Hi Sue

Firstly thanks for your contributions to my thread re helping a friend singing in time!

Re your thread, FWIW, in addition to the other contributors, my thoughts are:

1. You really must feel 'at one' with the band you are singing with. They and you must have a deep love of the type of songs YOU like. If not, they'll not really have the feeling to express what you want out of the song, and it will fall flat if they aren't genuinely enjoying doing the song. Make sure the band understand how YOU want YOUR song interpreted.

2. The vocals are the most important. The instrumentalists are subordinate to you. Don't let the instrumentalists drown you out volume-wise, or showcase their greased lightning fingers prima-donna guitar or whatever instrument skills (and I'm writing this as a guitarist!!!) at they expense of the vocals going inheard or the subtleties of your feelings in your singing not getting across to the audience. Get someone else independant to listen to the rehearsals and tell you if they think the balance is right. It can sound different from the audience side from the way it sounds to the performers...

3. Although the technicalities of the song and the music, and rehearsals are important, sometimes those non-verbal messages between you and the band / audience during the song can make the difference in the atmosphere. E.g. the grin to the other musicians or at the audience to show that you're really enjoying it.. It can also work the other way - the lead guitarist looking directly at you to remind you to be ready to come back in with the vocals as he nears the end of his instrumental break or the intro... etc etc.

4. Above all enjoy yourself. If you don't find yourself really and deeply enjoying it for whatever reason you need to find out why you're not enjoying it. If the worst really does come to the worst which hjopefully it won't, you may have to think about searching around for another band who are more in tune with what you want. And that can be a challenge!

Good luck, hope it works out for you and very best wishes.

Old Folkie