set lists

[lesterpaul]

wondering about setlists,i'll probably catch flack over this not being a valid thread ,but here it is .....in your bands setlist is it written in stone ,different ones made up in advance for certain crowds,or is it flexible and you take requests off th cuff......some in my band think its awful to change up some songs for the crowd,i think you should get a feel of the audience and work around that within reason,having said that we're about 60/40 originals and covers .....thanks in advance

 

[Track Rat]

Unless you're performing a rock opera, you play for your audience. We always took requests (hell, I was glad they were listening).

 

[philboyd studge]

Most players treat set lists as an outline. Only in major concert venues where there are sound and light cues and such do you have to stick to them. Besisdes it's much more fun to change things and make live performance more interesting.

 

[savageblues]

We have a set-list, but fly by the seat of our pants when it comes to order.

If a tune gets everyone up dancing, we'll try to keep it going by choosing the right tunes to keep 'em up there. If no one is dancing, we'll hold that stuff back until they are!

We tend to start sets, and end our sets with certain tunes though...

Requests are cool, as long as your band knows them. It bites to try please someone with a cover you dont know well. However, sometimes late in the evening...

 

[mikeh]

I could count on one hand (about 5%) the bands I've worked with that actually stayed with the song list.

As others have said, it is a guideline - but you need to adapt to the audiance. I've been in "Disco" bands that dumped the list and played metal when our agent booked us in a biker bar and I've been in jazz groups that pulled country tunes out of a hat when needed. I've been in plenty of bands that don't even use a song list.

If you are a show band or a "concert headliner" then you need to stick to a list to coordinate with lighting, props, etc. - otherwise be prepared to adapt.

As an aside, I book a lot of gigs where I put together "pick-up bands" where I hire the best players available for a given giig (we've all heard of the A list, B list, etc. players).

Rather than having a song list, we just rotate. I'll pick a song I want to sing call out the key, then the next song the bass player calls out a song, then the guitar player, etc. and we rotate all night. It keeps everyone on thier toes and can be alot of fun (except for the occasional train wreck).

Two years ago I booked a 3 week stay (14 gigs) at a club and had a different line up every night. Naturally you need some fearless, seasoned players to pull that off.

 

[clifchamb]

I have to agree with everyone on this post. We have never stuck to original set list as a cover band. My original band however sticks to list pretty close.

clif

 

[freshmattyp]

I'm in an acoustic trio, with all 3 of us sharing the lead vocals. We keep a list with all the songs and a songbook on a music stand in front of us. Then we rotate, each guy picking a song to play. That seems to work out pretty well.

 

[Even]

No question if you are doing "covers" you need to be prepared to be flexible. If folks are dancing to a specific style and ignoring you one a different style.....well need I say more? Bars and clubs invite back bands that draw and excite the customers.

Tip: every slob in the bar will dance to "gimme three steps" and Every gal will MAKE the slobs dance to "wonderful tonight"

 

[Lopp]

i think you should get a feel of the audience and work around that within reason

Exactly.

"Within reason" - Don't try to play songs you don't know.

 

[lesterpaul]

thanks

thanks for the comments and views this is exactly how i feel...i don't want to say we play above our audience but we keep getting gigs at places that some might call redneck,and i just don't think they get our approach to music there are originals we do that are catching on but when there is a vibe in the air i think you should go with it to your abilities,but,i keep getting slammed even when it works ....good to know i'm with a majority on this ....thanks again

 

[bdbdbuck]

H..Hey maan...kin you guys play khokaaan?

 

[BrettB]

erhmm.. I always play with a setlist. Especially when playing own songs, you can determine the best in what way you want the people to here them.

 

[lesterpaul]

BRETTB i agree

i totally agree we did a battle of th bands and we worked it out strictly by th list practice an all ,but, that was a showcase and NO COVERS but when you play for bartab or money i think you need to be accomodating ....unless they came to see you ie popular enough to draw your own crowd ....otherwise i agree ...thanks

 

[bdbdbuck]

Guys, I wasn't tryin to be a wise ass...I was referencing the situation LES had sited in the previous post. Been there...originals don't normally go over real big unless you have a pretty decent following (unless of course, you just knock their socks off). Being flexible in places where you're new or if you're getting used to the "feel" of the crowd, is important. I would normally start out with a complete list of songs the group knew, in descending order. Hoping that the crowd would respond favorably to the songs toward the top of the list. I think it all boils down to WHO you are playing WITH. Good musicians can save the day in situations where you get toward the bottom of the list.

 

[lesterpaul]

i knew where you were comin from

hey bdbdbuck i know where you were comin from,i was in a band once an all they wanted to do was cocaine,not th drug,i hate that song now because of it ....one guy from an established band at th time told me where they played they wouldn't let them do th song anyhow .....

 

[bdbdbuck]

Les,
I got a WHOLE LIST of tunes I don't even want to HEAR anymore because of that. And I haven't gigged in 17 years!


bd

 

[savageblues]

Bars and clubs invite back bands that draw and excite the customers.

Tip: every slob in the bar will dance to "gimme three steps" and Every gal will MAKE the slobs dance to "wonderful tonight"

Serious wisdom! Gimme Three Steps is one of our bands 'get em dancing' standbys. Wonderful Tonight is about as painful as Cocaine to play (serious sap). However, it is the obligatory slow dance song for the chicks. I hate it.

We dont do Cocaine anymore either...Sweet Home Alabama is painful to play now as well, but atleast we ALLOWED to play it!

 

[coplinger]

For us, 'Gin & Juice' (Gourds style) & 'Let's Get It On' are the obligatory songs. You would be amazed at what the women will do when you play 'Let's Get It On'. Our setlists are always up for impromptu revisions. I agree with savageblues, If you got em dancing, keep em dancing!

 

[lesterpaul]

i'm back

th most response we ever had we did SWEET HOME ALABAMA at our last gig we had th whole place goin i looked around at th band and said keep it goin we did th second verse twice palyed like 4 lead breaks they loved it our other one we get th slow dance from is,brace youselves, HE STOPPED LOVING HER TODAY, and we're a progressive type rock band go figure th show before that we did TH BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS ...hows that for coverage

 

[Treeline]

Jeez... Sonic whiplash...

I'm usually doing small solo or group acoustic stuff. The setlist keeps me from panicing.