How to Sing Karaoke Without Getting Embarrassed

Steps

1. Choose the right song. The right song is crucial, because if you choose the wrong song, you could end up sounding like a dying cat. If you're an alto, sing a song maybe by Alicia Keys, Stephanie Ferguson (Fergie), or Rihanna. If you are a soprano, you could sing a song by Beyonce, Katy Perry, or Taylor Swift.
2. Do vocal warmups. Some vocal warmups are located here in this article.
3. (optional) Go to the deejay and request a specific song. this may bump your confidence. 
4. Start to sing your heart out. Don't listen to either the boos or the clapping.

Wikihow

How to Win a Karaoke Contest

Edited byWaited and 22 others

Whether you’re looking to be “discovered,” hoping to win cool prizes, or just seeking some recognition of your awesome vocal talents,karaoke contests are a great way to test yourself. While these competitions offer a chance to see some great performers (and some not-so-great ones, too), and have an outrageously good time, they’re even more fun if you win. How do you do it? Read on, and go ahead and imagine a little ball jumping over the words as you do.

Steps

1. 1
   Practice singing. No matter what else you do, it’s important to be able to carry a tune andsing on pitch. While you need not be the "best" singer at the competition, and you certainly don’t need to be professionally trained, those things won’t hurt you. Karaoke contests are usually judged on some combination of vocal ability, audience response, and stage presence, but if you can nail the singing part, the judges may give you some leeway on other aspects of your performance. The best way to practice karaoke is to sing karaoke.
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2. 2
   Learn your songs by heart. Most karaoke contests allow you to pick your own songs, and if you’re going to win, you should have practiced these time and time again. Yes, the words are right there on the screen, but if you know the words and have perfect timing, you don’t even have to look at the screen. There have also been instances where the MC deliberately mutes the song, or the music is genuinely mis-recorded, and you won't hear the song for some time. You have to keep on singing until the music returns. Not only will your overall performance be more masterful, you may impress the judges and audience with your knowledge of the songs. An elimination round in a contest is a bad time to find out that you can't pull off a particular song.
3. 3
   Understand the format of the contest. Karaoke contests are usually either judged by a panel of judges or by the audience. In some of the latter, the audience will actually formally vote, while in most a judge or judges will try to gauge the audience's reaction to a song. You also want to know how you're being judged. Most contests are based on overall performance, but some look strictly at how well you impersonate the artist (or how original you are), or other factors. Finally, know how many songs you'll be expected to sing so you'll have enough prepared in advance.
4. 4
   Follow the rules. Some contests require that you sing a particular kind of music (80s rock only, for example), or that you appear in costume. Make sure to follow the rules or you probably won't win even if you give the best performance.
5. 5
   Extend courtesy to other performers. Yes, other performers are your competition, but don't try to malign them or mock them, even if someone really can't sing. Be polite, and unless the rules dictate otherwise, applaud everybody. Remember you will very likely be judged on your audience's reaction to your songs, and many of your competitors are part of the audience. They won't treat a heckler kindly.
6. 6
   Cater to the audience (or the judges). Above all, sing to the audience, not to the karaoke screen. Beyond that, know your audience. Understanding your audience will help you choose songs that most appeal to them. If you haven't been to a venue before, you might want to visit it in advance to check out the crowd and see what they're playing on the jukebox. On the night of the competition, try to gauge the judges' or audience's reaction to songs and see if you can spot trends (maybe they hate love songs), and choose your songs accordingly if you still can.
7. 7
   Sing a song to showcase your range and talents. There are a lot of songs that just about anybody can sing passably, but if you've got an exceptional vocal range or if you can rap just like Snoop (rap is notoriously difficult to karaoke) choose songs that reflect that. If you want to awe the audience--and you do--you need a great performance of a difficult song.
8. 8
   Develop stage presence. People come to karaoke (or to concerts) to see a performance, not just to hear one. Don't just stand there and sing, and don't act like you don't know what to do during an instrumental interlude. Convey the emotions of the song with your facial gestures and body movements, and by all means dance if appropriate. Get some ideas by watching concert videos of professional performers. If you can find a video of the original artist performing the song you're going to sing, all the better.
9. 9
   Dress the part. Your attire can help the judges remember you, especially if you go to a themed competition or if you're only singing certain kinds of songs. If you're going to sing glam rock, dress like a glam rocker, or maybe dress like a country singer to add a bit of humor to your performance.
10. 10
    Be true to the original. Even if it's subconscious, most people judge a karaoke performance by how close it sounds to the original. It's amazing when someone gets up to sing a Garth Brooks song and you could swear they were just lip-syncing to a CD of Garth himself. While you need not be a professional voice impersonator, try to fit the mood and style of the song (i.e. add a bit of twang to a country song).
11. 11
    Add your own twist. Musicians who cover a song can alter it all they want. You don't have that luxury because the karaoke music is designed to sound just like the original version. That said, there's a little room for creativity. For example, try inserting the name of a local landmark in place of one mentioned in the song. This can have a humorous effect and is likely to get a rise out of the audience.
12. 12
    Relax and have a good time. If you have a problem with stage fright, you've got to learn to suppress it. There are a number of ways to do this, but probably the best is to fight it by singing a lot of karaoke. Don't take yourself too seriously up there, and even if you're nervous, show the audience that there's nothing you'd rather be doing.
13. 13
    Be a good winner (or loser). If you win, congratulations! Now be gracious. If you don't win, don't mope, don't make excuses, and don't get mad about how "the contest was fixed." You'll likely see these people again if you continue to compete in karaoke contests, and you want to leave them with a good impression of you.
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Nothing Beats Karaoke

