Do You Karaoke?

Start: Be Drunk Enough For Karaoke

Saturday night was one of the few times I’ve ever been to a Karaoke that was small enough to not feel that weird about getting in front of a group to sing.  My life is sport and games, not song and dance.

This is exactly what it looked like.

This is exactly what it looked like.

On 19th and Chestnut there is a restaurant called Fuji Mountain that offers a private room with karaoke equipment. It was Sam L’s birthday and he rented out the room. There were probably about 25 people ready to sing and a vast database of songs that were accompanied by odd Asian music videos. Steve started the party off with a decent version of Gangsta’s Paradise and I applaud his selection. Sam made an attempt to follow with Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen and my learning of karaoke begun.

  • First observation is it’s imperative to sing songs that everyone knows.  Don’t Stop Me Now is an awesome song but aside from me and Sam’s brother, I don’t think people have heard of it.  This means that if you are a below average singer / performer, you are going to bomb.  People can’t help you out if they don’t know the song.
  • maxresdefault

    “Don’t you want somebody to love?”

    It’s ok to be bad.  People expect you to be bad.  However, it’s one thing to be bad for 2 minutes and a whole nother (how is that not a word?) to be bad for 5 minutes.  Song length is important.  Hearing someone drone on for 5 minutes to Bullet With Butterfly Wings (Sam and my duet) is not conducive to entertainment.

  • Finding group songs is key.  Yes, there are two mics but there are 30 people in a room.  When more than half the crowd knows the song, the performance will be turn out better even if the performers suck.  I learned this from songs like Party in the USA, Say it Ain’t So and Bohemian Rhapsody.
  • Everyone looks like Katy who does karaoke

    Everyone looks like Katy who does karaoke

    A personal observation was that songs are not that easy even if the words are in front of you.  In Da Club came on and it’s a song I probably haven’t heard in a decade but still knew the chorus.  I had the mic in front of me and couldn’t even start it.  Know your limits.

Having a party where anyone can come and settle up at the end is a horrible idea.  It doesn’t work because there will inevitably be people who leave midway through and won’t throw up any money.  This leaves the burden on the people who stay until the end.  A couple of suggestions.  BYOB.  Front money for an open bar.  Have a bartender.  The first option is the worst option.  Either way, still a fun night.  Happy Birthday, Sam.