How do you shoot down song requests?

[sequel91]

Playing straight through with no "dead air" between songs can go a long way towards solving this problem. We also considered a "menu" on stage listing the most frequently requested songs and prices. Only downside to that would be that someone might actually pony up whatever price was listed and then we'd have to deliver the goods - a $500 version of "Freebird" or a $1000 version of "Proud Mary". A standard response we occasionally used when someone would request "some blues" was: "We don't get the blues. We make too much money."

A piano-playing buddy has a $50 “go-away” fee for “Piano Man”.

 

[bcbassman]

Why do you want to shoot down requests?
Try doing some and see if you get asked back. That's the point isn't it? To get another gig.

 

[Playbyear]

I played in a rock and roll, rockabilly and county band for years. The singer/guitar player knew lots of songs and would take lots of requests... even if the rest us of didn’t know the song.
If he didn’t, the response was “we don’t know that one” .

Sometimes a patron would ask me the request. One woman asked me if we play “old time rock and roll” (B Seger). I said yep, every song!

 

[MultiScaleMale]

"We'll learn that one for the next gig" or if it's one that's never going to happen, shoot it down with some humor.

 

[two fingers]

I usually tell them if they ask me for a request that I know it but the rest of the band doesn't .

I've used that line a zillion times too.

Throw the band under the bus!

 

[dramatwist]

...we took a request 45 years ago... first and last time...

 

[LUCE]

We announce - "If anyone has a request, kindly write the name of the song on the back of a $20 bill, and deposit here on the stage...."

 

[Jefenator]

If you work out tight transitions from song to song you’ll never give an audience member the chance to ask.

Bingo. My favorite method by far.
Long pauses between songs should be avoided for multiple reasons.

 

[SteveBassJr]

I simply tell them, that we are not prepared to play that one tonight.

 

[Davbassdude]

The only time I fulfilled a request for a song we all didn't know (the guitarist and I did) was back in 1979 for "Badge" by Cream...for obvious reasons (I learned to play and sing it at age 11)!

 

[Ric5]

How do you shoot down song requests?

Sorry … we don't know that song

 

[FugaziBomb]

What is a respectful way to tell someone, or an audience, your band does not take requests? Would making an announcement before the first break help? Or would that be looked at as unprofessional?

I think it depends on the band. One band I'm in really isn't respectful about it at all. We usually take the opportunity to poke fun at the request and the requester on the mics. It's sort of playful, usually a little mean, but the audience gets a kick out of it.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

You tell them to write down the name of the song onto a $100 bill, and hand it to the bass player.

 

[Gunga Din]

I used to be in a Southern Rock band. We had someone come up and ask if we could play some Tammy Wynette. Our guitar player told him we use to do a whole Tammy Wynette set but after she passed away we couldn't bring our self to do it anymore. He said he understood and walked away with a tear in his eye.

A scene from Bob's Country Bunker that didn't make the final cut of The Blues Brothers.

 

[Jon McBass]

"We don't know it, but we'll try to learn it for next time."

We’ve said this, and actually got a couple of great new songs this way. On the other hand, if a song sucks when we listen to it we just scratch it. The requester doesn’t remember. But if we do the song next time they come see us we have a fan for life.

 

[TrevorR]

If you work out tight transitions from song to song you’ll never give an audience member the chance to ask.

Oh, if only that was true... in my experience they ask anyway... Mid song... While you’re playing and singing... AND expect you to answer straight away and get ticked off when you don’t! Sigh...

 

[Matt R.]

Just say no.

 

[brianrost]

Would making an announcement before the first break help?

I would never say such a thing, ever. If someone makes a request and it's either not appropriate, the band does not want to take requests or the band actually does not know the song, simply tell the person you do not know it. I've been on blues gigs and gotten requests for Jimmy Buffett!!!

I once went to see my cousin's country band and heard someone in the audience yell out "Play some Willie Nelson!" My cousin stepped up to the mike and said "Here's one by Willie Nelson" and then they played whatever was next on the set list and it was not by Willie. But the guy in the audience didn't know that and started clapping and shouting.

 

[drumvsbass]

The band accepts requests printed on $100 bills for each member.
I have only had this response go sideways once with a trio.
For Wipeout.
Yes. Some idiot paid $300 dollars to hear us play... Wipeout.

 

[Claymore]

What is a respectful way to tell someone, or an audience, your band does not take requests? Would making an announcement before the first break help? Or would that be looked at as unprofessional?

We are a new band so our setlist is limited to songs we know we can perform together. I'm sure we will eventually be able to accommodate requests, but would prefer to stick with a setlist to stay in the flow. Anyhoo, curious how you experienced folks handle it.

In an unrelated note, our guitar player actually asked if he was too loud. Yeah, go ahead and read that again. He's not the greatest of players, and doesn't learn songs quickly as the rest of us, but he is very capable with a great attitude. I'll take it. They do exist.

I jammed with some guys the other day and we had to ask one of the guitar players 3 times to turn up his amp cuz we couldn't hear him. Finally, someone walked over to his amp and did it for him. (He ended up turning it down again)