Article Views:
165
Ezine ready page
Ezine ready page
Posted on October 24, 2007 by Jason Petrina | Posted under Music
Singing Karaoke: Performance Tips
|
One of the most common reasons that people are reluctant to join in singing karaoke is that they believe they must be talented singers in order to take part. Nothing could be further from the truth. Most people are simply there to relax and have a good time. Standard karaoke etiquette calls for those in the audience to clap for everyone and never make fun of singers, regardless of their talent. Chances are, you'll receive a rousing round of applause even if your performance isn't Grammy worthy. If you do not have much experience singing, especially in public, there are a few things you can do to improve your performance without going to the trouble of taking professional voice lessons. First, understand that one of the most common mistakes first time karaoke singers make is either bringing the microphone too close to their mouth or holding it too far away. Ideally, the microphone should be held approximately 3 inches from your mouth, at an angle. Also, remember that it's not necessary to cup the microphone with your hands. In fact, this can cause sound quality problems. The exception to the 3 inch rule is when you are singing songs or parts of songs that are somewhat loud. In these instances, go ahead and pull the mic back a couple of more inches; to about 5 inches away from your mouth. Keep in mind that the level of your voice is being amplified to the audience. Pulling back the mic a bit farther will help to ensure that you're not screaming at the audience. One of the most common questions newcomers to karaoke singing have is what type of song they should sing. With innumerable choices out there, this can be a tough decision to make, but usually, if you go with a song that you already know fairly well, you will have a much better performance. This strategy will generally keep you from falling into the temptation of reading the words off the screen instead of singing them; a common mistake with many new comers to karaoke. One of the best things you can do to project a great performance while singing karaoke is act as though you have confidence. This can be tough to do at first, especially if you've never performed in public before; but keep in mind that most of the people in the audience will only know that you have limited experience if you project that fact to them. Being hesitant and singing too softly will broadcast that fact. Instead, try to relax, get into the song and most importantly, have a good time with it. If you find that you're still having difficulty, consider purchasing a unit that you can practice with at home. This can help you get the timings down right and gain confidence for the next time you visit a karaoke club. If you try a song that you can sing to when it is on the radio, but it is a struggle (too high or too low) when you sing it at karaoke, ask to have the key changed up or down. Usually 1 or 2 keys (up or down) will be sufficient. If you change the key more than that, the music will sound strange and distorted. Start off with a song that you know you can sing without a word check...one that you do in the shower! One that you sing to on the radio, or your favorite cassette or CD. One that you LOVE. The worst thing about karaoke is the words are a trap... they can lull you into reading and concentrating, when you should be using them mostly as a guide. Look only Occasionally!!! DO NOT stare at the screen and repeat the words back like a robot! You will sound best if you sing a song that is in the right range for your voice. Upbeat songs usually go over better for the less experienced singer. A good singer will not sound good if they choose the wrong song. An average singer can sound very good by choosing the right song. If you don't know what to sing, explain to the KJ that you are new to karaoke and you would like some suggestions. There are certain songs that are always crowd pleasers and that will take the pressure off. Here are a few songs that are easy to sing and usually get a good response: -New York, New York -I Love Rock N Roll -Hit Me with Your Best Shot -Lean on Me -Love Shack -Summer Nights -Since you've read this far, you are probably already hooked on karaoke so why not go and buy a unit you can practice with. You can get a cheap (very low quality) unit for about $75-$100. But I would recommend spending a minimum of $250-$300 to get a minimally acceptable sound from a portable practice unit. The cheap systems you get from Target or Walmart will not last long and you will not be happy with the way you sound (although it can still help you get down the timing and learn the words and key of a personal CD you want to take to karaoke). Also I have found that karaoke adds unbelievable fun to any party and the cheap units start to overheat in about an hour leaving guests frustrated and disappointed. Look for one with a key changer and tape recorder. Make sure it is a CDG player and not a karaoke tape player because tapes are no longer readily available. Also I suggest avoiding a player that uses VCD instead of CDG. VCD plays video in the background of the words which looks really cool, but I learned the hard way that the cheap units do not handle this well. Also VCD is not usually used at karaoke clubs and you may not be able to use it when you go out singing. Often, the $250-$300 units will come with a grouping of CDs to get you started. -Not sure where to buy karaoke CDs? Look for a local store in the yellow pages or go to one of the numerous online stores. I recommend www.karaoke.com or doowop.com. There are super deals on EBAY too. Type in Karaoke CDG and browse through all of the listings. Or you can type in the name of a song you are interested in with the word karaoke and perhaps find an auction. The best deals I have seen are on Ebay. About The Author: Jason Petrina is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit - www.articleclick.com |
Tags:
