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Rent a karaoke system for a timeless party with co-workers, family or friends.  Here are a few karaoke party tips we’ve picked up from the hundreds of karaoke events we’ve supported.  Reserve your karaoke machine rental early, as hot dates fill fast!

Location and room layout are important

We’ve seen a lot of living room karaoke parties to be sure; but in general, the bigger and emptier the space, the better.  In an office environment an atrium, cafeteria, open area, or a large conference room works fine.  Large private rooms at hotels, restaurants or other venues also work great.  If possible, allocate a 10 – 15 square foot area  as the “karaoke stage” up front and set up areas in the back and side for seating and mingling “club style”.  You may have as many as 10  singers at a time for popular songs, so making sure there is enough room up front for a small group to gather. The last thing to keep in mind is that the audio speaker(s) should be placed at least 10′ off to the side and in front of the singers to avoid feedback.

High quality equipment and a great song list make it or break it 

Karaoke equipment and song quality vary a lot, so do your homework. You need several  thousand tunes in a karaoke collection for there to be something for everyone.  Since most of us need all the help we can get in the singing department, microphones and speakers should be professional quality and the karaoke song collection should be studio produced with real instruments, not the cheesy computer produced tinny sounding kind.  

Start the party rocking with a great first song 

As the host, be prepared to suggest a good kick off song and hand pick your the first group to join you at the mic.  Getting one or more of your shyer guests up for the first song will guarantee a rush to the mic for the second song.  Here are a few general audience karaoke songs that are high energy and pretty easy to sing:
 

• Walk this Way – Aerosmith
• Born to be Wild – Steppenwolf
• Can’t get no Satisfaction – The Rolling Stones
• You Shook me all Night Long – AC/DC
• Love Shack – B52′s
• Crocodile Rock – Elton John
• Livin’ the Vida Loca – Ricky Martin

Guest Invitations set the party tone

Get creative with microphone and star images, black and neon colors or images of iconic singers like Madonna, Michael Jackson, Mic Jagger or Elvis.  Encourage guests to dress for the occasion and see who shows up.

Decorations add to the fun

Consider pin-up rock star posters, colored lights, dance effect lighting or a “stage” spot light for that karaoke club feel.

Accessories make great photo opps 

Fill a costume box with big sunglasses, wigs, bling, blow up microphones and guitars, boa’s and the like and don’t forget to take lots of photos and video throughout the party.

Prizes are great motivators! 

Pick a few categories and run small contests throughout the night:  best solo, duet, 80′s, Motown, etc. – the possibilities for contests and cute prizes are endless.

It is hard to stop singing 

So have a strategy for wrapping things up like a final contest or an appropriate closure song for your group.

Please give Avista a call at 888.462.8478 if you have any questions about renting a karaoke system for your holiday event.  You can pick up the karaoke gear yourself at any of our Bay Area offices or our Los Angeles location, or have an Avista technician deliver and set up the karaoke machine at your location.