Mike Miller of Jackson, who is an employee in the Six Flags Great Adventure safari, will attempt to set a world record for karaoke singing on March 24 at McGinn’s Pub, Route 537, Jackson. Miller will be raising money for the Wounded Warriors Project. Mike Miller is a man from Jackson who likes to sing. The 25-year-old can often be found entertaining people at- local karaoke nights, and he has occasionally been seen singing to exotic animals while he works as a safari warden at the Six Flags Great Adventure theme park in the township.
Later this month, Miller will attempt to take his penchant for singing all the way to the Guinness Book of World Records by singing at a local bar for 104 continuous hours.
“I have always loved the energy karaoke brings to people. No matter who they are, they always love a certain genre and sing along, dance and have a good time,” Miller said. “It’s just one of the records I have felt was most possible for me to do.”
Miller said the inspiration for the event stemmed from about seven years of weekly karaoke outings.
Starting at noon on March 24, Miller will take to the stage at McGinn’s Pub, Monmouth Road (Route 537), Jackson, to belt out a continuous playlist of about 175 songs from a variety of artists and genres.
The performance will not only serve as an effort to cement his name in the annals of world-record history, but also as a way to raise at least $5,000 for the Wounded Warriors Project, a charity that Miller said hits close to home.
“My dad was a veteran and a lot of my friends are veterans, and they were lucky enough to come back OK. It would be hard for me to muster enough courage to do that, so this was a thing I felt would be my best way to help them out,” Miller said. For a little more than four days, Miller will perform songs under a tent on the bar’s outdoor patio.
In preparation for the record attempt, Miller said he has visited a number of doctors to learn what type of physical and mental health issues may arise from not getting a full night’s sleep for four days straight.
“Because of the sleep deprivation, which would set in around two to three days, I’ll face things like exhaustion, being overly aggressive … and get lightheaded or pass out. It’s such a big range,” Miller said.
Doctors have told him it could take two to four weeks for him to fully recover, with some of the symptoms occasionally returning within that time period.
In order to mitigate some of those symptoms, Miller said some time at the gym, as well as self-imposed sleep deprivation on some weekends, has helped him get ready.
As for when Miller will find time during those 104 hours to eat, drink and use the restroom, the Guinness Book of World Records guidelines allow for five minutes of break time for each hour performed, and those minutes can be pooled and used all at once if needed.
Regardless of whether he completes his attempt, Miller said he hopes his efforts will bring a smile to people’s faces and help wounded veterans along the way.
For more information about Miller’s world-record attempt and ways to volunteer or donate, visit www.support.woundedwarriorproject.org/individual-fundraising/karaoke record or www.facebook.com/karaokerecordattempt