 She arrived in San Francisco around 1988–89 and worked as a waitress (indeed, she held one job or another waiting tables for many years until her singing career was well established).During this time, she gradually started to appear at open mike jam sessions, during the course of which she met pianist Ken Muir, who would eventually become her long-time accompanist.She also undertook a program of serious vocal study while continuing to appear at local lounges.