A karaoke birthday is one of the easiest parties to get right. Everyone has a song they secretly want to sing, and once the first few people get up, the night pretty much runs itself.
But a few small ideas can turn it from "the karaoke was fun" into the party people are still talking about next year. Here are the ones that work best at the birthdays Rilda and I host, from 21sts through to 70ths.
Theme the songs around the birthday
The simplest theme there is: the music from when the birthday person was young.
- A 40th: 90s and 2000s. Backstreet Boys, Spice Girls, Savage Garden and a bit of Shania.
- A 50th: the 80s. Bon Jovi, Whitney, INXS, Cyndi Lauper. Everyone knows the words.
- A 60th: the 70s and early 80s. ABBA, Fleetwood Mac, the Bee Gees, Cold Chisel.
- A 70th: the 60s and 70s. Elvis, the Beatles, Tina Turner and the songs everyone danced to at the local.
You don't have to make it strict. It just gives people a starting point, and it means the birthday person hears their songs all night. Our song lists by decade are a good place to start: 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s.
Let the birthday person open and close
Get the guest of honour to sing the first song of the night, even if it's a group song with their mates. It breaks the ice for everyone else. Then save a big one for the end, something the whole room can sing back at them.
If they're not a singer, put them in the middle of a group song. They get the moment without having to carry it.
Games that get people up
The duet draw
Put everyone's names in a hat. Every half hour, draw two names and give them a duet. Mum and the best mate. The uncle and the 21-year-old. It's almost always a disaster, and that's exactly why it works. Here's our list of the best karaoke duets.
Song roulette
Write a bunch of crowd favourites on cards. Whoever's up next picks one out without looking and has to sing it. It takes the pressure off choosing, which is half of what stops people getting up.
Dedications
Ask guests to dedicate a song to the birthday person, with a one-line story about why. It turns the night into a bit of a tribute without anyone having to make a speech.
The best and worst award
Give out two prizes at the end: one for the best performance and one for the most committed. The second one is always the better story.
Get the running order right
Karaoke works best once people have settled in. A running order that works for most birthdays:
- Guests arrive, drinks, background music.
- Food.
- Speeches and the cake.
- Karaoke, starting with the birthday person.
If you've got older guests who might leave early, start the singing a bit earlier so they get their turn.
Think about the crowd
Mixed ages is where karaoke really shines. Nan sings Elvis, the grandkids sing Taylor Swift and somebody's uncle does Jimmy Barnes. Everybody has their song.
A couple of things help:
- Send the song list out early. People like to think about what they'll sing. Point them to our song list when you send the invitations.
- Keep it family friendly if kids are coming. Most hosts can filter out explicit songs.
- Look after the nervous ones. Plenty of guests will want to sing but won't put their hand up. A good host notices them and gets them up with a group or a duet.
How long to book
For most birthdays, three hours is enough for everyone who wants a song to get one. If it's a big crowd, or a crowd that loves a sing, four hours is the sweet spot. You'll get through roughly 15 songs an hour.
Where to have it
The backyard, the shed, a function room or a room at the club all work. We need one power point and a bit of space in front of the screen. If you've got a big TV, we can plug straight into it.
What it costs
Our birthday parties are $375 for three hours, then $100 for each extra hour, up to five. That covers both of us hosting, the sound system, wireless mics, the screen and close to 90,000 songs. No GST. There's more detail on our parties page.
If you'd like us to run your karaoke birthday, give me a call on 0424 418 643 or check our dates online.