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First-timer in cover band, got a few questions...

V

Vinz Clortho

Feb 15, 2009
77
26
#1
So I got roped into doing a cover band fronted by a female singer/acoustic guitar player with my buddy and I trading off guitar/bass/keys and his dad on drums when appropriate and possible. I got into this to get some of my chops back since I haven't played seriously in around a year or so due to various personal failings and being too busy. I've come back up to speed pretty quickly and I'm working on working my way through the machinations of inter-bandmember politics in a paid gig situation (as opposed to the originals bands I've been part of in the past). Nothing too crazy since I'm the resident lead guitard 2/3 of the time and our drummer is still honing his craft, but I do have a few questions since we have a gig in 10 days.

-How does the whole multiple sets / night thing work? We have just under two hours' worth of material learned well enough to fudge it but we may have to fill a four-hour time slot for the aforementioned gig. Our frontperson is saying that we need to "learn more songs" but last time I checked playing the same set back-to-back with taped music in between was kosher.

-The split's usually straight between band members, correct? I have a decent day job and couldn't give a rat's ass about the $75 or whatever I'd get to play; I've just never been paid to do a gig before xD

-Any pointers in general for me?
 
#2
- I'd check with the venue ... they may have certain expectations regarding how much time should be spent playing vs breaks. I've never been in a band that played more than 2 sets per night (roughly 65/35 originals/covers) but we'd play for maybe 50 minutes, then take 20 or so, then play the second set.

- Usually a straight split is appropriate. Some bands will give an extra split to whoever booked the gig, or if someone supplies the PA for the show.

- Have a good time! The shows I've received the most compliments after were the ones where I was clearly having fun up there.
 
#3
If y'all can get away with playing the same set over and over, more power to you. Typical cover bands have enough material to cover 3 sets worth of different material. So yeah, cover bands typically have a solid 100-200 songlist to choose music from and you have to be able to remember them all. Pay is usually evenly split unless you have someone taking extra %'s for booking and lugging/setting up the PA system.

Bottom line is, your band is going to have to learn more songs.
 
#5
Here's an old trick - if you don't quite have four sets of music ready, when set four comes around, replay set one. Maybe in a different order so the bartender doesn't notice.... but most customers who were there during set one will be long gone by set 4 anyway.

I've always figured that ~8 songs covers a set of 45-50 minutes, for what that's worth.
 
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#6
Vinz Clortho said:
So I got roped into doing a cover band fronted by a female singer/acoustic guitar player with my buddy and I trading off guitar/bass/keys and his dad on drums when appropriate and possible. I got into this to get some of my chops back since I haven't played seriously in around a year or so due to various personal failings and being too busy. I've come back up to speed pretty quickly and I'm working on working my way through the machinations of inter-bandmember politics in a paid gig situation (as opposed to the originals bands I've been part of in the past). Nothing too crazy since I'm the resident lead guitard 2/3 of the time and our drummer is still honing his craft, but I do have a few questions since we have a gig in 10 days.

-How does the whole multiple sets / night thing work? We have just under two hours' worth of material learned well enough to fudge it but we may have to fill a four-hour time slot for the aforementioned gig. Our frontperson is saying that we need to "learn more songs" but last time I checked playing the same set back-to-back with taped music in between was kosher.

-The split's usually straight between band members, correct? I have a decent day job and couldn't give a rat's ass about the $75 or whatever I'd get to play; I've just never been paid to do a gig before xD

-Any pointers in general for me?
Click to expand...
No....repeating a set is honestly not ok...

You guys are not ready for a four hour gig and you only get 1 chance to make a first impression. The person who booked the gig/brought the PA should get a little monetary token of appreciation from the rest of the band IMO but that is between the members to agree on.
 
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#9
If you're gonna be playing bar gigs that last 3 hours , or more, you're gonna need more songs.

Sets: Most bands play 3-4 sets. We normally do 45 minutes per set, 15-20 minute break, but most places are flexible. There isn't a hard and fast rule, and most venues have their own expectations. It's best to see what the bar expects from you before the gig.

Splits: Split money however you want, but most bands split things evenly. Some bands will pay the person that books the gig, a little more money, for their efforts.

Play music that women like. You will always be successful. The more they like you, the longer they stay in the bar, the more they drink.

It's all about $$$ for the bar owner.
 
