Karaoke Host & System

Bible briefing · vendor shortlist coming

A karaoke host arrives with a full PA, mic-and-mixer rig, and licensed song library to run karaoke at private events, corporate parties, members'-club nights, and bar takeovers. NYC operators book at $200-$700 for a 3-hour set; venues running their own karaoke nights need to know KaraFun PRO is venue-side liability (not bundled), and 17 USC §504 statutory damages run $750-$30K per song for unlicensed playback.

Buyer's guide

How to book NYC karaoke + venues + systems

Karaoke is one of the consistently in-demand NYC nightlife formats — Insa Brooklyn KTV ($80/hr small / $200/hr large + 20% auto-grat) is the destination NYC reference. Operator + venue split: book a private-room karaoke venue (Insa / Sing Sing / Karaoke Cave / Karaoke One 7) OR rent karaoke equipment + host (Karafun PRO + KJ host) for in-venue installations.

Brand short list. NYC karaoke venue: Insa Brooklyn KTV (the destination NYC karaoke · $80/hr small / $200/hr large + 20% auto-grat) + Sing Sing (East Village) + Karaoke Cave (Brooklyn) + Karaoke One 7 (East Village) + Pulse Karaoke Lounge (Midtown). Operator-side equipment + host: Karafun PRO = venue-side liability NOT bundled (links to BgMusic ASCAP/BMI/SESAC). KJ booker + DJ: Drag Mafia NYC + Bookin' the Scene + Direct booking via venue.

NYC-specific traps: Karafun PRO is venue-side liability NOT bundled — confirm public-performance rights ASCAP/BMI/SESAC bundled or separate. 17 USC §504 statutory damages $750-$30K/song. Insa Brooklyn KTV $80/hr small / $200/hr large + 20% auto-grat. Bachelorette + birthday booking 2-4 weeks ahead at NYC peak.

Vendors profiled below

•Insa Brooklyn KTV— NYC destination karaoke private-room venue. $80/hr small / $200/hr large + 20% auto-grat.

Types — see what they actually look like

2 types

🎤Private karaoke venue roomPrivate room

Black corded microphone

Insa Brooklyn KTV · the destination NYC karaokeInsa Brooklyn KTV$80-$200/hr

Private karaoke venue room

2-30+ guest private room · 2-4 hr

Insa Brooklyn KTV / Sing Sing-tier private-room booking. The destination NYC bachelorette + birthday format.

Price

$80-$300/hr/room

Best for

Bachelorette + birthday + corporate-team-building + bar-friend-night.

3 variants in the wild

Top brands

Insa Brooklyn KTVSing SingKaraoke CaveKaraoke One 7

🎵Karaoke host + system rentalIn-venue

Black corded microphone

KJ host + Karafun system · in-venue 4-6 hr programBookin' the Scene · Karafun PRO$500-$2.5K

Karaoke host + system rental

50-300 guest event · 4-6 hr set

KJ host + Karafun PRO system rental for in-venue + private-event karaoke installation.

Price

$500-$2,500/event

Best for

Bar weekly residency + corporate-event entertainment + brand-activation karaoke moment.

1 variants in the wild

Top brands

Bookin' the SceneDrag Mafia NYCGigSaladKarafun PRO

Brands — how the big names compare

1 brands

Insa Brooklyn KTV

Brooklyn NY · destination NYC karaoke

Insa · Brooklyn NYC

NYC destination karaoke private-room venue. $80/hr small / $200/hr large + 20% auto-grat.

Insa Brooklyn KTV is the destination NYC karaoke private-room venue — Brooklyn-based with multi-room private karaoke + restaurant + bar program. $80/hr small room / $200/hr large room + 20% auto-grat industry-standard pricing. The bachelorette + birthday + corporate-team-building NYC reference.

Top NYC models

Small private room · 2-4 hr
Up to 8 guests · 2-hr min
$80/hr + 20% grat
Large private room · 2-4 hr
Up to 30 guests · 2-hr min
$200/hr + 20% grat

Strengths

+NYC destination karaoke venue
+Multi-room private booking
+Restaurant + bar programming integration

Weaknesses

−20% auto-grat on top of room rental
−Weekend booking 2-4 weeks ahead

Best for

Bachelorette + birthday + corporate team building + bar friend night.

Vendor profileGet in Nightrush →

By venue type — recommended setup

Venue	Recommended setup	Cost
Bachelorette (10 guests)	Insa Brooklyn KTV small room · 3-hr booking + drinks	$300-$500
Corporate team building (25 guests)	Sing Sing / Karaoke Cave large room · 3-hr + bar tab	$650-$1.5K
Brand activation karaoke moment	KJ host + Karafun PRO · 4-hr in-venue · bar drinks	$1.5K-$5K

Common operator questions

All 2,049 FAQs →

⏎Insa vs Sing Sing vs Karaoke Cave · which fits my event?→⏎How does Karafun PRO + ASCAP/BMI/SESAC apply to in-venue karaoke?→

Sourced from operator + planner interviews + karaoke-venue benchmarks 2025-26.

Run your venue from one app.

Download Nightrush. Find vendors, send RFPs, book the right people for your operation. We’ll have a real website soon.

Vendor shortlist coming.

We have an audited bible for karaoke host & system on file, but the public vendor shortlist isn’t live yet. Download Nightrush — we’ll match you to the right karaoke host & system vendors directly inside the app.

Browse other categories.

19 more vetted-vendor lists across team, ops, marketing, and event services.

All categories →