There are many ways to enjoy a great evening out with friends. Eating at a restaurant, enjoying live music, seeing a film, or taking in a show at a local theature can all be great ways to spend time. More fun than all of those things can be gathering some of your craziest friends and heading down to place that offers karaoke to its patrons.
Karaoke is a fun activity for people of all ages. Children and youth can enjoy karaoke in family-friendly restaurants. They will love choosing familiar songs and standing up in front of crowds to perform. Parents will love watching their kids laugh and sing. In many ways, something as simple as karaoke can be a great way to promote self-esteem and confidence in children. They get practice being in front of people and risking on an activity that they are probably unfamiliar with. Karaoke is a low-pressure way for kids to learn to express themselves and to have fun in the presence of other people.
Teens and young adults will love karaoke as well. They will feel almost like adults when they are out for an evening enjoying good food, the company of friends, and the laughter that karaoke inspires. Parents can be assured that their children are out participating in safe activities and that they are having harmless fun. Karaoke can be a great way for teens to continue to develop confidence and self-esteem as they try new things in front of people. There is no better time than during the teenage years to experiment and be silly.
College students and adults might be surprised to discover how fun karaoke is for them and their peers. After a stressful week of classes or work, doing karaoke with friends can be a great way to relax and unwind. Few things are as healing as time spent laughing, and few events provoke as much laughter as karaoke.
A great thing about karaoke is that you do not always have to go out looking for it to be offered at restaurants or bars. Most towns and cities have places where karaoke machines can be rented. So when you are planning a party of any kind, you can rent a karaoke machine and bring all the laughter and fun to your home. Surprise all of your guests with a karaoke competition and award prizes for the best singers. You will have your friends laughing and keep your guests entertained for hours on end.
So, whether you are bored next Friday night or whether you are throwing the party of the season, don't forget to try karaoke.

http://fresharticles.info/articles/love/Nothing_Beats_Karaoke.txt

How to Win a Karaoke Contest

Edited byWaited and 22 others

Whether you’re looking to be “discovered,” hoping to win cool prizes, or just seeking some recognition of your awesome vocal talents,karaoke contests are a great way to test yourself. While these competitions offer a chance to see some great performers (and some not-so-great ones, too), and have an outrageously good time, they’re even more fun if you win. How do you do it? Read on, and go ahead and imagine a little ball jumping over the words as you do.

Steps

1. 1
   Practice singing. No matter what else you do, it’s important to be able to carry a tune andsing on pitch. While you need not be the "best" singer at the competition, and you certainly don’t need to be professionally trained, those things won’t hurt you. Karaoke contests are usually judged on some combination of vocal ability, audience response, and stage presence, but if you can nail the singing part, the judges may give you some leeway on other aspects of your performance. The best way to practice karaoke is to sing karaoke.

