Karaoke Your Way
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Quick Start Guide

Get running in 5 minutes!

Quick Start Guide - Karaoke Your Way

🚀 Get Running in 5 Minutes!

Welcome to Karaoke Your Way! This guide will get you up and running quickly, whether you're an event organizer, performer, or audience member.

🎯 Choose Your Role

🎤 Event Organizer (5 minutes)

Create and manage karaoke events with advanced queue management.

🎵 Performer (2 minutes)

Access events and manage your performance queue.

👥 Audience Member (30 seconds)

Join events and request songs (no account needed).

🎤 Event Organizer Quick Start

Step 1: Create Account (1 minute)

  1. Go to Karaoke Your Way
  2. Click "Get Started"
  3. Sign up with Google (recommended) or email
  4. Complete your profile

Step 2: Set Up Organization (1 minute)

  1. Go to Dashboard → Settings
  2. Click "Create Organization"
  3. Enter organization details
  4. Invite team members (optional)

Step 3: Create Song Library (2 minutes)

  1. Go to Libraries → "Create New Library"
  2. Add library details:
    • Name: "My First Library"
    • Description: "Songs for my events"
    • Cover Image: Upload a library image (optional)
  3. Click "Create Library"

Step 4: Add Songs (1 minute)

  1. Click "Add Song" in your library
  2. Fill in song details:
    • Title: "Bohemian Rhapsody"
    • Artist: "Queen"
    • Link: YouTube URL
  3. Click "Save Song"
  4. Repeat for more songs (or use bulk import)

Step 5: Create Event (1 minute)

  1. Go to Events → "Create New Event"
  2. Fill in event details:
    • Name: "My First Karaoke Night"
    • Date: Choose date and time
    • Location: "My Venue"
  3. Add at least one section (no need to attach libraries yet)
  4. Click "Create Event"

Step 6: Add Songs to Sections (2 minutes)

  1. Open your new event from the dashboard
  2. Use the Import Songs panel on the right to search and filter the catalog (title, artist, language, duet, karaoke-only, etc.)
  3. Multi-select songs, then click Add Selected to queue them into the section snapshot library
  4. Repeat for each section as needed—no more long scrolling through the entire database

Step 7 (Starter & Pro plans): Connect the Desktop Karaoke Player (2 minutes)

  1. Download the Karaoke Your Way Desktop Player from the Downloads page (requires an active Starter or Pro subscription)
  2. Install and launch the app—two native windows (Original & Karaoke) will open and stay open for reuse
  3. Mute the original window, unmute the karaoke window, and place them on the correct displays; settings persist across songs
  4. In PopNGo or Performer view, click Connect Desktop Player to link the web app to the desktop player
  5. Press Play (or use the individual link buttons) and the videos will route straight to those windows instead of browser popups
  6. Use End Performance in the web app to stop playback—your windows remain positioned for the next singer

Step 7a (Optional): Configure Local File Playback (1 minute)

If you have video files stored on your computer:

  1. Go to Dashboard → Settings → Preferences
  2. Set Local Files Base Path (e.g., C:\karaokeyourway\libraries or /home/user/karaoke/videos)
  3. When adding songs, use relative paths (e.g., song.mp4) or full paths
  4. Local files will play automatically when using the desktop player

Step 8 (Optional): Enable AI Assist (1 minute)

  1. Go to Dashboard → Settings → AI Assist
  2. Paste your OpenAI API key (we never store usage data—billing stays in your account)
  3. Pick a default model (recommended: gpt-4o-mini)
  4. Once enabled, you can:
    • Use the AI Event Planner to describe the crowd and auto-build sections/queues grounded in your libraries
    • Ask the PopNGo filter copilot to suggest language/genre/duet filters for practice sessions

🎉 You're ready! Share the event link with performers and audience.

🎵 Performer Quick Start

Step 1: Join Event (30 seconds)

  1. Get the event link from organizer
  2. Click the link and sign in
  3. Navigate to the event

Step 2: Access Performance Queue (30 seconds)

  1. Go to your assigned section
  2. Click "Manage Queue" button
  3. See your song queue with drag-and-drop reordering

Step 3: Perform Songs (1 minute)

  1. Start Song: Click "Play" → song marked as "Current"
  2. Open Link: Click song link → video opens in the connected desktop player (or a standard browser popup if no player is connected)
  3. Perform: Sing using the desktop player windows (or the browser popup if you're not connected—expect a fresh window each time)
  4. Complete: Click "Complete" → song disappears from queue
  5. Next Song: Repeat for next song

🎤 You're performing! Without the desktop player, your browser will open a new popup window for each song.

