Charged with making set lists...opinions?

[WI Short Scaler]

it's difficult for me to advise because one band's "play that funky music" is meant to be killer and the next band's version is used as filler, but in general, i think like this:
- killer opener(s) and closer(s) to each set.

This is good info, start and end every set with something to keep their interest.

I do our setlists and have a few rules I follow.

1-we have 3 members and we all sing. So I build our setlists in Xcel and color code each song to the singer. That helps to spread things around evenly so none of us is singing 5 in a row or something.
2-for a normal 4 hour gig, we play 3 sets with 2 breaks. The first set is around 50 mins and then a 15-20 min breatk, 2 set is long, usually a little over 1 1/2 hour, then another break, and last set to finish off the night. We started doing this because we noticed if we started at 8 pm and took a break in the 10pm area you lost alot of folks. People just don't stay out as late around here.
3-the last set always has more songs than will fit timewise, we'll skip a couple depending on the crowd the ones we keep or skip changes all the time.
4-below the setlist I always list a few "extras" These are songs not in the list, maybe we haven't played them for awhile or just rotated out of the active list. When we need a filler at the end of the night or something it's handy to have them to look at.

 

[JRA]

although my 'favorite' band is instrumental music only: i/we use a similar method to construct setlists, including the 'programmed flexibility'....and i color code, too!

 

[LBS-bass]

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although my 'favorite' band is instrumental music only: i/we use a similar method to construct setlists, including the 'programmed flexibility'....and i color code, too!

I color code based on instrumentation, mainly because we have a dedicated lead singer who sings most of the songs, so the idea that one of the others will sing too much at any point is unlikely. But we do a few guitar changes so I group stuff accordingly and color code so the band knows why we're grouping that way.

I started doing this when I got tired of having to explain why things were being done a certain way. Now it's easy for them to see it.

 

[51PRI]

I color code based on instrumentation, mainly because we have a dedicated lead singer who sings most of the songs, so the idea that one of the others will sing too much at any point is unlikely. But we do a few guitar changes so I group stuff accordingly and color code so the band knows why we're grouping that way.

I started doing this when I got tired of having to explain why things were being done a certain way. Now it's easy for them to see it.

Yeah, color coding works.

 

[Jimmy4string]

@kickysam49 Has it!
Read the room -play to the crowd. Garth Brooks in his latest documentary said "A successful musician plays what the crowd wants".
Excellent post @kickysam49 !

 

[pepj]

Here is mine for new unit.
The numbers sit ok together...but needs us to run through them to establish how they work in context.
I expect the guys to make them their own, and if the don't or can't, the song will not make the rosta.
It's going to be a funky RnB bar room gig.


Listen to the music. youtube Jenn Nettles, etc
Down in Missisippi Sugarland.
Pink Houses Mellencamp
Last to know Del Amitri
Have a little faith Delbert/Hiatt
Whoever said it was easy. Delbert
2 more bottles of wine.
Tear it up Albert Lee
Jealous Kind.
Kiss and say goodbye.
Fortunate Son.
Handle with care
My Back pages
Im going to make you love me..jayhawks
Sleep with Angels
Wouldn't treat a dog...Bobby Bland
Feelin Alright
Its alright
Having a party

I'm looking more about delivery, dont care are keys etc, these are basic templates for the band to run with. I'm picking guys who have their own style down within a genre...no cloning.