Need help with equipment for Mic-ing my voice?

Question:

Need help with equipment for Mic-ing my voice?

Alright heres what I need to do, Playing guitar and singing in a band. I run my guitar to an amp, however I have no experience in Micing any vocals.

I have ordered Peavey6 Mixer (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/p... and Shure58 Mic (with stand). I know nothing about pre-amps or anything that I'll need. I obviously need to be heard over the drums (which will not be miced) and in the future, I'd like to be heard in small or medium sized gig area (no larger than 150 people). So what else do I need, just a pre-amp and some speakers? Do I even need a pre-amp? Do I have to run the Mic to the mixer than a pre-amp then a speaker, how does the process work? I'd like to spend less than $300.

Also my friend has some large (about 4 feet tall) speakers from his home entertainment system, would it be possible to use these to save cash?

Thank-you

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: First, let me compliment you on your choice of equipment. The SM-58 is an industry standard, and Peavey equipment, while not sonically the best, is rugged and road worthy.

Now you need to amplify and send the sigal to a speaker, and you can do this in one of two ways.

1) a separate amp and speaker
2) a powered speaker which contains an amp.

The second approach offers some advantages in your situation, in that you can add additional sound by adding powered speakers. Musicians friend lists many of these from $300 up.
If you can scrounge up the extra cash, I would go with the JBL Eon at $450. Otherwise, and especially if your band is punk or thrash, or hardcore, etc, the Nady at $300 will do.