👥 Audience Quick Start

Step 1: Join Event (10 seconds)

  1. Click the public event link from organizer
  2. Enter your display name
  3. You're in!

Step 2: Request Songs (20 seconds)

  1. Browse Library: Use the song browser
  2. Search: Find specific songs
  3. Request: Click "Request Song"
  4. Vote: Vote on other requests

🎉 You're participating! Watch the live setlist and "Coming Up Next" preview.

⚡ Key Features to Know

🎯 Advanced Queue Management

  • Drag & Drop: Reorder songs by dragging
  • Status Tracking: Pending → Current → Completed
  • Visual Indicators: Color-coded status badges
  • Large Queues: Pagination for 50+ songs

🖥️ Desktop Player & Popups

  • Desktop Player (Starter/Pro): Routes karaoke/original YouTube links into two native windows you can park on external displays
  • Persistent Layout: Those native windows stay open, remember mute/fullscreen choices, and reuse for every new song
  • Web Controls: PopNGo and Performer view send play commands directly over your local connection—no manual copy/paste
  • Browser Fallback: If the desktop player isn't connected, the system opens a normal browser popup/tab for each song (positioning depends on the browser)
  • Local File Support: Play video files from your computer—configure base path in preferences, then use relative or full paths when adding songs

🔍 Search Everything

  • Library Search: Find songs by title, artist, genre, etc.
  • Real-Time: Instant results as you type
  • Multi-Field: Search across all song information

📱 Mobile Ready

  • Responsive: Works on all devices
  • Touch-Friendly: Easy mobile navigation
  • Fast Loading: Optimized for mobile networks

🎯 Pro Tips

For Organizers

  • Test First: Verify desktop player connection and song links before doors open
  • Structure Libraries: Keep private libraries tidy by genre, era, or language for easier importing
  • Use Import Panel Filters: Narrow by singer, language, karaoke-only, or the new Is Duet toggle to add songs fast
  • Train Team: Show performers how to connect to the desktop player and manage queues
  • Monitor Queue: Watch requests, adjust order, and keep the show moving

For Performers

  • Position Player Windows: Arrange the desktop player windows (or popup fallback) where you can read lyrics comfortably
  • Update Status: Mark songs complete to keep queue current
  • Use Search: Find songs quickly in large libraries
  • Practice Workflow: Get comfortable before performing

For Audience

  • Request Early: Submit requests early for better chances
  • Vote Actively: Help prioritize popular songs
  • Follow Guidelines: Respect event rules and etiquette
  • Stay Engaged: Participate throughout the show

🆘 Need Help?

Quick Resources

  • Help Center: Comprehensive guides
  • User Guide: Detailed documentation
  • FAQ: Common questions and solutions
  • Email Support: support@karaokeyourway.com

Common Issues

  • Desktop Player Not Connecting: Confirm the desktop app is running, the badge in PopNGo/Performer shows “Connected”, and the browser/device is on the same network
  • Song Links Not Working: Check URL, try different link
  • Queue Not Updating: Refresh page, check permissions
  • Popup Windows Blocked: If the player isn’t connected, allow popups so the fallback window can open
  • Mobile Issues: Use modern browser, check connection

🎉 You're Ready!

Next Steps

  1. Explore Features: Try all the tools available
  2. Create More Libraries: Build your song collection
  3. Run Your First Event: Put everything into practice
  4. Invite Team: Get others involved
  5. Join Community: Connect with other users

Advanced Features to Explore

  • Library Images: Upload cover images for libraries
  • Multi-Organization: Manage multiple groups
  • Bulk Import: Upload songs from Excel/CSV
  • Real-Time Updates: Live queue and status updates
  • Mobile Experience: Optimized mobile interface

Welcome to Karaoke Your Way! 🎤

For detailed information, check the Complete User Guide or FAQ.

Last Updated: December 2024
Version: 2.2

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