   
   
2. 2
   Learn your songs by heart. Most karaoke contests allow you to pick your own songs, and if you’re going to win, you should have practiced these time and time again. Yes, the words are right there on the screen, but if you know the words and have perfect timing, you don’t even have to look at the screen. There have also been instances where the MC deliberately mutes the song, or the music is genuinely mis-recorded, and you won't hear the song for some time. You have to keep on singing until the music returns. Not only will your overall performance be more masterful, you may impress the judges and audience with your knowledge of the songs. An elimination round in a contest is a bad time to find out that you can't pull off a particular song.
3. 3
   Understand the format of the contest. Karaoke contests are usually either judged by a panel of judges or by the audience. In some of the latter, the audience will actually formally vote, while in most a judge or judges will try to gauge the audience's reaction to a song. You also want to know how you're being judged. Most contests are based on overall performance, but some look strictly at how well you impersonate the artist (or how original you are), or other factors. Finally, know how many songs you'll be expected to sing so you'll have enough prepared in advance.
4. 4
   Follow the rules. Some contests require that you sing a particular kind of music (80s rock only, for example), or that you appear in costume. Make sure to follow the rules or you probably won't win even if you give the best performance.
5. 5
   Extend courtesy to other performers. Yes, other performers are your competition, but don't try to malign them or mock them, even if someone really can't sing. Be polite, and unless the rules dictate otherwise, applaud everybody. Remember you will very likely be judged on your audience's reaction to your songs, and many of your competitors are part of the audience. They won't treat a heckler kindly.
6. 6
   Cater to the audience (or the judges). Above all, sing to the audience, not to the karaoke screen. Beyond that, know your audience. Understanding your audience will help you choose songs that most appeal to them. If you haven't been to a venue before, you might want to visit it in advance to check out the crowd and see what they're playing on the jukebox. On the night of the competition, try to gauge the judges' or audience's reaction to songs and see if you can spot trends (maybe they hate love songs), and choose your songs accordingly if you still can.
7. 7
   Sing a song to showcase your range and talents. There are a lot of songs that just about anybody can sing passably, but if you've got an exceptional vocal range or if you can rap just like Snoop (rap is notoriously difficult to karaoke) choose songs that reflect that. If you want to awe the audience--and you do--you need a great performance of a difficult song.
8. 8
   Develop stage presence. People come to karaoke (or to concerts) to see a performance, not just to hear one. Don't just stand there and sing, and don't act like you don't know what to do during an instrumental interlude. Convey the emotions of the song with your facial gestures and body movements, and by all means dance if appropriate. Get some ideas by watching concert videos of professional performers. If you can find a video of the original artist performing the song you're going to sing, all the better.
9. 9
   Dress the part. Your attire can help the judges remember you, especially if you go to a themed competition or if you're only singing certain kinds of songs. If you're going to sing glam rock, dress like a glam rocker, or maybe dress like a country singer to add a bit of humor to your performance.
10. 10
    Be true to the original. Even if it's subconscious, most people judge a karaoke performance by how close it sounds to the original. It's amazing when someone gets up to sing a Garth Brooks song and you could swear they were just lip-syncing to a CD of Garth himself. While you need not be a professional voice impersonator, try to fit the mood and style of the song (i.e. add a bit of twang to a country song).
11. 11
    Add your own twist. Musicians who cover a song can alter it all they want. You don't have that luxury because the karaoke music is designed to sound just like the original version. That said, there's a little room for creativity. For example, try inserting the name of a local landmark in place of one mentioned in the song. This can have a humorous effect and is likely to get a rise out of the audience.
12. 12
    Relax and have a good time. If you have a problem with stage fright, you've got to learn to suppress it. There are a number of ways to do this, but probably the best is to fight it by singing a lot of karaoke. Don't take yourself too seriously up there, and even if you're nervous, show the audience that there's nothing you'd rather be doing.
13. 13
    Be a good winner (or loser). If you win, congratulations! Now be gracious. If you don't win, don't mope, don't make excuses, and don't get mad about how "the contest was fixed." You'll likely see these people again if you continue to compete in karaoke contests, and you want to leave them with a good impression of you.

    
    

Living on the “karaoke Edge”

With the increasing number of new Karaoke games hitting the shelves this holiday season from major gaming manufacturers Disney, Xbox etc. I wanted to know how the “real” karaoke companies were responding to this new hype for karaoke products.

One of the newest karaoke games released in July was Karaoke Edge a karaoke computer game. Karaoke Edge was created by the makers of All Star Karaoke.

