Deep down, we all want to be rock stars; we want to own the stage, microphone in hand, with adoring fans dancing at our feet. If you're like me and can't play any instruments, it makes satisfying the need to rock a little harder than originally thought. Thankfully, with the help of the Japanese art of karaoke, all these rock star dreams can (kind of) come true.

I'm sure most of the people at Fanshawe are aware of what karaoke is, whether you've taken part yourself or stumbled upon it not realizing it was going on. For those unaware of this pastime, karaoke (meaning empty orchestra) involves a recorded version of a popular song without vocals and the song's lyrics displayed on a screen to be sung.

So how do you become a karaoke star? Most people think that in order to be good at karaoke, you need to be good at singing, which is not true at all. Follow these easy steps and you too can own the stage as a karaoke god.

Find the karaoke bar that's right for you
London is full of karaoke, you just need to find the right place to go — a place that makes you feel at ease. For some people that might mean a regular spot for them and their friends with a karaoke night. For instance, if you find yourself becoming a regular at Wink's, then you can check out their Sunday night karaoke. For others, it might depend on the night of the week that works best for you. Pick a night and find out where you can take part in this activity. Unfortunately there is no full list of places in London with karaoke, but keep your eye peeled and the best place for you will make itself known. Not comfortable in a group setting yet? Remember that rooms are available to rent at both Star Karaoke (120 York St.) and Poachers Arms (171 Queens Ave.) any night of the week.

Get a posse together
They say your friends are your biggest fans — use that to your advantage. Bring a group of friends with you on your outing. They don't even have to sing (the fewer people who sing, the less time you have to wait for your turn), but they should enjoy watching. When you're surrounded by familiar faces, you'll be more likely to drop your guard and feel more comfortable cutting loose, resulting in a more enjoyable performance. Plus, if these people are your true friends, they will cheer you on, and, if the song is right, dance. When this happens, more people throughout the bar will feel more inclined to cheer and clap, creating more fans for you.

Practice makes perfect
Want to kill it at karaoke? Practice, practice, practice. Make a list of songs you want to sing (you can search through the karaoke song book at the bar for different gems in between turns to see what's available) and practice them at home. You can find videos of songs with lyrics or karaoke versions of songs on YouTube to sing along with, and there are more than a handful of websites with lyrics to almost every song. Like I said before, you don't need to be a great singer to be good at karaoke, but if you know the rhythm of the song well enough and have an idea of what the lyrics are, it'll impress your viewers.

Pick a crowd-pleaser
If you want to get people's attention, choose a song everyone enjoys. Whether it's a classic pop hit or a powerful love ballad, if you sing a popular jam, people will be more likely to react to it. Danceable tunes always go over well at any karaoke night. If you're not afraid to shake it while on stage, people will be more willing to join you on the dance floor. Ballads are also good, but only if sung as a novelty. If someone wanted to listen to a serious rendition of "Hello," they'd listen to Lionel Ritchie's greatest hit. But if you make it your own and have fun with it, people will clap along and, in some cases, slow dance.

So there you go. I hope these tips help you on your way to karaoke stardom. Just remember to have fun and make the most of it and your fans will love you.