Witchcraft for Halloween in Phoenix Drive

Fly Me to the Moon!

What a difference a year makes and who would have thought we would all be at home on Remembrance weekend, it’s so surreal. I’m usually really busy this time of year but instead I’m working in the office rescheduling my shows, adapting to fit in with the new Covid Lock down rules. I still have dates in the diary but I’m constantly trying to find innovative ways to keep working. This time last year I was singing in Birmingham at New Street Station, raising money for the Poppy Appeal. This year everything has been put on hold and we are all keeping our fingers crossed for better times ahead.

None of us know what the future will hold but I do hope 2021 will pick up and a vaccine is found for Covid before too long, so we can all get on with our lives. As for the here and now, no sooner do I find I an alternative booking and then the goal posts change. Fortunately I was able to reschedule my Guy Fawkes show to the 4th November and I have a couple of shows in the diary for Remembrance Sunday and the 11th.

Last week I continued with Enchantment shows which rolled over nicely from Halloween and now

Getting Dressed for Remembrance!

it’s time to polish my buttons and shoes and step out in my ATS uniform for remembrance. Normally I would be working flat out this time of year but I have done better than most and I am mindful for the future, predicting what audiences might want for 2021.

Realistically I think it unlikely shows and entertainment venues will open before Easter and I’m so grateful I have been able to keep working performing Driveway concerts. I’ve been able to do this by stripping everything back to the bare minimum and relying solely on my voice, sound system and musical arrangements. My musical arrangements are worth their weight in gold and today I had a Facetime meeting with my musical arranger Richard Whennell.

Although times are challenging it’s important to stay creative and to think ahead. It’s quite possible that if venues don’t open up next year I will need to continue with my Driveway Concerts, I have built up a wonderful net work around my home town and local

Researching the Music Aladdin!

villages. If that is the case it’s essential I have more family friendly songs in my repertoire and based on what I’ve learned this year you can’t go wrong with Disney and Abba.

Today I was able to put into production an Aladdin medley which will also sit well in my Christmas and Enchantment Shows along with my Wizard of Oz medley. I’ve been thinking about the music of Aladdin for quite a while now. I was first introduced to the music a few years ago when I was engaged as a guest soprano for a local choir. I’ve been doing my research and I only saw

The Aladdin Vocal Score!

the Disney films fairly recently. I already perform “A Whole New World” which always goes down well and it’s important to have arrangements which tick all the right boxes. Enchantment is a show I’m also developing for Hanukkah and although many of the musical events I was originally booked at this year weren’t able to go ahead I’m looking forward to coming back next year even stronger than ever.

For now I’m continuing to sell Christmas dates as Driveway concerts and I’ve already sold all my weekend slots. Selling the week day slots will be harder but if all music events and venues remain closed I may do quite well providing the weather stays dry.

For Halloween I was invited to perform in Phoenix Close my “Fly me to the Moon”show as a Driveway Concert. Thank-you to Anita and family for inviting me to sing and to every-one who came to support the show. I shall leave you with a few pictures from this weeks Halloween and Enchantment performances.

Keep Following and Toodle Pip! 😉