10 Profitable Bar Events That Pair With Karaoke Nights
Karaoke is already a crowd-pleaser, but it can do even more for your venue than fill a Friday night with great music and questionable key changes. Pair it with the right event ideas, and you can create a full evening experience that keeps your guests singing, sipping, and spending from warm-up to last orders.
The smartest bar owners are using karaoke nights as the foundation for profitable themed events, designed to attract bigger groups, boost bar revenue, and bring people back for more. The mic stand might take centre stage, but the real spotlight is on how these events combine fun, food, and flaming drinks with clever marketing and a solid planning process.
Let’s explore 10 karaoke-friendly events that hit the right note for your next event, complete with profitable extras and bar-based upsells that make them a big hit for your bottom line.
10 Bar Events Perfectly Paired with Karaoke
First things first – you need the right karaoke system to get the party started. Good news: Lucky Voice has you covered. Our range of professional karaoke machines and software is designed to suit all types of venues, whether you’re running a cosy pub, a high-energy cocktail bar or hosting regular private parties. Check out our variety of karaoke systems:
1. Themed Karaoke Nights with Signature Cocktails
Lean into the music and build a night around a specific genre, artist or era. Think Taylor Swift vs. Beyoncé, 90s R&B throwback, or Indie Night: Arctic Monkeys to Wet Leg. These kinds of events not only bring in the fans, they also open the door to signature drinks inspired by popular shows and performers.
A “Lavender Haze” gin fizz or a “Single Ladies” sparkling spritz? That’s an easy upsell. Create a short menu for your themed night, promote it on socials, and encourage guests to post their drinks while they Shake It Off.
🎤 Bonus tip: Let your bar staff dress for the theme to set the vibe - it’s great for photos, and even better for tips.
2. Karaoke Brunches for Less Busy Days
Weekends don’t have to start in the evening. Karaoke brunches are a brilliant way to bring life to quieter periods like Sunday afternoons or early Saturdays. Combine an affordable set menu, bottomless seasonal drinks or prosecco, and a casual karaoke setup for a great food and music combo.
It’s all about keeping the energy light and the drinks flowing. Plus, people celebrating a birthday party or hen do love a private party feel in the daytime.
🎤 Bonus tip: Use a portable karaoke system (like the Lucky Voice Pop-Up karaoke booth, wink wink, hint hint) to set up in the best-lit part of the venue and encourage daytime selfies with a mic stand moment.
3. Cocktail Masterclasses Before the Singing Starts
Start the night with a professional bartenders’ demo and mixology class before the karaoke kicks in. It’s a great way to encourage early arrivals, especially for private bookings and work parties.
Guests can learn how to shake up a signature cocktail, try flying bottles (under supervision), and create their own drink before stepping up to the mic. It works brilliantly with groups looking for a whole team night out with a bit of a twist.
🎤 Bonus tip: Offer competitive prices on masterclass tickets and bundle it with a drinks package for the whole event.
4. Drag & Karaoke Nights
Drag shows already bring energy, laughs and good vibes. Add hosting karaoke at your bar and you’ve got an unforgettable night that blends entertainment with crowd interaction. Whether you’re hosting a full drag cabaret or just bringing in a host to MC the singing, this is a fantastic event for midweek bookings and bigger weekends alike.
Make sure your bar equipment is ready to go. Lights, sound, and a stable wireless microphone setup are key. A good drag karaoke night is loud, funny, and worth every penny.
🎤 Bonus tip: Add flaming drinks or rainbow-themed signature cocktails to the menu. They’re popular, visual, and highly shareable.
5. Open Mic & Karaoke Hybrid Nights
Some guests love a bit of karaoke. Others want to sing originals or show off with a guitar. So why not run a night that combines both? Start with a couple of open mic slots, then transition into full karaoke chaos as the night progresses.
It’s perfect for local talent, encourages community, and appeals to a slightly different crowd than your usual karaoke regulars.
🎤 Bonus tip: Get your best bartenders involved to serve drinks on stage during standout performances, an easy way to spotlight staff and build hype.
6. Wedding Karaoke After-Parties
Karaoke at weddings? Absolutely. More couples are ditching the traditional DJ set for a fun-filled singalong once the formalities are over.
Partner with local wedding venues or planners to offer a portable karaoke setup as part of a wedding after-party package. Add-on services could include a signature drink named after the couple, a guest-requested song queue, and a late-night food menu.
🎤 Bonus tip: Offer to handle the whole event planning, from lighting to staff, so newlyweds know they’re in safe hands.
7. Karaoke Bingo or Quiz Nights
Here’s one for venues that want to ease people into the singing. Host a quiz where the answers are song lyrics, or add a karaoke round to your usual pub bingo.
Think: “Name That Tune, but sing it.” It brings a bit of theatre, makes quiz night more interactive, and gives your shy guests a reason to join in.
🎤 Bonus tip: Offer prizes like free drinks, a mic-drop moment on stage, or a bottle for the winning team.
8. Seasonal Events With a Karaoke Twist
Halloween, Christmas, Eurovision week - they’re all excuses for a themed karaoke night. Plan ahead for busy days with themed decor, a tailored drinks menu, and clear event details on your socials and website.
You can even create new drink specials like the “Santa Baby Negroni” or “Monster Mash Margarita”. These nights work well for large groups and private party bookings.
🎤 Bonus tip: Make the karaoke queue seasonal too - add your own playlist of Christmas classics or Eurovision bangers.
9. Bar Olympics: Karaoke Edition
A full evening of competitive (but friendly) bar games, topped off with karaoke. Think darts, pool, table games, and a final round on the mic.
Split the whole team into groups, award points for each challenge, and crown the winning team with drinks, food or karaoke glory. It’s a unique event idea that works great for work socials or freshers’ nights.
🎤 Bonus tip: Offer special requests for teams like personalised songs or custom drinks for each round.
10. Live Band Karaoke Nights
For the boldest bars, live band karaoke turns your night into a full-on concert. You bring in a band. The crowd supplies the vocals. It’s got all the spontaneity of karaoke with the energy of a gig.
It’s not for every venue, you’ll need the right space, bar equipment, and soundproofing, but when done well, it’s a showstopper that gets talked about all week.
🎤 Bonus tip: Run these on less busy days to drive footfall midweek and build a reputation for putting on big nights.
Why These Events Work
Pairing karaoke with themed events does more than add sparkle to your bar’s calendar. It:
Increases dwell time, meaning people stay longer, order more drinks and increase your bar revenue
Encourages group bookings and private parties
Attracts new customers through niche appeal
Makes it easier to upsell drinks, food and extras
Creates a unique event that’s easy to promote online
And with Lucky Voice karaoke systems, you don’t need a tech team to run them. Whether you're setting up a pop-up party, a permanent karaoke corner, or a full evening experience, you're covered. From stable software to quality sound and flexible packages, we can help you choose the best karaoke machine for your business.
Closing Thoughts
At Lucky Voice for Business, we help venues create karaoke nights that do more than entertain. They drive revenue, fill the bar, and get the community singing.
Our dedicated team is waiting to help you unlock the potential of karaoke systems in your venue today.
