What Does a Karaoke Host (KJ) Do?
A karaoke host, often called a KJ (karaoke jockey), runs the karaoke at a party, bar or event. They bring the equipment and the song library, manage the line of singers, and keep the energy up between songs. Many DJs offer karaoke as an add-on, and some hosts specialize in it.
What a KJ handles
- Equipment: speakers, wireless microphones, a mixer, and one or more screens for lyrics.
- Song library: licensed karaoke tracks covering decades and genres, often searchable by guests from their phones.
- Rotation: taking requests and running a fair singer order so everyone gets a turn.
- Sound: adjusting microphone levels and music volume so singers sound their best, even nervous ones.
- Hosting: introducing singers, cheering people on, filling gaps with music, and singing a warm-up song to break the ice.
Karaoke at private events
Karaoke works well at birthday parties, holiday and company parties, and receptions where guests know each other. Many hosts combine karaoke with regular DJ sets, switching between singing and dancing. See do you need an MC and a DJ and how to plan a karaoke party.
Questions to ask before booking
- How many songs are in your library, and can guests request songs ahead of time?
- How many microphones and screens do you bring?
- Can you mix karaoke with DJ music for dancing?
- How do you handle a long singer list or a shy crowd?
- How much space and power do you need? See DJ setup space and power requirements.
- Is the price for a set number of hours, and what does overtime cost? See how much does a DJ cost for a party.
Venue karaoke nights
Bars and restaurants hire KJs for weekly karaoke nights to bring in a crowd on slow evenings. See hiring a DJ for a bar or restaurant.