So here goes...

I'm not entirely convinced that my innate ramblings will be of interest to anyone other than my mother (like pet dogs mothers give unconditional love) and myself. However I have finally taken it upon myself to start letting those who are interested what life is like as a professional corporate, wedding and party singer in the UK and Europe. In addition to the sweet little anecdotes that I intend to bore you with dear reader, I will also be spoon-feeding those of you out there who are interested in walking the same path that I have chosen by giving out tips and information that will help your musical career - and all of this for no money. Nada. Dim. Non. Zero. Nout... whatever.

So what do I do?
Well I sing and get paid for doing it. I've been at it since I was 13 years old and I'm now 42 and rapidly speeding towards the old people's home - but not to sing. Although I have performed at a few in my time. Lovely places to perform if you like the atmosphere of hopelessness and the smell of wee, but that's another story for another time.

Who am I?
My name real is Matthew Robert Parsons but everybody, including my children, call me Aubrey. It's an unusual name and most people are too bashful to comment when I tell them my name is Aubrey. I'm pretty sure that I can see a glimmer of amusement in peoples eyes when they ask. 'Poor bugger, his parents must have hated him to give him a name like that.' they think. Well here it is folks the answer you've all been waiting for, why am I called Aubrey when my real name is Matthew? Cartoons. That's the answer. Now if you can be bothered to take the time to look up and 80's cartoon called 'Aubrey' on the internet you will find out exactly why. You didn't expect me to give you the whole answer on a plate did you? Too be honest I'm fed up of explaining my name so you can jolly well look it up for yourself on tinternet.
I was born in St David's Hospital in Cardiff in 1969 - it's not there any more they pulled it down and built houses on the site. I am married to Mariane a beautiful red-headed jobbing actress and we have two children; Elinor who was born in 2000 and Genevieve born 2002. We are based in the Vale of Glamorgan and like many people these days, we live a hand to mouth existence; constantly wondering if we are going to make the next mortgage payment on the house and frequently failing to do so. My next line was going to be ‘Life as a musician is probably not the best choice for someone who suffers from high blood pressure and a subversive eating and drinking problem.’ but then I thought what the hell am I talking all musicians have to suffer for their art. As I mentioned, I am forty two years old and I never made it onto Top of the Pops but I have been around the musical block once or twice and now seems like a good time to put into words my life so far. Let's face it I need to write all this down before the sex, drugs & rock ‘n’ roll completely scramble my brain.

As a teenager I convinced myself that I was going to be a rock-star - A household name revered by millions and living the playboy lifestyle by the time I was twenty one. However, the careers officer at Cowbridge Comprehensive School in 1985 told me not to be so stupid and to get with the real world and get a 'proper' job. I ended up working at a number of normal jobs for nearly 15 years, but during all that time I had a 'side job' as a singer with a number of cover bands and more increasingly as a solo artist performing well known songs. Then one day redundancy from quite a lucrative and secure job forced my hand. I had no choice but to rely on the income from my singing career and so I threw all my efforts into improving my chances of getting gigs.
Six years down the line as a full time singer and I'm still kicking myself that I didn't bite the bullet as soon as I left school! I'm not saying that it's an easy life - being self employed is not for the faint hearted or lack-lustre. It's a scary world at first, but the benefits are amazing.
I just wish that there had been some kind of resource that I could have drawn upon to help me on my mission to make a living as a singer. The idea for this book came about after I searched the internet and book stores for some advice on getting gigs as a solo performer and was amazed at the complete lack of relevant information available.
Some of you reading this may have always dreamt of making a living through music, and some of you may be just starting out and wondering how you go about getting those all important paid gigs, and some of you may be dreaming of super-stardom. If you are the latter, then I'm afraid this blog isn't really for you.
You are reading what will become a guide which will speed up the process of improving your voice, getting gigs, promoting yourself and more importantly earning money as a singer. Don't get me wrong, there is no short-cut to easy money as a jobbing singer - and anyone who tells you so or makes promises that they can speed up the process is lying. You will have to work hard, damn hard, but by the time you finish reading these blogs you will have improved your gigging prospects and therefore the amount of money you earn by using your voice.

Right then, I'm off for now - so you need to realise that the only way you will learn about my pearls of wisdom is by following the blog. Hey it's free - you see some things in life are!

I'll try to post at least one a week.
Back soon...