WHAT MAKES A GREAT KARAOKE EXPERIENCE?

A great karaoke show isn't just about having songs to sing, it's about creating an experience that keeps people entertained, encourages participation, and makes venues want to book the service again.

Here's how each category contributes:

The host is engaging, energetic, fair, and organised. They encourage nervous singers, keep the show moving, remember regulars, interact with the crowd, maintain a fun atmosphere, and avoid making the show about themselves. They make sure the singers rotation is managed fairly and efficiently.

You would think professional singers would make for the best karaoke host however this thinking creates problems. Professional singers and performers are used to being in the spotlight, yes they can engage a crowd, however a karaoke host is not there to be the star of the show they are there to run it. Most karaoke participants are nervous, you'll find many that have disabilities or just shy. No participant wants to feel like their vocal ability is being compared to the host. In some cases potential performers won't even give it a try if a host is too good at singing, because it unconsciously sets a standard.

A host should avoid singing and concentrate on building relations with the participants, every time the host sings is one less song a participant could sing. The only time it is acceptable for a host to sing is at the start of each rotation, this gives the host a chance to check and reset audio levels throughout the show. It is acceptable for a host to sing with participants only when invited and to do it in moderation. It is important to not out shine the participants. 

Is it important that the host is a good singer? NO. When it comes to vocal ability the host just needs to be able to show they are willing to get up and sing just like the participants.

Experience isn't something that you start with.

It takes hundreds of events and many skill sets to gain. An experienced host can read the room, adapt to suit the crowd, handle difficult patrons professionally, troubleshoot technical issues quickly, and keep the energy high even during quieter periods. They know how to build momentum throughout the night and work the room.

A great host should know the equipment and how to use it effectively, as most karaoke events the host is also responsible for the setup an pack up of all the equipment and need a good knowledge of computers, software, music & audio engineering to be able to troubleshoot problems on the fly, answer questions, independently mixed vocal levels for each performer, but also know how to properly use EQ, compression and gates on vocals to avoid feedback & make the performer sound as good as they can. Without the proper knowledge and training in the use of the equipment & audio/sound engineering, a show can fail quickly & also damage the reputation of the host. A karaoke host isn't just there to boost the atmosphere and keep people engaged their job is much more than that. It is important a host has life experience as they will have to interact with a vast amount of age groups and character backgrounds. The average age of karaoke participants are 35-80+ years old. A young host may be able to connect with a young audiences but struggle to connect with an older audience just like an older host will not always appeal to a younger crowd. For public events this is important to get right. An experienced host will be able to engage with all ages groups.

An experienced host knows they are there to run the entertainment, they are not there to be the entertainment.

Professional equipment is key to great karaoke experience. A quality mixer combined with quality professional grade Speakers are important but so is having reliable professional microphones (wireless is preferred), good monitors, backup equipment, and a fast, dependable karaoke software. Equipment should be well maintained and suitable for the venue size. It is important that there are backups, redundancies and a high level of competence in the use of the equipment because something can always go wrong and it will require an immediate solution. It's not only important to have what is needed to run an event but also have spare equipment on hand it be able to swap out if needed. Many times participants may drop microphones, spill drinks on speakers or other equipment so it's important to have a solution when equipment fails. It is just as equally important all equipment is tested before and after events. No point getting to an event, setting up just to find out something isn't working.

Lighting is also undervalued when it comes to karaoke, professional stage lighting is key to setting the atmosphere and the overall experience. After all all participants what to feel like a rockstar. Budget lighting doesn't cut it. Lighting needs to be effective for the space, a performer should not be singing in darkness so it is important to have lights that will light them up from the front at minimum. For a great experience effect lights are used that can interact with the music and be directed into the dancefloor or from behind the singer. This creates energy in the room.

Now let not forget the lyrics... A decent size TV or computer monitor is required for singers to see the lyrics. If it is too small a singer will not be able to read the lyrics if it is too big it gets in the way. It's important to pick the size in comparison to the space it will be used in, will more than one be used? A 40" TV is the optimal size for most venues for the singers use, additional TV's or monitors could be setup for the audience if the space allows but these should be no smaller than 40" or they will not be readable from a distance. Ideally if a venue has some of their own that can be connected to on-top of what the karaoke brings is even better. But the audience being able to see the lyrics isn't what's important it's just extra stuff to help the show.

Not only is it important to have professional quality Equipment. It's also important to have professional and quality sound for your events. A good quality and great karaoke event starts and ends with how it sounds. It is important that the person running the equipment. In this case, the host knows how to utilise the equipment to its full potential. A karaoke host must have a good understanding on how to operate a sound desk/audio mixer. Be able to EQ vocals & speakers to suit the room and the voices. Experience in Sound engineering is a must to avoid damage to equipment and the ears of others. This knowledge is what sets professional karaoke apart from amateur karaoke. Anyone can set up a microphone and a speaker and do karaoke however, in a professional setting the understanding of Sound engineering in parallel with the equipment used is what makes it professional. Feedback and other issues caused by not knowing how to use The equipment.properly is what can absolutely destroy an event. Nobody wants to be listening to feedback during the whole event. Hearing speakers ringing out or singers completely drowning out the backing track or vice versa, The backing track drowning out the singer. A great understanding of Sound engineering is vital to ensure everyone has a great time and leaves with their hearing intact. Professional singers on stage are not controlling the equipment, a sound engineer is. Karaoke is no different. Singers sing & sound engineers make it sound the best it can. One of the main things a karaoke event will be judged on is the sound quality. If the participants don't like how they are sounding they will stop participating so it is important to make sure they sound as good as they can regardless of vocal ability.

Stage lighting equipment must be able to light up the area and singer within the area the performances are happening but also direct additional light Infront of the area or dancefloor. Cheap party lights don't cut it. A professional karaoke event should always incorporate some quality stage lighting.

The room size also plays a part. The systems should be matched to the venue. Small bars need controlled, balanced sound, while larger venues require higher-output speakers, additional coverage, lighting, and possibly multiple displays so everyone can participate comfortably.