What you need for a family karaoke night

A family karaoke night needs more than songs and a microphone. Plan drinks, easy buffet food, serving dishes and enough tableware for the full guest list, then check the technical essentials before shopping. Count seating, glasses and plates per guest, with a small spare supply for breakages and seconds. Cables, power strips, microphone stands and a screen are easy to overlook, so confirm what comes with the karaoke set before you buy or collect anything.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Tablesqty 5
Chairsqty 32
Coat rack

Tableware

Platesqty 40
Dessert platesqty 40
Bowlsqty 8
Cutlery setsqty 40
Drinking glassesqty 40
Coffee mugsqty 24
Serving traysqty 5
Serving spoonsqty 5

Equipment

Karaoke speakersqty 2
Wireless microphonesqty 2
Monitor screen
Laptop
Microphone standsqty 2
HDMI cable
Extension cordsqty 3
Power stripsqty 3

Kitchen

Coolersqty 2
Thermos flasksqty 2
Kettle
Cutting boardsqty 3
Bread knivesqty 2
Bottle openersqty 2

Decorations

Tableclothsqty 5
Balloonsqty 40
Buntingqty 4
Song cardsqty 40

Lighting

String lightsqty 2

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 3

Catering

Groceries
- White casinobread - 5 loaves
- Wholemeal sandwich bread - 3 loaves
- Mini soft rolls - 40 pieces
- Butter - 500 grams
- Young cheese - 1,5 kilo
- Back ham - 1 kilo
- Chicken breast slices - 750 grams
- Cream cheese - 500 grams
- Hummus - 500 grams
- Cucumbers - 4 pieces
- Tomatoes - 1 kilo
- Lettuce - 3 heads
- Paprika chips - 3 bags
- Plain chips - 3 bags
- Tortilla chips - 3 bags
- Salted peanuts - 2 bags
- Spiced nuts - 2 bags
- Cherry tomatoes - 1 kilo
- Grapes - 2 kilos
- Apples - 20 pieces
- Mini sausages - 2 kilos
- Bitterballen - 2 kilos
- Mini spring rolls - 2 kilos
- Mayonnaise - 1 bottle
- Ketchup - 1 bottle
- Mustard - 1 jar
- Garlic sauce - 1 bottle
- Chocolate cake - 2 cakes
- Whipped cream - 4 cans
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 4 bottles
- Sinas - 3 bottles
- Iced tea - 3 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 5 bottles
- Spa Rood - 3 bottles
- Apple juice - 3 packs
- Orange juice - 3 cartons
- Coffee - 3 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Milk - 5 liters
- Oat milk - 2 liter
- Sugar - 500 grams
- Mints - 1 box
- Lemons - 6 pieces
- Ice cubes - 5 bags
- Paper napkins - 120 pcs
- Paper towels - 4 rolls
- Toilet paper - 12 rolls
- Garbage bags - 30 pieces
- Dish soap - 1 bottle
- Dishwasher tablets - 20 pieces
- Sponges - 4 pieces
- All-purpose cleaner - 1 bottle

Tips

Count one dinner plate, one dessert plate, one bowl, one cutlery set and one drinking glass per guest, then add 10% extra. Include coffee mugs if you are serving hot drinks.
Plan two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then one drink per person for each additional hour. Chill them in coolers early enough, and keep a separate supply of non-chilled drinks.
Buy buffet food that can be served without last-minute cooking, and allow at least two portions per guest across the savoury snacks and desserts. Check dietary requirements before finalising quantities.
Test the karaoke speakers, wireless microphones, monitor screen and laptop at least one day before the event. Confirm that the HDMI cable, extension cords and power strips reach the setup without creating a trip hazard.
Set aside serving trays, serving spoons, bottle openers, cutting boards and bread knives before guests arrive. These practical items are often forgotten when the shopping is done, especially when food is prepared in stages.

Frequently asked questions

What food do I need for a family karaoke night?: Choose easy buffet food and snacks that can be eaten between songs. Allow at least two portions per guest in total, then add extra options for dietary requirements collected before shopping.
How many drinks should I buy for karaoke night?: Plan two to three drinks per person for the first hour and one drink per person for every hour after that. Add water and a separate supply of non-alcoholic drinks for children and guests who are not drinking alcohol.
How much tableware do I need for a family karaoke night?: Start with one plate, dessert plate, bowl, cutlery set and drinking glass per guest, plus 10% spare. Add coffee mugs according to the number of people likely to want hot drinks.
When should I check the karaoke equipment?: Check the full setup at least one day before the event, including microphones, speakers, screen, laptop and audio or video connections. Test the HDMI cable, extension cords and power strips again when setting up on the day.

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