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05-01-2007, 08:50 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Ontario | | | Wedding band setlists
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Was thinking about starting a wedding band with a couple of guys from school to get some occasional gigs during the year (also hoping to take the same band on a cruise ship gig) and I know a lot of you guys have done the wedding thing (for many, many years.)
My biggest worry, straight-up, is the maaaaaassive repertoire you're supposed to have...everything from Tainted Love to Take the A Train to Stagga Lee. So my question goes to you TalkBass members...
As a wedding band in a "large" city (~2.5 million people) I was wondering mainly about setlists but also ANY OTHER ADVICE AT ALL you have for a wedding band.
The lineup is going to be something with the following:
Female singer
Guitar player
Second guitar player, or a piano player
Me on DB and electric
Drummer
Also, what is the most employable setup? I was thinking the ideal would be with the guitar player and the piano player (the guys I have in mind know how to stay out of each other's way so that's not a problem.)
When it comes down to it, we really have any lineup at our fingertips (including horn players) going to a large music school, but I'd like to keep it fairly small so we don't have to charge an arm and a leg because we're going in with an octet, dig?
__________________ Quote: |
Originally Posted by HollowBassman Doesn't she know that they're not really people until the age of about three? | |
05-02-2007, 05:37 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Finland | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Aaron Saunders  Was thinking about starting a wedding band with a couple of guys from school to get some occasional gigs during the year (also hoping to take the same band on a cruise ship gig) and I know a lot of you guys have done the wedding thing (for many, many years.)
My biggest worry, straight-up, is the maaaaaassive repertoire you're supposed to have...everything from Tainted Love to Take the A Train to Stagga Lee. So my question goes to you TalkBass members...
As a wedding band in a "large" city (~2.5 million people) I was wondering mainly about setlists but also ANY OTHER ADVICE AT ALL you have for a wedding band. | Maybe someone else have a setlist to post but I think you should find out the songs yourself. Start off by learning about 30-40 songs. Then you can expand the repertoire to around 100. You seldom need to play more than 40-50 songs on a gig, but it's good to have a great deal of different songs so you can choose what fits best for every occation.
Keep the song arrangement simple, at least in the beginning. Focus on learning the amount of songs first and go into details afterwards. Avoid songs you don't like, because you will play them badly anyway... (or maybe it is just me...  ) Quote:
The lineup is going to be something with the following:
Female singer
Guitar player
Second guitar player, or a piano player
Me on DB and electric
Drummer
Also, what is the most employable setup? I was thinking the ideal would be with the guitar player and the piano player (the guys I have in mind know how to stay out of each other's way so that's not a problem.)
When it comes down to it, we really have any lineup at our fingertips (including horn players) going to a large music school, but I'd like to keep it fairly small so we don't have to charge an arm and a leg because we're going in with an octet, dig?
| IMO, you should go for one guitarist and one keyboardist. If the keyboardist can play guitar too it would be great. That would keep the doors open to more music than if you only have two guitarists and no keyboardist.
Keeping the band smaller will probably get you more gigs. A six piece band is still quite large for a wedding band. Make sure you're good enough to charge >800 $$ (?) for a gig. The ones ordering bands don't generally care if you're three or eight persons, they care if you play well or not...
Good luck! |
05-02-2007, 08:30 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Stillwater Minnesota | | | +1
+1 all the way. Did the Wedding band thing sucesfully for years. four peice max for me. Simply easier to coordinate schedules and less split on the coinage.
Keep the set up and stage simple and appealing. Volume down, sound good, always ask the brides mom her favorite son(s).
It is like the old adage; Here come the happy couple now, the bride and her mother!
Marketing will pay aff as weddings beget weddings.
Best of Luck,
Wesley R.
Ma Quote:
Originally Posted by Deacon_Blues Maybe someone else have a setlist to post but I think you should find out the songs yourself. Start off by learning about 30-40 songs. Then you can expand the repertoire to around 100. You seldom need to play more than 40-50 songs on a gig, but it's good to have a great deal of different songs so you can choose what fits best for every occation.
Keep the song arrangement simple, at least in the beginning. Focus on learning the amount of songs first and go into details afterwards. Avoid songs you don't like, because you will play them badly anyway... (or maybe it is just me... )
IMO, you should go for one guitarist and one keyboardist. If the keyboardist can play guitar too it would be great. That would keep the doors open to more music than if you only have two guitarists and no keyboardist.
Keeping the band smaller will probably get you more gigs. A six piece band is still quite large for a wedding band. Make sure you're good enough to charge >800 $$ (?) for a gig. The ones ordering bands don't generally care if you're three or eight persons, they care if you play well or not...
Good luck! | |
05-02-2007, 08:47 AM
|  | Semi-Retired
Endorsing Artist: FBB Bass Works/Barker Bass | | Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Monroe Twp, NJ | | Did it for a long time with a 5 piece (keyboard, drums, sax, bass, singer). It's a great idea to get 60-70+ tunes as a starting point, but you'll get a ton of requests for songs of just about every imaginable style.
Since you all probably read pretty well (you did say music school, right?), don't be afraid to use the Real Books liberally. It's very common practice for wedding bands to sight read .... 
BTW, if you're looking for summer cruise ship work you might be too late for this season ..... those gigs usually book in the early part of the year ..... |
05-02-2007, 09:09 AM
| | Semi-Retired
Endorsing Artist: FBB Bass Works/Barker Bass | | Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Monroe Twp, NJ | | | Oh, and don't forget the gimmicky junk, as well .... chicken dance, electric slide, various ethnic dances, cake cutting tunes, mother/father dances, etc. ..... |
05-02-2007, 12:48 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Atlanta, Ga | | | One note on cruise ship gigs.
More and more lines are going with Filipino Bands..they are generally very good and work a lot cheaper. |
05-02-2007, 04:31 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Kane, PA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Marksb_2000 One note on cruise ship gigs.
More and more lines are going with Filipino Bands..they are generally very good and work a lot cheaper. | THEY TOOK OUR JOBS!
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The Buddhist Bassist
Acoustic Bass Fetish Club member #10
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05-03-2007, 08:53 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Leander, Texas | | Since you'll have a female singer...
If no one else has already said this...
"At Last", Etta James.
Oh...My...GAWD, what a love song!
Also, Al Green's, "Let's Stay Together". I've sung that at two wedding receptions.
In Texas, you also have to know the schottische, the Cotton-Eyed Joe, the Chicken Dance, the Grand March/Under The Double Eagle, The Orange Blossom Special, and Faded Love, (never fails, the older folks will want that one). God help you at a real Texas wedding if you don't have a fiddle player. 
Cherie   | | Thread Tools | Search this Thread | | | | 
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