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There's a certain segment of the population to which machines and microphones call — loudly — in a pre-recorded mix of drum beats and guitar riffs that cannot be ignored. These people are the shower singers, the car crooners, the dinner-time divas who look to Tim McGraw, Neil Diamond, Gwen Stefani and their ilk for the inspiration lacking in everyday routines at, say, work, where belting out a chorus of Stand By Your Man can be grounds for a visit by a delegate from human resources. These people are brave, confident, fearless in the face of possible ridicule and — dare we say it? — often immensely talented. They're regulars at your local hangout, but if you're an after-work barfly, you may have missed them. They generally arrive late and stand in the shadows until the night is ripe, the alcohol is flowing and the mood is loose and forgiving.

These are the singers of karaoke, and they're everywhere.

"Karaoke is huge in Dayton," said Nancy Sell, who's been setting up her traveling karaoke business for nearly 10 years. "It's good, wholesome entertainment, where folks can meet other people and just generally have a great time."

Sell is booked five nights a week at different venues around town; her catalog of available songs fills several fat notebooks, which people pore over in preparation for taking the stage. There's no rhyme nor reason to the songs people sing, though full-out rap tends to be a challenge avoided by even the most daring singer.

"It depends on what's going on in life," said Shay Spillman, 25, of Huber Heights whose voice rivals any American Idol wannabe. Spillman's rendition of Independence Day would give Martina McBride reason to consider retirement; her support of equally talented friend Heather Gray, 21, of Carlisle, is the stuff buddy movies are made of.

"We come all the time," Gray said. "It's just a blast."

If you're thinking about testing the karaoke waters, be advised that while they're warm and welcoming, it's still important to jump in feet first — no looking back, no hiding behind your hands or your friends, no giggling through the song and no diving off the stage mid-tune.

"Everybody's really rooting for you, because everybody's here to have a good time," said Marsha Stiven, 32, of Kettering, who frequents different karaoke venues for the good, clean fun of it. "Nobody's judging — this isn't a contest, unless it is, and then it's a different ballgame because

there's money at stake. Usually, it's just people who like to sing, and if you're good, that's great. If you suck, that's cool, too. Lots of people don't know the difference anyway."

Katrina St. Clair, 28, of Dayton, is a karaoke regular who put aside one of her staple songs — the more-than-slightly suggestive I Touch Myself by the Divinyls — for the relative safety of New York State of Mind, originally recorded by Billy Joel, because there were relatives in the house.

"I didn't want to shock them," she laughed.