The roots of karaoke can be traced back to the early 70's, and since its inception, millions of people around the world have been drawn to local pubs, dance halls, and even weddings that host these delightful entertaining events. Friends and family alike have come together to witness their fellow peers deliver a stunning, jaw-dropping rendition, or in some cases... a humorous off-key performance. Whether you're a seasoned pro, or just someone passing through, karaoke gives the average person a chance to become a Rockstar.

Singing at your favorite local establishment, that's hosting a professional DJ, isn't nearly as hard as one might think. All equipment is provided, including screens that will display song lyrics. All that's needed is a voice, and a little courage. The following article will give you a few need-to-know tips before venturing to your first karaoke show.

First, you'll be confronting some sort of sudden inner fear of crowds. Don't let this hold back your performance! Karaoke attendee's don't expect to see an American Idol show down. It's all about having fun! So relax, and if need be, get a couple drinks to calm your nerves before starting.

If this is your first time, then pick your initial songs carefully. Unless you KNOW you're a talented singer, try picking a simple country song to get started. These tunes are fairly stripped down, with very little annotation in the original lead singers voice, making them prime material for a first time karaoke performance. Once the first song is over with, you'll feel much better. Then slowly choose more difficult songs as the karaoke show progresses, as this will give you a much better feel for your vocal range.

The Stage

The above figure shows a typical karaoke layout. The boxes in either corner represent the speakers, the DJ behind you, and of course, you in the center. The area from the speakers on back will be your audience.

One thing you MUST keep in mind, is feed-back, which is the high pitched squeal often heard when audio equipment has gone crazy. The cause of feed-back is when a signal from the speakers is picked up by the microphone, and then sent back through the system, over and over again, in a matter of milliseconds. In the above example, note where the speakers are located in relation to your position. See how the speakers are located further ahead of you? This simple set-up helps reduce potential feed-back, allowing you some room for moving around. As long as you stay behind the speakers, you'll usually be safe.

Our next figure shows the addition of monitors. These extra speakers allow singers to hear themselves more clearly during their performance. Avoiding feed-back for this set-up can be a bit trickier. Note that the microphone can only pick up signals directed at the center of the mic. When you are singing, the BACK of the mic will be pointing towards the speakers, thus, no feed-back should be present. However, keep in mind that one should not physically point the microphone at the speaker, as this can induce massive amounts of feed-back. This may sound like common knowledge, but countless singers inevitably do this, purely on accident. Also, don't 'cup' the microphone. This happens when you hold the mic with fingers wrapped around the mic-screen. Doing so can also induce feedback.

Performance

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DJ's can adjust their equipment to tone down relatively loud singers, however quiet singers pose a difficult task. Many singers somehow believe the mic is magic, and can pick out their voice in a crowded venue while being held down at their midsection. Unfortunately, this is not so. You must give the microphone something to work with. Singing with confidence will greatly enhance your performance.

Even if you think you're singing poorly, keep going. It's all about confidence, and willing to finish. If you can, end the song to the best of your ability. You may be surprised, but ending the song properly, or on a crisp clear note will make most of the audience forget about everything that happened earlier, leaving you with a round of applause. When you're done, kindly place the mic back in its original starting position, or pass it to the karaoke DJ. Some people might feel the urge to hold on, telling jokes and acting like the life of the party. In reality, this gets very annoying quickly. People came to hear others SING, not your stand-up-special.

Going to a karaoke show can be fun, and singing karaoke is even better. Keep those simple tips in mind and you (along with others), will enjoy the night out.