Les B, If you want to experiment with the 1 mic set up, find a music store that will rent you what you need, practice with it, then take it to the gig. Allow plenty of set up time. Even with one mic, we were trying to figure out which end was up. There are several high quality mics that will work, the Rode NT1 is good, another group from hereabouts uses the NT2. I think there are also good mics by AKG. Also, do you remember the bluegrass band Hot Rize? They simply cranked up a Shure SM57, shut down the monitors, and made some great music. Good luck. You might get real spoiled. I have.