FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
This is not an easy question! I am a reasonable person, and I just love singing this stuff! Everyone (every organization and facility) has a different budget. Everyone needs to financially survive, and no one (that I choose to associate with!) wants to take advantage of others. That said, in order for these gigs to be part of a financially viable, long-term musical career, I would charge at least $200 per hour. (Think about it: Every gig requires preparation, drive-to, setup, perform, breakdown, drive-home. Even an hour-long gig that's very close to my home can take a total of around five hours! Not to mention the necessary vocal-recover time both before and after!) I would expect the above amount is out of most people's budget. You also want to know what you're getting! So far, I have generally trusted people/organizations to take the above and just do the best they can. Pay me what you feel is fair the first time and let's see how it goes. After that, assuming it goes well (and, if I may be so bold, it'll probably go very well!) and you want me to return, then please go as high as you are comfortable, given your budget – even if it doesn't reach my above threshold – and we'll see what we can do! (Regular, repeat gigs are critically important to establishing a financially viable career.) Thank you for considering all this. As I said, it's not an easy question!
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I was classically trained at West Chester University (Pennsylvania).
- How did you get started doing this type of work?
I don't remember NOT singing! I started at least in the third grade. Every adult told me I was so good, but what they really meant was that they were impressed I was so brave on stage, at such a young age. As far as professional, I started in December 2022. The story: My birthday party last November was at Songbird Karaoke. I performed several songs, and everybody did lots of karaoke. That "musical birthday party" was my first birthday party in many years and it was a blast (and *ridiculously* expensive). It also turned out to be a major milestone in my journey to becoming a professional singer. I've been singing my whole life, but it all came together when, a few weeks after the party, A friend sent me the screenshot of a singing telegram post from Facebook. I got the job. It was for an older gentleman and the chosen song was My Way. (Which is kinda funny given the first words are "And now the end is near, and so I face the final curtain.") That led me to discovering MANY other Frank Sinatra songs, and realizing how perfectly he suits my voice. I never chose to listen to him, and never even considered singing him. But once I gave it a try, all my life's singing suddenly fell into place. I now have more than 180 songs in my (solo) repertoire, including FORTY ONE by Frank Sinatra. The full list can be found via my website. Especially thanks to performing nearly every single week at The Westmont Diner for SEVEN MONTHS, I have become a much better musician. I now perform monthly at a second restaurant and several retirement communities. My purpose on this earth is to sing.