1. Go with a group. Because let’s be honest, there’s safety in numbers! Best case, you can convince them to do a duet with you; worst case, you can focus on them, and not the rest of the crowd, when you’re up on stage.
2. Pick a song you know by heart. Your performance will be 1,000 times better if you know at least most of the words. Of course, the lyrics will be on a screen, but if you don’t have to rely on them 100 per cent, you’ll be way more confident.
3. Choose an easy song. As good as you might think you sound while busting it out in the shower, this is not the time to try Mariah Carey’s Hero. Professionals can barely hit the notes she hits in that song. 2014 Mariah can barely hit the notes she hits in that song. Stick with crowd pleasers with no huge note changes: All Saints’ Never Ever, Destiny’s Child’s Say My Name and Gloria Gaynor’s retro classic I Will Survive are all good options.
4. Have fun. Smile! Dance! The best karaoke performances aren’t the ones with the singers that rival Adele. They’re the ones where the performers are having the most fun – the ones who let loose and throw out a few moves on stage, involve the crowd and most importantly, don’t take themselves too seriously.