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We love a good holiday tradition, but sometimes a little update is needed. When was the last time you went caroling? Have you ever? Has anyone come caroling at your door recently? We loved listening to the carolers at Enchant Christmas this year, but this time honored tradition of sharing your holiday spirit through song door to door may just be on it’s way out.
Before the tradition is lost entirely, we suggest a modern twist – Karaoke! Hear me out. You can enjoy the festive tunes from the warmth of the indoors, avoid having doors slammed in your face, and not have to worry about learning all the words to the songs before you go.
You can even go live on social media or record it to share it with others!
tips for holiday Karaoke at home
Karaoke bars are amazing, but if you are looking to throw a holiday karaoke at home we have you covered. Whether this is your first holiday karaoke or an annual tradition, these tips will ensure success.
encourageMic drops
You can’t have a mic drop without a microphone, so get some! Half of the fun of karaoke is the mic so don’t try to pull an unplugged holiday karaoke. The more the merrier applies here so you may need more than one.If you have kids participating make sure you have a sturdy one because kids are prone to accidental mic drops.
We have these wireless karaoke mics from Amazon. They are great for kids. The sound quality is decent, they are rechargeable, they have bluetooth connection and they are fun to use. If you’re looking to get a bit more professional, check out this portable karaoke machine from Amazon. It is also bluetooth compatible so you can pair it with any device, but it has a louder speaker and 6 hours of battery life.
Whatever equipment you are using, make sure you know how they work and do some test songs before the party gets started. Nothing kills a karaoke vibe faster than some technical difficulties.
offer song suggestions
While it is not necessary to create an entire library of songs for the event, creating a playlist with some fun songs most people know is a great idea. The holiday classics should definitely top the list, but you don’t have to limit the selection to just the holidays.
Soundtracks are a great source for inspiration. You can ask guests to share their favorite movie soundtracks beforehand. The new movie, Sing 2 hits theatres December 22 so the soundtrack will be the perfect addition to your holiday karaoke. The Sing and Sing 2 soundtracks offer a great cross generation selection for the whole family to rock out to.
You can grab a family four pack of passes for the Sing 2 screening on Wednesday, December 15 at 7:00pm at the AMC Tysons below.
Provide the lyrics
Not everyone knows all the lyrics so if you can, provide the lyrics. Most music apps will offer the lyrics or you can download a karaoke app to make it even more legit. There are plenty of free or affordable apps for smartphones and tablets.
No one wants to hear someone butchering the lyrics or humming along trying to remember the words. Your guests will feel more confident and try more songs if they know they have the lyrics to follow along.
Just like with your equipment, you want to do some practice runs and make sure everything is working smoothly.
Fuel the sing-a-long
No one wants to hear the rumblings of a hungry tummy through the speakers so make sure you offer some holiday worthy snacks. We love to throw our favorite snacks on a board and call it a charcuterie. It works for savory or sweet.
If you are offering alcohol, it can be fun to make a large batch of holiday punch or a holiday cocktail so that guests spend more time singing than refueling. Don’t forget to offer fun beverages for those who do not consume alcohol.
Hype MC
Sometimes a group needs a little nudge in the right direction. Be prepared to be the karaoke hype master. Kids are really well suited for the hype job, but it is a good idea to have a designated person in charge. The MC can keep a list of who is singing next and get the songs in the queue.
Offering some props or accessories for performances can also help get people into the spirit of singing. Also make sure you have a dedicated performance area so the more impassioned performers can be contained.
Decorate
Make sure you decorate for the occasion. Decorations can be anything from classy holiday to strobes lights. Do what fits your group and location best.
A dance floor, judges section or audience seating can all help steer your loved ones towards the stage. Make sure it is easy for people to move to and from the stage to keep the performances flowing.
offer prizes
If you are hosting your first holiday karaoke you may need to work a little harder to get your guests to belt out their favorite songs. If you want to offer some external encouragement you can create a theme, prize categories, challenges or even trivia to get people involved.
If you choose a theme, people can win prizes for picking songs related to the theme. Some prize categories are best duet, best dance, best performance, funniest performance, most emotional performance and best group. Song battles are another fun way to get your loved ones singing.
Be flexible
You can schedule some breaks for the MC, and the audience to get some food and a chance to chat. If there are some natural breaks in the singing, don’t stress about a schedule. Let the breaks happen and if no one else restarts the singing, the MC can get things going again.
It is easy to see hours fly by while everyone is singing. If you have neighbors to consider it is good to announce the last song time in advance. You can even pick a sing a long number to end with everyone singing.
share the experience
We can’t wait to see your family holiday karaoke so be sure to tag us @theadvfam if you post to social media.
Sing 2 screening
We are so excited to share an opportunity for you to see a sneak peek of the new family hit, Sing 2 on Wednesday, December 15, 2021 at 7:00pm at the AMC Tysons. You can reserve 4 tickets for the screening.The screening will be held at AMC Tysons Corner 16, 7850e Tysons Corner Center, McLean, VA 22102.
We have a limited number of passes to offer, so please only reserve if you know you can attend.
Sing 2
This holiday season, the new chapter in Illumination’s smash animated franchise arrives with big dreams and spectacular hit songs as the ever-optimistic Buster Moon and his all-star cast of performers prepare to launch their most dazzling stage extravaganza yet …all in the glittering entertainment capital of the world.
There’s just one hitch: They first have to persuade the world’s most reclusive rock star—played by global music icon Bono, in his animated film debut—to join them.
What begins as a dream of big-time success becomes an emotional reminder of the power of music to heal even the most broken heart.
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