Tips for getting the most out of your Karaoke performance

Karaoke can be a ton of fun or your worst nightmare. The thought of getting on a stage in front of a crowd of people (or sometimes just standing up at a party in front of your friends) can be intimidating, especially if you think that you need to sound like a recording artist in order to have a good time with karaoke. The thing to remember is that what is most important about performing with karaoke is the performance. With the right music choice and a commitment to performing, you can wow the audience and have them singing along with you all night.

Picking a song that will show off your voice can be tricky, but remember that an appealing voice doesn't have to be some sort of trained, powerful one. Many of the most successful singers have unconventional voices. Think of artists like Mick Jagger or Tracy Chapman. Sing along with the radio with songs that you like, and feel how they fit in your vocal range and style. Do you feel comfortable hitting all the notes? Some songs don't even require that you be able to sing at all: "Wild Thing" is more or less spoken, and it's one that everyone knows. Rap is an entire genre of spoken music. Many of Johnny And Roseanne Cash's songs have a less challenging vocal range as well as being widely recognized. Certain songs have become anthemic, and what that frequently means is that the song can carry you instead of the other way around. If I had a pound for every Bon Jovi song that made everyone in the bar sing along, I could retire by now.

Having the right song isn't enough to get your audience into your performance. You have to commit to the song and to the performance. Think about concerts you've really enjoyed; odds are, if you think about it, what the singers did on stage was borderline foolish. Lady Gaga is currently making an entire career out of that, but what keeps her from being booed of the stage is her commitment to her performance, no matter how crazy it is. So when you get up to sing, be willing to act a little silly or a little crazy. Just don't halfheartedly walk around the stage while you sing, strut, and if you feel the need to sway or bang your head or jump up and down, go with it! That sort of energy is what gets an audience into what you are doing.

Keep in mind that these are only guidelines to help you enjoy singing karaoke no matter where you are. If you have your heart set on singing every note of a Celine Dion song, then go for it. If you want to croon a jazz standard draped over the microphone like femme fatale, feel free. Karaoke is about having fun, and if you're at ease and having fun on stage, everyone one else will, too. That's what karaoke's all about.