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Whether you enjoy it or hate it with a passion, there can be no doubt that karaoke continues to be a popular outlet for would-be singers and those with the itch to perform for an audience. Although some may argue that 'karaoke' is Japanese for "drunken and tone-deaf", the word actually means 'empty orchestra'. Those of us who have been bitten by the performance bug understand the habit-forming power a successful outing can have. Many regular singers form strong bonds of friendship among fellow karaoke enthusiasts, and audiences frequently request 'signature tunes' by their favorite singers. As far as hobbies and interests are concerned, karaoke singing can be a clean and wholesome activity suitable for all ages.

But there are some unspoken rules of etiquette to follow if you want to become a karaoke regular. These are not written in stone, but they will be helpful to you in the long run. As with any other creative or performance outlet, feelings can be bruised very easily through harsh criticism. Karaoke performances are going to run the entire gamut from near-professional to tone-deaf. As a singer and audience member, you have an obligation to support those who may not feel supported.

1. Remember your first time. If a brand-new singer struggles through their first song, resist the temptation to ridicule or otherwise disrupt their performance. Others may not be so kind. Polite applause is most appropriate, as well as an invitation to join your group. If you feel comfortable offering advice, do it privately and with considerable tact. Don't overwhelm a new singer with a hundred nuggets of sage wisdom- keep it simple. If their volume was a major problem, address that first. Suggest ways of positioning the microphone to best suit their singing style. Quiet singers may need to hold the microphone closer, or increase their singing volume. Those who threaten to overpower the microphone should be shown the proper way to back off. Most karaoke hosts will do their best to mix asinger's voice up or down to match their volume level, but sometimes this just isn't enough. Once you've addressed one major difficulty with his or her performance, leave any more advice off the table until the next song. No one wants to be barraged with a laundry list of perceived faults. After a few songs have gone by, compliment the singer on whatever improvements have been made and then address any new issues. Also, practice what you preach and avoid the same performance traps yourself.

2. Rotations and 'Host Relations'. Your biggest ally in the karaoke world is the host or hostess. No one else has a obligation to make sure your mike is mixed properly or the monitor is working the way it should. This is a hobby for you, but a livelihood for the host. Respect their position by keeping complaints to a minimum. One of the biggest problems singers have with hosts is rotation. Some hosts have a strict policy in which the same singers follow each other throughout the night, and new singers are added to the end of that particular rotation schedule. Others have a more arbitrary system, in which personal favorites or audience requests override the natural order. This can be frustrating for singers who must wait a long time between performances. Nevertheless, this is the karaoke host's playground, and patience is still a virtue.

Unless the situation becomes completely intolerable, complaints to the host should be kept to a minimum. The relationship between a host and regular singers can be a delicate one, and complaints may not be handled as well as you may have hoped. Be polite when inquiring about rotations and schedules. Anything less than polite and you may find your request slips have suddenly disappeared. Establish a good working relationship with the host and your problems should be minimized.

3. "HEY! That's MY song!" Another delicate area for regular performers is rarely discussed, but is definitely a consideration when selecting your songs. Certain performers have 'signature tunes'-songs that audiences have come to expect from them. Sometimes new performers will select one of these songs, which may bother the regular performer in the extreme. This situation becomes especially troublesome if the regular singer was scheduled to perform that song next. If you are in that situation as a regular, the most polite thing to do is have an alternative song or two ready to replace the first one. Any reaction less courteous than that will not endear you to the audience or your fellow singers. You can always do the originalsong later. In the same vein, it is never a good idea to deliberately perform someone else's signature song just for the sake of causing strife. Some singers, especially those with limited repertoires, can be hurt very badly by such poor sportsmanship.

4. "I brought my entire family to hear you do that song." For many regular singers, the audience determines hits and misses. Certain songs become synonymous with certain performers, and the audience looks forward to hearing those songs every week. While that may appear flattering, the accompanying peer pressure might be a difficult situation for the singer. Karaoke singers like to be experimental at times, and the temptation to try a new song or two is always there. But the audience may have other ideas, and are more than willing to share these ideas with you. It can be very difficult to reject a heartfelt request for a song, but you may have no other choice. Try to be as tactful as possible when handling audience requests, but don't allow pressure tactics to affect your song selections. Sometimes the karaoke host will understand your dilemma and allow you to sing two songs in order to accommodate the audience. If this is not possible, you should thank the audience members for their support and explain that sometimes a singer enjoys performing new material. Hopefully, the audience will understand and support your new efforts.

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. Drink plain water (without ice) before you sing, it helps to lubracate your throat and vocal chords plus prevents them from becoming dehydrated.

9. 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.

10. Smile when you sing a happy song - it reflects in your voice!

Most important.................Enjoy yourself & have FUN!!

2. Feel too nervous to get up and have a go? - you are not alone - many professional singers suffer with nerves before they sing live!!! Want to sing with confidence? Try the following tips!!

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!!

Avoid sounding distorted or muffled when you sing!! Learn to use the microphone to make you sound better - use our microphone tips and techniques!

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 - you bust it you pay for it (& it's expensive)!!

There are two types of microphone commonly used in live performance:

1. Directional - sing directly into the pick up - mainly used for solo singers.

2. Omni-Directional - picks up sound from anywhere within its radius. Click Here to read more about microphones.

The karaoke operator or kj should turn the effects 'off' when speaking or calling up the next singer.

Visit our new Karaoke Shop packed with everything Karaoke! Equipment, Microphones, Gifts, VHS tapes and audio cassettes plus karaoke players, professional karaoke systems, books, cables, accessories and our associate site Christmas Crackers for a range of musicians gifts including players, equipment, effects, instruments, christmas karaoke tracks and other musical gift ideas plus free seasonal clipart, screensavers, games, downloads and more.