How To Improve Your Karaoke Performances
By D-Train
Let’s be HONEST! The purpose of this is not to make you a better Singer, per se. However, if it helps you to do so, I’ll definitely take the credit.
This is to help you improve your Karaoke Performance skills. There’s a difference. Let me say it this way; where you may lack in vocal skill you can make up in different areas in performance. The theatrics of the whole thing, if I may.
Having said this, not every song will always be a hit in every situation. If you’re at a church function, you MAY not want to sing ‘Baby Got Back’. So use my lists ( “The DT List” ) wisely.
“…you never know which person and song combination is going to POP. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been wrong about a song.”
The bar scene is a little different. Depending on the crowd, vibe and time of the night, how a song goes over might change.
Different crowd “Modalities” can make it difficult to predict what the mood is going to be by the time you get to the Mic. A crowd can change in an instant.
Here is the best way to use the lists that I release for the optimal response NO MATTER WHEN you get to sing.
I’ve been around for a while in this arena.
Truth of the matter is; you never know which person and song combination is going to POP. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been wrong about a song. I wasn’t wrong because of the SONG necessarily, but how the SINGER SOLD IT!
I made that mistake the other night, as a matter of fact. As a MATTER OF FACT matter of fact, people in the crowd may see your song on the list and say it sucks. TRUST ME! I KNOW!
What we tend to underestimate sometimes is
a. the connection a singer has with that song,
b. how well the person knows the song,
c. how well the singer performs all the little nuances of the song that most people may have forgotten.
These are the things that makes a performance memorable. However, if you’re a regular person who may not have that arsenal of songs in your back pocket, take any of the lists I provide and start with ONE SONG and do the following things.
1. Go Online and find the lyrics. Read the lyrics without any music first and see if you can sing it. You’ll probably do that anyway inside your own head. Just like when you first learn to read, it helps to hear it and sing it out loud where you can hear all the mistakes. Don’t get discouraged.
2. Find the actual song and read it with the song. If you’re not a good singer, don’t worry about that. It’s not as important as you might think. Just focus on the verses, chorus and any “special” singing moment. Even though knowing a good guitar riff and being able to do an excellent air guitar may score some points in the theatrics department, you already got that part down. Save it for the performance….it’ll come in handy.
There may be a difficult verse. If there’s a part in the song most people can’t keep up with or a difficult part a singer sings that you are able to mimic well, DO IT!
3. Repeat step 2 until you are pretty familiar with the beat and somewhat familiar with the words. Besides, the words will be on the screen. Once you learn the cadence of a song, you begin to learn how to fit the words into the beat as they come. It’s even helpful with fast lyrics; it just takes more practice.
4. If you haven’t seen the video of the song up to this point, go watch it and see if there are any special moments. If it’s a song from a TV show, movie or cartoon, it doesn’t hurt to even try cartoon voices or even dances that people might know. We’re just looking for something that we can pick up on that might give some insight into or perspective of the song.
I’ve seen it where a movie releases and a particular song is featured in the movie. Total Eclipse comes to mind. Just don’t overdo it…..or DO overdo it. It’s YOUR party in that moment and the crowd might like it!
5. If you feel like you could have done better after you sing the song, GOOD! It’ll get better each time you do it. If it’s one you’ve been working on, sing a warm-up song or two first. Your vocals may need a wake-up call. They were used to talking…now they have to perform.
If you do the honey and lemon thing, that’s cool, but if you’re in a bar, beer works just fine in my humble opinion.
Those are a few key things to focus on. You may agree or disagree and have your own method. Whatever the case, hit me up on any of my socials and tell me what works for you. Either way, use your time wisely and I’m sure your skills will improve.
D-Train
P.S. If you haven’t already, Get On My List and GET THE DT LISTS as I put them out. And be on the look out for any deals I may have in the future. You may have to be present to win…