Fife's Top Quality Singer

This page contains: Track List, My Equipment, My Lighting, Playing My Tracks, Track Preparation

What I Do...(and how I do it)

I currently gig around Scotland, but may be persuaded to go further afield if the gig is right, so don't be afraid to ask.  I usually perform once or twice weekly in pubs and clubs as a solo act, covering a wide range of styles and songs. My usual night consists of 3 x 40 minute sets, with musical styles ranging from pop and rock to blues and jazz. If you have any special song requests or genres in mind for your evening, just let me know in advance.

Cabaret, Private Functions & Casino Night Entertainment

My fee is very much dependant on what you want, and when you want it!  Just get in touch with your event date and time and any other info you think I may need. 

I can also provide over an hour of Bond themes/jazz/lounge songs under my belt.  If any of you pubs or clubs out there are having a casino night, I could make the atmosphere that little bit more authentic.

If you have any suggestions, queries or comments please feel free to leave me a message or email me.

Weddings and private functions

When getting in contact re private functions or weddings, it is useful if you could provide the following information -

1. name and contact details

2. venue, date and time of function

3. special requests/first dances

4. access to hall/function room - will you be having dinner beforehand and need us to come along and set up earlier in the day?

5. will there be anyone else speaking/singing on the day?

My usual night consists of 3 x 40 minute sets, so you will need to decide on your requirements for the rest of the night.  For wedding bookings, please note that you will require a DJ for the rest of the evening.  I have a few contacts in the business so maybe I could sort that out for you too!

May I also ask that you allow me to calculate costs and get back to you, as there are many factors to be taken into consideration.  if you would rather email me and await a reply then please feel free to do so.

During my act I can choose tracks from the list below:

NB This list is not exhaustive and I add new material on a regular basis. 

I can also learn any songs you require of me, provided I have at least two weeks' notice of the booking

My Equipment...

I like to chat with other singers and sometimes find myself giving advice to people who are interested in starting out working clubs and pubs for a living.  Below is a brief insight into the technical aspect of my solo show. I hope it answers a few questions for anyone who wants to know what I use. Just email me for further information if needed...

For a while now my system has been a Mackie DFX6 mixer feeding two Mackie SRM 450's. Al says it was worth every penny. (£1200 ish with stands and leads, back in 07) The system was bought from Sound Control's shop in Kirkcaldy which has since closed. With a little haggling Al and I reckon we got a good deal. Its always worth taking a print out of internet prices when shopping.

I also now use a set of dB in ear monitors, these cut the chances of feedback because the main PA can be in front of me and I still hear myself and my tracks. A couple of hundred pounds well spent, but worth it to keep in tune. My mic is a Sennheiser ew 145. It is supercardioid mic so that the chances of feedback squeals are reduced and it sounds fantastic.... but it was pricey. Mind you I've never had the local taxis coming through my system so the extra cost is maybe worth it.

Al has fitted all the above and a lighting controller into a 6u rack box. My mixer is screwed to a drawer unit so that it pulls out for use and my laptop sits on top, along with its USB fan unit, to keep it cool. It means we can set up/pack up in minutes. Our box also has a top hat speaker mounting socket on the bottom which allows us to sit it on top of a cut down speaker stand... meaning we don't need a table in the tight corner of the pub.

I now use a bit of percussion in my act too.  I have a red half moon shaped tambourine.  I can't remember the brand however, as I have recently covered the grip with tennis racket grip tape.  I was finding I was getting blisters on my thumb and forefinger, so Al came up with the racket grip idea.  I must recommend it to other singers out there who have the same problem.  Occasionally I use my little egg shaker in my act too, but the sound is too quiet unless I hold it right up to the mic.

I've started learning the blues harp (harmonica) and have been using it a little when I rehearse with my band/acoustic duo (as yet unnamed).  Watch this space!!!

My Lighting...

I've simplified my pub and club lighting. We now only occasionally take the NJD Euro 4E lighting controller (fitted into our rack case) feeding four PAR 36 coloured lamps spotlighting the dance floor.  I always have my two Kam par56 LED lamps on pole mounts (under the speakers), linked together to synchronise the colour and timing. I use these to highlight myself as it can be dark in the corner of the pub.

For weddings and larger venues we can also pull out our Tripod Stand holding "Beam Effect" XTC and Wild Blaze Lights and Botex LLS-403 LASER. I have also added a multi effect LED lighting rig to the act, details of which I will add later.

I have a large selection of karaoke discs from lots of companies,  and I would recommend the "Sing To The World" website as a way of getting hold of individual tracks that you find yourself short of. I also use Selectatrack.

Playing My Tracks...

To play my backing tracks we now use a new Medion Akoya laptop through an external USB sound card - our HP Pavilion Laptop was starting to have problems with its soundcard, so it is now the backup. Popular opinion is that the best equipment is mini disc but the way forward will probably be to use a laptop pc. I always carry a back up mp3 player too.

I use a program called DJ2000 to select my tracks and have set this up to feed Winamp (free) which also has a free plug in on it to try to keep the output level. Although some tracks need altering with Audacity first to amplify or reduce them. In the breaks I use Mixmeister Pro 6 to play previously prepared playlists... It fades mp3s together like a DJ.

So how do I prepare my tracks ?

Well it is (for me) a long process. I choose the tracks I want to add into my set, then I listen to the original along with a set of lyrics (I use the internet to find them).  I have my own way of customising my lyrics to make them easy for me to follow.   I highlight any important high sections in red, and any low sections in green.  Alan reckons I am a bit pernickety about my lyrics sheets, but if my method works, why change it?  If you are thinking of starting out, then why not come to a gig and marvel at my (over) attention to detail.

Seriously though, it is a good idea to have some sort of method.  I have depped at a gig using someone else's lyrics book, and I was quite unsettled at how higgledy piggledy it was.  Some lyrics were typed, some written, some photocopied, some ripped and well thumbed. 

But, each to their own as I say. 

Anyway...  After practising along with the original a few times, I sing along with the backing track, changing any timings or phrasings as needed.  Some backing tracks differ slightly from the original.  If you need to key/tempo change anything, I find the free program Audacity (free) as good as any other. I recommend you only move them small amounts as backing vocals can sound terrible if you key change them to the foghorn or chipmunk stage.  I tend to use mostly karaoke tracks so I find they need to be trimmed in length (you know the really long bit at the beginning where the logo comes up on the karaoke track).  I use Audacity for this too. Remember you DO NOT have to sound exactly like the original!

After all this, I need to move the tracks into my player on the laptop.  I move them wirelessly from our home pc, and load them into DJ2000.

Easy?  Easy!