Karaoke Edge is a karaoke game for the computer on a karaoke disc. Similar to the games coming out this season produced by Xbox and Disney, Karaoke Edge offers more to the Karaoke consumer. Karaoke Edge is more than just a game. It is first a karaoke disc, playable in any karaoke player, and if the consumer wants to play Karaoke Edge they can put the disc in their PC.

Xbox “Lips” and Disney “Sing It” are similar karaoke games coming out this holiday season. Both games have a music video playing in the background similar to the old school karaoke VCD or laser disc that used to have a video playing in the background while the lyrics appeared on the screen. This is where Karaoke Edge differs from the other gaming manufacturers. Karaoke Edge is more inline with karaoke by having just the words appear. Another difference is that Xbox “Lips” and Disney “Sing It” separate the lyrics from the pitch detection which makes it difficult to sing and view the words along with the pitch detection. Karaoke Edge has the lyrics on the notes with a bar that scrolls the words as you sing and identifies your pitch which makes it easier to sing and play the game.

Included in the Karaoke Edge disc I bought was an adaptor to use with a microphone to plug into a computer. Once the game is inserted into the computer you are prompted to play Karaoke Edge or sing karaoke on the computer. Since Karaoke Edge is a bonus on the All Star Karaoke disc line you are able to play most of the songs that are offered on the All Star Karaoke disc with Karaoke Edge. There are many features that are offered when singing the song. After you are done singing the song the game scores you on how in-tune your vocals were with the music.

Karaoke Edge is available in leading retailers or can be purchased through their website at all-star-karaoke.com.

Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/living-on-the-karaoke-edge-529220.html#ixzz0onOKSouc
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution

My life as a Karaoke addict

Pre amble

Well, to say I am a karaoke “addict” is a bit strong really, although it is a pass-time I enjoy enormously. It started for me some years ago in a very small way. My pass-time has evolved a great deal since those early days, a journey I will never forget.

How it started for me

I don’t know what possessed me to do it, but one day whilst in a large record shop I noticed some Pioneer Karaoke discs ( non-graphic type with a lyrics sheet ) and decided to buy a couple. Strange thing for me to do because I had never even made an effort to go to a Karaoke night, what’s more, I had no intention of EVER getting up to sing at one. When I got home, I rigged up a way of connecting a mic. From an old tape recorder to my hi-fi, and on went the disc. We tend to not talk much about the way I sounded so let your imagination conjure up the image. Despite it’s Stone Age complexity, that little “spit and sawdust” set-up gave many hours of fun for me and my visiting friends, and at that point I noticed how much fun Karaoke can be.

It wasn’t long before I purchased more discs, and with them came more fun. As time went by, I found out just how accessible the professional equipment was and made a trip over the Pennines to a Manchester supplier to see what was on offer. I came away with a JVC 3 drawer player, a couple of mics. and a bundle of CDG discs, What a revelation they were too!!

With my new discs and a choice of about 100 songs, I found one I could actually sing in tune. This boosted my confidence and it was only a matter of time before I found myself getting up to sing in public. The reality was that I was dreadful, and it took a few pints and a lot of courage to find that out the hard way. I love singing so much this only spurred me on to try harder, I practised and practised until I got back enough confidence to have another go.

By this time I was visiting Karaoke nights once or twice a month and getting to see how it wasn’t about how good you are, but more to do with enjoying yourself. I got up again and concentrated not on getting the song right but on having a good time. A whole different experience emerged, after about half a dozen more tries over a period of time, I got up to sing Jessie by Joshua Kaddison. This was the turning point for me, the KJ called me over afterwards, and said it was the first time she had heard me sing properly and have I been having lessons? Well I was chuffed to bits and told her that I would keep trying until it came a bit more naturally to me.

This was now a bona-fide hobby so it justified building up a collection of discs. I now have approaching 200 discs and still collecting!! ( not bad for a home set-up ). Birthdays and Christmases saw presents like a radio mic., and more discs etc. I can’t see me ever getting fed up of Karaoke because with new songs arriving all the time, it is constantly changing. Singing is also a fantastic way to relax after a stressful day. I have often thought about setting up as a pro. KJ. For me though I think it would take too much away from what is now an interest/hobby. A bit like how some people think running a pub is similar to going out for a pint, but more regularly?? If you follow what I mean. Anyway my day job and constant late nights wouldn’t mix. I now try to go out to Karaoke at least once a week and have a singing evening at home once a fortnight. However at home I seldom get the chance to have a go because I get pushed to the back of the queue. That’s ok by me. I hope I can hold my own in Karaokeland, because there are some very talented singers out there, but hey, it is not for me to say.

