Cabaret Live!

Cabaret Live! had begun about six months before I discovered it.

It's a show that provides an opportunity for artists to try out new material and for emerging artists to hone their skills.

OK, so now I'm an "emerging artist"?  I'm thinking I might take a while to "hatch".

The show is unrehearsed.  Singers turn up, write their name and song on the running sheet, then sit in the audience.  There is no programme.  You don't know when you will be called.  You have to be ready at any time to get up out of your seat, hand your music to the pianist, step onto the stage and perform.  The pianists are professional musicians who can sight-read whatever music you give them.  Sometimes they will sight-transpose it, too.

You don't rehearse with the pianist.  The rehearsal is the performance.  You're on stage for three minutes, and whatever you happen produce - well, that's your contribution to the show.

For someone like me who likes to be extremely well prepared, this is terrifying but strangely exhilarating.

Click here to read more about Cabaret Live!

Before the show on the first night, I was asked to talk to pianist Chris about my songs.  Because the poster made the event sound pretty casual ("or choose from our extensive library"), I hadn't decided on my songs beforehand.  I showed a couple of songs to Chris and he said "Fine, no problem.  What key would you like?"  We worked out the keys.  Then he said "Would you like a Latin swing with that?"  Yes, I would.  This is much more than piano karaoke.

As the months went by, though, the event grew, and there was no longer the opportunity for this sort of discussion.

Never again did I rely on choosing my songs on the night; I always came with a song prepared, and specified the key I wanted.  Cabaret Live! is not nearly as casual as the sign suggested.  The event attracts singers of a high calibre - music school graduates; people auditioning for music schools and national musicals; professional performers.  The lights go down, the spotlight goes on and the sound from the microphone is extremely high-quality.  You don't want to mess up your act in front of a paying audience.

That's right - people pay to attend.  They deserve value in their entertainment.  So it's not enough to have "a bit of a jam" on stage - you need to produce a performance, even though it's impromptu.

Before this, I'd always performed with a band.  There's plenty for the audience to look at - drums, guitars, other people.  On the stage at La Boheme, it's just you - in a spotlight.  It feels extremely confronting.

And it's a big new challenge.