They've starred in a TV reality show, recorded a debut album and taped a pair of music videos, but TV Popstars Sugar Jones still have a major hurdle to clear on the road to sweet success -- actually performing onstage for more than 10 minutes at a time.

So one day before the quintet hit the road to put their pipes to the concert-tour test, it's small wonder Winnipeg's Maiko Watson admitted to feeling just a wee bit nervous.

"Definitely, because this is the first time that people are going to see us as a band performing all the songs from our record," she said from her Toronto apartment.

Sugar Jones

"We haven't done any concerts. We've done one or two songs, but this will be the first time we'll be doing a whole set of songs."

The group -- Watson, 20, Ontario's Andrea Henry, 22, Quebecers Julie Crochetiere, 21, and Mirella Dell'Aquila, 19, and Winnipeg-born Vancouverite Sahara MacDonald, 24 -- opened three shows for Destiny's Child in B.C. and Alberta last week, but Watson says from now until mid-October, they're on their own.

"We've been rehearsing for hours every day," she says. "We're gonna be on the bus together for about a month -- at least we know what it's like to live with each other."

Ensconced in a luxury high-rise condo overlooking Lake Ontario while the 16-episode Global TV series was taping -- the new Boy Meets Girl co-ed version of Popstars is being cast this month -- the singers each have their own scaled-down gigs these days. And the living isn't always easy.

"We're not making a lot of money. We make enough money to live right now," Watson says, admitting she has considered looking for part-time work to bolster her income.

"There were times when I thought about it, it's hard ... a lot of us get help from our families, too, if we're really struggling."

But she says touring will help keep personal expenses down. The singers, who are paid for some personal appearances, get a per diem, profits from merchandise sales and a share of ticket sales. And while they'll have the use of hotels on concert days, they expect to sleep most nights on the bus, which is equipped with a TV set, sofa and beds.

"From what I hear it's pretty comfortable. I think it'll be fun, I think I'm going to learn a lot on this tour, just to learn what touring is all about."

Sugar Jones made a stop in Winnipeg in July, signing autographs for about 1,200 fans at Polo Park mall but Watson's glad to finally have a chance to perform at the Walker tomorrow night.

"I'm really excited about it, I'm happy to be playing in Winnipeg I'm really glad we have a chance to go there and then people can see what we're up to."

That includes her mom Beatrice, teenage sister Bahiyeih and about 12 friends, most of whom will get free passes to the nearly sold-out show.

"When we get into Winnipeg I have a day off so I want to definitely spend time with my mom and my sister and my friends."

The concert will include most songs from the Sugar Jones album, including video singles Days Like That and How Much Longer, and Watson says the group will supplement their playlist with covers of R&B standards -- the titles of which she wants to keep as a surprise for the audience.

"We're not going to bring any modern pop songs, they're all classics. I'm excited about doing my cover song because it's a song that I really love."

Showtime is 7 p.m. Tickets are $29.50 at TicketMaster (780-3333).