Eager to Face Being on Bandstand Again

Last time we (SoftheB) played at the PHBistro, I experienced a lot of confusion, but I went home and sorted it out:

Problems:
--Equipment: Dan Echo Delay In Port Not readily available and no sign of it being hooked up to amp--seemed to me.
Vocal Mic: how do you get it quickly down to your size and make sure it's at the right volume?
What's a monitor anyway--David explained, but do we have one at PHB I can see?
Amp and mic: making sure they're at the right volume for playing and then for accompaniment.

--Accompaniment: My goals were to play my instrumental and play at least one song accompaniment, but house band had already played their songs. Said they had no singer, so OK, premature, but I'll try singing this time: in the ensuing chaos: gave them the wrong key. And the second time I went up to accompany the amp volume was too low. Couldn't be heard at all.

--Instrumental groove: Killing floor "sounded" like the wrong groove for my instrumental, but it's what I practice to all the time! Did I give them the wrong key here too? Is that what sounded funny. Interesting, I know the key to play in is exactly a 5th up from the harp key, but could've mispoken in the chaos. The band did a fine job as directed.

Solutions:
--Equipment: I'll try to COME EARLY to help with set up and make friends with the equipment BEFORE I go up to play.
--Accompaniment: Again, COME EARLY, let the band leader know I want to accompany so he can pick the right point for me to do that. When I do try it, make sure the AMP IS AT RIGHT VOLUME for accompaniment.
--Singing: I'm not quite ready for that and this is a place to try out new things (just started lessons-and not high priority like harp practice). The experience has made me more confident about recognizing that the issue is the wrong key.
--Instrumental: I have no idea what happened there. David says I was playing with the chord changes properly, and it turns out that I've been practicing with Killing Floor all along--Wrong key again? At least I know what to ask for with more confidence next time and I'll make sure I give the band the right key. Again, they played well as directed and at the tempo I asked for.

Phew! That practice was a learning experience, but that's a lot of great stuff to learn. I hope y'all get a chance to try this with a band, and join us at the Bistro if you're nearby. If not, somewhere near home.