Sound System For Singer/songwriter?

[stringdreamer]

I have been doing open mics for a few months now and am ready to accept some live gigs, only I have no PA/sound system.  My budget is ridiculously limited ($500 might put me on the street) so I really can only afford an amp and a mic.  I am a solo performer, no second mic needed, and if i can get away with having no monitor, I would prefer that.  Wee are talking small venues here, maybe you could cram a hundred people in them, max size of about 45 X 30 feet.  My guitar has a soundhole pickup (acoustic only) although I have a foot pedal that can boost and EQ the sound if neccessary.  Any reccommendations for an amp or mic that might meet these needs?  Musicians' Friend and other sellers say a Fender Acoustic pumping 75-80 watts is sufficient.  Any ideas?

[justsoulin]

To find, craiglist - when you've got some models etc from other members

[TapperMike]

Check out local music retailers.  Some rent PA equipment

http://www.musiccastle.com/nurentals.htm

 

A 300 watt pa is plenty loud for a singer songwriter They won't rent stands or cables, some places will or wont rent mic's.

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[stringdreamer]

Thanks for the input, Tom.  My professional buddies also tell me to go shure, and I know from my years in FM radio that they can take a severe beating (lets just be honest and call it abuse).  As for the amp, I am pretty sure the Fender acoustic has independent channels and of course it has reverb, its a fender.  The only systems I see at open mics are of course more complex than my needs dictate, with multiple monitors, channels for multiple instruments and mics, etc.  If I join a band I'll make sure someone else has the necessary equipment !  I suppose my next step is to visit my friendly local music store and actually plug my axe into some amps and see what comes out.  As for renting a system, Mike, I have thought of that but at present my income from solo gigs is unlikely to cover the cost.  Just looking to take the next step.   I got songs, I got fans, I just need to pay for all of my guitars!

[TapperMike]

300 WATT 6-CHANNEL P.A. w/SPEAKERS from $71 per month

 

You can rent em by the week or day at lower rates. If it's a paying gig the rental will pay for itself.

 

When I was in a working 4pc blues band our cheapest gigs were $400 a night (blues jams on weds and thrus) Weekend gigs we'd get 1200 (for the band)

AA rated rock cover bands make anywhere between 1600 to 3k or more a night depending on the venue and their rep

 

Singer/songwriter one man bands can make between 100 and 300 a night depending on the venue for weeknights and sunday's  More if you are in a big folk town  and well established like.. Ann Arbor MI.

 

So if you rent it by the week and it costs hmm 20 a week and you only have one very small gig that pays you 100 you still have 80 to put in your pocket. And if you aren't gigging for the whole week or the next week you can return it until you do.

 

My blues band we rented the PA played four nights a week and never thought twice about it. If the PA broke and it wasn't our fault they'd simply exchange it for another pa.

[stringdreamer]

Wow, Mike, thanks for correcting my misconceptions about rentals!  While my area (Hampton Roads VA) is not a particularly 'folky' area, acoustic music does pretty well.  Not sure who rents sound equipment around here, but there's three pretty big music stores in the area, so I'm sure one of them can hook me up, and even if I had to drive 50-60 miles to get it, it would still make financial sense.  And I get a chance to actually test drive the equipment before plunking down a grand or two to buy it.  Plus, on the dark side, if I flop (possible but not likely) I haven't wasted my money on a pricey setup.  Thanks again for the input!