Karaoke karaoke is an entertainment form in which people sing along with prerecorded music or video. It was invented in Japan and has since spread to most of East Asia and is now a major form of popular entertainment across the globe.
Karaoke is usually played in a karaoke bar, restaurant or club where the KJ or “Karaoke Jockey” plays the songs on a computer. This allows a large library of CD+G Compact Disks to be stored on computer media (such as a laptop) and the KJ can then play the songs from their PC instead of having to carry around hundreds of CD-G’s.
A KJ’s job is similar to a disc jockey in that they manage song requests from patrons, control the order of singers and announce each singer’s name. The KJ can be hired by a bar or establishment to run their own karaoke system and/or can work as an independent contractor servicing several venues on different nights.
The equipment used for karaoke includes a device that plays the karaoke music, one or more microphones and a video monitor or TV to display the lyrics of the song. A public address system, such as a sound system, is often also included to allow the KJ to control the volume of the singers’ voices and background music.
In 2003, several companies started offering a karaoke service on mobile phones that uses a Java MIDlet to play a text file containing the words and a MIDI file with the music. This is still a budding service, but it may become increasingly popular in the future.
To prepare for a karaoke performance, practice your songs in front of a mirror or with an original recording to get comfortable with the music and vocal range. Choose your own ‘A-list’ of songs and develop your own style to make sure that your performance will be as enjoyable as possible for your audience.
Drink plenty of water before you go to sing at a Karaoke event, this helps to lubricate your voice, throat and the rest of your mouth. It will also help to prevent dehydration, which can result in a sore throat or difficulty in singing the next day.
Invest in a quality microphone, this will give you a much better quality sound. Hold the mic about an inch away from your mouth when you are singing and adjust it to the strength of your voice and a note or two above your top range. This will also help you to keep your voice clear and your tone consistent.
It is also a good idea to sing with someone else before you go out on stage and to perform earlier in the night if possible, this will give you a chance to test your performance on a smaller crowd and make sure that you are comfortable with the song.
Many people enjoy the karaoke experience and it is also considered a great way to improve your voice and build your self-confidence. It is also a great social activity where you can meet new people and have fun!
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