Singer

Emily Jones is a singer in a band called Coast2Coast. They play at venues all over the Midlands.

How would you outline your role?

I am one of two singers in the band and we also have a keyboard, bass and drum player. We perform at a number of different functions, including weddings, parties and hotel events.

What are your main responsibilities?

A typical night involves arriving at the venue and helping to set up the lighting and sound equipment. We carry out a sound check and make sure that all our costumes are ready. We then usually have quite a lot of waiting around to do before we are required on stage. We either perform one session that lasts an hour and a half or we perform two 45-minute sessions. We mainly sing disco or Abba, or songs from the 1970s and 1980s. We also do requests from the audience.

What hours do you work?

Most of the shows we do are in the evening and generally at the weekend. We arrive at about 5.00pm or 6.00pm and get normally get home after midnight. We play at venues all over the Midlands so the hours vary depending on how far we have to travel. We have an agent who books us work and we are usually involved in a couple of shows each month.

What is your working environment like?

The working environment is different at every venue we perform at and you never know what it will be like until you arrive. I wear a number of outfits throughout the performance and we have about six costume changes!

Who do you work with?

I am in a five-piece band so we obviously work closely together to perfect what we do. We are in close contact with our booking agent too. At each venue we usually work with the entertainment secretary or front-of-house staff and they show us to our dressing room and let us know what time we are needed on stage. There is some audience interaction if it is a lively crowd, but the reception can be mixed and some audiences can be quieter than others.

What skills or qualities do you need?

You obviously have to be a good singer and rhythmic ability helps. You need to be musical and although not essential, being able to play an instrument can help, for example I play the piano. You need good stamina and to be physically fit. It is important to look after yourself and your voice so your singing ability isn't affected. You need confidence to be able to perform in front of large audiences and you must be good at talking with people and interacting with the audience. There can be a lot of waiting around before you get on stage so it helps if you're patient.

Why did you choose this type of work?

I like to sing and am basically earning money for something I enjoy doing. I do this job alongside a full-time day job.

What training have you done?

I haven't had any formal singing training but I have been involved with singing and performing from a young age. I have been in a number of bands.

Do you use any special tools or equipment?

I use a microphone and we have our own sound and lighting equipment. I have a number of stage outfits which we change into throughout the set.

What do you like/dislike about your job?

I like the fact that I am getting paid to do something that I enjoy. I like singing and enjoy getting a good response from the audience. It is nice when you have played at a wedding and the couple and the guests come up to you at the end and say thanks and that you have made the party. On the downside, when you have quieter, less responsive audiences it can make the job more difficult. Also, the hours are unsociable and there is a lot of waiting around to contend with too.

What are the main challenges?

The main challenge is making sure that your voice holds out. Keeping healthy and fit is important as feeling ill obviously affects your performance. In the dark, winter months it is also a challenge to want to go out and perform.

How do you see your future?

I am happy doing what I am doing for now. I also have a full-time day job which pays the bills. I have auditioned for talent shows such as the X Factor in the past but I don't really have any desires for fame or fortune!

Emily's route

• Became involved with musical theatre from a young age.
• Joined a band.
• Started singing with current band Coast2Coast.

Emily's tip

• It is important to get some practical experience, so join a band or get involved with performance in some way.