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How long will you play?
- Thread starter DWBass
- Start date
I once subbed for a few weeks for a Psycho-Cajun bandleader who had this long-standing sitdown on Sunday afternoons: Noon until 8PM . . . non-stop.
I could hardly wrap my head around it until I did the first of three Sundays: If you needed to step away, you just went and the remaining pieces kept going !
It was understood 10-20 minutes was cool, but they better be several hours apart.
It was one of those things I said 'Yes' to without really knowing the whole picture, and one I couldn't get ANYBODY else to take it for the other two weeks, imagine that . . . . I'd say these are the things that put steel in your spine, the dues you pay, etc., but honestly, they were just a bad band, the whole thing massively sucked, one of those really bad gigs that made you question yourself . . but I DID learn to get ALL the particulars after that !
I could hardly wrap my head around it until I did the first of three Sundays: If you needed to step away, you just went and the remaining pieces kept going !
It was understood 10-20 minutes was cool, but they better be several hours apart.
It was one of those things I said 'Yes' to without really knowing the whole picture, and one I couldn't get ANYBODY else to take it for the other two weeks, imagine that . . . . I'd say these are the things that put steel in your spine, the dues you pay, etc., but honestly, they were just a bad band, the whole thing massively sucked, one of those really bad gigs that made you question yourself . . but I DID learn to get ALL the particulars after that !
It depends on the overall length of a gig. A 2 - 3 hour gig might as well not have more than one break. But I think that realistically after an hour or so the music starts to suffer.
Typically 1 hr first set, then 1 hr 15 to 1.5 hr 2nd set. Then an encore of 5 to 20 minutes.
I don’t do well with more than 1.5 hr set. I start to lose focus and get pretty tired. It’s amazing how refreshing even 15 mins off my feet can be, but out breaks are usually 20 to 30 minutes.
I don’t do well with more than 1.5 hr set. I start to lose focus and get pretty tired. It’s amazing how refreshing even 15 mins off my feet can be, but out breaks are usually 20 to 30 minutes.
When I was in this Reggae band we'd play a 45 minute to an hour set depending on the dancers. Segueing from one song to the next with no breaks in between. We tried to find a good break point, as our breaks could get intense shall we say...
ha, yes, funny but maybe not haha funny. I've been playing so long (50+ years) that my left shoulder (the one my strap goes over) is lower than my right one.
Doctors and PT's have noticed it and I just tell them how long I've been playing bass.
Most of the gigs my bands play are wineries or breweries with audiences of maybe 50 people.
Maybe.
During a break, I like to walk around and chat with folks, say hi and thanks for hanging with us and how much fun we're having. We play mostly originals and selected covers and that little bit of PR seems to build an amazing amount of goodwill and good vibes when we start playing again.
I need a break after 45-60 minutes because I'm 66 and have arthritic hands, but I like to use the break wisely.
Maybe.
During a break, I like to walk around and chat with folks, say hi and thanks for hanging with us and how much fun we're having. We play mostly originals and selected covers and that little bit of PR seems to build an amazing amount of goodwill and good vibes when we start playing again.
I need a break after 45-60 minutes because I'm 66 and have arthritic hands, but I like to use the break wisely.
When I was in this Reggae band we'd play a 45 minute to an hour set depending on the dancers. Segueing from one song to the next with no breaks in between. We tried to find a good break point, as our breaks could get intense shall we say...
View attachment 6972263
Must have been a bit challenging in rounding up the band after one of those...ahem...breaks.
+1
But, I'm also realizing I need to sit down for a bit and rest the legs (blood circulation).
That does cut into the meet 'n greet time.
3 hours, huh?
I don’t know whether to bow to them with respect, or report them to the Union!
It is good to get swept up in the moment - especially if the crowd is right there with you.
Looking at your watch is like stage presence cyanide. That said, if the band and/or audience isn’t really that into it, I would just as soon wrap things up precisely on schedule.
I don’t know whether to bow to them with respect, or report them to the Union!
It is good to get swept up in the moment - especially if the crowd is right there with you.
Looking at your watch is like stage presence cyanide. That said, if the band and/or audience isn’t really that into it, I would just as soon wrap things up precisely on schedule.
It was easy as most of the audience was there. You just had to ask, “You ready?”Must have been a bit challenging in rounding up the band after one of those...ahem...breaks.
+1
But, I'm also realizing I need to sit down for a bit and rest the legs (blood circulation).
That does cut into the meet 'n greet time.
In this case it wasn't a bad thing. Was just surprised. The crowd was a good crowd and there was a lot of dancing going on.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Most I've done is about 90 minutes. In most cases in rock gigs, we've switched from 3 60 minute sets to 2 90 minute sets, as crowds tend to head out after the second set (not too many people out drinking all night nowadays).
Frankly, I think breaks are good for the audience, as well as the band.
Frankly, I think breaks are good for the audience, as well as the band.
My gigs are mostly 3 hours, which consists of 3 sets in the 45 minute range and 15+ minute breaks in between. We do some 4 hour gigs with the same format, but those are becoming rare. As long as I have a beverage, I can play for a couple of hours without a break. I kind of wish others could as well so we could skip that dreaded "everyone leaves between sets 3 and 4" thing, but I just go with the flow as best I can.
Yeah, we've noticed that as well.
So much so, that we've flipped Set 1 (strongest set) with Set 2 (solid set) because there's more people showing up during Set 2 (and then leaving shortly thereafter). *
We haven't completed our 3rd set for several gigs.
* Can't be the band can it? Nah.
