Many bars, pubs, restaurants and private parties now have regular karaoke nights, which means you may well find yourself with a song catalogue on the table one day.
No problem for experienced singers, but as a complete newcomer to karaoke it can give you stage fright.
If you find yourself in this situation one day, from which you can only save yourself by singing and performing, read the following tips so that your first karaoke experience is not a flop.
The choice of song:
The karaoke catalogues are literally full of thousands of songs, but it's important that you take the time to find the right song for you. For your first karaoke performance, pick a song that you could even sing in the shower.
The song you choose should be as well-known as possible. Audiences are more likely to support singers if they know the song and can sing along, and you want to have the crowd on your side. With lesser-known songs, you'll find yourself more in the spotlight.
Be realistic about your abilities and choose a song in your vocal range. Country songs are usually easier for beginners to sing than rock music. If you're not happy with your performance, try a different genre next time.
The trick is not to take your mouth too full and rather pile it a little deeper.
Pay attention to the visual aids:
Most karaoke systems have a monitor that plays a video to the music and shows the lyrics. There is a countdown for when the voice should start and the words change colour when they need to be sung. Let this be your guide and don't just listen to the music, even if you know the song well. Follow the graphics on the screen, they will also distract your concentration from the audience.
Sing for your audience:
Karaoke audiences can be tough for beginners. If you look at the group while singing and they make you feel insecure, focus on those who are seriously listening to you. If performing in front of a group of people makes you nervous, get moral support from friends by clapping along, this will do wonders for your confidence.
Once the audience has listened to your taste in music, they usually warm up.
Karaoke is intended as entertainment, not a competition. Perhaps an experienced singer will sing with you the first time to break the ice.
Work on your skills:
The first performance as a karaoke singer is best seen as a learning experience. Even if it goes okay, there is probably still room to improve your skills. The most important thing after the first experience is that you've been on stage. That's the worst step out of the way. Even if you didn't immediately bring the crowd to the boil, it was probably still fun. For the next time, this means that you definitely want to be better, because as your skills grow, so does your confidence.
Take your time at home to choose a song that suits your voice and practise it until you can hit the notes and get the timing right. You can also stick to a song that suits you and sing it over and over again at karaoke.
Even if the thought of singing in front of a group is daunting and for many seems like the most embarrassing moment in life, you can learn to enjoy it and it will get easier each time. The more confident you become, the more you will be accepted by your audience.
Just remember to start with something easy and slowly increase your repertoire, then nothing can go wrong.
