After a series of toasts and conversations, more than a dozen people at the table were slightly tipsy. The man sitting in the middle, seemingly the host, turned to the girl sitting next to him and said , "Let's begin."
Parties with music are taking center stage.
The musician, carrying a guitar, walked onto the stage-like area, complete with small speakers, an LED screen, and a sound mixer. The musician and singer played an upbeat opening piece, causing all the diners to sway along to the music.
After the singer finished her performance, the guests at the party took turns performing, accompanied by professional guitar accompaniment, comparable to that of large-scale stages.
This is the atmosphere of a party with music at a restaurant on Nguyen Chanh Street ( Hanoi ), named "Goodbye Autumn 2023" by the owner, which took place on the first day of November.
Gone are the days when friends, colleagues, and business partners would go karaoke after meals. Instead, parties with live music like the one above are becoming increasingly popular in Hanoi.
Those once-fancy karaoke bars are now closing down and no longer operating.
According to Mr. Hoang Van Khanh, the host of the party with live music, for the past five to seven years, he has stopped going to karaoke with his friends and instead opted for parties with live music . "Singing along with live musicians right in the party room after eating is more civilized, polite, and less expensive than going to karaoke," Mr. Khanh shared.
He recounted that in the past, every time he went to karaoke, especially when requesting "hostesses," he had to spend up to tens of millions of dong. "When everyone was tipsy, the girls would open beer bottles indiscriminately, even if we didn't drink any. Then there was the fruit and food brought in haphazardly; we couldn't control it. Not to mention the tips for the 'hostesses,' which were truly outrageous, " Khánh said.
Hanoi's partygoers are no strangers to the striptease performances of the girls serving at NT karaoke bar – a notorious entertainment spot in Hanoi. Customers have to "buy" each piece of clothing from the girls. This continues until all the girls' clothes have been bought, leaving the customers' wallets empty with the amount paid reaching tens of millions of dong.
"With a party that includes music, we get to sing along to live music, listen to young singers perform songs we request, and also control the costs," said Mr. Khanh, adding that the fee for musicians and sound technicians is 5 million VND. If there are singers, it's an additional 2-3 million VND per person.
The once-popular karaoke bars are now deserted.
Another reason why karaoke rooms are gradually fading into oblivion is that during the recent COVID-19 pandemic, karaoke venues were among the first to be ordered to cease operations because they are held in enclosed spaces, making it easy for the disease to spread.
In particular, following the comprehensive fire safety and rescue inspection of karaoke establishments, bars, and nightclubs on October 7, 2022, more than a year has passed, and karaoke venues in Hanoi remain closed. This prolonged absence has caused many customers to lose interest in this form of entertainment.
Family party, entertaining guests with singers.
At parties with live music, there are often young singers. They may be students from art schools, or singers who have risen to prominence from the amateur singing movement. In some exceptional cases, there are "private shows" that even invite famous singers.
The runner-up of a television program shared that he doesn't mind performing at parties held at home because, for him, any stage, big or small, is fine as long as he can sing, share his voice with those he loves, and indulge his passion.
In the post-COVID-19 period, entertainment activities hadn't fully revived. Therefore, house parties were a place where he could indulge his passion for singing. "I don't know about others, but for me, sometimes just being able to sing and hear the applause of the people is enough to make me happy."
Furthermore, these kinds of performances, though small, are where I learn so much. They help me explore and refine my performance style, my singing technique, and how to interact and converse with the audience. Because the space is small, I can easily grasp people's emotions, clearly sense how they like my singing and performance. This helps me improve myself and gradually conquer bigger stages in the future."
A guitarist said that he has received many invitations to perform at family and private parties recently. He said: "This form of organizing performances at private and family parties has been around for a long time, but it has become more common in recent years. Depending on the time of year, such parties are organized for the host to invite friends to celebrate and socialize, and we artists contribute to creating the atmosphere for the party."
The artist stated, and didn't hesitate to reveal, that the fees for singers and artists at private parties and home gatherings aren't very high. However, such parties often have minor requirements regarding attire and performance, and these are compensated separately.
"Depending on the program and the client's requirements, we will prepare appropriate costumes and uniforms. These requirements will incur additional costs. For family events, my fee is only 5 million VND, and there will be additional costs for the singers," the guitarist further explained.
Cao Dieu Linh is neither a singer nor an art student. However, due to her impressive singing voice and attractive appearance, she is in high demand for performances at private parties.
Speaking to VTC News, Cao Dieu Linh said that these are entirely wholesome entertainment activities. In recent years, while karaoke bars in Hanoi have not yet reopened, these parties have become increasingly popular.
The host often invites a few musicians, sometimes just a guitar player, and they sing together acoustically. The atmosphere at these parties is very joyful and cozy.
According to Dieu Linh, although she is not a professional singer, she gets quite a lot of gigs thanks to recommendations from many people. For her, singing at these events allows her to fulfill her passion for singing while also earning an income. If she happens to encounter technical problems, people are understanding and even applaud to encourage her to sing again.
"I think this form of entertainment will develop even further in the future," said Dieu Linh.
Minh Anh
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