Where to do karaoke in Dayton + tips for the best karaoke night

Sometimes it just feels right to get up on stage and belt it out. If you’re ready to take your turn at the mic, check out these Dayton karaoke bars.

Red Carpet Tavern

Throughout most of the week, Red Carpet Tavern is a normal bar. But on Friday and Saturday nights at 9:30, it transforms into a great place for karaoke fun.

3301 Wayne Avenue, Dayton, OH

Soft Rock Cafe

As the only dedicated karaoke bar in Dayton, Soft Rock Cafe should be on your list. It’s the perfect set up for bringing a group of friends and making sure everyone gets a turn in the spotlight. Open Thursday-Saturday evenings.

877 E. Franklin Street, Centerville, OH

Yellow Cab Tavern

After weekly charity bingo, Yellow Cab Tavern hosts karaoke every Tuesday at 8 p.m. With a rotation of 60,000 songs, you’re sure to find the perfect song to sing.

700 E. Fourth Street, Dayton, OH

Nowhere in Particular Cabinet of Curiosities

NIPCOC hosts karaoke night Mondays at 7 p.m. and Fridays at 8 p.m. each week. Grab a delicious craft beer and sing your heart out Monday with a Friday encore!

4716 Wilmington Pike, Kettering, OH

The Reserve on Third

On Thursdays, night club The Reserve on Third lets customers provide the playlist with karaoke that happens to line up perfectly with happy hour from 6-9 p.m.

452 E. Third Street, Dayton, OH

NextDoor

Every Thursday at 9 p.m. you have a chance to be the star on the main stage at NextDoor.

454 E. Fifth Street, Dayton, OH

Moeller Brew Barn – Dayton

At Moeller Brew Barn, you can order tasty Moeller beer and get set for karaoke each Thursday starting at 7 p.m.

416 E. First Street, Dayton, OH

The Stage Door

As one of the oldest gay bars in the midwest, karaoke has been a long time, weekly event at The Stage Door. Every Friday and Saturday take your place on stage.

44 N. Jefferson Street, Dayton, OH

On Par Entertainment

In addition to plenty of other fun activities like darts and pin bowling, On Par has public and private karaoke. Take center stage on the public side or entertain just your lucky friends in one of their five private karaoke rooms.

4464 Indian Ripple Road, Beavercreek, OH

The Barrel House

If you love craft beer and can follow their one rule (no assholes), try The Barrel House’s karaoke night Tuesdays 7-11 p.m. They offer $5 off full draft flights until 9 p.m. And if you’re looking for a great place to hang out on Wednesdays, their Wu Tang Wednesdays are not to be missed.

417 E. Third Street, Dayton, OH

Two Social

Popular axe-throwing destination, Two Social, offers karaoke occasionally. Check their Events to find out when you might be able to sing your jam and throw some axes to celebrate.

123 E. Third Street, Dayton, OH

Curio (Late Spring – Early Fall)

If you’ve ever wanted to try karaoke outside, check out Downton Dayton Partnership’s Curio for their monthly “Curioke” the second Wednesday of every month from 4-6 p.m. at Courthouse Square. DORA drinks are sold at Curio so it’s the perfect way to have a little midweek, after work fun.

23 N. Main Street, Dayton, OH

Tokyo Kitty

While this one isn’t in Dayton, it’s worth a visit. With reservable private rooms each with its own robot bartender, Tokyo Kitty is a destination karaoke fans should experience at least once.

575 Race Street, Cincinnati, OH

Karaoke Night Tips

Nervous to claim the spotlight? Be ready to sing your heart out with these tips.

Make a list ahead of time

One of the hardest things about karaoke is remembering songs you want to sing. Taking a little time before heading out to jot down a few songs you know and love (maybe in the Notes app on your phone) can make all the difference. Make sure to pick a few songs because not every karaoke place will have access to every song.

Pick karaoke-friendly songs

When making your list, take a moment to listen through the entire song you want to sing. Things to consider while you’re listening:

• Length of song – 3.5 minutes might be nothing on a long drive by yourself but can feel like a lifetime on stage, especially if you happen to have a little stage fright.
• Musical breaks – Without a backing band to interact with, it’s just you and the music up there without a whole lot to do to fill those endless bars of no vocals.
• Range – There is no rule in karaoke that states you have to be a talented vocalist to take part in the fun. Voices of all kinds are welcome, but taking a little time beforehand to figure out your vocal range can help you pick songs that are more comfortable on your vocal cords. You can’t sing all night if you hurt your voice in your first number.
• Repetition – Some songs lean pretty heavy on a killer chorus but by the 6th time around, you might be ready to sit back down. Look for songs that change it up to keep you and the audience interested.

Run through your songs

You don’t have to have every song down with precision, but having a good handle of when the vocals come in, the tempo, the words, etc. can make up for differences in track quality (not all karaoke versions of all songs are created equally).

Add some friends

Karaoke doesn’t have to be a solo gig. Do you have someone who might do a duet with you? Maybe a few ladies to help you realize your girl group dreams? Coordinate a show-stopping number with your friends to wow the crowd.

Have fun!