What Karaoke has given back to me?

Well besides meeting some great people, especially those I have met through Karaokeinfo. I have a lot to thank Karaoke for, because I am not a natural performer, I have never revelled in attention of any kind, and as I mentioned earlier, never did I imagine that I might be the type of person who would get up in a pub and sing. Nowadays I don’t even get nerves when I get up to sing a song I have never sung before.

However, since my hobby has thrust a new me into my life, I have also taken up other challenges, which would have been passed over by the old me. For e.g. Many times I have been asked to give talks and courses in relation to my job, many times I have turned down those opportunities, not any more. I now feel fully at ease addressing an audience of hundreds. Being interviewed on radio and television

Doesn’t phase me anymore, just because for some of us, singing Karaoke for the first time is a big deal. But once you have endured baptism by fire, everything else is easy. So if you happen to be someone just starting out in the world of Karaoke singing, keep pushing yourself and your vocal ability. Try new songs all the time. But most of all enjoy it!!!!!!

The Essential Guide to Karaoke Machines

The world of karaoke machines can be very complicated. Adding to the confusion is the fact that there are so many different types of karaoke machines. They do not all use the same type of equipment. Different machines have different features. Plus they don't even use the same type of technology on their song disks! How do you make sense of it all?

Here to help you is Karaoke Machines 101: Everything You Need To Know! So let's get started. The first thing to be clear on is what all those terms mean that you hear bandied about.

Karaoke System - The karaoke system is the karaoke player, the monitor, the speakers, and can include the library of karaoke songs played by the player.

Karaoke Machine - usually this term is used to mean the karaoke player, or the machine that plays the karaoke music. However, some karaoke systems are all-in-one units which include the player, the speakers, and the monitor all on one machine. In this case, the karaoke machine is the entire system.

Karaoke Player - the machine that physically plays the karaoke songs.

Karaoke Monitor - the screen where the lyrics to the songs show up. The all-in-one units include this screen on the machine. Other systems use your TV as the monitor and for the speakers, too.

So that also explains your 2 basic types of karaoke systems. You have the all-in-one units, and you have the karaoke machines that hook up to your TV, similar to a DVD player.

Now let's look at the different types of karaoke song disks. The mainstream, and most popular, types of disks include DVDs, CDGs, CD+Gs, MP3s, and in-built songs. Most karaoke machines are built to accept one kind or the other, instead of all the different kinds.

DVDs - These are regular DVDs which include the music sound track and then the pictures on your screen are the lyrics. Most of the time you have the lyrics against a solid background. A lot of the newer ones, though, include moving, scenic backgrounds or videos.

CDGs, CD+Gs - Both of these terms mean the same thing. Basically, it is a CD for the sound track, but the CD is also embedded with the graphics, which are the lyrics to the songs. So the "G" simply stands for graphics.

MP3s - These are usually for your computer, MP3 player, or Ipod. You can find software which will strip the vocals from your MP3s so that you can then use the sound tracks for karaoke.

In-built - Some karaoke machines come with their own libraries of karaoke songs, so they are already built into the system.

Lastly, let's look at the various features available on your karaoke machines. Karaoke machines have different features you can use to make the singer sound better and more professional. These features include being able to change the pitch of the song, the key, the tempo, the volume. Being able to add echo to your voice is pretty standard, but some machines also include different ways to adjust this feature also, such as setting different echo lengths. Some machines call the echo feature "reverb".

All karaoke machines have an input for a microphone. But what if you want to sing duets? For this reason, many of the machines now include two microphone inputs. But only some of them have the capability to adjust each microphone separately for pitch and volume.

Another feature that you might like is a scoring system. With this feature you can have karaoke contests or see how your own routine improves with practice. The few machines that have this system usually score your performance on how well you control things like your pitch, tempo, volume, and tone.

There is one other feature that only some karaoke machines include, but it could be an important feature to you. These machines have the capability to let you play the songs with the vocals included to learn the songs, and then you can turn off the vocals to sing karaoke style.

So basically, all those different models, all those different features, and all those kinds of disks, boil down to just a few key concepts. Understanding these concepts will take you a long way towards understanding pretty much any model of karaoke machine. Now that you know them all, have some fun with your karaoke machines!