Ayrshire

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Sandylands Holiday Park, Saltcoats

Situated in Saltcoats, this is not one of the busiest hoilday parks in the Uk, but it gets it turn ...

I first performed here back in 2008 and shared the bill with Woodrow Wilson. This was back in the day when there were 3 acts on each Friday night and I was on with Woody in the 'adult room' and Stevie Cowan was doing his 'Robbie Williams Tribute' next door for the kids.

I had a great two sets and had so many brilliant comments from guests and owners, who made me feel so welcome that night.

The next time I went back, I was again in the adult room and on the bill with 'Time of Your Life ... a very visual show with Steve & Christy taking you through a costumed journey across the decades.

Both of the nights I had in the adult room were great.

Since then, I have performed all me other shows in the Family Room. This does not bother me at all, unlike some acts, because I don't mind the kids running around the floor.

My belief is that, when performing at a holiday park, most of the day and evening entertainment is aimed at the kids so, therefore at night it is good to get the adults and the kids both up dancing. I am not a kid's entertainer but it is good to get them involved ....

I have had some great nights down at Sandylands and some quiet nights too ... but that is what it is all about.

One of the shows that I was nervous about was last year, 2011, and I was booked to do one spot of my 'Tom Jones Tribute Show' !!!

It was a brilliant spot and the crowd were fantastic ... again, it was adult time in a family venue and I have respect for that ..... although some of the kids had their fingers in their ears for the big ballads ha ha

I am back there for 2012 season so keep posted here .....

Craig Tara Holiday Park, Ayr

What can be said about Craig Tara that has never been said before ... I wonder?

Having spent numerous holidays here many years ago and also winning the Scottish Talent Show in 1994 I have very fond memories of this holiday centre.

It was in fact from here that I went to London as the Scottish entrant into the national Butiln's Talent Search in London in 1995. I was judged 2nd that weekend but came home with my daughter who was born whilst we were away so I won first prize anyway !!!

I had performed on the stage at the old Butlin's many times but have been happy to back a few times over the last few years to see how different it is under Haven and perform some great shows to great crowds.

I am back there at least 3 times this year, which I hope to be as good as the last times I have been there.

These are great big rooms with in-house systems and it is a case of turning up with your music and stage wear and then going on stage and leaving through the back door ... this is actually the way it should be for most venues and I thank Haven for treating visiting acts with respect and providing the facility for this.

Sometimes it is not easy driving 200 miles and then having to humph your gear out of the car and set it up and then do your gig, to have to humph it all back to the car and drive home again ... rant over..... ooops !!!

Heads Of Ayr Holiday Park, Ayr

I have been here twice since 2007... and both times have been pretty enjoyable.

This is one of the jobs where you have to get set up early and then have a few hours before being on stage, but there are a few good chippy's in Ayr !!!

This is a small park with a mixed crowd of families on holiday and owners. On the occasions that I have been here I have not recognised anyone from before which would indicate more holiday makers than owners ... this makes it nice and fresh when you perform to a new crowd.

A nice wee clubhouse and a well run park ... I think i am back there later this year, down to the agents on that one ...

Largs Masonic Club, Largs

Ok, well I have a story about me and this Club .... and oops is all I will say at this point ...

I have been there twice so obviously I didn't make any major mistakes the first time I was there ... but it could have been a bit of a disaster !!

The first time I was at this Club, I took some visitors with me and they told me the consequences of my actions on the journey home ... so I was oblivious to it all the way through my performance.

To cut a long story very short, this is an old traditional Masonic Hall with a stage and lecterns and symbols, etc all around ... each to their own I say.

However, whilst getting changed backstage, in relative darkness, I decided to try the light switches. This worked, which pleased me and I was then joined by a Committee member who just popped in and turned of one of the switches .... I never thought a thing about it to be honest !

So, I cracked on and did my 'Tom Jones Tribute' and a dance set for the second half. With comments of "I will ring the agent on Monday and get you back soon son" .... it all went very well.

It was not until we were in the car that I was told that one of the light switches I had flicked had turned on a light for an 'eye' symbol of some sort and created a bit of a panic amongst members, which obviously resulted in the afore-mentioned Committee man turning the switch off..... again, totally oblivious to this, and not knowing the meaning, but this obviously had some significance !!! Ooops !!!

It obviously didn't put them off because I have subsequently been back to do a great afternoon gig here too. Very strange when there is no-one in the venue 15 minutes before the dtart time of 3pm and then at 3pm the place is fairly packed and people are up dancing for the next 2 hours ... totally bizarre !!!

Both of the gigs were great and very, very well received so I will look forward to a return gig at some point in the future .... and I didn't turn any lights on the last time ...once bitten ?

Viewfield Manor Holiday Village, Irvine

I have performed here once over the last few years and have nothing much to report apart from I had a cracking gig here ...

Great crowd and very busy .... the only stressful thing about the whole night was that when I put the Ayrshire postcode into my Satnav ...it tried very, very hard to direct me to East Kilbride.

Having travelled the country, the old fashioned way, for many years ... I knew that when I passed East Kilbride on the A77 and I was being told to turn around, then I was having to resort to plan B.

Thank goodness, at the time, for Blackberry maps .... which manged to get me there on time .... satnavs are good but are not the best sometimes !!!

Job done, great crowd, good gig and loads of dancing .... check !!!

Gala Bingo, Ayr

A Sunday afternoon a week before Christmas saw me heading down the road to Ayr to set up by 1pm after working the night before .... never a good thought !!!

Today was the Christmas dinner for the regular clients and I was booked for 2 sets ...

It was a good gig, somewhat surreal, when the dabbers were put down and the dancing shoes put on .. bt a good afternoons job did all the same !

I left at half past 10 in the morning and got home at 8pm ... so sometimes the glamour of it all is not as shiny as some might think ...