If youve never sung karaoke, it might seem like a nightmare.
Best case scenario: you do a killer rendition of Wonderwall and your friends high-five you.
The point of karaoke is to have fun, not see who the best singer is.
If there arent any karaoke box places in your area, you may still have options.
Theres a good chance it will end up just being you and your crew.
No matter what you do, though,go with friends for your first time.
Also, youll have time to grab a drink or two and relax.
But word to the wise, dont get sloppy drunk before you sing.
verify you get your song pick in early, though.
Going first might be scary, but going last can be even scarier.
You dont want to give yourself too much time to think.
Aim for the middle.
A lot of people that get nervous singing karaoke are afraid of messing up.
This is especially true if its a rap song or other fast-moving tune.
When youre picking a song, always ask yourself Do I know thissong?
Or do I just know thechorus?
If youre not sure, pull up the lyrics on your smartphone and check.
If youre fairly certain you know the song, ask yourself Can I sing it within reason?
If you did it without straining your voice, go for it.
Eventually youll have an extensive repertoire to pull from the next time you go out.
Nothing makes singing less awkward than doing it with a buddy.
Find a song with multiple parts and ask a couple friends if they want to sing with you.
Or pick a song you and your friend love and share the microphone.
Just beware of songs like Queens Bohemian Rhapsody.
People will sing along with you anyway, and you may even get some dancers.
Itll make you feel great even though the song itself is doing all the heavy lifting.
Dont boo or make jokes, even if you mean well.
So cheer, laugh, and keep that positive vibe going.
When its your turn to sing, your friends will do you the same courtesy.
And when in doubt, laugh it all off and have fun.
Animation by Sam Woolley.
Photos byDan Ox,Schezar,Andrew Yee,Andy Smith,bekassine.
