Hi,

After long months of work with my vocal teacher, I performed my first so-called gig during last New Year's day's night.

It wasn't really prepared (a friend's idea who made installed for me an old PSR keyboard) but was a encouraging experience, as people were apparently satisfied and enjoyed the hour I spent playing and singing (without mic, so, no risk .

Now, I'm working on much more prepared events, the first one being early May and the second one mid-July.

But I'm asking myself a lot of questions and I'd like to get the feedback from professional gigers.

For the first one, I'll have the opportunity to sing and play in a little restaurant. I'll sing while playing the accompaniment with an upright piano provided on the stage.

It will be "double stress" for me (singing and playing the piano in a public venue) so I'd like to eliminate most additional stress. In particular, I don't feel very comfortable playing and singing with a dynamic microphone in front of me and think it'll be easier to use a headset mic, being completely free (more over, I know from other people’s past gigs that positioning the mic boom is very hard because of lack of space on this stage). The standard mic used on this place is a classical SM58 and I'd like to get at least the same "level of sound's quality".

Q1) Do you think using an headset mic is a good idea in the previously explained context?

I studied my favourite mic manufacturer's web site (Shure) and identified two models that should fit my needs: WH30 and Beta 54. It seems that the Beta 54 is more sensitive than the WH30 but don't know if it may lead to problems with the piano's sound??

I'm also thinking about getting wireless mics and the fact that these models are available in wireless versions is a good point for me (I planning to purchase an ULX S4 system with probably a Beta 58A mic, for my second gig).

Q2) Your opinion on WH30 vs Beta 54 and between wireless vs wire models?

For my second gig, it's a completely different context: I'll play and sing for a 40-50 people friend's party with my own gear. I own a PSR 2000 keyboard and will use it for this gig. I'm planning to sing and play about 10 songs.

It will be a mix of MIDI playbacks, chords with auto-accompaniment and piano solos (depending on the song).

Concerning the PSR use, I'm far from being an expert and recently begun to use its mic features with an SM58. It sounds rather good but I'm not sure I configured it in the right way: I only activated the compressor and disable VH and effects as I was unable to get something usable.

Q3) Have you got some VH/mic settings recommendations for my PSR2000?

Q3bis) Is there a significant interest to use a better mic like Beta 58 or 87? I think wireless mics would be better to interact with the audience too...(I'll play POP and Disco songs, if it's of interest).

Also, maybe some people would like to sing with me.

Q3ter) How to manage multiple mics with a PSR? Bring a small mixer and connect it the PSR's input at Line level?

About PSR control, I own a good piano-like Roland pedal (DP-6) and would like to get a second one in order to control, for instance, the OTS+ feature (my goal is to change the style while playing).

Q4) Have you got any advices on the kind of pedal I should get for this?

I don't have any PA system.

Q5) Do you think PSR's own amp/speakers is enough for a 40/50 people audience?

Finally, I'll have to bring by car all my stuff and only have a keyboard stand (Quiklok double-X) with a mic boom.

I don't have any flight case nor "travelling" seat.

Q6) Any advices for PSR flight cases? Thomann.de is providing specific cases for all kind of keyboard, is somebody know if it's good and not too heavy?

Q7) Are there more portable stands than the one I use? I found K&M 18950 that seems easy to fold and transport. And about seats?

Q8) Any recommendation on sheet stands? (I'm having problems using PSR's one).

Okay, that's all for this time, thanks for your answers. If you have any additional advices, don't hesitate!!

Thanks.

Earl.