Well, March turned out to be a fairly exciting month for me on the singing front. We have here in the West Midlands area of England, a very well know Irish singer known as Little Jimmy. He has played so many venues it’s unreal. He does his own gigs and he support the Irish music stars when they come over to play at the local venues. He has supported some of the now huge Irish stars, when they were starting out and he has so many stories to tell about life on the road. Little Jimmy is a wonderful person, so kind and thoughtful. He and his wife foster children and give them a good home, a taste of family life and a good start on their own journey though life.
I first met Little Jimmy a long time ago, when he played at a dance I was attending and every time I seen him at a dance, a gig or a concert we always had a chat. He was very surprised in August 2024 when I told him I was singing, he had no idea at all. Fast forward to towards the end of last year and we bumped into each other again and he asked me if I would like to sing at a charity event he was hosting. Although I was scared stiff I said yes, because this is what I want to do, sing. I was very nervous at the event but the people in the club were lovely, very supportive and got up and danced and that was just wonderful.
This year in March, Little Jimmy offered me a slot at the St Patrick’s Day event, the Sunday before St Patrick’s Day, at a local social club. Still nervous, I said yes and I had a lovely time. Himself was with me and he took some video footage which I have posted to my socials. I have quite a few more to post, I’m quite slow at getting things posted up there. Little Jimmy also asked me it I would like to sing on St Patrick’s Night at the social club and this is where the dreams came true. I stood on the stage, wearing my Galway GAA top singing ‘Home to Aherlow’ and I realised that I was doing something I had dreamt of since I was a little girl. I was standing on a stage, on St Patrick’s Day, in and Irish social club, singing Irish songs. I hoped and prayed that my Mam, Daddy and my Sister could look down and see me, finally, living my dream. I gave thanks to God with blessings and gratitude at that moment.
It’s four years since I starting to get out there, push myself and sing. It’s three years since I started to do the open mic nights and I would stand there, frozen to the spot, like a rabbit in the headlights. I’ve come a long way since then and I intend to keep pushing myself and go a whole lot further.
With love and sparkles xxx
Image is my own design with my friend Chat GPT – scary how well it knows me!!
Dawn. The Sparkle Diaries. 
So good to read Dawn. Wish I’d been there to see you!!!
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Wouldn’t that have been fabulous if you had of been there!!! It was a wonderful celebration and I was so proud of myself for pushing the comfort zone and getting out there a few years ago and having a go. I’m enjoying the journey and pushing myself even more. Onwards and upwards 🤠💖and still full of nerves 😂
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Aww Dawn, we are all that. They give an edge in some way, even though it is murder. It means you take nothing for granted out there and some folks do actually and it comes right over. And what is the worst thing that could happen? Out there you may feel silly but often the audience does not even know, or they see you as human, not as anything silly. So keep pushing. This is your chance. Take it. So proud of you xxxxxxx
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Thank you so much. I do make mistakes, forget where I am in the song sometimes but I have also got to know a wonderful group of people and they are so supportive. It’s a lovely open mic family, I’m so blessed to have met them all xxx
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So glad Dawn. I think if you have that, but also don’t be scared to speak to an audience, or whoever is closest in that audience, make a joke whatever, if you forget. I know that sounds daft but it gets them on your side and somehow you don’t feel so nervous xxxx
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I usually get a bit of a giggle out of losing my place in the song and I make a joke of it. The open mic group know I can be a bit ditzy at times and forget and they laugh too. I will definitely do as you suggest when I start performing to total strangers, I’m sure that will be a whole different ball game xxxxx
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We do a lot of theatre. In fact we’ve run a group for long years with a break in the middle of these years, that is very much travelling players, come in, set up, perform, pack up, get out, style. All we ever need from a venue is the floor space. Everything is played out front, we don’t even have a backstage any more because we’re playing a ton of parts between us at the drop and the donning of a hat. . There’s been times whole bits of a production have been adlibbed. Often this has resulted in quite a bit of banter with an audience. At first being so close to an audience was scary, as in when you dried, or something went wrong,, you wanted to die, for the fool you thought you were looking, but then in your panic you saved it with that bit of banter with the audience or one another–I know for solo there’s no other– but they are so gobsmacked at being included if you get me, that you are doing things off the cuff, they love it. They get on your side. and while it seems scary you are no long scared. The barrier between you and an audience has gone. You’ve a lovely voice. And a nice manner..so….. xxxxxxxxxxx
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That’s incredible what you do with your theatre, all just played out, out front, ad lib and take it as it comes. Playing a number of parts is so impressive too. The banter is a great way to engage. I’m getting there now with the banter at two of the open mic’s I sing at. I’ve got to know the regular audiences and I’m the only country and Irish singer which makes me a little unique, which isn’t a bad thing. Getting to know them whilst I’m in the audience myself has been a big help as they have become supporters and cheer me on. I’m so glad I pushed the comfort zone and joined the open mic’s. I’ve come a long way in three years. Thank you so much for your advice, I will take it on board and start yapping more xxxxxxx
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Being the only one doing that is a good thing. you will stand out and they will root for you. So think nothing of telling them you feel amongst friends here. Way back I used to have terrible stage fright. I’d stand there waiting to go on thinking I am going to be sick and all I could think of when I got out there was that. But while our group were always travelling players to a certain extent, I found the biz of taking theatre into places that weren’t theatres changed all that and also directing as well as performing because it is such total full on insanity getting into a place and setting up, doing sound checks, prop checks, going over bits folks aren’t sure of, agony ‘pass me the script’ checks when someone is late for whatever reason, etc etc, that I don’t have time to have any kind of fright. You will go from strength to strength. You’re out there you might as well get in the zone and enjoy it xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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It’s so true, sometimes I do be busy learning the lyrics and I find that if I am comfortable that I know the lyrics and the backing track well, I can get more confident. I have also learnt that if I go wrong when I am singing with the house band, they are such amazing musicians, they just pick up the notes and carry on playing and we may know I dropped the ball, but most of the audience don’t. It’s taken three years and I have finally learnt that about singing with the house band, they really do have my back and they want me to do well. I think I am very lucky that I have fallen in with such a wonderful group of musiciains and the open mic supporters too. It’s so true what you have said, I’m out there in the zone, I need to be enjoying it xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Abso. Out there you’d be surprised at the people who have your back. The musicians won”t want you to stumble cos they will go down with you if you get me. They obvi ‘know that rope’. And often like that the audience has no idea. Always remember that and by the time the penny has dropped with them, they are thinking…….wow… that was covered. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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That’s so true. I think I am learning that it doesn’t need to be perfect and music is supposed to be fun, especially the upbeat country songs I sing. I am always told that I bring energy to the evening as a lot of people do sing the slower songs so I think that helps. I look at every performance now as a learning opportunity and I try to get them on video so I can watch back and learn and also have some content for the socials. I learn a lot by watching others performing too and seeing the impact of the various songs on the audience. It’s all so interesting. I’m so happy I have this opportunity. Thank you so much for all your support, tips and inspiration xxxxxxx
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