What's your niche?
A lot of people who are developing as singers will come in with backing tracks — karaoke accompaniment. When I hear some good ones — I help them — I'm a vocal coach, too. I help them with that and I really help them with staging. We'll start off in front of a mirror then we'll go to a rehearsal studio then we'll get a band (if they're that serious about it). And sometimes they develop enough songs where they want to start playing live and that's where I come in and stage and that kind of stuff. I average once or twice a year that someone actually hires me as a stage director and a drummer. I program the music. Simple people who have some talent — that's what I like to deal with. The ones that we can learn off each other and help build it where they appreciate it. I've had some singers come here from California and do demos here. I like them 'cause what they do is just stand by that mic and do their thing.
What kind of jobs have you been doing recently?
Well, most recently Contemporary Christian. They came in — good songwriters, good singers kind of on the no- energy side. So I've given it a bit of a boost with the rock side. They liked it — they just couldn't see it. We've done some good reggae, a lot of pop stuff, a few funk, R&B always, some hip-hop...
How did you start?
