot of programs online that can help you out!

Sing Spot - Easy Singing Lessons

Singorama - The Essential Guide To Singing