18 Karaoke Party Ideas That Are Off the Charts
Michelle Byrnes
Contributor
What better way to get friends and family together than with a good old-fashioned sing-along? A karaoke party is the perfect way to celebrate, whether it's for a birthday party or just an impromptu gathering. Any successful party requires ample planning. Luckily for you, we’ve compiled fun and creative karaoke party ideas to help make the process a bit easier.
There is plenty of opportunity to get creative with a karaoke theme, just take inspiration from your favorite music. Incorporate top singers, bands, and pop culture references to add a personal touch and make your celebration unique. So, dust off the microphones, put on your dancing shoes, and preapre to unleash your inner pop star. Get ready to sing along with these ideas for a karaoke party.
1. Book a Karaoke DJ
First things first, you'll have to source your karaoke machine. Why not keep things simple and hire a karaoke DJ to give your party a professional touch? This way you'll have peace of mind that everything runs smoothly on the audio front, allowing the best experience possible.
Many DJs offer karaoke services, providing top-quality equipment and an expansive library of songs. Your guests will be able to sing their hearts out to their favorite tunes, maximizing the fun.
2. Host at Home
Whether you're hiring a DJ or already own a karaoke machine, throwing your party at home is ideal for creative freedom. Hosting from the comfort of your own space may allow your guests to feel more confident and comfortable to go all out during their performance. You can also decorate and customize the space to your heart's content, creating whatever ambiance or theme you want. Maybe even set up a stage to elevate the karaoke party even more!
3. Disco Balls
There's no better way to get the party started than by decorating your event space with glimmering disco balls. Perfectly indicating your theme, this fun decor idea will surely give your get-together the groovy superstar treatment it needs. Keep it simple with one disco ball center stage or make it a theme by adding cute glitter ball trinkets, sparkly buntings, and even metallic ups to take your fabulous celebration to the next level.
4. Song Lyric Mad Libs
Every party should have fun games to ensure guests are entertained, so you’ll obviously need some karaoke games. The tricky part is thinking of activities that are out of the box yet still relevant. Song lyric Mad Libs is a fun game for your karaoke party that everyone can enjoy. Take well-known pop hits or your favorite tunes and remove some vital words, leaving blank spaces. Then, without revealing the song, guests will brainstorm some alternative verbs, nouns, and adjectives. Everyone will be laughing out loud while reading the edited song with its brand new lyrics.
5. Hire a Bartender
If you want to just focus on the entertainment side of your karaoke party, hiring a bartender may be ideal to keep the drinks flowing. You can work with the bartender to get an idea of your vision, and depending on their services, they may be able to create some custom beverages special for the occasion. This way, you can sing your heart out without worry or distraction. Plus, this allows guests to have a little liquid courage before their turn with the mic!
6. Musicals Theme
If you and guests are big musical fans, you could go all out and turn that specific theme into your karaoke party. From the songs to costumes, allow the musicals to take center stage at your celebration for the ultimate themed event.
Guests can dress up like their favorite musical characters, and whether they prefer Hamilton or Mamma Mia, it's a great way to get friends and family hyped up to perform their favorite hits. Remember to carry out the theme through decor and food to help bring the musical to life.
7. Party Foods
With all the singing and dancing going on, you'll want to have some simple snacks to fuel your guests. Finger foods such as wings, fries, sliders, and pizza will be ideal for your karaoke party since they’re easy to serve and eat. Plus, avoiding a big cleanup is always a good idea! Keeping the menu simple allows you to relax, enjoy the festivities, and have your turn with the mic.
8. Karaoke Competition
If you really want guests to give it their all, why not plan a karaoke contest? Judges should take dance moves, costumes, and overall performance into consideration when marking contestants to determine the best in show. This a fun way to encourage friends to put their heart and soul into their performance. Plus, it’s an additional form of entertainment!
Another way to shake things up is to host your competition 'The Voice' style and have judges turn around so they don't know who is performing. Then, if they like what they hear, they hit a buzzer and spin around in their seats to reveal who the superstar really is.