#10
faulknersj said:
No....repeating a set is honestly not ok...

You guys are not ready for a four hour gig and you only get 1 chance to make a first impression. The person who booked the gig/brought the PA should get a little monetary token of appreciation from the rest of the band IMO but that is between the members to agree on.
Click to expand...

pppppppffffffttttt

ever cover band I've ever worked with repeated some tunes. Of course, most of those bands were pretty mediocre...
 
#11
We have five to six hours worth of material available at all times.

We know we're going to play four hours worth; the extra is for different venues; different audiences.

Was this thread about doing the very minimum to get by being a mediocre, and best-forgotten cover band, or about actually being decent?

You shouldn't be repeating ANYTHING.
 
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#12
If you must repeat a set don't do one set, take the highlights from all the set and create a set out of the best songs for the last set. And while they say you have to learn more songs is true everyone is going to have to accept that the first show won't include them or they can hire another band.
 
#13
I have never, ever, been in a bar 4 hours straight and yes, that means I have never played a bar gig.
The staff is probably there longer but there may or may not be a shift change in 4 hours.
The point being - (almost) no one who heard your first set will be there for hours 4, IMO / IME...
I don't think I'd rerun the whole first set - but if you're short on material and have to repeat stuff anyway, I'd think you'd be pretty safe remixing the songs from Set One and Set Two into Set Four.

And yes, learn more songs - but you gotta start somewhere...
 
#16
We pay sound guy his fee, the equal split 4 ways. We've been together for 15 years and this is our agreement. We have around 125 songs, we play 4 sets 8-10 songs per set. But we're always learning new songs not just for patrons but for us too. Keeps it fun and fresh. We only replay a song if someone is yelling, usually the person wasn't there when we played it first time. You could probably get away with repeating some songs, especially from 1st and 2nd set. Good Luck!
 
#18
No way I would repeat an entire set in one night! Definitely not kosher in my neck of the woods. There are customers there specifically to see the band play. When you start up the second set and it's the same as the first, who do you think they're going to be laughing at? I would fully expect the venue to notice as well and the band not be asked back. We've repeated a song (something from the first set played again in the 3rd set because someone requested it) and I've still heard people mutter "They played that one earlier..." It makes me sad inside.

Three 1 hour sets with 15-20 minute breaks in between would be the minimum we'd do in a 4 hour gig situation.

As for breakout of pay, it's up to the band. We do an equal split. Corporate/wedding/etc. type bands would probably have the BL taking a larger share and then giving out the rest based on something worked out beforehand. Each member may walk away with a different amount based on what they worked out with the BL.
 
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#19
Vinz Clortho said:
So I got roped into doing a cover band fronted by a female singer/acoustic guitar player with my buddy and I trading off guitar/bass/keys and his dad on drums when appropriate and possible. I got into this to get some of my chops back since I haven't played seriously in around a year or so due to various personal failings and being too busy. I've come back up to speed pretty quickly and I'm working on working my way through the machinations of inter-bandmember politics in a paid gig situation (as opposed to the originals bands I've been part of in the past). Nothing too crazy since I'm the resident lead guitard 2/3 of the time and our drummer is still honing his craft, but I do have a few questions since we have a gig in 10 days.

-How does the whole multiple sets / night thing work? We have just under two hours' worth of material learned well enough to fudge it but we may have to fill a four-hour time slot for the aforementioned gig. Our frontperson is saying that we need to "learn more songs" but last time I checked playing the same set back-to-back with taped music in between was kosher.

-The split's usually straight between band members, correct? I have a decent day job and couldn't give a rat's ass about the $75 or whatever I'd get to play; I've just never been paid to do a gig before xD

-Any pointers in general for me?
Click to expand...
My cover band does 4 10 song sets per night (but that's a 4 hour night). If you're playing for 2 hours, 2 sets should do well. If you're doing a 4 hour time slot, you'll need to learn more. You don't want to spend too much time on your breaks or the crowd will get antsy...and NEVER repeat a song! It looks tacky.

Also, convince the acoustic player to pick up electric, too. We have an acoustic player in my cover band and it is a PITA to find material to satisfy him. Heavy music, he gets drowned out, and he refused to pick up an electric because that's not what he signed on for. An acoustic is nice for certain songs, but it is ABSOLUTELY USELESS on 80% of cover material.
 

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