Karaoke Etiquette
Sunday, August 29th, 2010If you adore karaoke, you’ll be saddened that this essay had to be penned. Yet some extremely bad behavior is going down at karaoke shows lately. It’s not only karaoke virgins and the inebriated, either. I’m seeing the veteran karaoke enthusiasts torching good manners! No lie, I watched two retirees almost punch each other out over who got to sing “Fly Me to the Moon.” Poor Frank is spinning in his grave.
Just to dodge a false step at the coming karaoke venue, I’m going to lay down some basic rules of etiquette for karaoke shows. Unfortunately, I expect that the very people who should peruse this compilation most desperately will be the utter last to examine it. I cling to my illusion of KJs across the country hanging these eight principles on their karaoke DJ equipment, no matter how delusional that fantasy may be!
Peruse the 8 absolute basic karaoke guidelines below. I’m depending on the idea that you will agree that this painless list so self-evident that you’ll be amazed that I took the time to write it. If not, there is a problem, Houston. Writing this essay is causing me to feel old: “When I was young, we lugged our machine karaoke through the snow, uphill each way AND we were well mannered, too…”
- You shouldn’t boo or hassle the performer, ever
- You absolutely have to clap at the end of all performances. If the performer was terrible, you still need to applaud. Think of it this way, applause is the remedy to an injured ego. You never know when you could deliver a sub-par track someday yourself.
- Upstaging someone else by jumping up onstage or grabbing at the mic without an invitation is bad behavior. Unless you are invited by the singer, remember that this is their chosen solo minute in the limelight.
- Don’t throw a diva tantrum on KJ. Shouting, vebally abusing, or nagging aren’t courteous responses to a perceived unfair delay in your turn in the limelight. Often a fair amount of thinking goes into the ordering of karaoke requests. Things like the energy of the karaoke venue and the preferences of the audience may determine the order in which you sing. Assume the best and be patient. Of course, karaoke slips may be misplaced so if you suspect an accidental oversight ask the karaoke DJ politely during an opportune moment.
- Treat the songbook and the karaoke mic respectfully. This hardware is expensive and it is typically the personal possession of the karaoke DJ. Taking into account the miserly sum most DJs are paid, mistreating their VocoPro set up is extremely bad manners.
- Don’t submit a karaoke slip in someone else’s name. I can’t imagine of a scenario where a true friend could do that.
- Refrain from cursing if you hold the karaoke mic. Profanity doesn’t need to be cranked up through a 350 watt speaker.
- Drunken karaoke is only fun for the drunkard. Though you might awaken tomorrow without that fondest recollection of your time on stage. Taking a pre-track shot for a bit of karaoke courage is an honored part of the process, however when you can barely stand up to sing then you probably ought to stay seated. Get smashed when you have to, just don’t sing karaoke while you are totally soused.
When you need to be a well mannered karaoke enthusiast, you own the core rules. I hope these guidelines were characteristic politeness that you witness at every karaoke venue you’ve ever visited. If not…well, print this out and hang it high at your local venue. Share polite karaoke around the world!