Convincing Friends to Karaoke

Preparation.

No don’t warm up your voice, it’s not that serious. But it’s also very serious. Do some research so you aren’t ‘that guy’ staring at the Bar’s songbook. If you have your head in the book, you are essentially at home reading instead of out somewhere fun. Also, you are just procrastinating a wait in line for the ride that you left your bed for in the first place. So have a couple songs locked and loaded. Make a list on your iphone if that works for you. If the Bar doesn’t have any of your songs, you either need better taste in music or, you might have to choose a different place. It’s not hard for a good Bar to have all the songs.

Squad Up.

Bring friends and see how many of you can get one in before the night is through. If someone is being reluctant, offer a duet to help pop their cherry. Incept song into your peers at the Pregame. Try not to meet at the Bar. That feels like taking a first date to the movies. Get into costume at someone’s flat or a local dive for those catch-up convos that don’t work while attending a music festival. But don’t stay at the pregame too long. By eleven the que might be longer than an hour. Karaoke can be a concert of your girls and homies headlining if four of you have the next seven songs. Dress up as your favorite 80s singers, or have everyone pick a color of the rainbow, or wear wigs to really make an entrance. Karaoke is about community and feeling good, and that feeling starts as soon as everyone is together.

Location.

More important than a big crowd is cheap drinks and intimacy. If you are solo or plus one, maybe look harder for the poppin’ venues. But four or five friends should be plenty of cheerleaders to start with. Sometimes though, big spaces and crowds are intimidating, cozy settings aide togetherness and rowdiness. Find a table close to the stage and boom: home base. Claim it and take turns belting and getting drinks. Aim for cheap and not too sweet; some people have to work on Wednesday morning.

Pick something familiar.

Even good singers can have a crummy time if they aren’t feeling their choice 90 seconds into the song. Look at the songs you listen to often. Songs that can make you dance on your metro ride to work in your suit are perfect. Or, think about your top-played tracks from itunes, or favorites soundtracks, or concerts where you sang all the words. Those kinds of back-stories make great conversation pieces with strangers too. When you know the song, you can make it your own. Keeping pace with the ball bouncing over the words becomes less of a concern, and you can just enjoy. Use the whole stage during a dance instrumental, point the mic at a fanatic from the crowd, or god forbid, change a few words to match the situation. We always karaoke on Tuesdays…♫this is how we do it, it’s TUESDAY night♫….

Also note: the shorter the better. Stay around three minutes if possible. Nothing over four, unless the name of the song is Bohemian Rhapsody. Caution: no one wants to hear Bohemian Rhapsody every single time they karaoke. It’s one of my favorites. I sang it in Old-Las Vegas at four am with one of my best friends. But please do not over do it on the classics.

Cheer for strangers.

With your squad at your side, and a great performance under your belt, it would be a shame not to spend some of that confidence on smiling strangers. Feel free to drift from your kingdom of rockstar peers to find new, hot people, also nervous about singing. Karaoke is a great chance to meet a few great new people. Advance a friendship to new heights and sing a duet with someone on the night you meet them. Listen to their song choices and sing along when you are useful. People have style, and it comes out here.

Tip your bartenders

A general rule, but always worth mentioning. I think there is no reason Karaoke shouldn’t be a regular thing. In that case, it is even more important to take care of the friendly and accommodating staff. Maybe someday your song will magically jump the queue. Not something to ever expect (no one at the Bar likes an entitled patron), but maybe that one primadonna already sang three times and the DJ is seeking new talent.

Fake it til you make it. Its good for you.

Singing is scary. Control that fear, and conquer it. It feels good. The argument of “let’s go to karaoke with close friends” should never fail, but if it does, refer to science. Lifehack says benefits of singing include more endorphins and oxytocin, a stronger lungs and immune systems, lower blood pressure, better posture, and tighter face muscles. Not to mention better sleep, memory, and overall brain function. It’s good for you but kind of embarrassing. Half the battle is getting people on board.

Be bold. Stay hydrated. Sing.