Karaoke

“Some people have the idea that karaoke is just a group of intoxicated people singing horribly into a microphone. I try to show people it’s not like that – singing is an expression of the soul and a stress-reducer. It takes a tremendous amount of courage to get up in public and sing. Those who participate in karaoke are incredibly brave!” ~ DJ Jacster

When I approach customers and ask them if they would like to sing a song, I hear just about every line you can think of:

“ I can’t / don’t sing!”
“I’m too shy / scared!”
“I will burst everyone’s eardrums! You don’t want me to sing!”
“Do you want to have this room cleared out in seconds?”

After years of hearing these lines on a weekly basis, you can bet I have a persuasive, convincing line to throw back. My goal as a karaoke host is not to force people to sing, but rather to help them find that inner strength to try something new, exciting, and maybe a little nerve-racking. Singing is a very powerful way to release stress. One song can turn your entire mood around. I’ve seen so many new singers return to their seats after their first song with a sense of euphoria illuminating across their faces; it can be quite the adrenaline rush!

Karaoke is a chance for people to let loose, release the stresses from their daily lives, and be in the spotlight. The most important part about participating in karaoke is to just HAVE FUN! I also encourage singers to try not to sound like the original artist, but rather, sing the song YOUR WAY! It can take some time to find the right song for your voice – but trust me when I say; there is a song fit for everyone’s voice! YOU become the artist of your OWN song!

Singing is a connection you’re making with your soul, as well as to the audience listening. When we run our shows, we have very strict rules about audience members being polite to every singer. It doesn’t happen often anymore, but ‘boo-ers’ will be warned once, and then asked to leave the venue! As singing in public can be a very daunting experience, our hosts and all the regular karaoke singers ensure that no one ever feels embarrassed or shy after singing – in fact, you’ll be hit with so many compliments for just getting up and trying it! That is a feat worth congratulating.

I’m not going to tell you I have been singing my whole life, because it’s quite the opposite. I never took singing lessons and frankly, I never even liked singing growing up nor desired to do such an act. Like any new activity, singing is something that can take practice. I remember my first moment when I could do vibrato in my voice (the ‘wavering’ effect in one’s sound) – that took me 2 years of singing at my own shows before it just happened one night. But when it happened, it opened up a whole new door of songs for myself. Instantly, I wanted to sing everything! Remembering how scared and nervous I was when I first started singing, and seeing how karaoke has changed me into the person I am today, convinces me that everyone & anyone can do this eventually; they just need the right encouragement or motive first.

Once new singers take to the stage & microphone for the first time (a term we call “popping your cherryoke”), I always tell them “It’s addictive; once you sing that first song, you’re hooked!” I’ve never been proven wrong yet, and this is where we build our karaoke junkies! For the more brave souls, we encourage singers to hand in blank song slips with only their names on it, and take the chance of having their song selected for them without their knowledge! Either the host or friends in the venue will choose a song for the unsuspecting singer – this is where the term “Scaraoke” comes from.

We believe everyone has a karaoke button – allow us to switch your button “ON” and discover the karaoke singer in you!