Karaoke Hints from Debra Lewis

Waiting Your Turn to Sing:
Understanding the wait for your turn is tough. What I do is take a napkin or piece of paper and write the person down as they sing. If I miss the name then I write a small description down. Some KJ's do NOT follow a regular rotation, but if you follow along and see people getting on deck that sang before /and or after you and you still haven't been called ask the KJ nicely. We are all human and 'might' make a mistake.

My rotations are long so I keep a dry erase board I check names as we move down the list. New people sing at the bottom and if lucky enough to make it in before the rotation restarts, they sing then. If not then they wait as those who sang at the top waited. Everyone waits at some point. I post birthdays, special events , drink specials, on the board too.

Since not all KJ's make what they do so plain ask, and keep track of when new singers are added if you are unsure when you sing. This is one way to understand rotations (this is not considering the few KJ's who have no set fair running of their operation-the type that feel “It’s MY karaoke and I run it the way I want, call up who I want and when I want.”)

Learning How to Use Your Voice:
Many singers are techinically correct when singing a song, but as a singer you MUST think about the feeling and the proper emphasis on the lines of lyrics. Some songs chop the singing some gently melt each new syllabyl up to the next, this separates the really great singer from the good singer by making the song interesting. Notice the syntax, and the accetntuation of the words - i.e. the feeling in the WAY the words are sung not just the correct key and timing-feel the rythm of the songs words. The 'OOOMMPH!' Also learn to control your voice so you don't bounce from a whisper to a loud projection, keep it even. Learn when to pull the microphone away form your lips by at least 4 to 6 inches depending on how strong you are as you belt out that power. if you must project very hard and loudly.

Respecting your KJ:
Karaoke is very popular, many larger karaoke shows may fill up with singers early in the evening. When the KJ has a full slate of singers or has had a heavy night may tell a latecomer from elsewhere to come back as NO NEW NAMES can be taken for the evening.

KJ's are not always paid overtime so it is rude to EXPECT a KJ to stay over on their OWN personal time just for a singer to sing another song. DO YOU STAY AND WORK FOR FREE after a long day. Understand when you are told that the evening is full and NO the KJ can't get in ONE MORE SONG (after the 5 th question like that for the evening - everybody expects the same if one has it they want it - NO). Make your choices as to where you want to spend your evening, come back earlier another night if possible (ask the KJ about it), if you are NOT in time to get in a song on THAT night if you come in late.