9. Photo Booth
With this fun theme and all the creative costumes, you're going to want memories of your karaoke party. A fun and unique way to freeze your event in time is to hire a photo booth and have guests snap photos as they wish. You can even ask your photo booth company if they have karaoke or musical theme props or backdrops to add some flair to your photos. Plenty of high-quality photo booth services are listed right here on The Bash.
10. Karaoke Cake
Whether you’re hosting a karaoke birthday party or other special occasion, a themed cake is always a delicious addition to your event. Visit your local bakery to create a custom cake or get creative and design your very own work of art. Whether you want to dedicate the sweet treat to a specific singer or shape it into an instrument or musical note, the sky's the limit. You could even add some music note cookies and cupcakes to complete the dessert spread.
11. Purple Haze
Every party needs good drinks to match, whether you prefer cocktails or a non-alcoholic beverage. A Purple Haze is a popular concoction that can be created in a variety of different ways. The vibrant color and funky name will be a perfect addition to your karaoke party.
If you want to put your own twist on the drink, rename it Lavender Haze inspired by Taylor Swift, or for Prince fans, you could call your creation Purple Rain. Here are some fun recipes we found online.
12. Music Quiz
Who doesn't love a good old-fashioned pub quiz or trivia? A quiz is a great way to keep guests entertained and a fantastic way to broaden your musical knowledge. There are plenty of resources online to give you ideas for your questions or use your own background to create the most personalized experience.
You can include prizes or funny forfeits to make the stakes a little higher and add an extra incentive for your guests. To get you started, here are some fun general music questions, but there are lots of quizzes out there to fit your themed celebration.
13. Piña Coladas
If you like piña coladas and getting caught in the rain, this fruity drink will match your theme perfectly. Taking inspiration from the popular song, this cocktail is extremely delicious and is sure to be a hit at your party. Guests will definitely remember the connection between the catchy song 'Escape (The Piña Colada Song)' by Rupert Holmes, and if not, you can jog their memory by getting on stage and giving the performance of a lifetime. There are plenty more fun music inspired cocktails recipes online that will add some pizzazz to your evening.
14. Inflatable Instruments
A good karaoke party is going to need props, so get your Amazon cart ready. Inflatable musical instruments will perfectly match your theme, make for great photo opportunities, and add a fun ambiance to your celebration. You could also add instrument shaped balloons to the decor that will help create the perfect party atmosphere.
15. Bar Snacks
Classic bar snacks and treats make the perfect eats to give the illusion of a real karaoke bar. Peanuts, chips, and pretzels are just some of the foods you can add to your grazing table that will keep everyone satisfied and fueled for their big debut song. Since guests will hopefully be singing and dancing the whole time, the best kind of snacks for this karaoke party are the ones you can eat on the go.
16. Sing Song Remix
A cool way to mix up your karaoke party is by having guests sing songs in the style of another singer. For example, add the names of famous musicians with specific voice styles into a hat, and in another one, add popular karaoke songs. Guests will then choose from each hat and they’ll try their best to replicate the sound of the artist in that song. Everyone will be able to have a laugh while definitely keeping the party interesting.
17. Costume Party
Easily elevate your event by turning it into a costume party. Have your friends and family dress as their favorite singer, band member, or musician for a fun addition to your big karaoke bash. You can be more specific and choose an era of music to inspire your ensemble—who doesn't get jazzed for an 80s theme? Incorporating a costume contest may also add some healthy competition and encourage your guests to go above and beyond.
18. Ambient Lighting
Lighting is the perfect way to set the mood at any party. Add some colored LEDs, strobe, and disco lighting while you partake in karaoke to make the performance truly spectacular. You and your guests will feel like pop stars as you have spotlights and light choreography to tie your show together. Lighting is a simple yet extremely effective way to transform your space.
Find more party ideas and inspiration here on The Bash.
