Act Like Your Mama Taught You – Polite Behavior For Karaoke
For we karaoke enthusiasts, it is a bitter day when we need to formalize rules for it. Yet instances of extremely bad behavior is going down at karaoke shows recently. The bad manners aren’t just coming from the usual intoxicated singers, either. I’m talking about karaoke regulars breaking the unwritten rules! True story, I witnessed two retirees nearly come to blows over which of them would perform “Fly Me to the Moon.” Our departed Frank is spinning in his grave.
So here are 8 guidelines for karaoke good manners. Because ill-mannered karaoke attendees are unlikely to look for this list, I accept that I’m speaking to the polite majority here. Allow me my illusion about thousands of karaoke DJs around the country copying this and posting it on their karaoke DJ equipment.
They are the “You Know Better” manners. I’m depending on the idea that you will agree that this painless list so self-evident that you’ll wonder that I wasted the trouble to write it. If you think I’m cracked, then we have a a problem, Houston. I feel hopelessly old laying down rules about karaoke: “When I was young, we didn’t think of leaning on the machine karaoke, we never left home without lipstick, and our spine never rested on the back of a chair.” Not!
- Don’t boo or heckle the performer, ever
- Always applaud for the karaoke performer at the conclusion of their track. When the performance was awful, you still must applaud. Applause ought to be friendly acknowledgement even in the case of a karaoke bomb. And you could deliver a dud someday, also!
- To join another singer at the microphone when it’s not your turn is bad manners. Except when you are invited by the performer, remember that this is their particular solo minute in the limelight.
- Treat the karaoke DJ politely. Shouting, hassling, or pestering aren’t courteous responses to a perceived unjustified wait in your turn onstage. Often a fair amount of thinking goes into the ordering of karaoke show songs. You would be amazed about the many factors that determine when your request comes up or when your track fits into the show the best. Your turn is likely coming soon. Inquire politely when you worry that your request was lost.
- Treat the songbook and the microphone carefully. You are typically handling the personal possession of the DJ. Considering the miserly sum many KJs earn, disrespecting their VocoPro system is very rude manners.
- If you come up with the idea to submit in a karaoke request in someone else’s name – lining them up for a unexpected karaoke turn – don’t. I can’t think of a situation where a real friend could do this.
- Refrain from profanity if you have the microphone. When vulgar language is amplified over 350+ watt speakers, it loses panache and comes out tastelessly cheap.
- Drunken karaoke is only entertaining for the singer who is drunk. Though you might wake up tomorrow without that fondest memory of your time on stage. If you need to loosen up before you stand up is all good, yet if you get so loose you unravel, you should leave karaoke songs to the people who retain the ability to stand and see well enough to read. When you’re going to drink till you fall down, never submit karaoke request slips!
If you want to be a courteous karaoke participant, you possess the basic rules. I am praying you found every rule was obvious to the point of comedy. If not…well, print it out and post it high at your local venue. Share well mannered karaoke around the country!
Tags: bad karaoke, karaoke etiquette, should of said no karaoke, worst karaoke
