Karaoke and Public Speaking
Do you enjoy singing and being a rock star?
Whether it may be in your house, shower, car, or any other place, the emotions and presence which you have while singing can be transferred over into a work presentation, or work environment. An office meeting or presentation does not have to turn into a Broadway musical, where everyone gets up and starts singing in the middle of a sentence, but the enthusiasm one shows while singing are the same type of emotions that should be expressed while presenting a product or idea.
In Jeffery Gitomer’s book “How to speak, write, present, persuade, influence, and sell your point of view to others” he talks about how he learned his speaking and performance skills by singing Karaoke in bars (without alcohol)
When you sing your favorite song in a karaoke bar, you already know the song, and the words are right in front of you. Even if you can’t sing one note, the words are there as a guide, and it is hard to fail unless you can’t read. When you already know the words to your favorite song or songs, it becomes much easier to concentrate on your performance and your mannerisms. For example, how you gesture, body movements, eye contact, and even how you hold the microphone.
My first exposure to singing Karaoke was in August of 2006 at a friend’s wedding party. I sang three songs that evening.: Light My fire By The Doors, Home Sweet Home by Motley Crue, and Dance the Night Away by Van Halen. Because I had heard those songs countless times in the past, and knew the words by heart I was able to concentrate on performing for the audience and emulating the singers whose songs I was singing. While I was singing, I was able to get the audience involved and singing along with me, which made the performance that much more enjoyable for me and the audience.
After seeing a singer who had a great voice, but minimal performance skills, he offered these suggestions to him:
1. Take the microphone with you into the audience.
2. Don’t look at the words on the screen; look at the people in the crowd.
3. Put a little passion into your song.
4. Finish big. Lean back. Hold the last note.
After doing research on Karaoke, here is what Jeffrey Gitomer discovered:
The Realities:
Singing sets a positive and relaxed mood in your mind.
Because you know the words, you can concentrate on the process of performing.
Too often people concentrate on what they say and forget to communicate. Singing increases communication effectiveness.
Fast and slow songs have different dynamics . Rock and country songs have different dynamics.
The audience wants to be entertained. And they are receptive, even if you can’t sing. Sometimes the worst singers get the biggest ovation.
In presenting and performing there is a big difference between good and dynamic. Singing brings this out immediately.
The When:
Becoming a verbal performing artist.
Realizing you are a performer, not a speaker.
Being challenged to stand up to the audience.
Being challenged to make eye contact with people in the audience.
Singing accentuates performance- not speaking.
Can you get them to dance?
Can you get the audience to clap?
If you have a cordless microphone, singing can get you out from behind the karaoke screen and give you a chance to interact with the crowd.
The benefits of singing instead of talking:
It makes you stretch and gets you out of your comfort zone.
Your backup music is there, you sound great even if you can’t sing.
It allows you to pick someone and sing to them. When you sing the song to the group, they may not pay attention. When you sing to one person, the entire audience is paying attention and gets the transferrence.
It tells you the key to sing in, sets your vocal tone, and makes you concentrate on your verbal tone.
Your rhythm makes your gestures congruent with words.
Your gestures are wider and more active; they flow, not jerk. If you do it singing: why wouldn’t you do it speaking?
It loosens you up.
You put your entire body into the message.
It puts melody to your verbal-vocal message.
It makes you use your voice to its maximum capacity-its full range of vocal variety.
It shows you the value of dual eye-contact impact training.
It’s all about you
You’re performing in a new way.
You’re the star.
You can spot your mistakes in a second.
You can feel yourself get better.
It’s fun.
It’s fun to practice.
The more fun you have- the better you get.
Speaking by comparison is easy.
You’re in tune with your song, your rhythm your message, your audience, and yourself.
Transfer the power of understanding and involvement to the audience
The message is melodic not verbal.
Music gets the audience in a great mood.
Music gets the audience to listen.
The song has a message- it often ahs lyrics you can identify with.
The audience can identify with your message.
If the audience likes your song, they like you.
If you are introduced to an audience, the introducer sets the tone. If there’s music, the music sets the tone.
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