Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette

Woman As Art

Here is the first installment of “Karaoke As Performance Art.”

The Old Soldier has been an avid karaoke singer for at least 20 years.  People tell me I’m pretty good.  I don’t ask them. 

In this series I will share with you what I have learned about being a karaoke singer.

Karaoke is popular because anyone can do it.  And it usually takes place in an establishment where alcoholic beverages are available.  Actually, karaoke and booze go together.  I could never get up and sing in front of a bunch of strangers if I was sober.

But you never want to sing drunk.  You just want to drink enough to be brave and relaxed enough to perform.

English: Karaoke stub icon (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Most people who sing karaoke are mediocre singers; but that’s why karaoke is so much fun.  If you happen to be a good singer there are things you can do to take your performance to the next level.

1. Make eye contact with your audience.
2. Body language is important.  You don’t want to stand frozen like a deer in headlights.
3. Actually know the words of your song at least well enough so that discrete glances at the screen are all you need to keep your place.
4. Practise at home.  And you don’t need to own a karaoke machine to do it.  Although you may want to do it when no one else is around.

Do these four things and you will be on your way to karaoke as performance art.  I’ll have more for you in the next installment.

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The Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette is an online magazine of serious writing and brazen sexuality.  Just look at the front page.

Related articles

• The Downside To The Karaoke Contest (pittsburghflashfictiongazette.com)
• Lunchtime Poll: Karaoke (persephonemagazine.com)

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