Many people have dreams of performing under the bright lights in front of an adoring audience, but stage fright prevents them from turning those dreams into reality.
Fortunately, Williamstown couple and professional musicians Emma Sidney and Rick Baldi are here to help.
This Saturday night at Kindred Studios in Yarraville, the pair will run Kara-ok, an event where those suffering from stage fright are given a safe space to to get up and perform.
“Everyone will sing with you, and for you, and give you that feeling of welcome applause,” said Sidney of Kara-ok, which as the name suggests, operates similar to a karaoke event, but with the artist’s original track playing in the background.
A professional recording artist with three jazz and Latin albums under her belt, Sidney came up with the idea of an event to help people overcome stage fright while running her own karaoke nights.
“I have noticed that people get stopped when they are faced with singing at a karaoke event,” she said.
“Some people are just too shy to join in.”
Having once been in a similar position herself before overcoming her fear and becoming a singer, Sidney decided to use her expertise to help others do the same.
“I created a community event to help them to feel free to join in the community spirit and enjoy that feeling of being free to express themselves on stage,” she said. Kara-ok is a one off event supported by an online course on stage fright, basic singing training and microphone technique.
Singers can also bring their own supporters along to join in sing with them.
Kara-ok will be held from 7-10pm on March 1.
Details: https://bit.ly/kara-okAU
Cade Lucas
