How to run a virtual karaoke session on Zoom: a step-by-step guide [2021]
Since COVID, many companies have turned into remote teams looking for fun online events for distributed employees. Good news: a virtual karaoke party is an awesome (and easy) virtual team building idea to get your team connecting!
This guide explains how to organize a virtual karaoke party on Zoom (or Google Meet or Microsoft Teams), how to host a great event for your team working from home, and how to choose a great karaoke song.
Table of contents
Why should you host a virtual karaoke session?
- Get to know new people
- Maintain connection with people you already know
- Improve team interactions and morale
- Low-cost/free online event idea
- It’s fun!
How to MC a virtual karaoke party
You’ll need a great host for your virtual karaoke session. The host’s role is to encourage the virtual team, handle the technical logistics, ensure swift transitions between singers, and keep the party moving.
If you are going to host the karaoke session yourself, here are some questions you’ll need to think about:
- Will I ask the participants to prepare song selections beforehand, or to find them during the session?
- Who will choose the order of performers? If there is a KJ (a karaoke DJ) then they can keep track of this in the chat
- Does everyone have access to Zoom, Google Meet or Microsoft Teams as well as YouTube?
- How will I maintain the energy of the session?
- What will I do if no one volunteers to sing?
Want to make it easier? We recommend the energetic hosts at Kabloom, who are professionals at hosting virtual karaoke sessions and parties!
Their hosts are skilled at handling the (somewhat annoying) aspects, like setting up Zoom and Google Meet, welcoming participants, handling song selections, and ensuring you and your work from home team have an enjoyable time!
This includes a dedicated KJ/host throughout (think: high-energy, charismatic, tech-savvy camp counselor) to handle all of the technical stuff, so that you and your team get to focus on laughs and belting it out.
To book a charismatic host for your party, just fill out their request form and they’ll be in touch the next day!
Kabloom also offers online team building experiences, from office games to online graffiti workshops and even a virtual vacation! To learn more, check out more virtual teambuilding activities for remote teams.
How to set up virtual karaoke on Zoom
Send the participants the Zoom meeting link. Once they’re online, here is what you should ask them to do:
- Chat the KJ (karaoke DJ) to be put in the queue
- Find your song on YouTube (search [song title] karaoke)
- Reduce the volume on the YouTube video to 30-40%
- When it’s your turn, click Share Screen on Zoom and…
- You must also check Share computer sound (bottom left) too
- Sing your heart out!
Other ways to set up karaoke on Zoom, Google Meet or Microsoft Teams
- Participant sends song selection to host
- Host plays it on their computer
- Participant/s sings along
This method is not ideal as there may be a sound delay between the host’s and participant’s computers.
You may also choose to use a dedicated virtual karaoke app like Smule, Stingray or Watch2Gether. However, be aware that there may be an extra cost involved.
How to find any karaoke song online
- Go to YouTube
- Search [song title] karaoke
- Click play on the selected video
How to choose a song for karaoke
Here are our top 5 tips for choosing the ideal karaoke song:
- Know your audience: choose a song that most of the participants will know
- Keep within your vocal range: are you Whitney Houston?
- Stay away from sad songs: like Hello by Adele or My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion
- Avoid repetitive choruses: think Who Let The Dogs Out
- Perform it with passion: if you love the song, show it!
Here is a list of some popular karaoke songs:
- Africa, Toto
- Angels, Robbie Williams
- Build Me Up Buttercup, The Foundations
- Dancing Queen, Abba
- Don’t Stop Believin’, Journey
- Mr Brightside, The Killers
- Shake It Off, Taylor Swift
- Summer Nights, Grease
- Sweet Caroline, Neil Diamond
- Uptown Girl, Billy Joel
- Wannabe, Spice Girl
Frequently asked questions
Can you do virtual karaoke?
How can I play karaoke with friends online?
How do you do a Zoom karaoke party?
- Chat the KJ (karaoke DJ) to be put in the queue
- Find your song on YouTube (search [song title] karaoke)
- Reduce the volume on the YouTube video to 30-40%
- When it’s your turn, click Share Screen on Zoom and…
- You must also check Share computer sound (bottom left) too
- Sing your heart out!
What are the top ten karaoke songs?
- Africa, Toto
- Angels, Robbie Williams
- Build Me Up Buttercup, The Foundations
- Dancing Queen, Abba
- Don’t Stop Believin’, Journey
- Mr Brightside, The Killers
- Shake It Off, Taylor Swift
- Summer Nights, Grease
- Sweet Caroline, Neil Diamond
- Uptown Girl, Billy Joel
- Wannabe, Spice Girls
How can I play karaoke at home?
How do I use karaoke without a machine?
Can everyone sing at the same time on Zoom?
It’s possible for everyone on a Zoom call to sing karaoke at the same time but it is not recommended. That’s because of slight delays in audio between participants. It’s best to have just one person singing aloud with the other participants on mute.
How do I host a karaoke party at home?
You can host karaoke on a platform like Zoom, Google Meet or Microsoft Teams. First, find the karaoke version of a song on YouTube, then share your computer sound (so that everyone can hear the music), and sing along!
How do you play karaoke?
How can Wild SF help you with your virtual Zoom karaoke party?
Wild SF leads meaningful virtual team builders that get your WFH team out of their shells, laughing, connecting, and learning more about one another. We can host your virtual karaoke party from start to finish.
Ready to bring your remote team closer together? Start here.