Kara-rookie, Beginner tips from Val

So many people are uncomfortable at the idea of 'roking. I used to be, but now it's tough to remember exactly why. A guy told me recently one of his friends found something in his coat pocket and commented, "Oh this is embarrassing." He nervously replied, "Is it a condom?" Nope. It was a karaoke point card from Duet 48.

I've figured out how most people have eased into being okay with the vulnerability of singing in front of others:

1. Go to a Japanese-style karaoke place where they have private rooms for just you and your gang. It's like renting a livingroom for a few hours complete with a nice TV, sound system, couches, coffee tables, and a phone on the wall to order drinks to the room. We'll publish more extensive reviews of our most commonly accessed four tops: Duet 35, Duet 48, Karaoke 1-7, & Sing Sing.

2. Go with friends who you know will not seriously judge you - mild teasing is OK & encouraged.

3. Sing along with the group songs commonly entered such as Don't Stop Believin', Bohemian Rhapsody, and Like a Prayer. More on these rookie group songs & their benefits & aggravances later.

4. Have a couple of drinks, but not too many.

5. Sing a duet with someone & act mostly as backup or participate in chorus.

By the end of the night, you'll be rocking your own solos and realizing this is the singing-in-the-car substitute you've been looking for ever since you left college and sold your mom's old Honda to move to NYC. Oh yeah, and it's a dance party too.

-V