How I Got Into Karaoke

I'd like to share the story of how I got into Karaoke.

I was quite shy as a kid. Audiences, frankly, scared the hell out of me but I loved music more than anything. I played the drums in the bands I joined because it was easier to be onstage when I had my kit and the rest of the band in front of me like a shield. I had a lot of fun right up until someone stuck a microphone in my face about 10 years after I first started playing professionally.

This meant I'd be more noticable.
This meant that spotlight would eventually find it's way to the back where I was.
Nothing messes with a drummer's meter more than stage fright, let me tell you.
So I started with singing background vocals and trying to keep hidden.

That lasted about 2 years then I presented a song I wrote to the band. The intent was that we play it and one of our frontmen would sing. That didn't quite fly because I wrote it outside their range and it never did sound quite right. After practicing it for a while, the rest of the band decided that I should sing it because I wrote it.

I don't think I'd like to relive the first night I sang it to an audience. Suffice to say that I wasn't winning any talent contests.

Shortly after that night, I discovered Karaoke. The people I worked with in my day job decided to have a 'fun night' at a local pub and they had a Karaoke show on. It was interesting to listen to other people sing songs I was familiar with. I didn't sing that night, but it planted a bug that just wouldn't go away.

I looked for other shows to see what else was going on. I found another show close to my home and decided to attend. This night was the first time I had taken the stage without the 'protection' of my band and drums as a shield. A singer had started singing "Blame it on your heart" by Patty Loveless. Shortly through the first verse the singer abandoned the stage and the Host, for some odd reason, handed me the mic and said "You look like you know this song... Why don't you try to finish it?".

I felt like an idiot, actually, because I'm a tad more 'male' than Patty Loveless but for some reason I decided to sing it anyway. It went ok even though the mic was more of a blur from my hands shaking uncontrollably. It gave me the realization that I wasn't going to drop dead of fright and I wasn't all that horrible at it. Besides, no one there had any clue who I was.

After that night, I went back to the first bar and attended another show. I decided to try 'The Dance" by Garth Brooks. I got a good response from the audience and was encouraged to do more. Since then, I haven't stopped.

The next gig my band played went much better for me. I performed my song with more confidence and the response was overwhelming. I had as much good response for that song as we did for the rest of our more popular songs.

I had the courage to sing again when we went on some TV Shows to promote the band. When I watched the tapes after the live performances, I could hardly believe that the singer was me, but it was recorded and quite good.

Sadly, the band went our separate ways and I was left wondering what I could do to feed my need for the music. I was invited to join a Karaoke Hosting company as a Host and I learned the 'trade' for about 5 years. I had the best teacher I could have hoped for - his shows are well-known as being among the very best - and the rest is history.

With any luck, my 'history' in Karaoke will inspire some of you to give it a try. If nothing else, it's one heck of a good way to build self-confidence which will manifest itself through the rest of your daily activities. At the very least it's a great way to get out and enjoy yourself while shedding some of the inhibitions that are placed on you by your daily routines.

Join us at a Heartland Karaoke show and see where it takes you!