To get an idea of what karaoke is about on your own computer you can get tracks by searching for karaoke on YouTube. Then just choose your song and sing along.
Professional singers often use equipment similar to ours which gives you the chance to sound brilliant!
The more serious can also follow the tips below when singing on a karaoke, they will help you sound even better.
Singing
1. Choose songs or artists that you enjoy and are easy for you to sing along to.
2. Sing along with the original record to see if you can reach all the notes.
3. Listen and learn where the music and main vocal starts, stops and instrumental break begins and ends.
4. Think about where you need to breathe! Usually before each sentance - if you 'speak' the words through then take note of the places where you naturally take a breath.
5. Record yourself singing using a tape recorder or your stereo for later review.
6. Practice in front of a mirror so you can see what you look like when singing - try not to pull faces and relax.
7. Rehearse the song until you know the words and melody line off by heart - although knowing the words is not necessary when using the karaoke screens, it helps you sing better when you know the song well.
8. Sing normally - don't shout - the microphone is sensitive enough to pick up your voice and the operator should adjust the mics volume if you cannot be heard.
9. Smile when you sing a happy song - it reflects in your voice!
Confidence
1. The most difficult part is getting up to sing in front of an audience for the first time - once you have achieved this it will become easier each time you perform!!
2. Ask a friend or group of friends to get up and sing with you - pick a song that you can have a laugh with!
3. Don't worry about making a fool of yourself or how you sound - just have a go!
4. Choose a song you know really well - avoid tunes that are difficult to sing until you are more confident about your voice and performing in front of an audience.
5. Take a deep breath, exhale, look ahead and smile as you take the stage - even if you feel terrified this will help you look confident.
6. As soon as you get on stage relax your shoulders and clear your mind of everything except the song you are going to sing.
7. If you are really nervous, concentrate on the television screen and your singing rather than looking at the audience!
8. If you know the song really well but are still nervous of performing in front of a crowd, then focus on an object slightly above the audience instead of their faces.
9. Find yourself shaking when you are singing? Then move around a bit - swing your hips and bop around - it'll help you to forget your nerves and make you look confident.
10. Got a really awful voice & know it - but still want to have a go? Pick a song that everyone can join in with, a track that is funny or make up funny words, pull faces or use props - you'll sound great & the audience will laugh with you - not at you!!
Using a Microphone
1. If using a microphone stand make sure it is at a comfortable height for you to sing into before starting - mucking about with it during a song will be distracting to you and the audience.
2. When using a microphone with a lead attached, ensure that the lead is firmly attached to the microphone and you are not standing on the loose cable.
3. Check the on/off switch! Some mics have a small switch which moves easily - this can be turned off by accident when you grip the microphone or the previous singer may have turned it off without the KJ's knowledge.
4. Hold the microphone by the handle, don't cover the pickup with your hand or fingers and keep the microphone at a distance of 1/2" - 1" away from your mouth - holding it too close to your mouth or covering the pickup causes your voice and the words to sound muffled, distorted and indistinct.
5. If you have a particularly quiet singing voice ask the KJ to turn the microphone up for you - a good operator will do this automatically when you start to sing.
6. Don't shout! The microphone is sensitive - if you have a loud voice or need to increase your vocal volume for a certain track section or song, move the mic away from your mouth until your singing sounds clear and easy to understand.
7. Avoid pointing the microphone towards the speakers or monitors - this creates a horrible high pitched sound called 'feedback'.
8. To avoid 'popping' sounds when singing words containing 'B', 'P' or 'S' hold the microphone slightly to the side instead of directly to the front of your mouth.
9. When singing a long powerful note move the microphone away from your mouth during the loud notes and gradually bring it back towards you as you start to run out of breath and the notes volume decreases - this makes the notes volume sound more consistent.
10. Don't swing or drop the microphone, tug, pull the cable or move further than the microphone cables natural length or you may cause damage to the equipment.
