If you’re doing business in Asia, there’s one culture you cannot avoid: KTV. And no, I’m not talking about regular karaoke. I’m talking about private rooms where you and your clients drink, sing, and pay for girls (or guys) to keep you company. China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand… different versions of the same thing. And if you can’t play along, you might find yourself left out of some pretty important business meetings. 🤷🏻‍♀️ If you didn’t grow up here, your first experience can be a real culture shock. The mamasan walks in with a lineup, asks you to pick, and suddenly you’re sitting there with someone awkwardly, not knowing where to look or what to do. I got dragged into a few of these KTV nights in Singapore last week, and here’s my little survival hack that has never failed: Always pick the one who LOVES singing. Seriously. Find the girl or guy who’s genuinely obsessed with the microphone. They’ll happily sing all night. Duets with your business partners, solo performances, fighting for the mic… they’ll basically entertain themselves for hours. Meanwhile, you don’t have to make small talk, flirt, or keep drinking with someone you barely know. You fit right in, your business partner think you belong, your companion is having the time of their life, and you survive the entire night without a single awkward moment. Everybody wins. You’re welcome.