Karaoke Tips on Etiquette - Uncontested

     Karaoke etiquette is a set of unwritten rules or tips that people of the karaoke community try to abide by.  You are not going to find these  karaoke tips written inside the books (at least not usually) and you will not find "Karaoke Tips on Etiquette" posted on any walls, however, they are soon learned and followed by most.  Following basic karaoke tips on etiquette makes the night fun and fair for all those involved.  Obviously if you are new to karaoke, you will not have knowledge of some of these unwritten karaoke etiquette tips that the regulars may have knowledge of but will soon learn them and see their benefits.  Many of the karaoke tips on etiquette  are no brainers.  Some are strictly enforced and undisputed between karaoke clubs across the country or even across the world, while others seem to vary between club and hosts.

       The most commonly accepted  and followed karaoke etiquette tips that are upheld by most karaoke bars are the following:  

  • Respect the karaoke host (It is their job and they do their best to make everyone feel comfortable and to ensure the fairness and the smooth running of the evening.  It's not always easy dealing with all the different bar personalities.)
  • Respect the electronic equipment (Yelling into the microphone can cause damage to speakers and eardrums.  Some think that swinging or tossing microphones into the air to catch them looks cool but is very frowned on and can  be an expensive replacement bill if you damage anything.) 
  • Handle the song books with care. (The song books are also expensive. Drawing/writing on or tearing corners off pages is definitely not good karaoke etiquette)
  • Do not take a smoke or a drink to the stage with you ( You aren't going to smoke while you sing anyways and you can do without a drink for two minutes.  Electronics and liquid do not play nicely together and it is never nice to have a slippery or sticky floor if something gets spilled.)
  • Alway applaud each singer.  (Two sayings come to mind here.  "Treat others as you would like to be treated"  and...."If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all".   Encouragement is always nice.  It is not always easy performing in front of an  audience let alone a drinking one.  I also like another line I heard once... " Some, you applaud for being  being up on stage and some you applaud for getting off the stage"  No one needs to know which you are trying to express. )
  • Never, EVER heckle, boo or otherwise interrupt the singer by boorish behavior (Wow, I feel funny in even mentioning that one cause I can't imagine anyone being so rude or inconsiderate.  Show your maturity.  You can deal with two minutes of off key performance without showing others immature behavior )
  •  Never go to the stage to sing unless called on or invited. (It is considered very poor karaoke etiquette to invite yourself into someone else's song.  If you are invited first, that is a different story but just because it is your 'all time favorite song' does not give you the right to intrude on someone else's moment.  Sing along quietly from your table.)
  • Give the singer the consideration of your attention (If you are sitting near the stage try not to be loud when you chat, laugh or sing from your table. If you are in a group and know you will be having loud fun, choose a table away from the stage.  Never try to drown out the singer with your singing.  Sing along quietly from your table instead.)
  • Wait your turn patiently (Sometimes the venue has nothing but singers it seems and there are only so many songs that can be sung in an hour.... usually between 12 and 15.  It is not fair to the host or the others to be taking up that time arguing or otherwise interrupting that lineup of singers.)
  • Do not try to 'cheat' your way into more turns ( A good host will recognize this and so will the rest of the singers.  Putting your name up to sing solo and then to be part of groups that go up as well...giving you several turns while others wait patiently, is looked down on and will quickly earn you a nasty reputation...whether you are a good singer or not.  Actually...especially if you are a good singer because you should know better.  Basically what you are implying to everyone is that you are more deserving and better than they are.  Not a good way to 'play nicely'.  On a busy night, a  good host will take a group song as your turn...period.  On a slower night they may chose to do differently.
  • Always ask before submitting a request slip in with someone else's name ( do not try to coerce  someone into singing a song without their permission.  They may have other songs they wish to perform and are not willing to wait another hour for their turn to roll around again to sing their own choice and trying to 'convince' someone that was not expecting to go up often takes the time that someone else could be singing.  Always ask...often they will sing the song for you and if not ...there is always another time or another singer.)
  • Fill out your request slips accurately and completely (While mistakes will happen, make sure you double check the numbers and fill in the complete list of people who will be singing the song.  Remember that others do not consider it 'playing fair' if you cheat your way into extra songs by coming up extra times  and the host does not have time to continuously be looking up song number that should have been written properly in the first place.
  • If you are going to sing don't do it slobbering drunk (While you and your friends may think it is funny to coax you up to sing a tune while you are falling over drunk, it is not usually a pretty sight or sound and usually not thought of as very funny by anyone else.  If you wish to have this kind of totally bombed fun, rent a karaoke system for the night and invite friends over to the privacy of your home where this type of behavior may be acceptable.  Many people feel they need liquid encouragement and you are obviously in a bar but keep it real.
  • Have FUN (but never at other's expense.)

     Newcomers will quickly learn these karaoke tips on etiquette as they follow the good role models of their clubs.
     Remember while the objective of the night and the karaoke venue and host is to make everyone feel welcome and  comfortable, a good host or hostess will enforce without question the above karaoke tips on etiquette.  It is to their benefit as well as everyone else's, to keep the masses happy by enforcing a few basic karaoke etiquette tips.