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Hi, Having performed a set of songs at a couple of friends anniversary parties recently with favourable reception, my dd is wondering about what might be involved in getting work singing at weddings/ wedding receptions/ parties etc. Does anyone know would she need to have the sound equipment or would venues normally provide it ?
I can't help thinking that one would probably need a manager to source the engagements and provide/ set up the equipment surely. I don't want to burst her balloon so to speak, but there's more to it than just the singing bit !

Most people I know who do this go through a specialist agency and indeed when my cousin hired a singer for her wedding she used a wedding/events agency.

I have seen people at wedding fayres advertising this sort of think so that is an option I suppose.

My DD has only done this type of thing through word of mouth

Most singers have their own small PA system, mics , stands etc etc which is sometimes quite heavy to lug around so she would probably need someone with her but not necessarily a manger just a strong adult... (Dad maybe???)
My husband is a Jazz pianist and does alot of events, weddings, corporate.... sometimes as solo sometimes with a singer.
He gets alot of his good work through an agent and has a package that is sent out to prospective clients, CD with sample of songs, flyer, promo pack etc.....
If you look up event agents in your area you should be able to check with them about what would be needed and whether they are able to represent your dd.
On the downside there are alot of rules and regs, she will need public liabilty insurance, all equiptment PAT testing.... most of the hotels and big venues insist on these and do check them in advance.
BUT on the positive side, weddings and corporate events pay very well..
At a Virgin Media Party this week, dh was asked to play just an extra half hour and got a small fortune just for that extra!!!

Let me know if you need any more info I will help out if I can.....

Thanks very much for the info cops . That's so helpful.
I was saying to dd that the equipment would probably be a huge outlay, plus we would have to know what exactly to buy as well!

She recently sang a set of songs at a friends parents function, but they also had a band who had the amps etc, and they brought a microphone for her to use and set it all up for her. I think dd just naively assumed that hotels and venues licensed for wedding etc would provide the sound equipment etc.
Sounds as if she would definitely be better off going through some sort of agency, or with a little band who knows what they're doing !
A friend was telling me that aside from weddings, singers to perform at funerals are now quite popular. I think I'd feel awful charging people for singing at a funeral. Although maybe you toughen up after you've done a few!

My dd has sang at funerals and many charity concerts, most of the time they have suitable equipment available at the venue. However, on the odd occasion the venue had nothing, so this little peace of equipment might come in handy:-

http://www.maplin.co.uk/block-rocker-ip ... tem-221999

Maybe just start of with family and friends and then word gets about and before you know it your dd will be a pro without you even thinking about it ! She will also pick up so much experience . Good luck.

Thank you very much for your encouragement bruno2 and for the equipment info, it's really appreciated ! That portable i pod thingy looks fab ! Did you get a microphone too ? I suppose you would have to get one without a cable do you think ?
Also, Would you by any chance have any suggestions about finding opportunites to sing at these type of events ? What do you think about having some cards printed and leaving them in churches and the like ?

Please don't by those portable systems - they're ok working on the batteries busking outside - but they're not in any shape or form suitable for the kind of performances we are talking about.

Hotels frequently have small systems - but it's a bit like playing the piano - there's no guarantee the piano is in tune, or even able to be played properly. Singers usually have a small PA system - lots of different types, but so many to avoid. Much depends on what the singer will be doing. Somebody with a classical background singing Ave Maria at a wedding needs a system with both clarity and reasonable volume to play back their backing track. If they are lucky enough to sing with real musicians then they may need some help with volume too. Don't be tempted to buy the all in one things - they rarely produce much in the way of quality audio.

http://www.thomann.de/gb/yamaha_stagepa ... etoure.htm

Have a look at this one - two of the modern style speakers, with a small mixer. Decent quality, and a proper make. Add a couple of speaker stands and a very popular professional mic like the SM58 and you are up and running. If you need to play music or use tracks, then loads of people now just plug in their iPod. You can get better and more 'chunky' gadgets - but iPods can sound quite good.

To get repeat bookings you need to be a good singer - and bad equipment will make good singers sound rough!

This kind of kit will work in small to medium venues. Once you go bigger, equipment is then usually provided (often at a cost!)

Wow Thanks to you too Paul that's great ! I think dd probably does need something that can cope with her opera voice, which tends to make some microphones buzz. She doesn't really require amplification in a church or cathedral, but if there's a lot of background noise, or if she's singing musical theatre or pop she will need a mike etc.
All we've got to do is find somewhere for her to do it now !

This will be a tad difficult - but what you need to do is consider if she has any of those 'painful' notes - the ones where if she holds them, the volume she produces is louder than others. Many of the girls who sing this style have pretty consistent volume throughout their range, but there is one area where things get a bit more potent? If these 'problem' notes are towards the high end of her register, then dynamic microphones work best but if the notes with natural extra volume are at the lower end, or even in the middle - consider a condenser. These have a more accurate top end - but make a top end loud note even louder. Microphones are a very personal thing and what suits one person may sound very poor on another. Decent music shops will often allow you to try out a few to find out what sounds best. The SM58 is probably the worlds most common microphone - which isn't out of place on superstars, or beginners - but it has a mellowish tone, which may not work on everyone. As a guide - a genuine Shure SM58 is around £80 or so. Beware any found for less than £60, especially on ebay - because they are NOT genuine, just copies and do not sound as good. If worried - buy from a reputable source.

You could bellow into an SM58 and it wouldn't flinch - however, the other parts like the mixer and loudspeakers also play their part - you can even buy a special attenuator for singers with mega-poweful voices!

If you want advice off-forum, drop me an email and I'll try to advise on anything specific you see or get offered.

However - for best results, she will need somebody to adjust the equipment while she's using it - her own sound man/woman. every venue sounds different, and you simply use the kit to make the sound as similar as you can, each time.

You certainly seem to know your stuff !! But I must admit I have seen performers using the portable system and they sounded great, its ok if your just starting out and also half the price and its so easy to use.

Gosh didnt realise these microphones were so different,its almost like cheating, isnt it ?

I think it's a bit like ballet shoes - when you start out, remembering to actually bring them is an achievement, but once you get past a certain point, the wrong footwear can hold you back, or worse, damage your feet.

The trouble with the portable things is not that they are rubbish - they're quite good - but they lack volume. If you read the blurb, power output is actually less than some peoples TV sets! So they work - but if you try to turn the volume up, it starts to sound pretty awful. If you use them for the backing tracks only, then they're not going to sound dreadful, but add a microphone and it starts to sound pretty unpleasant.

For people who have a few pounds (well, actually a LOT of pounds) - there are now some excellent systems that have tiny speakers and sound like an expensive hi-fi system. Benefits being they easily fit in a car. People would spend a great deal of time on the second guitar - one that doesn't have the problems their first had! Singers are exposed - everyone is listening so a PA system has to be good enough to make the singer sound the same, but louder! If they sound different, you've failed. Unless, like Bing Crosby, you discover the microphone can change your voice in a nice way, and then you use it as a tool - enter the era of the crooner!