If I’m attending a visual impairment or assistive technology conference that has a karaoke event, there’s a very strong chance I will take the mic and perform “Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi, my favorite song of all time and one of my favorites for karaoke in general (if that one’s already been taken, I’ve also done “American Pie,” singing all of the lyrics from memory). I received a question from a reader about how these events make karaoke accessible from low vision, and after helping to organize a karaoke event at my college, I’ve learned a lot about accessible karaoke and inclusive karaoke tips. Here are my favorite tips for making karaoke accessible for visually impaired performers (inclusive of blind/low vision) from the perspective of a participant and an organizer.
What to expect at karaoke events
Karaoke events and activities typically feature a small stage with microphones that can either be removed or left on the stand for the duration of a performance. Participants sign up for the song of their choice, choosing from available titles listed in a binder, and the DJ would announce when it is someone’s turn to perform. Song lyrics are displayed on a large monitor and light up as the performer sings them, and the audience is welcome to join in with singing along or clapping.
For the rest of this post, I’ll be breaking down each of the elements used for karaoke events and sharing options for making different items more inclusive or accessible for performers with visual impairments.
Walk This Way: Step-free access
One of the conferences I attended that featured a karaoke night used a temporary stage that had a step-free entrance, meaning there were no stairs or platforms that someone would have to step onto for entering or exiting. In lieu of stairs, a small portable ramp that could be accessed on foot or with a mobility aid was used to get on and off the stage, and there were also handrails to help with balance as well.
When I helped with planning the college karaoke night, we added a bright strip of reflective duct tape to the edge of the stage, which served as both a visual cue and tactile cue about where the edge was located.
Mic Check: Positioning microphones
Another event I attended accidentally had a memorable “mic drop” where a volunteer had tried to hand someone a microphone before their performance, and they immediately dropped it. Instead of handing microphones to performers as they approach the stage, keep the microphones on the stands between performances and give performers the option to choose whether they want to hold their mic or not. This is especially helpful for group performances and ensures microphones don’t get lost or shuffled around during performances.
I Like It, I Love It: Choosing a Song
If I’m at an event that uses a binder for organizing available songs, I’ll typically use my phone to enlarge text or ask a friend to check song availability for me. When thinking about what song to sing, I try to stick with popular karaoke songs so that I don’t have to browse through a ton of options.
To make song requests easier at the event I helped with, we listed all available songs on a web document, which could be accessed by scanning a QR code or typing a shortened link. From there, performers could fill out a short request form with their name and song, which was then shared with the DJ. Another option would have been to use bold lined paper and pens for performers to write out their song choices.
Related links
- Creating Accessible Bulletin Boards For College Dorms
- Strategies For Using Lined Paper With Low Vision
Start Me Up: Displaying song lyrics
When possible, I try to choose songs that I already know all of the lyrics to by heart, since I wouldn’t be able to see words displayed on a screen located more than a few feet from my face. Some options for making karaoke displays easier to see include:
- Setting up a smaller device near the microphones, like a tablet, or having performers read off of their phone
- Connecting a wireless refreshable braille display to a phone or tablet that displays lyrics
- Offering performers the option to choose a high contrast color scheme for their display- this can be included on the song request form or configured by a volunteer. For our event, we used the Windows High Contrast mode.
Instead of using a visual countdown to let performers know when it was time to start singing, we used an audio cue that emitted a short beep five seconds before it was time for someone to start singing after an instrumental break. This was controlled by a volunteer who was watching the visual countdown and available by request.
Related links
- A to Z of Assistive Technology For Low Vision
- Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Tablets
- How To Use High Contrast in Windows 10 and Windows 11
- Choosing High Contrast Color Schemes For Low Vision
This is How We Do It: Performing with low vision
Karaoke isn’t about whether someone is actually good at singing, rather it’s about having a great time with friends and audience members. Whenever I perform at karaoke events, I encourage the audience to sing with me, especially for the chorus of a song, and sometimes dance with my friends if they are on stage with me as well. Before I start singing, I tend to quickly inspect the stage with my blindness cane to determine where potential obstacles are, and then store my cane somewhere else (like with a friend or volunteer) so I’m not tempted to lean on it while singing.
At my karaoke event, organizers ensured that the stage was cleared of potential tripping hazards and that it was well-lit without having strobe or flashing lights in the area.
Related links
- Ten Things To Know About Going To College With A Blindness Cane
- Dance Classes and Low Vision
- How I Watch Concert Videos Without Strobe Lights
All the small things: Other tips for making karaoke accessible for low vision
- If you are helping a friend pick out a song from a karaoke book and there is more than one artist/band that has a song with that name, double-check the name of the artist or band with said friend. This mix-up has happened with several people I know, myself included.
- At the campus karaoke event, we had a “floater” person who would monitor song requests as well as help people on and off the stage if needed. Having an extra pair of hands was really helpful for both performers and the event staff. A lot of the events I attended at conferences offered the same thing.
- When my friend invited me to a karaoke event off campus, they recommended I bring the wide-brimmed hat I use for my pep band uniform to block out any glare from behind me, and that helped a lot. I share a photo of the hat in my post How I Play In GMU Green Machine/Pep Band With Low Vision
